Why a Guided Kruger Park Tour is better than a Self-Drive

Apr 10, 2019 | Kruger Park safaris

Why a Guided Kruger Park Tour is better than a Self-Drive

Most South African’s are lucky enough to have visited a wildlife park of some kind in their lives, whether as children or as adults.

While self-drives are the most conventional way for South Africans to go on safari, there is another way to see the wildlife and the other exciting things that South Africa’s parks have to offer.

Guided safaris with a professional safari company, takes the stress out of your time in the park, and with Royal Safaris, not only do you get to experience the ultimate safari but you can also enjoy a bush braai or breakfast out in nature.

Why the guided Kruger Park safari is the better option

Accidents happen and there have been numerous accidents in the Kruger National Park with tourists cars been attacked by wild animals. In 2013 an elephant overturned a car and a British lady was seriously injured. In 2016 a car was severely smashed by stampeding buffalo and a car was attacked by a lion. Most of these could have been avoided had these people been on tour with a safari company, as the guides know how close to get to the animals and also know which animals are safe to get close too.
Safari companies have professional guides that visit the park daily. These guides are not only trained in the ways of the wild animals but are also constantly in touch with other guides in the park so they know where the best sighting are during the day. Guides also have a wealth of information about the animals and while relaxing and game viewing the guides can explain all about the animals and their behaviour.
Guided safari companies know where the best places are in the Kruger National Park to ensure that you see the most animals in the least amount of time. Guides also have knowledge of where some animals have their lairs. While it is unrealistic to expect to always see the Big Five, it is safe to say that with a safari company you are likely to see more than you would on your own. On your own, you may drive around for hours and hours and see nothing. Guides can also give you valuable information about the veld, plants and trees and also tell stories about all their bush experiences.
Safari companies offer a variety of packages for you to choose from. They can take you on an early morning drive or an afternoon drive, or if you want to spend the whole day in the park, they offer that service too. Safari vehicles are open so you get a real feel for the bush, with the breeze blowing around you and the advantage of being higher than a normal vehicle enabling you to see over the roadside bush and view deep into the wild.

Safari companies will also take you to camps or picnic spots where you will get to stretch your legs and grab a snack or curio from the available facilities. It is safe to say, that going with a safari company will let you enjoy a safe journey through the Kruger National Park and get back home relaxed and bush wise.
Finally, some companies go above and beyond simply offering the average safari. Royal Safaris offers unique bush braais, early morning champagne breakfasts and exciting dinners close to the wildlife.

To find out more about our exceptional Kruger Park safaris and unique touring packages, contact us today or browse through our website.

What You Need To Know Before Booking Your First Safari

Mar 10, 2019 | Kruger Park safaris

What You Need To Know Before Booking Your First Safari

When you find yourself visiting the North Eastern nook of South Africa, it is hard to not go on a safari. After all, the safari is exactly the reason why so many people come to our visually exquisite country every year.

The Kruger National Park is without a doubt South Africa’s star attraction. Home to hundreds, if not thousands, of species of birds, animals, insects and reptiles, the Kruger is a conservation oasis. Here, animals live out their lives in relative peace, away from man and in habitats that their species has survived in for generations.

Planning your trip to the Kruger National Park can mean finding a tour operator to take you on a magical safari, while also organising memorable adventures and quality downtime.

Whether it is a bush braai close to the Kruger, as the sun goes down, or an unforgettable evening drive through the park, catching sight of those elusive nocturnal creatures, Royal Safaris is the best operator you could tour with. We try to ensure that our guests experience the most relaxed and memorable times in the Kruger.

But planning your tour means you have to think carefully about what it is you want to do with your time in this wild part of the world. So, we’re going to give you a few helpful tips to keep close in mind when you are booking your safari.

Some things need to be done offline

The internet allows you to do most of your safari planning, from booking accommodation and tours to making sure you have the right flights leaving at the right time. Make sure that you do your planning and booking well before your holiday. You might come across some amazing tour operator’s website, only to find that it’s just a marketing site and you need to give them a phone call or drop them an email to make your booking. Small tour operators and access to more rural attractions can’t always be done on the internet.

