My African Adventure in Kruger, South Africa

Your love for the wildlife will reach a new high at the Kruger National Park. Mine did. One of the largest game reserves in Africa, it covers a massive area of over 20,000 square kilometers. It is here that you can observe the animal kingdom, from the puny Impala to the large African Elephant (which is considerably bigger than the Indian one) as well as the magnificent Lion at close sight. Kruger provides you with the isolated and soothing atmosphere of ‘African’ nature with miles and miles of endless grass, ginormous trees, lakes and ponds covering the expansive park. Having recently visited, I recall some breathtaking experiences, most of which I’m unlikely to experience ever again in this lifetime.

 

Where Is It and How To Get There?

Kruger National Park is located in the north-east part of South Africa bordering Botswana.

Air: There are 3 public airports in Kruger - Phalaborwa Airport (Northern Region) Kruger Park, Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (Central region) and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Southern Region). All airports are connected to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Several private reserves also have their own airstrip and are connected to Johannesburg. South African Airways conducts a flight daily from Mumbai to Johannesburg which takes approximately 9 hours.

Car: The Park is approximately a 5-6 hours journey from Johannesburg (500 kilometres) and is a comfortable, scenic drive. You can rent a car from Johannesburg and drop it off at one of the Kruger airports or take a daily shuttle that runs from OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg to Kruger.

 

Big 5

The specialty of Kruger National Park, like Masai Mara in Kenya, is the Big 5 which includes the Elephant, Lion, Cape buffalo, Leopard and Rhinoceros. What differentiates the animals here from the ones in a zoo is not only the fact that they are in their natural habitat but also that they can be seen in large groups. I remember our safari stopping by a large group of 20 lions lazying under the sun, just a foot away from our vehicle. While making our way back to the lodge where we were staying, we crossed elephants. The African elephant is almost twice the size of the Indian one and looks completely different; these elephants were chomping on branches of trees in the vicinity, taking their trunks and twisting them around the branch and then pulling it, looking oddly majestic. The next morning, we crossed giraffes drinking from the pond, bending down at impossible angles. These are just a few of the breathtaking sights you can experience here. All these visits were made on a safari jeep, and we were able to come real close to the animals without them attacking us! The jeeps here are not foreign to the animals and over the years have gotten habituated to their presence.

 

One of the highlights of my trip was when I experienced a live wild kill take place before my eyes. A bunch of Wild Dogs dexterously massacred an Impala in no time. One bite on the neck and the Impala was instantly dead. Moments later a lion came and stole the remains of the Impala and ran off. Indeed a super experience for anyone seeking adventure!

Where To Stay

The private reserves in Kruger take luxury to another level. Though a bit pricey, they are totally worth it. Being one of the fortunate ones to have stayed at one of these reserves, I can safely say that it provides you with the same level of luxury as any other resort. The chances of spotting animals are definitely higher here and the tours are guided by experts in open jeeps. On one of the nights the lodge organized a surprise dinner in the wild. Completely unaware of where we were headed, the jeeps took us to a little open space and organized tables, food and a bar under the stars! Fantastic meals, plunge pools and private airstrips for reaching the reserve are a just few of its perks.

Visiting Kruger is an experience of a lifetime and a trip that will keep the memory alive forever. More than a holiday, it is an adventure which is rare in today’s urban and commericalized world!

Book Your Flight to Cape Town Now!