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How to plan your African Safari to Kruger National Park

Article By: Andy Saidy

How do I start planning my South African Safari?

Like many of us, you prefer to plan your holiday from start to finish, while also doing your research so you can end up with the best possible experience, in the shortest time possible for the best price. When it comes to planning your African safari, there are many things you need to consider before booking and paying for the highlight of your African holiday reservations.

Which safari lodge to choose?

It isn’t as simple a question as it may seem! You simply can’t decide which lodge/camp to choose based on some pictures or videos online or even from reading a few articles or chatting to a friend who visited Africa before. Of course these sources can be and most often are helpful in the decision making process but there are just too many unknown variables for a well informed decision to be made. This is where we come in to help you in your holiday planning journey, by smoothing out the edges of your plans, so you can rest easy knowing you’re getting the safari experience you always dreamed of.

If you are planning your first African safari, you must understand that doing a safari in East Africa (Masai Mara or Serengeti) is very different to doing a safari in other parts like Botswana or Kruger National Park in South Africa.

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Things to consider when planning your South African safari:

Let’s say that you decided to take the plunge and visit South Africa, that’s great! You’ve chosen to include a safari in Kruger National Park, as no visit to South Africa is complete without a safari in Kruger National Park or one of its famous reserves.

Now you will need to choose your dates and how long you will visit for, the route of your itinerary, where to start, cost of international flights, standard of accommodation and budget. All of the above will determine the experience you will have and the type of memories you will make.

Sabi Sands Lodges Reviews

Loved Nkorho!  
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Loved our time at Nkorho. Our guide, Matt, and tracker, David, were extremely professional and knowledgeable. The safari rides were

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Atlanta, Georgia   
Loved Nkorho!  
bgrove    Atlanta, Georgia   
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Loved our time at Nkorho. Our guide, Matt, and tracker, David, were extremely professional and knowledgeable. The safari rides were incredible and we certainly saw everything we came to see. The entire staff works hard to ensure a great experience for their guests. Our suite was great, very clean and comfortable . The swing was cozy on the front deck! Enjoyed our meals and evenings in the bar. Thanks to all for a great time!

Awesome experience  
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This was a great experience overall. The resort was nice and homely. Our ranger Kelsey and tracker Bennett were very

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Omaha, Nebraska   
Awesome experience  
latif8109    Omaha, Nebraska   
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This was a great experience overall. The resort was nice and homely. Our ranger Kelsey and tracker Bennett were very knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions that we had. The game drives were exciting and the search for the leopard was one of the highlights of the trip. The rooms were spacious, and the food was almost unending. The only downside, and understandably so, was the inability to move from one room to another, after dark. While our sons were older and able to stay on their own, families with slightly younger children may have to stay in one chalet. Strongly recommend it!!

“A memory for a lifetime”  
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I can´t stop thinking about my visit at Arathusa. Just want to go back. It was so amazing in every

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Stockholm - Sweeden   
“A memory for a lifetime”  
Twirly72 via tripadvisor    Stockholm - Sweeden   
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I can´t stop thinking about my visit at Arathusa. Just want to go back. It was so amazing in every way. The lodgin itself was so nice and luxury, the food excellent and you really had everything you could possible need.

MalaMala is the best  
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We had a great overall experience at Mala Mala. We saw abundant animals and several exciting interactions between them. Our

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San Diego, California   
MalaMala is the best  
Shannon S    San Diego, California   
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We had a great overall experience at Mala Mala. We saw abundant animals and several exciting interactions between them. Our guide was knowledgeable and nice (the others in our group had a guide who had had incredible intuition for finding animals and we benefited from it). The rooms are nice, beautiful and comfortable. The food was good/okay... We were there for three nights and it seemed like there were a lot of repeats between the meals. The staff were all friendly and the customer service was great!

