Which camp should I book in Kruger National Park?

Hi everyone, For those who’ve been following me... progress is being made! Anyway, just to recap for the others: I’m leaving Manyeleti (a private reserve) to do a self-drive safari in the main Kruger Park for 2 nights before heading to Blyde River Canyon (sharing all this so you can picture the route). So Satara seemed like a good base for the safari, except that you can only book accommodation in this non-private park through Sandparks to find a camp. Since Satara is fully booked, the only ones with availability for my dates are: Tamboti, Olifants, and Satara—wait, no, Satara’s full—so Letaba, sorry! Any thoughts on these camps? Because I can enter via Orpen and drive north (safari-style), which would let us explore, but: 1/ Too many km if we pick the farthest one, Letaba? If I leave Manyeleti (Honeyguide Mantobeni) after the morning safari, what time do I need to be at the camp by?

It’s all coming together—I just need to pick the camp based on distance, so thanks to all of you for your invaluable help! Dan

Above Travel times Arrive before the gates close, which varies by season Satara ???? There’s also the option of Skukuza, where there’s usually space available You’ll need to calculate the distances

Tamboti should work, but check the amenities carefully. No restaurant either.

What's Sataba? Letaba?

For the view, Olifants bungalow version has the best river view (restaurant version).

For a more bush-camp feel, Tamboti (no-restaurant version).

If there are spots available, Talamati is a real bush camp (so no restaurant).

You should do your grocery shopping before entering the park or in Satara.

Letaba isn’t bad (it has a restaurant). Pretty busy, like all the main camps.

Check-in is from 14:00 until the park closes (depending on the season—between 17:30 in the southern winter and 18:30 in the southern summer).

You’ll have plenty of time to reach any of these camps since your lodge isn’t far from Orpen Gate and you’ll be at Orpen before noon.

Hi Attila, Thanks for the details. - Tamboti (shared ablutions, a bit lacking in comfort in my opinion) and it's for 2 nights! - Olifants: no availability with river views, obviously, and a bit far for then heading to Blyde River Canyon (3h12 and 175 km according to Google!), same as Letaba (distance to leave from there). - Talamati: I’ll check, but I think there wasn’t any availability since I didn’t note it down!

On the other hand, there’s availability at Skukuza, 152 km from Orpen Gate/Paul Kruger Gate according to my table, but Google says 76 km and 1h50!? And it’s a bit closer than Olifants for reaching Blyde—what a headache!

Thanks for the check-in times; that gives a bit of breathing room. I’m not too keen on cutting it close either, since the trip from Manyeleti to Kruger is also a chance for a safari/en-route drive if the access roads are inside the park and not just from gate to gate via the outside.

Have a great day! Dan

Hi Michel Yes, of course the distances also influence the choices! I had a grid, a bit different, so thanks—I’ll also look at yours. Have a great day Dan

Don’t trust Google Maps

You leave Manyeleti via Orpen Heading to Skukuza The Kruger sign says 5h30 It’s doable without dawdling… on the way back from the morning drive Quick breakfast Everything’s ready We’re counting on ½ hour to leave Manyeleti ½ hour to enter Kruger H7 H1-3 H1-2 Bathroom break at Tshokwane

Is October a good time? Gates close at Skukuza at 6 PM Don’t dawdle After that, you’ll exit via the Kruger Gate

Could you give us a roadmap again? Plus, since I’m answering in several threads, I’m a bit lost

There are bungalows with bathrooms in Tamboti.

On safari, you wake up early—very early. You can be at Blyde for lunch.

Google doesn’t account for private roads. Don’t use it to navigate between points in the park’s wider perimeter.

For Skukuza, it’s a long way—very long—via Orpen and the park’s interior. More realistic to go outside the park and enter through Paul Kruger Gate.

Personally, I’d choose any accommodation in Olifants over Skukuza. That camp is too big, way too big.

