If you dream about being able to see animals in the wild, but you don’t feel ready to travel to wilder, rural, more detached places, the Kruger National Park is your perfect destination.
The park is located in South Africa, near the border with Mozambique, and about a 5 hour drive from Johannesburg, or a 1 hour drive from Nelspruit. The fact that the park is located in South Africa is really convenient, as most flights to other countries in Africa stop first in South Africa.
When most people visit this park, they do it through intermediaries, such as tour agencies, which make your time and experience there much more restrictive, and, certainly, MUCH more expensive. But, most people don’t know that you can easily go there on your own, without the need of a tour agency to guide you or move you around. And the best part? It can save you a lot of money, and it gives you the freedom to do whatever you want with your time. So that’s what we did. We rented a car, and went on our own. This is a story of how that went, so it can help you in the future, when you plan your own trip to the park.
My father rented a car online in advance, that we picked up in the airport when we arrived. Everything went smoothly, and the car rental people didn't even ask for my dad's international drivers license. You must remember though, that in South Africa they drive on the left, so you must consider if that would be an issue for you. In our case, it only took my dad a few minutes to get used to driving on the other side of the road.
The next day we started our journey to the Kruger National Park. We literally just followed Google Maps instructions. It was that easy. The roads are in great condition, and the views you get to admire on your drive are absolutely beautiful.
There are a few pit stops on the way to the park, but they are either at the beginning or the end of the journey, so, if you need snacks, I'd recommend stopping at the ones you see first.
There are many options when it comes to where you want to stay during your visit to the park, and some of them are even inside the park. Now, those are expensive. With my family, we didn't think staying in the hotels inside the park was worth the high price, so we looked for different options. And we found an *amazing* one.
The place is called Marloth Park, and it is a hidden gem. Marloth Park is a private park/town, in which you can find many hotels, personal properties, properties for rent, and even some stores. It is basically a tiny town. But, what's so especial about the park, is the fact that there are wild animals living there, and they are free to roam around the park and properties. So, as you drive around the park, on your way to your rental or your hotel, you will most likely run into some zebras, impalas, or many other herbivores. If you are having breakfast in the backyard, and you are lucky, some animals might come by to say hi.
Marloth Park is an amazing option for your stay when you visit the Kruger National Park, as it is only a 20 minutes ride from the nearest entrance.
Now, to the park. The Kruger Park is one of the most modern and well maintained parks in all of Africa. It has paved roads, so you don't need a big car. Also, one of the greatest things about this park is that they have places in which you can stop and rest, which have stores and gas stations. Some of them have souvenir shops, and even restaurants!
One day in the park will certainly not be enough. I would recommend at least staying for two days, as the park is large, so you can follow different routes each visit. Also, they offer night safaris, in which they take you after it's dark, which is the time when felines are the most active. You must know though, that the park is closed at night, so the only way to do a night safari is through one of the tours offered directly by the park.
About the animals. In the park, you can see the Big Five, A.K.A. Lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants and African buffalos. Some of them might be tricky to find, but if you are patient and have a good eye, you'll find them! The first time I visited, I saw them all!
You can also find many other animals in the park, like a wide variety of beautiful birds, many types of antelopes, zebras, snakes, etcetera.
The Kruger National Park is one of the most breathtaking places I have ever had the chance to visit, and I would recommend visiting the park to anybody that desires to experience seeing wild animals in their natural habitats, knowing that they are not only free, but safe.
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