Know the type of reserve you are visiting

South Africa has a number of public and private nature reserves, and there are many private reserves around the Kruger. You can expect to pay out more if you book into a private reserve and then there is the fact that you won’t be having a more rural, laid back experience. And there is nothing wrong with that. It all depends on what you expect from your time in Africa.

Private parks tend to be smaller and they will require prior booking. There is also the possibility that they won’t admit day visitors.

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Your days are best started early

Regardless of where you choose to experience your South African safari, you will need to make sure that you head out early in the mornings if you hope to catch sight of animals. Most safari companies take guests into parks before the heat becomes overwhelming. The best time of the day to see animals is in the early morning and late afternoon.

Pack Accordingly

It never truly gets too cold in those parts of the country where you will have a safari. Mornings and evenings can get quite cool, but the days stay hot. Don’t over pack when you go on safari!

Book your unforgettable trip to South Africa and join Royal Safaris for a tour of the Kruger National Park. Check out our tour packages for more information.

Choosing Your First African Safari

Feb 12, 2019 | Kruger Park safaris

Choosing Your First African Safari

Africa is big! And it is filled with amazing national parks, home to all kinds of animals and plenty of plant diversity. The sheer number of places to enjoy a safari is what makes choosing the right one for you a tougher task than you’d imagine.

The thing is, it is highly unlikely that you will get to see all of Africa. You won’t be able to do it all and so you need to make sure that you’ve done your research about the different countries and their safari destinations so that you can select the destination that will provide you with the most relaxed, and thrilling, experience.

South Africa is without a doubt one of the best safari destinations in the world. And of all the safari destinations you can choose from, the Kruger National Park is going to come out on top of your list of preferred destinations.

Narrowing down all of your options and deciding on the Kruger as the destination of choice can take time and planning, as there is a lot to consider. And the considerations have more to do than just the animals you will see.

Every safari company knows that the guests they take on safari have certain hopes regarding the animals they want to see. But these safari companies also know that guests can get bored when spending numerous days on safari, so they like to plan other activities or things to see. If you are looking to experience a trip that lasts longer than a single day or morning, you will need to consider what else your destination has on offer.

Royal Safaris provides guests with a rather different approach to experiencing the Kruger National Park and its wild surrounding areas. Our wildlife tours leave from the White River area as well as from the Marloth Park area, making it easier for guests to get to get to the best wildlife viewing destinations.

Important questions to ask when choosing your safari

How do you feel about being on the road? Some safari destinations will have you driving for hours on end, and not always on the best of roads. Not everyone is keen on driving around, instead, they want to get to the destination and relax, before heading back. Many Kruger and Marloth safaris offer transfers, along with guided safaris.
Do you want to combine your safari with another destination? Many African safari destinations offer only the wildlife experience, whereas South Africa is also a top destination for those wanting to sit on the beach. When visiting South Africa, you can be on a Kruger safari on one day and exploring a beach on the next.
Would you like to be closer to urban areas? South Africa has a number of bustling urban landscapes, with major cities close to the safari destinations. This helps to ensure that you are never too far from all of the conveniences of modern living so should you find yourself in need of something from the shops, you can always get to a place that has what you need.

The Royal Safaris Experience

Royal Safaris, located close to the Kruger National Park, is the only safari operator allowed to take guests into the Kruger for evening safaris. But we also have a number of other fantastic tour packages for you to choose from.

Our bush braais, champagne breakfasts and sundowner drives are just as exciting as our full day tours in the Kruger as well as our Panorama Tours. Each safari experience is affordable and each trip is sure to provide an unforgettable adventure.

Book one of our Kruger safari packages today, and explore the wilder side of Africa.

The Best Tips For Your First Time On A Safari

Dec 20, 2018 | Kruger Park safaris

The Best Tips For Your First Time On A Safari

The Kruger National Park is without a doubt one of the best places to travel to, not just in South Africa, but in the world. A visit here is one that needs to be properly planned and entirely thought out. And that means doing your research in order to ensure that you have all of the best tips at your aid.

Whether you are looking forward to enjoying a morning safari with breakfast or an enviable evening drive and dinner, you can do with a few helpful tips to make your time here more enjoyable and less stressful. From travelling documents to the right footwear and even what accessories to have, the list of tips can help to ensure that you have a trip that you will never forget.