Yes Michel, October is perfect! Okay, but Skukuza seems like a real tourist factory—I’m not really into that! I’ll keep looking without straying too far for the next stop, trying to see if I can find something with sanitary facilities at Tamboti. If not, I’ll split the two nights like Attila suggested! I’ll keep you posted, see you later… and thanks! Dan

You wouldn’t happen to have a road book for us, would you? Plus, since I’m responding to several discussions, I’m a bit lost

I get it, so here’s the plan: Arrival in Johannesburg on 10/10 + flight to Hoedspruit 10/12 (2 nights) MANYELETI (Honeyguide Montobeni tented lodge) 12/14 (2 nights) KRUGER 14/15 (1 night) BRC, Tree Rondavel, Panorama Route and river walk 15/17 (2 nights) BALULE (Imagine Africa luxury tented camp) 17/24 (7 nights) CAPE TOWN, HERMANUS ...

So, we were at the Kruger part, and based on your comments, tips, and Attila’s advice, here’s where I’m at: 12/13 (1 night) drive from Honeyguide to Satara – night at SATARA CAMP, safari while heading up to Olifants 13/14 (1 night) OLIFANTS CAMP (BD2V or BBD2V) and early departure for Blyde River Canyon, Orpen to Satara: 48 km Satara to Olifants: 54 km Olifants to BRC: 175 km / over 3 hours!!! Can you confirm this? And isn’t this where it gets tricky?

I need to decide quickly for the bookings! Thanks for the feedback Dan

Hi again Attila, So we were at the Kruger part, and based on your comments and advice as well as Michel’s, here’s where I’m at: 12/13 (1 night) drive from Honeyguide to Satara – night at SATARA CAMP, safari while heading up to Olifants 13/14 (1 night) OLIFANTS CAMP (BD2V or BBD2V) and very early departure for the Blyde River Canyon, Orpen to Satara: 48 km Satara to Olifants: 54 km Olifants to BRC: 175 km / over 3 hours!!! Do you confirm? And isn’t that where it gets tricky? I need to decide… fast for the bookings! What do you think of the itinerary and the camps? Thanks for the feedback, Dan

That must indeed be it. On an African safari, you wake up early. In Kruger, as soon as the camp gates open, you're already on safari… So by mid-morning, you're at Blyde. And that’s when I ask the question again: Are you *sure* about Imagine Africa?

Yes, from Olifants to Blyde isn’t exactly close. The day’s going to be packed.

Any availability in the opposite direction?

Or Satara then Pretoriuskop?

YES, as I explained, it was the agency's choice that we had selected before deciding to do it on our own, and it seemed fine to me, so we kept the dates and most of the itinerary we had planned together. Why this recurring question—I get the feeling you don’t have any stakes in this! ;) Actually, isn’t it any good?

What’s the issue with this camp? (Apart from the price)

I stayed at Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge some time ago, and even though private reserves aren’t usually my thing, I had a great time there (the safari team was super professional).

Wait, the other way around?! Manyeleti/Olifants/Satara/Blyde? If that’s what you’re thinking, is it doable to leave after the morning safari at Manyeleti and head up to Olifants? Or Blyde and then Kruger... but that seems like a lot of back-and-forth, whereas from Manyeleti I’m not far from Kruger, and closer to Balule than I’d be to Kruger. Then again... After Prétoriuskop, it’s a long way down, right? But maybe shorter to reach Blyde? Otherwise, Skukuza (I know you don’t like it, and I probably won’t either if it’s a zoo), but I need to solve this puzzle before you all get tired of me! 🤪 I have the km between gates, but not for routes outside the park, so it’s hard to figure out the best route! Dan

Pretoriuskop is perfect for Blyde. You’ll even have time to do a safari in the morning.

You’ve got the whole day to reach this camp. No problem. There are picnic spots and Skukuza along the way for breaks. You can alternate between dirt roads and tarmac.

Expect about 30 km inside the park on average.

Outside and in this area, plan for 60 km.

Pretoriuskop is just over an hour from Graskop, the southern entrance to Blyde Canyon.

I think all the lodges in private reserves are way more expensive than the camps! But even when picking them, you can get them for half the price compared to booking through an agency—even after I reviewed their whole proposal! Dan

