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.

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.

5 Reasons to Go On Safari with Us

Oct 6, 2018 | Uncategorized

5 Reasons to Go On Safari with Us

When you begin your search for a safari tour provider, you will without a doubt come across a phenomenal number of touring companies operating in and around the Kruger. Trying to figure out who you should book your tour with can be quite the undertaking, and you will need to compare far more than just the prices of the tours!

There are 5 big reasons why you should be booking your once in a lifetime, Kruger Park safari with us.

1. We have the vehicles

Having the right vehicles for the safari is a big deal. It is true that any vehicle can be used for a safari, but there is a big difference between using a real safari vehicle vs. a car. We have open safari vehicles as well as closed vehicles to suit all of our Kruger Park safari packages. The open vehicle is designed to give you more in terms of how much you can see. These vehicles are higher up and allow guests to look out over the vegetation!

The seating is arranged in different heights as well. This means guides can communicate to guests easily and your view won’t be obscured by your fellow passengers should you be on a shared safari. Tour guides don’t just point out the animals along the way. They also tell you all about the various animals and share various stories from their past tours.

2. We have the experience

We have many years of experience and this comes in handy when we plan our tours. We want to give you a memorable Kruger Park safari, the kind that will have you daydreaming about your time in the park for years to come. Our tours are ideal for the whole family while we also have a few tours designed specifically for couples looking for a romantic retreat.

Guests have the option of booking a single day or a half day touring the Kruger, stopping for breakfast or lunch, or guests can indulge in a champagne breakfast or a bush dinner. Our tours differ from other companies as they don’t include more than one day in the park. It wouldn’t be an over exaggeration to say that our tours are exclusive, even luxury.

In addition to Kruger Park safaris, we also have tailor-made Panorama Route tours and tours of Hoedspruit.

3. We have a variety of day tour packages

Sometimes all you need is a day in the Kruger, an escape from the city and time to unwind. It is great to be able to spend more than a day in the park, but when you are only in search of a day adventure, you will find that we have the best variety of Kruger day tour packages for you to choose from. We have private, morning and afternoon safaris as well as full day, afternoon and morning open vehicle safaris. Each of our safaris is done in one of the more popular areas of the Kruger, and area in which there are plenty of animal sightings.

In a day, you can easily see a whole lot of different animals and even the Big 5.

4. We go the extra mile

Your experience is important and we try to go the extra mile for all of our guests. We take care of your individual needs which means we are open to the option of customising our Kruger packages. A custom package means we can also give our guests different pricing options. You will get value for your money when on one of our safaris and we aim to ensure that you leave the Kruger with all kinds of memories.

5. We are in the perfect location

Royal Safaris is situated on the outskirts of the beautiful town of White River. We are about an hour and a half away from the closest Kruger gate. Not only does our close locality mean that you can have an early start in the Kruger without having to travel too far, but it also means that you can explore the surrounding areas when you are visiting the park.

Of all the Kruger Park safari companies, we are one of the best hosts you could choose. Now is a great time to visit the Kruger Park, just before the summer rains arrive. Be sure to book your tour today!