Frequently Asked Questions
South Africa is a safe tourist destination.
South Africa has a reputation as an unsafe destination, but visiting here as a tourist is much safer than most people realise.
Keep in mind that news headlines and social media often only report bad news, especially crime. Good news, unfortunately, does not sell newspapers. You are not likely to hear about the millions of tourists who visit South Africa each year without incident.
The Kruger National Park is in the north-eastern corner of South Africa, along with the border of Mozambique. The park is an easy five-hour drive or a one-hour flight from Johannesburg.
You may fly directly from Johannesburg or Cape Town to either Nelspruit Airport or Skukuza Airport should you wish to not experience the drive from Johannesburg.
Children are welcome on most of our safaris. However, if they are under six years of age, we do not recommend a Open Safari Vehicle Safari due to safety reasons. SANParks considers children aged 12 and older as full paying adults.
Important: If you are travelling with minor children (under 18) you will also need to provide:
- Unabridged birth certificate of each child (showing both parents’ details)
- Proof of guardianship/custody
- Consent from the guardian in the case of an unaccompanied minor
Safety is a top priority for us, and we will never recommend a destination or activity we consider unsafe for tourists. Visiting South Africa as a tourist is quite safe. We consider South Africa to be as safe – if not safer – than many other major tourist destinations around the world. We are also owners of a safety app which we include in all of our packages for use while on Safari and in South Africa that can assist with any eventuality should you need assistance while in the country.
Many visitors are concerned about crime, but we have never had any problems or incidents of crime on our safaris. Crime occurs in every major city in the world, and the key is to use common sense and avoid risky situations or known problem areas.
Going on safari is also quite safe. As long as you abide by the rules and stay in your vehicle or with your safari guide, there is no need to be concerned about wild animals. In the Kruger National Park, each camp is safely fenced with an electric fence.
Your accommodation is usually designed to be as insect-proof as possible.
If you book a scheduled Kruger National Park safari with us, the average group size is between four and six people per safari. The maximum group size is 9 per vehicle. For larger groups, we will use extra vehicles (one vehicle and guide per 9 people).
We do not make use of shared accommodation, except for couples and families who book as a group (we do not expect you to share accommodation with people you do not know).
It’s advisable to consider taking anti Malaria pills before hand, there is a risk of catching malaria in Africa. It is highly recommended to ask your doctor’s advice about anti-Malaria drugs before leaving your country. Malaria is transmitted by mosquitoes and, as the insects are most active at night, it is recommended that travelers wear long-sleeved trousers and shirts at night and sleep under mosquito net. Remember to bring along your mosquito repellent.
Game viewing differs quite a bit depending on which region of the Kruger National Park you visit. The southern part is known for its high animal density and excellent game viewing because of the abundance of food. The landscape and vegetation are characterised by thorny thickets and some rocky granite outcrops. Game viewing along the river banks and dry river beds is usually very good. Camps used for this are Skukuza, Berg en Dal, Pretoriuskop or Nkambeni Tented Safari Lodge.
The central area has more open grasslands and larger herds of grazers. This, in turn, means a high concentration of lions (reputedly the highest lion concentration in the world) and other predators. Camps we use are Satara, Orpen or Olifants.
The northern regions are characterised by mopane shrubs and game viewing is a bit more difficult here. However, the remoteness, beautiful landscape and lower visitor density are some of the reasons why many people prefer this upper section of Kruger. Birdwatching in the north is also excellent, and elephants are also in abundance here. Camps we use are Letaba, Mopani, Shingwedzi and Punda Maria.
The animals you can expect to see on an average two or three day safari include elephant, buffalo, rhino, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, impala, waterbuck, warthog, hippo, crocodile, hyena, lion, leopard (possibly) wild dog (maybe) , cheetah (if you are lucky) and various smaller antelopes and predators, as well as birds and reptiles.
Sightings can never be guaranteed because the animals move around freely.
Unfortunately the Kruger Park is not a Zoo so you have to have good eyes to find what you are looking for with the help of your Safari Guide.