“Breathtaking scenery, service and amazing experience.”  
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I don't usually write reviews however, I travelled to Lion Sands with my girlfriend in March 2017, it was her

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London, UK   
“Breathtaking scenery, service and amazing experience.”  
Raymondo84 via tripadvisor    London, UK   
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I don't usually write reviews however, I travelled to Lion Sands with my girlfriend in March 2017, it was her birthday and I was planning to propose. From the moment the booking was made until the last minute we left the location the service was impecable.

“Fantastic Bush Experience”  
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Our family just spend 3 days in the Cottage.
The safaris were outstanding led by our intelligent and passionate guide


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Johannesburg, South Africa   
“Fantastic Bush Experience”  
Czerno via tripadvisor    Johannesburg, South Africa   
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Our family just spend 3 days in the Cottage.
The safaris were outstanding led by our intelligent and passionate guide Michael. We saw so much and learnt so much in the "Land That Time Forgot". Leopard with Waterbuck kill, wild dogs, Lion and Elephant swimming and wrestling in a dam and so much more!!
The camp manager Gary was so welcoming and friendly. His enthusiasm for the bush is infectious. Thanks for a wonderful time in a special place.
Also thanks for arranging a truly unique bat sighting!!!!
Stayed May 2017, travelled with family

“Leopards, lions, many elephants and much more!”  
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I cannot express how great my experience was at Idube, I have a lifetime of memories from the 4 nights

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Melbourne, Australia   
“Leopards, lions, many elephants and much more!”  
Brett S via tripadvisor    Melbourne, Australia   
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I cannot express how great my experience was at Idube, I have a lifetime of memories from the 4 nights we stayed there. Highly recommended.

"OY!" Watch That Charging Rhino!  
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Fabulous three days at Idube Game Reserve. Lovely people. amazing food. So many highlights. But one stood out. When we

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Boston, Massachusetts   
"OY!" Watch That Charging Rhino!  
Charles520    Boston, Massachusetts   
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Fabulous three days at Idube Game Reserve. Lovely people. amazing food. So many highlights. But one stood out. When we surprised a rhino and it charged our Land Cruiser, leave it to our guide, Brogan, to take care of business. With a sharp, "OY!", the rhino stopped it charge, turn around and trotted back to its mate. Note that the wifi was only available in the office when we went, but it's due for an upgrade any date. Pro-tip: No cell coverage, but the office has a cell tower booster. Turn off your wifi, and your phone will pick up the cell booster if you have a local phone or international plan

“You will not be disappointed...its amazing”  
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It's hard to put into words what a wonderful place this is , even before you arrive the staff are


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London, United Kingdom   
“You will not be disappointed...its amazing”  
stuBamville via tripadvisor    London, United Kingdom   
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It's hard to put into words what a wonderful place this is , even before you arrive the staff are extremely helpful with information and when you arrive they make you feel part of the lodge community not just a guest (truly welcoming).

The staff are genuinely interested in your adventure and happiness joining in stories and experiences of each game drive .Be prepared for the early starts 5.30 am game drive however believe me this is the best time of the day to see the animals and is a magical time to see the bush. The lodge and rooms are to a very high standard with all rooms having great views and the best bit being no fences !!!! YOU REALLY ARE IN THE BUSH 🙂 .
This is without doubt a luxury Safari

“Incredible experience at Sabi Sabi”  
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We just came back from our first ever safari trip. We went not knowing what to expect. After our first

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New York City, New York   
“Incredible experience at Sabi Sabi”  
Zack T    New York City, New York   
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We just came back from our first ever safari trip. We went not knowing what to expect. After our first game drive, we got to know why Sabi Sands Lodges are the best when it comes to big five game viewing. We managed to view all of the big five on one day.

The accommodation was perfect and the staff were exceptionally friendly. We are hooked, we will certainly visit Sabi Sabi again, very soon.