That sounds pretty good, Attila! Not as far as the 3H/175 km from Olifants to Blyde! But still 180 km from Orpen on my chart, and I’ll be leaving my lodge in Manyeleti after the morning safari, so we won’t really have the whole day. Unless in your plan, we spent one night in Satara and the last night in Pretoriuskop to head to Blyde the next day—but not after a safari since we’ve got lots to see there, plus the river walk in the Canyon. And the next day, we’d need to be at Balule (the famous Im:magine !) by late morning to catch the afternoon safari. This setup would let me do a safari in Satara on the 12th after leaving Manyeleti and another one the next day on the way down to Pretoriuskop, since I guess you prefer that camp over Skukuza or Lower Sabie!? You mean for the return trip to Blyde, we can drive 30 km/h on the tracks inside the park and 60 km/h on the roads outside the park? But for Orpen/Satara/Pretoriuskop/Numbi Gate, we’ll be at 30 km/h the whole way!? We’ll make it, we will... Dan

Okay, I’m just sharing my opinion here. Olifants Reserve is in the north. The concession is only 7,500 hectares, but it seems to be part of Balule, which is twice that size. Personally, I have my doubts. It might be really nice, but it’s nothing like Manyeleti, Kruger, etc. You just need to know that beforehand. And I could be wrong!!!!

Manyeleti - Phabeni Gate is a little over two hours, Then Pretoriuskop just over an hour inside Kruger. That gives you plenty of time. Or Manyeleti - Numbi Gate a little over 2h30, then Pretoriuskop is very close. Makes sense! From there, Panorama Road is about 1 or 2 hours away, and you can head up toward Hoedspruit. Great tip! Numbi Gate has lost its bad reputation.

Hi Michel, Thanks for jumping into our discussion with Attila today—we’re trying to make progress! By splitting the two nights, we’ve managed to find some bookings, at least for now!

I took note of your tips, but I’m not sure why Numbi Gate had a bad reputation! - Okay, we can skip Olifants without any issue for me. - I can also head to Pretoriuskop, as Attila suggested, which would be farther from Blyde than Satara but doable by going around the outside of Kruger.

But I really wanted to stay at Satara for the lions—how can I combine all of this? 1. Enter through one of the gates to Pretoriuskop, then drive up to Satara the next day for a safari, and head back to Blyde via Orpen Gate? How long would that take? 2. Or do the reverse?

at Pretoriuskop which would be farther from Blyde than Satara,

Closer, not farther...

But I really wanted to do Satara for the lions

This photo was taken near Pretoriuskop... Not at Satara.



or the other way around?

Yes

Balule is open to Kruger and is part of the Greater Kruger.

Let’s be clear Game drives: nothing at all, then suddenly it’s a fiesta Example: Karoo NP Lions are super elusive, same with black rhinos One hour in the reserve. Two black rhinos for an hour, then 1.5 hours later, a lioness and cubs right by the road KTP: lion kingdom Three days, nada Just as we’re leaving, 3 cheetahs and not a single lion We always arrived a hair too late or were in the shower when they passed by Anyway Satara X trips, didn’t see a single lion But Shingwedzi, yes! So for me, the chances of seeing a lion in Satara are about the same as in Pretoriuskop And at PK, you’re more likely to see rhinos At Honeyguide, the probability of spotting lions is high Anyway, I think Ms. Attila is suggesting a great tip After that, it’s up to you! !

Not sure what I was saying...

That’s true. But when it comes to RP, I’ve seen and heard so much fake talk that I’ve become suspicious—paranoid, even? And since I’ve been burned twice, which isn’t a huge percentage, Umkhumbe in Sabie (Sabie, seriously!) And Pumba GR near Port Elizabeth, which is now Gqeberha. And it’s not exactly easy to pronounce!

Hi there, Just for my own knowledge because I'm a bit confused! Based on my plan showing the private reserves, Balule is a private reserve, right? Since that's where we're going?! It's located behind Klaserie and Umbabat, so it doesn't seem to be open to the greater Kruger Are we talking about the same one? Have a great evening! dan

Thanks Michel, you're right—I think it's a lottery too. Nothing is set in stone, and we just have to let chance do its thing, especially since we don’t have a choice other than trying to stack the odds in our favor by going... to the right side!! And by listening to what people say on this forum, and I *am* listening... but in the end, we still have to make a choice, good or bad, and we won’t even know how it turns out! I thought Attila was a man—go figure... I’ll share the itinerary I’d more or less finalized in my next post, though now it might get revised because of the big detour to Sataara! Catch you later, and have a great evening! Dan

Okay, I'm back with an itinerary I'd planned for Kruger to wrap things up, but that was BEFORE reading both of your latest posts: - 12/10: Arrival from Manyeleti, head to Satara for an afternoon and evening safari, night at Satara, - 13/10: Very early start for a safari-style drive to Pretoriuskop and overnight there, - 14/10: Very early start for the drive to Graskop and activities along the Panorama Route—river walk, round huts, waterfalls, the panoramic lift, etc.—for the remaining afternoon, night in Graskop, - 15/10: Drive to Balule at Imagine Africa Lodge for a guided safari in the afternoon, the next day, and the following morning before flying out of Hoedspruit to Cape Town and returning the car.