The Kruger National Park remains the best place to visit in South Africa and so many pieces of advice are floating around out there, that it can be difficult to pinpoint which is the best of the best. Sometimes the advice that you need comes directly from those who have been to the Kruger and done the whole safari thing.

So which of the hundreds of safari tips circulating the internet are the best? Let’s break them down for you.

Pack your binoculars and your camera

The Kruger is as far from a zoo as you could get. You won’t necessarily be seeing animals up close. Instead, some of the best sightings are far away in the distance, away from your safari vehicle. Having binoculars on your person will allow you to spot and watch those distant animals. And having a camera will allow you to capture the moment. We recommend investing in a quality camera. Some photographers will say that the DSLR is the better option, but whatever you are most comfortable with is what matters the most.

Respect the park rules, respect your guide

As a wild place, your safety depends on following all of the park rules and following whatever it is that your guide says. You can either Google the park rules or collect them at any one of the park’s gates. The rules are to be respected throughout the safari. As for your guide, they know more about the park and its inhabitants than you do. This means, for instance, that they are aware of when an elephant is unhappy and about to charge the vehicle. Whatever it is that they tell you to do could very well save your life.

Protect yourself from the sun

Regardless of the time of year you choose to visit the Kruger National Park, you should bring something to protect your skin. A hat is a good choice but it’s often not enough, even in the winter months. Pack a powerful SPF lotion and apply it as often as necessary.

Be realistic

As the Kruger is a nature reserve and not a zoo, you need to be realistic about what you can expect to see. Some say that it is better to not have a list of animals, birds or anything else that you hope to see but to rather accept sightings as they come. You’ll probably miss some animals, but you’ll also see animals that you might not have expected to see.

Be respectful

To the guide, to the park officials, to your fellow guests. There is no place for rudeness in Africa. As one of the friendliest countries, you will find that those you engage with have a pleasant and welcoming demeanour. Keep your manners in mind and simply enjoy your time in Africa.

The Kruger Park safari is one of the most exhilarating and unforgettable experiences you will ever have. Book your tour of the Kruger with Royal Safaris.

5 Best Ways To See The Kruger

Nov 20, 2018 | Kruger Park safaris

5 Best Ways To See The Kruger

The Kruger National Park is one of the world’s best loved nature reserves. Home to all kinds of African animals, birds and reptiles, the best way to explore this land is by embarking on a Kruger National Park safari. For some guests, enjoying breakfast or lunch in the park is enough while others prefer to have the best of both worlds, by heading out early in the morning for breakfast in the park, before indulging in a full day safari.

Safaris can be enjoyed in one of five ways. And each guest has their own favourite way to travel.

The Self-Drive Safari

A Kruger Park self-drive is a great way to see the park. The advantages of such a trip include driving along those roads you want to explore, rather than only travelling where the safari company takes you. You could say that the self-drive safari gives you more independence. Whether you are visiting from overseas and hiring a car to take you into the park, or if you are a local driving yourself through the Kruger, you’ll be itinerary free and have all the time to explore. Depending on how much time you’ll be spending in the Kruger, you may well end up travelling the entire park, stopping off at all of the monuments and lookout points as you go.

The biggest downside of the self-drive experience is that you can get rather tired quite quickly. You will spend most of the day driving yourself around and as a result, you might not get to spend all that time sightseeing. You still have to pay attention to the road after all.

Open Vehicle Safari

All those open vehicles you see in the pictures? They are actually the norm here in Africa. These open safari vehicles provide the right height to see over the vegetation which grows thickly here in the Kruger, while it also allows you to really take in all of those memorable smells. One of the best parts about hopping on board an open safari vehicle is that you won’t be doing any of the driving. Instead, you can kick back and relax. Safari vehicles are driven by expert guides who also have a keen eye for spotting even the most elusive of wildlife. This is the plus of any guided safari. You can be sure to see all kinds of animals by the time your time in the park comes to an end.

The Closed Safari Vehicle

If you don’t want the wind in your hair, or if we really can’t convince you that a cheetah won’t pounce on you, then you might want to consider the closed safari vehicle option. You’ll still have that once in a lifetime safari experience, but you’ll have it in the comfort of air conditioning. The visibility from these vehicles might not always be what you expect, and you might have to go on a shared safari, but you’ll still have a most memorable time.

