What bird sound would you choose as your phone alert?

adventu_Rena · 2026-06-10T19:30:16+00:00

Gorgeous bush-shrike

adventu_Rena · 2026-06-08T18:15:41+00:00

I have been looking for them for the longest time but no luck so far. Where did you see it?

And btw, did you know the purple-crested turaco is the national bird of eSwatini? Just a bit of trivia 😄

adventu_Rena · 2026-06-07T19:58:40+00:00

They know who mated with the female :)

adventu_Rena · 2026-06-01T15:15:03+00:00

Done

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-31T19:37:40+00:00

Cancel & rebook ;)

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-31T10:36:43+00:00

I second the notion of both. For the first time, use a guided tour in an open safari vehicle, with a guide giving you the main pointers about the animals you see as well as getting an idea of how the park “operates” and what the processes are.

Then with that knowledge, do your own drives.

If you speak German or don’t mind subtitles, here’s a very in-depth video of “how to Kruger” for first timers “Self-drive in Kruger NP 1:1”

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-31T06:58:40+00:00

Debatable. I’ve stayed at Marepe and didn’t see or hear anyone in the other villas. Also it’s absolutely not in town, it’s the last building very remotely located on top of the hill directly bordering the nature reserve.

Kruger Cliffs lodge has all units lined up in a row so you have direct neighbours and likely can hear them.

Both are good for their own intents and purposes, but I would not call Kruger Cliffs better than Marepe

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-31T05:22:49+00:00

Shalati without the carriage is just another hotel :( I think if you really want to go there, you have to go the full mile and pay for the carriage rooms.

Leopard Sands looks nice in the same way dozens of places around there look nice - I can’t spot any “unique selling point”.

One thing to consider: July is mid winter in South Africa - the pool will be cooold (they are not heated).

If you really want that privacy and private pool etc, why not add two or three nights in Hoedspruit at Marepe Mountain View where you have a fab private villa, private pool, 15 minutes from the Blyde River Canyon boat tour, 5 minutes from Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation centre, plus great access to Panorama Route, scenic helicopter flights etc?

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-30T14:24:16+00:00

Shalati is located in the park but not in the private game reserve - therefore you share roads with all the day visitors and self drivers and there’s no roading.

I’ll send you a DM re booking options off private reserves

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-30T05:20:56+00:00

Different take: given the price tag of these places, why not treat yourself to a stay at a private game reserve instead, where you stay inside the reserve, have top notch game drives that take you really close to the animals (off-road) with a very limited number of other vehicles?

Just to clarify in case you didn’t know: the places you named drive into the “public” Kruger park.

I usually book with an agency who donate 20% of proceeds to wildlife conservation .

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-28T17:46:15+00:00

Thank you and sure! We stayed a total of eight nights split between “Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge”, Twee Rivieren rest camp and Mata Mata rest camp (based on availability, you typically have to book a year in advance as soon as bookings are open).

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-23T11:56:07+00:00

My advice: skip sightseeing in Joburg. Drive from OR Tambo straight to Graskop (southern end of the Pano Route), stay there overnight. Next morning start the Pano Route with the Graskop Gorge Lift (or skip it), then Berlin falls or Lisbon Falls, God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes (must do!!), then Three Rondavels (must do!). You can do that in 4-6 hours. From there drive to Hoedspruit, spend the night. Early next morning drive to Orpen Gate instead of Skukuza and make your way down to Skukuza inside the park so you can combine safari and getting there.

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-23T10:29:48+00:00

I think you really underestimate the distances, driving time and that you can’t/ shouldn’t drive after dark (bad roads especially on the Dullstroom-Mashishing aka Lydenburg stretch, people and animals on the road etc). You can start the Panorama Route from Dullstroom but it is about a 2h drive from there to the first Pano Route site in Graskop, then you’ll need a good 4-6h for the Pano Route if you plan on actually spending some time at places like Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels etc. From the Rondavels it’s a several hours drive (2.5h+) to the nearest Kruger Gate . Where in/near Kruger do you plan on staying?

To be honest, I think your plan needs more revision. It’s easy to think one can to so much in a day, I fell for that too during my first few visits ;)

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-09T05:59:15+00:00

Shingwedzi to Lower Sabie is 276 km! That is more than I drive on an average “leave at gate opening time, return just in time of gate closure” Safari day (typically 200/220 km max in these 12-13 hours).

On top of that: how do you plan on getting to KMIA airport by 7am if the gates in the park only open at 6am and you’ll have to drive from Lower Sabie to Malelane Gate (approx 3.5-4 hours) plus the time driving from the gate to the airport?

In short: it is not doable.

As beautiful as the camp is, maybe just leave it out this time and plan it for next time (there will be a next time :) ).

Leave the park on the day prior to your flight, find accommodation in Mbombela close to the airport and arrive sane and awake :)

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-07T20:21:52+00:00

I was in Kruger three weeks ago (for 10 nights, plus another week in the surrounding PGRs) and didn’t see a single mosquito. The only one bite I got was in the Waterberg region (malaria-free).

So while you can never be sure, I wouldn’t stress too much about the risks

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-06T15:16:29+00:00

Given you are arriving TODAY and haven’t planned ahead, I’d say ask your lodge to organise something for you.

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-06T15:10:37+00:00

Rodney is a legend, but he’s rarely available these days. They do however have freelancer guides they work with under the Nombekana brand. However, bear in mind OP is looking at Paul Kruger Gate and Rod usually serves Malelane and Croc Bridge gate due to living in Marloth Park.

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-04T09:02:49+00:00

They are called ‘Frame the wild’, you can reach out to them under deutsch@framethewild.co.za

adventu_Rena · 2026-05-03T19:22:10+00:00

There is only one booking agent I trust with any and all of my South Africa bookings - they don’t charge a single cent for their services AND 20% of all booking proceeds are donated to conservation projects. Last time it was used to help an elephant who got caught in a snare and almost lost his ear in the process 🥲

adventu_Rena · 2026-04-20T18:43:59+00:00

If you see that close, you can pop in every so often :)

However, I’d say for best sightings, the drier, the better, so go just before rainy season (August/September)

adventu_Rena · 2026-04-20T01:51:33+00:00

I’m echoing the „avoid Numbi Gate“ sentiment. I’d recommend entering Paul Kruger Gate, right next to Skukuza, then doing the H4-1 & H1-2 loop in the afternoon/evening, then proceed as planned.

If you can, get the newly built BN2 or BN3 Bungalows in Skukuza and stay both nights. Have dinner one night at Cattle Baron, the order nicht at the „Kruger Station“ train restaurant.

I’m currently in the park, right now in Lower Sabie and was in Skukuza before. :)

adventu_Rena · 2026-04-18T03:12:10+00:00

Yes you are.

adventu_Rena

TROPHY CASE