A Guided Group Safari in Kruger

Next on our list of ways to go on safari in the Kruger Park is the guided group safari. Again, pretty self-explanatory, you will join a guided safari in the Kruger Park with a group of other tourists. There are a few variations of this, but for the most part, it is 6-10 individuals. Haphazardly booked from around the globe, onto a set schedule, that starts on a certain date and ends on another. These are ideal for travellers who are on a budget and enjoy meeting people on their travels.

A quick internet search will bring up all the variations and the many, many options of each. So, where do you start?

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Things to consider:

The words ‘in Kruger’.

Groups will usually be accommodated outside the actual Kruger (at a lodge) for the convenience of dealing with many people. In other words, serving of meals, room availability and allocation, checking in and out, etcetera. All of which would be more difficult staying within the Kruger Park Camps. Yes, the game drives will take place in the Kruger Park (mostly), but make sure to check how many and for how long.

I covered the differences of staying outside the Kruger and not inside the reserve in detail in the self-drive section; read it here.

Otherwise, here’s a quick recap:

• Ensure the lodge you are staying in is either on the border of Kruger, on a small wildlife reserve with animals or both to get maximum value. Not in a city/town hotel.
• Check the travel time to get to a main gate to enter Kruger. I’d say over 20 minutes and you are really starting to cut into your safari time for no reason. Plus in this case, you’ll be in an open vehicle (which is just not comfortable for the open road).
• Also consider when you arrive, there will be a further lag time whilst your guide checks you in.
• As mentioned above, check the timing of your drives. Are you getting to the park and leaving at the best times to view game (sunrise and sunset)? Again, you could be wasting your time if you are entering the Kruger mid-morning and then leaving as the sun starts to dip. You may get lucky and have great weather; you may get a blistering hot day and see very little.
• Further to this, your itinerary might have only one full day exploring Kruger. Do you really want to put all your eggs in one basket so to speak? So check how much of your multi-day safari is actually taking place inside Kruger.

I understand, the above points to consider can sound quite negative. However, they are just that, considerations, but unfortunately they can make or break your experience. So take it as a Pro tip – Some operations will tick all the boxes and some only a few. Some will tick hardly any, and I’d humbly say avoid these, as you are gambling with your money. The cost of the trips will be on a sliding scale according to these check boxes. If you avoid the lower end of the spectrum (no ticks for the cheapest rate), then you should find the balance between the safari you are hoping for at your best price.     

If you need help booking and choosing the best option for you, contact us We have a bunch of preferred operators we work with, that we know tick the right boxes!

How do I know if this is the right option for me?

Let’s say, you have done your research of the considerations I listed above and you have narrowed down a couple of packages you like that tick the boxes. Then you need to decide which is best for the price you are looking at. So let me give an example of a good and then a less than ideal package, and break each down into pros and cons.   

Here is an example of a good package:

You can join a 3 night Kruger safari tour that leaves from Johannesburg and transfers you to a lodge (3 Stars +) on a small game reserve, 5 minutes from the Kruger Park. You’ll arrive in the late afternoon, and then check in. After which you can enjoy a quick afternoon snack at the bar area (for own account or maybe included). Then commence on an afternoon game drive (in an open safari vehicle) of the reserve, which does not have the Big 5 except for buffalo & the elusive, hardly ever seen leopard (everywhere has this big cat it seems).

However, it is a great introductory game drive. You see giraffe, antelope and zebra. You’re out in nature which is the main purpose of your trip, and you get to enjoy your first epic African sunset. You return to camp, freshen up and then enjoy a tasty but simple dinner served around a glowing fire, whilst getting to know your new travel companions. Also, you are out in nature, so (if you take the time to move away from the crowd) you will hear the awesome sounds of the bush all around you and look up at the endless African sky, a full universe of stars above you!  

Next morning you’re up early; you leave before sunrise and are at one of the Kruger gates at opening time. Once again in an open safari vehicle, the short drive means you don’t get uncomfortable. Coffee/ tea and biscuits are served and you enter the park at the optimum time for viewing your nocturnal animals still on the move I.E. your big predators. You have a great morning drive, as the sun warms the bushveld the general game also start to move toward the waterholes and you get nice close encounters with them. Mid-morning, you stop at a camp or picnic site and enjoy another coffee with some breakfast snacks (yoghurt, muffins and so forth). You then continue on your way and get a few more great sightings, but now the heat of the day is kicking in and the animal movement starts to quieten.