Shared Kruger Park Safari

Ideal for anyone on a budget or who has no problem sharing their time with a group of strangers, there is something comforting and exciting about sharing a Kruger Park safari. Sometimes the best experience is that which is shared with a group of people who are all looking to get the same thing out of their time here. Lifelong friendships can be forged when on a shared tour of the Kruger National Park.

A Private Kruger Park Safari

Finally, the last great way to see the Kruger is to embark on a private Kruger Park safari. Ideal for family groups or friends looking for a unique holiday, the private tour is the perfect trip. You won’t have to do any of the driving. Instead, you will be able to enjoy the same journey as those who you share it with.

Royal Safaris has some of the most wonderful Kruger Park safaris available to guests visiting from all of the world. Book your tour with us today!

5 Safari Tips You Might Have Missed When Planning Your African Adventure

Oct 10, 2018 | Kruger Park safaris

5 Safari Tips You Might Have Missed When Planning Your African Adventure

Sometimes the best safari advice you could get is from those who have been there and done that.

Experience is the best teacher you could hope for and the second best teacher is the advice you will read in this blog, advice from someone who has gone on a Kruger Park safari and who knows exactly what information you need.

Royal Safari, a Kruger tour operator specialising in unique and exclusive Kruger Park safaris, offers guests a different tour experience. We have breakfast tours of the Kruger as well as romantic dinner trips and nighttime drives into the quiet sanctuary of the park.

Along with these more luxurious safaris, we also offer full day Kruger Park trips, and this is where our helpful information might come in handy.

Our 5 Top Safari Tips!

1. Bring your older, comfortable shoes

Generally, your Kruger Park safari is experienced from the comfort of an open-air safari vehicle. There is the option of a walking safari but these are normally only available from one of the camps within the Kruger. So since the safari is done in a vehicle, why would you need comfortable shoes? To start with, you will still be doing some walking on uneven terrain, in hot weather. Bringing brand new shoes that have not yet been worn in can leave you with blistered, sore feet. You might also be doing some other walking trips while you are in this part of the world, so it wouldn’t hurt to have those comfortable shoes.

2. The right camera bag is as important as the camera

Buying (or having) the right camera, to capture those long-distance shots, is a must when travelling anywhere in the Kruger. You don’t have to have the most expensive camera in creation, but you should indulge yourself by getting your hands on a quality camera. Think of this as a future investment that you will be using for years to come.

But while you have put all of your thought into which camera would be best for your exciting South African safari, you might not be thinking about the camera bag. You’re probably thinking you’ll just use the one the camera comes with or buy the first cheap one you see.

The problem is, you will more than likely buy the black bag. And this means DUST! The Kruger is a dusty place, and your snazzy black bag is going to end up with a beige coat of dust long before your safari ends. Be smart and buy a neutral coloured, waterproof bag.

Bushveld seen on Afternoon Safari Marloth Park

Vultures spotted on Morning Safari Marloth Park

3. Don’t have a checklist

When visiting the Kruger National Park, you probably have a mental list of the animals you hope to see. Many guests come for the Big 5 and stay for all of the other interesting animals they see in the park. The key to a memorable safari is to let go of that mental list and keep an open mind. Lists can lead to disappointment when you end up not seeing the animals you’d hoped for. Besides, checklists are boring and they add a certain weight that might just stop you from really experiencing the safari.

4. Stick to the rules

All visitors to the Kruger have to obey a certain set of rules. These rules are as important for your safety as they are for the safety and the well-being of the animals. Your guide will inform you of the various rules before you enter the park and it is up to you to make sure that you stick to the rules while you are here.

5. Take lots of photos

We’ve mentioned the camera, we hope you have the camera, and now we’re going to tell you why you really need a quality one! For many visiting the Kruger National Park, it is going to be a once in a lifetime experience and this is the all-important reason to take as many photos as possible while on your Kruger Park safari.

Royal Safaris will make sure that you are prepared for your safari and you can send us any questions you may have before you arrive for your safari. We offer great rates and we invite you to experience the Kruger. Book your tour with us.

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