“Felt like home, but better”  
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We absolutely loved this resort. The staff is so warm and welcoming, the rooms and public areas are beautifully and

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United Kingdom   
“Felt like home, but better”  
Stacy C via tripadvisor    United Kingdom   
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We absolutely loved this resort. The staff is so warm and welcoming, the rooms and public areas are beautifully and comfortably decorated, the food was delicious (I'm a San Francisco foodie pescetarian and absolutely loved the food/presentation), and the game drives were unforgettable. Don't miss the bush walk--we walked through a field of butterflies, saw all kinds of animal tracks, and enjoyed a different view of the landscape we'd been driving through all week. I would also highly recommend visiting the Thornybush Community Project gardens with Gavin, where some of the beautiful food served in Sabi Sand resorts is grown by local women as part of a community collective. We also visited a school, which had an incredible impact on us. I loved Simbambili--a little piece of my heart is still there

“Good to be back!”  
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A wonderful visit that was nothing short of perfect. Amazing game sightings, the best I've had (and it is always

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London, United Kingdom   
“Good to be back!”  
Meohmy68 via tripadvisor    London, United Kingdom   
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A wonderful visit that was nothing short of perfect. Amazing game sightings, the best I've had (and it is always good), our Ranger and Tracker were great fun and very knowledgable, the staff were on the ball and the atmosphere and mood relaxed and attentive. My 6th visit, and great that Ulusaba is back to its best, thank you!

“Absolutely the best experience.”  
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Highly recommended. Amazing in many ways. Great safari experience. Unsurpassed food. Kind staff. Two safaris a day for three days.

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New Jersey, USA   
“Absolutely the best experience.”  
podrozniczka60 via tripadvisor    New Jersey, USA   
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Highly recommended. Amazing in many ways. Great safari experience. Unsurpassed food. Kind staff. Two safaris a day for three days. One extra walking safari midday. Excellent game viewing. Night time star gazing by the fire. Trip to the village. Great amenities. Boma, Observation points. Nice little library. The staff will walk you to your cabin at night. Our first time here was 2006 but this is the place to come for the best safari lodge experience.
This is the place to come back to.

“Couldn't have been better!”  
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My daughter and I spent 3 nights at Notten's in April 2017 and we loved everything about it! We loved

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Hobart, Australia   
“Couldn't have been better!”  
Mrs V via tripadvisor    Hobart, Australia   
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My daughter and I spent 3 nights at Notten's in April 2017 and we loved everything about it! We loved the fact that we were teamed up with the same driver/tracker/four other guests in the same car over the course of all the days - we had such fun together and really got involved in trying to spot the animals. And we were rewarded with multiple leopard sightings and the other big 5, as well as all the other beautiful animals - zebra, giraffes, kudu, impala etc - and many birds. The rooms - including outdoor shower, dining area, food, pool, gift shop, massage, the lovely candle light (and lack of electric lighting) and special sundowner by the river were all fabulous. We felt so relaxed and welcomed. The staff were professional and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble. They went the extra mile to engage with my 9 year old daughter. This place suited us perfectly. It was top class without being pretentious. Worth every penny - and actually better value than some other lodges. Recommended without hesitation. We hope to return one day. Thank you to all - Dale, Suzie, Gift, Desmond, Tulani, Riddent, Joe and everyone else (sorry if names are miss-spelt).

Stayed April 2017, travelled with family

“A continuation of the dream”  
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After spending 2 nights at the Dulini River Lodge we spent 2 nights at the Dulini Lodge. Even though both

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Maennedorf, Switzerland   
“A continuation of the dream”  
bscyb via tripadvisor    Maennedorf, Switzerland   
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After spending 2 nights at the Dulini River Lodge we spent 2 nights at the Dulini Lodge. Even though both Lodges are in the same Reserve and very close they offer a different athmosphere. The Dulini Lodge gives you a stronger "Africa feeling" in terms of decoration and setup in my view.

The bungalows are very spacious and well equipped.The welcome is kind and warm and the staff is amazing. They provided me with a special birthday dinner which made the stay even more memorable.

The game drives with the Ranger Fred and our tracker May where an experience. We saw a lot and as haveing been on Safari before we received so much more indepth information since we did not have to worry about seeing all the big 5 (which we saw anyway).