Now, I’m reconsidering whether this Satara/Pretoriuskop road day makes sense, with the alternative of chilling for 2 nights at Pretoriuskop and heading to Lower Sable or Skukuza instead! We’ll never know if I’d see more wildlife either way!

Let me know what you think—let’s finalize this! A thousand thanks to both of you for your insightful advice, and have a great evening! Dan

There’s Kruger Park, the public reserve. And then there’s the Greater Kruger, an area that includes private reserves open to Kruger Park.

Animals can move freely throughout the entire zone.

A reserve that isn’t part of the Greater Kruger is a closed-off place—basically a bigger zoo. Kapama, for example.

There was a time when there was a barrier between KNP and the adjacent reserves. The historic reserves are: Sabie Manyeleti (formerly the only reserve where non-white people were allowed to go) Timbavati I remember the barrier. Today, except for the animals, no one is allowed to enter Kruger even though the barrier has disappeared and the private reserves (PR) are on the border. The barrier was thus pushed back to the limits of the aforementioned PRs. Then the barrier made another leap by integrating Klaserie, Umbabat, which is private-private, Balule, which is effectively in contact with Kruger through the reserves in between. The Greater Kruger is a term that doesn’t really make sense. It includes the old reserves, the others, and now many more, of which a good part is Fake. Fake wilderness reserve. Animals fed by hand, etc., etc. That’s why I’m so wary. Every time I see a report, especially on TF1, I jump in my chair hearing the comments or what’s said… But tourists are either gullible or misled. It’s like petting lions that have been rescued, etc., etc. A huge lie.

Don’t spend a night in Graskop. It’s a step back down! (You’ll already pass through Graskop from Prétoriuskop anyway.)

But after the three rondavels.

Here’s an example of a stop at Blyde in this travel journal.

“I thought Attila was a man, go figure...” It’s true that the quality of his answers makes you think he’s a man— a cruel one at that, and one after whom the grass doesn’t grow back, and who cooks his steak under his saddle! Don’t throw stones at me!😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

Going to Lower Sabie takes you far away I still love Mrs. Attila’s version Honeyguide Pretoriuskop Panorama Road

Does this suggest a second season in Cape Town?

Hi there, it's me! Well, I’ve got everything saved! That history of the reserves was really informative—thanks so much for sharing it with me! So, Manyeleti, the old reserve, is a yes, and Balule is part of the greater Kruger but is private. Does that mean the private reserves I’ll be visiting don’t have truly wild animals?! Hand-fed by humans? Ugh… I paid a lot for a wildlife park 😉 Anyway, I’ll need to review this—I don’t remember everything! Either way: - No nights in Graskop, but after the three game drives (I’ll check out your site tomorrow) - We’re skipping Satara, Lower Sabie, and I’m guessing Skukuza too? I’ll just circle around the camp, won’t I? 🙂 And since I didn’t mention it earlier—I thought your specialty was Kruger and I’d already asked you enough—but yes, of course, 7 nights in Cape Town, with an internal flight after Balule on 17/10 (I need to book it—I was waiting to sort out this puzzle!). Hoedspruit/CT, and then the rest is still being planned. I’ll let you know… we’re getting attached, huh?! 😉😉 I’m really going to feel like you’re coming with us!! Alright, off to make those bookings for tomorrow… Have an excellent evening, both of you, with all my gratitude. We’ll see if I want to scratch your eyes out when I get back! 😎 Dan

A real private reserve is truly wild. A fake private reserve is small. Having lions in less than 15,000 ha is really tricky. Elephants… that’s tricky too. So some places embellish the wildlife experience—bringing in hay, calf carcasses, etc. Balule isn’t a fake reserve, but it’s not very wild either. Manyeleti is truly wild. Minimal interaction with the natural environment. Anyway, A long discussion In a boma with some amarula.