Now, there are 2 ways this can go from here. Either your guide stops at one of the Kruger camps which allows you to buy brunch or lunch and have some downtime for a couple hours during the hottest part of the day. Otherwise, if the lodge is close to Kruger, you exit and go back there for an included lunch. You can kick your feet up and even have a dip in the swimming pool. Either way, you begin the afternoon drive refreshed and excited for what’s in store as the day begins to cool. You drive until gate closing, in other words sunset, increasing your chances of seeing some predators substantially, as they begin to move. After an incredible Kruger sunset, you exit the park and are back at camp within a short period. You grab a drink at the lodge bar, gather around the camp fire and reflect with your new friends on a great day in the bush. Dinner of course is served again in the ‘boma’, under the stars!

Then the next day, the process is repeated, where your guide explores a different area of Kruger with you. The good amount of time you are spending game driving the reserve, at the best times for viewing game, is significantly increasing your chances of ticking off all the wildlife on offer. The day is a great success, you feel fulfilled and most important, relaxed. You don’t feel like it has been rushed and you had the time to take it all in and even to connect with nature.

Last morning, you wake early once again, but this time you do a bush walk on the lodge reserve. It’s a great experience and something you wouldn’t have thought to include. You return to a hearty breakfast before checking out and returning to Johannesburg.

 Alright, so let’s explore the positives of the above experience

This breakdown, lists the boxes you should be looking to tick. If the package you choose has most of these and looks a lot like what I have described above. Then in my opinion, you should have a fantastic safari experience, to fit your budget.

• The transfer from Johannesburg to Kruger Park is included. Bonus if it is guided, not just a driver. This really enhances the experience, knowing what you are looking at, hearing the history and culture of SA, and helps the long drive go quickly.
• The lodge is on a game reserve with animals, wildlife and natural bush.
• The lodge is close to Kruger, with minimal time to get to the reserve entrance gates. Bonus points if the lodge has a view into the Kruger Park.
• You get straight into the safari experience, taking your first drive in the lodge reserve. Bonus points if the reserve has most or all of The Big 5 or your first drive takes place in Kruger for this purpose. The reason I say, in most instances, the lodge won’t be on a Big 5 reserve, is this usually increases the cost substantially. Which would then push the experience into the luxury lodge category, which we will cover later.
• Your game drives are conducted in an open safari vehicle. However, be aware of the exposure to the elements on these and other pros and cons, as covered in the self-driving section here.
• This point was basically covered in point 2, but once again, you are being accommodated out in the bush. So enjoying a boma dinner and being able to hear and smell the wilds is what you ultimately came for.
• Next morning, you are at the gate at opening time, sunrise. Ready to start the Big 5 Safari at the best time to view game. I was tempted to say ‘arguably the best time’, but on second thought, there is no argument. On a percentage basis, you are most likely to have quality sightings of leopard, lion and other large predators within the first 2 hours after sunrise, period!
• The flexibility to have downtime over midday, especially on those notoriously extremely hot Kruger Park days.

*There is a hidden con in here, and it is to do with the group tour environment. If you don’t want downtime and would prefer to keep driving and exploring, then you would all, as the group, need to agree. Otherwise, the itinerary needs to go ahead as planned. A mean feat to achieve when you have 10 individuals all with their own point of view, but made easier by the fact you’ve been there since dawn, and going to drive until sunset, and do it all again tomorrow.      

• On safari until sunset. As the day begins to cool and wind down, the animals once again begin to move. Sightings of general game start to improve, and chances of something special increase. The last hour in particular (the golden hour) is magical, and very often, a great predator encounter occurs. Dawn is best, golden hour is a very close second.
• Your safari itinerary includes multiple days to explore the Kruger Park. Remember, the Kruger is an incredibly large area and the animals roam freely and how they want. ‘Eggs all in one basket’ as mentioned earlier, can lead to disappointment. However, give yourself a couple of ‘bites at the cherry’ and Kruger is sure to deliver.
• Further to the last point and another little hidden pro by choosing a safari of this nature. Which, let’s be honest, can be a bit of a tourist farm. Does mean the guides have their finger on the pulse, so to speak. They are in and out of the park daily and therefore are highly aware of the game movement, availability of water, kills that were made and so on. This can be a huge advantage and avoid time wasting, as discussed in the self-drive section.      
• The itinerary is not ‘go, go, go’, allowing time to actually enjoy the environment you are in. One of the very special features of a reserve like the Kruger Park is the sheer vastness, and to take a chance to just be present in it, is a magical feeling.
• The last morning activity, a bush walk. As mentioned is a unique experience, that is not about game viewing (usually little is seen) and leans more into the point above about connecting with nature. It is not one people always think of or even know is possible. However, it can be a bit of a tough one, as perhaps a game drive would be something most guests would go for. Especially if there are some animal species still missing from the list. So maybe a ‘and/ or’ on the itinerary would work better, but then we go back to the group environment for making decisions on the itinerary.

