Four tips to get the best out of your safari

Although there is much more to see and do in and around Hoedspruit, the Kruger Park with its wide variety of animals stays the biggest attraction. Here four tips to get the best out of your safari.

Choose the right season for a visit
Each season has its own pro’s and con’s and it is worth your effort to look into this and choose the right season for your needs. From October till March it is the rainy season so you can expect some rain. It can be quite warm in this time and there will be more insects. On the other hand, the bush will be lush and green and many young animals are born in this period. The denser vegetation can make it a little more difficult to see the animals though. From April till September

is the dry season and from May onwards the bush will look dry and less dense. In June and July it can be cold at night but the days are usually quit pleasant. There are almost no insects in this time and especially at the end of the winter the animals will concentrate around waterholes and dry riverbeds.

Choose the right routes
Some parts of the Kruger Park have more animals than others and in the far north you can see other species than in the south. In general you can say that the north is less densely populated with animals than the south, but you always need a little luck. More information about the Kruger Park, tips and information about the camps in the central and northern part and camps in the southern part you can find on Todio. If you stay at a lodge outside the Kruger Park, the managers there can usually give you good advice for routes for a daytrip.

Adjust your rhythm to the bushIn general the animals are more active in the early morning and late afternoon, they all take it easy during the hottest part of the day. In the cooler winter this difference is less noticeable, but in the hot summer you will see few animals between 11 and 3 o’ clock. So to improve your chances of good sightings you will have to get up early, which can be really early here in the bush; in summer the gates of the Kruger Park open at half past five in the morning and from the camps inside the park you can even start driving at 5 o’ clock already!
During the hottest part of the day you can take a little nap, just like the animals.

Enjoy the small thingsWhether you stay in one of the camps in Kruger Park itself or on a lodge just outside the park, whether you go looking for animals on your own or go on a game drive, always remember that you are looking for wild animals. You will always need some luck to see animals and especially the Big Five. Even when you follow the first three tips, it can take a while to see any large animals. Therefore don’t just focus on the Big Five and enjoy all animals that come on your path and realise how special it is to see them in their natural habitat.

Enjoy your safari and feel free to e-mail me for more tips and information.
Regards from the bush
Miriam