Will try to be back whenever possible

“Absolutely fantastic”  
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Everything wonderful, just come back from part of Titan Tour. We saw the big five and so much more. Couldn't

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Hampshire,UK   
“Absolutely fantastic”  
DillonHampshire_UK via tripadvisor    Hampshire,UK   
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Everything wonderful, just come back from part of Titan Tour. We saw the big five and so much more. Couldn't fault it and would love to go back. You have to be there to believe how good it is, and how close you get to what is after all wild animals. I could have almost touched one of the lions we saw!!

“Perfect place for safari”  
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This was a perfect place for a safari. We stayed in one of the two suites, and this was perfect.

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Lillehammer, Norway   
“Perfect place for safari”  
EvMe via tripadvisor    Lillehammer, Norway   
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This was a perfect place for a safari. We stayed in one of the two suites, and this was perfect. The game drives were so exiting. Of 8 game drives we saw leopards at 7 of them.
The staff were so friendly and helpful. The food was nice. The skills of the tracker and ranger was fantastic. It was so nice to follow how they read the tracks in the sand and bushes. We saw the big 5 and a lot more. If would go back? YES

“Look no further”  
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If you are planning a trip to S.A. And want to spend time in the bush, then Sabi Sands is


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Windermere, United Kingdom   
“Look no further”  
angiep389 via tripadvisor    Windermere, United Kingdom   
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If you are planning a trip to S.A. And want to spend time in the bush, then Sabi Sands is a must. We have been travelling to to South Africa every year for the past 12 years and stayed at many game reserves including the Krugar many times. This year we saved up hard and achieved our dream, to stay in Sabi Sands. All that I can say it's Well Worth every penny, the reserve is just something else! It's the best and it's a must, forget the rest push the the boat out and and stay at in Sabi Sands.. We chose Elephant Plains due to our budget. It was wonderful food fantastic, staff brilliant, service first class.
We saw the big five for the the first time in 12 years....
So if you are looking for a safari holiday then look no further this place is the best.
Memories we will never forget.


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Avoiding stopovers in places that don’t offer much to see or do:

You will want to minimize time spent at airports, unnecessary transit time and avoiding places where you don’t need to be. For example, many visitors will include Johannesburg in the itinerary as a pivoting point to visit Kruger and then from Kruger National Park to Johannesburg, then to Victoria Falls.etc

But you are losing precious time that can be spent discovering other great destinations and hidden African gems. If you get in touch or speak to an experienced travel consultant, you don’t have to worry about such inconveniences as they will assist you, planning a bullet proof itinerary free of meaningless stops in places which have nothing or very little to offer in terms of sights, value and safety while maximizing your holiday time to be just that.

“If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa.” 

* John Hemingway 

    wildebeest migration african wildlife     Londolozi Game Reserve Images 19

should I book through a tour operator or directly with lodges & hotels?

The question remains, should I book through a tour operator or directly with lodges & hotels? Booking through a local tour operator has many advantages. You’ll enjoy a one point of contact where you can make use of the operator’s knowledge and ask questions, one payment to make life easy and a personal service you can’t find when booking on a website that’s most likely fully automated. Even then we’ll help you out so you don’t have to worry about cancellation policies or other surcharges you might be liable for.

By booking through a trusted and experienced tour operator, you will have the luxury of negotiating better prices, discussing and designing the itinerary to your exact personal preference while also streamlining the entire planning process.

So why not leave all the nights of researching, filling of forms and paperwork to us so you can have a stress free vacation starting now.

 

Article By: Andy Saidy

"Andy has a number of years' traveling across Africa, visiting lodges and experiencing destinations first hand. He made the decision to leave the corporate world a few years ago to join us at Sabi Sands Lodges Reservations - African Travel Consultants, to enable him to pursue a life-long ambition and change his career path to one where by he can be actively involved with eco-tourism and wildlife conservation and in the process assisting guests putting their dream safari together. Andy has a huge passion for Africa, its people and its amazing wildlife.

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Experience The Sabi Sands Game Reserve