Cheap Safari Trip to Kruger National Park: Best Tips & Tricks
Visiting Kruger National Park had always been on the top of our bucket list. Recently, Kuba and I turned that dream into reality with a six-day safari adventure, and we did it on our tight budget. Planning the trip wasn’t easy (there are so many options to consider), but now that we’ve done it, I’m here to share all the tips and tricks I wish I had known beforehand.
Hopefully, this guide will help you plan your own affordable and unforgettable safari experience.
Getting to Kruger National Park
If you’re starting from Cape Town, the most affordable way to get to Kruger is by flying to Johannesburg. While Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport is closer to the park, flights to Johannesburg are significantly cheaper and offer better car rental options. That’s what we chose, and despite the longer drive, it saved us quite a bit.
Pro Tip: The camps in Kruger close at 6 p.m. (this can vary by season), so make sure to plan your arrival accordingly. We booked an early morning flight, hit the road by 8:30 a.m., and made a quick stop at a supermarket to stock up on groceries and firewood before heading to the park. It’s a bit of a rush, but totally doable!
Budget-Friendly Accommodations in Kruger National Park
One of the best ways to save money on your Kruger safari is by staying in the park’s budget-friendly accommodations. Through recommendations from friends we chose the safari tents, which were cozy, affordable, and surprisingly well-equipped little huts with real beds, a fridge, a closet, electricity, and even a fan (a lifesaver in the heat!).
What You Need to Know:
- Safari tents don’t include kitchenware, so we had to buy essentials like plates, utensils, and fire-starting materials from the camp’s supermarket. Luckily, the stores are well-stocked and reasonably priced.
- You also don’t have a kitchen, only a fireplace, which forced us to have barbecue
each evening. One day it was raining and we were more or less forced to eat in the camp restaurant, as we couldn’t get a fire going. - Choosing the right camp is probably the most important part. As you might think you are gonna drive through big parts of the park, fact is it is just much bigger than you probably assume and you mostly will stay in the area around you base. Camps like Skukuza and Satara are hotspots for predator sightings, so you’re more likely to spot lions and leopards nearby.
How to Spot the Big Five
We spotted all Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, and buffalo) in our 5 days here, most of them even three or four times and it was a dream come true for us. These are our best tips so you can increase your chances too:
1. Start Early
The park gates typically open around 5:30 a.m., and being among the first cars out is key. Early mornings are the best time to see predators like lions and leopards, as they’re often still active and sleeping next to the roads.
The best sightings such as this leopard in front of our car happened just because we were the first or second car on this road in the morning.
So don’t blow your chances by sleeping in!
2. Invest in a Good Map
We relied on the “Map and Guide Kruger Park” by Tinkers, which includes detailed routes and tips for spotting wildlife. It is around 10€ and it actually really helped us, as it also shows all of the little dirt roads plus a lot of good tips where to spot what.
3. Check Sightings Boards
Every camp and rest stop has boards showing recent wildlife sightings. We always updated them if we spotted something interesting and so did a lot of other people, which gave us a good indicator of where to head next. These maps can help you plan your route for the day.
4. Be Patient and Alert
While mornings are prime time, amazing sightings can happen at any time of day. We for example saw a leopard hunt a deer for a split second in front of our car and a lion mother resting underneath a tree with her cubs.
Cost Breakdown for a Budget Safari Trip to Kruger
Here’s how much we spent for our six-day trip from Cape Town:
Flights (round trip): €140 per person
Car rental: €140 (€70 per person)
Fuel (three fill-ups): €100 (€50 per person)
Groceries and supplies: €100 (€50 per person)
Campsite and park fees: €482 (€241 per person)
Total: Approximately €550 per person
It might seem like a lot, but for a once-in-a-lifetime safari, it’s worth every cent. And trust me, you’ll treasure the memories forever.
If you want to get an even better insight of our experience in Kruger National Park, you can check out our video here:
Visiting Kruger National Park was everything I dreamed of and more. I had so many questions beforehand and quite a bit of doubt that we would even see any predator, not to mention seeing them 3 or 4 times! I know it first might seem a bit overwhelming, but don’t let the logistics intimidate you. With the right planning, you can enjoy an incredible safari without spending a fortune.
Have any questions or additional tips? Drop them in the comments, I’d love to hear from you!
Good luck spotting the Big Five, and happy travels!
Amelie
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