One thing I only touched on briefly was the group size, mainly as I don’t know what the right or wrong answer is here. It is very dependent on what you the individual like. The extrovert thinks the more the merrier. The introvert, the opposite and all the other personalities in between have their own preferences. I did mention 10, and I’d say look for that or less if possible. My main reason for this thought process is the size of the game drive vehicle. Almost all have 10 seats max, which means the group won’t split up and this eliminates the very likely event that one vehicle has a special sighting and the other misses it.

That being said, a lot of the busy operators have multiple groups overlapping. So the disappointment can become unavoidable, as you’ll interact with other travellers who may have had a spectacular day, and you’ve had a very average one. That is, unfortunately, the bush, and that is what makes it all the more exciting.

Okay, so that would be the ideal scenario in the group tour category.

Let’s look at a quick example of a less-than-ideal package:

You can join a 2 night Kruger safari tour, which you catch a shuttle from Johannesburg to a backpacker type establishment (3 Stars). It is set in lush gardens, near town and 25 – 35 minutes from the nearest Kruger Park entrance gate. Here you meet your guide for your trip and he briefs you at the bar. Simple itinerary, chill tonight and do whatever you want. However, there is not much else to do other than have dinner (usually included) and socialise around the bar afterward. Next day, breakfast is at 7am, departure for Kruger is at 8am. Drive in an open safari vehicle, on the main road, for 30 minutes +. Arrive at 8:30-8:45 and wait whilst your guide checks you in. Finally entering the Kruger 9ish, 3 hours since sunrise!

However, you don’t really know much better. The morning is still fairly cool and the general game is moving to the watering holes. Your guide stops at one of the popular ones and it is teeming with animals, zebra, elephant, buffalo, hippo, giraffe and antelope. You are ecstatic, this in your mind is amazing, and it is. You even come around the bend and a bunch of cars are parked. After a bit of waiting, you pull up and see a pride of lion chilling in the shade, not too far from the road. You have been in the reserve for 2 hours now and already seen so much, but now it is 11am and the heat of the day kicks in. The bush falls silent. You drive until noon or longer and you are still seeing animals as you travel down beside the main river, but they aren’t moving much. Your chances of seeing a predator on the move are severely low, all you can really hope for is a leopard in a tree or other predator resting.  

Eventually, feeling rather uncomfortable in your vehicle now, your guide pulls into one of the main camps for a pit stop. They give you 45 minutes to grab something to eat from the takeaway or restaurant, where you can enjoy the tranquillity of the passing river. Only for a quick bit though, then it is back on the van and out into the wilderness again so as to cover a bit more ground before you have to leave. The drive continues for a couple more hours, it is cooling now so you get a few more nice sightings and you are starting to feel a bit more comfortable. The light begins to soften and your excitement begins, as you notice the bush is awakening now and your anticipation grows. Then you round the last bend and there before you is the exit gate. Just like that, it is over, you feel a little emptiness inside because Kruger has shown you her magic and you just wish you could bask in it for a while longer. However, you accept it and arrive back at the accommodation, hit the bar with your travel companion and the chatter begins, recounting the cool sightings you had during your safari.

The next morning you check out after breakfast and catch the shuttle back to Johannesburg. You are happy with your trip and taking some fond memories with you, but you wish you just had a bit more time.

So let’s break down the ‘bad’ safari experience.

• You don’t have a guided transfer or even a private vehicle. It is very advantageous to be collected or met with a vehicle with your fellow travellers at a certain time. Then no more thinking after that, it is all planned for you until you are returned on the last day. Plus, on the way you can get to know your tour group, much easier than arriving at the accommodation and then trying to break the ice. I already mentioned the benefits of having a guide to enhance the lengthy drive with his knowledge.

• Your accommodation is not in a natural environment, you can stay in town anywhere in the world, why would you on a safari trip.

• There is no activity on the first day. Wasting time sitting in a bar which again you can do anywhere. At the other lodge I described, you can also have a good few drinks and socialise to whatever hour, if that is what you like. Don’t get me wrong, I like a good party, but there is a big difference between being around an awesome camp fire and socialising with your new mates, than sitting in a bar with the music turned up.

• The obvious which I keep on about. You start your safari late and end it early. Missing the first 2 great hours and leaving before the golden hour, not ideal if you are hoping for an up close and personal predator sighting.

• You do a lot of the game drive over the heat of the day. You are in an open vehicle, so the heat and dust can become a bit much.

• It is rush, rush, rush. At the lunch stop, you are just starting to catch your breath and relax and connect with the vastness of Kruger. Then you are shepherded back onto the vehicle and you’re off again. Also, the guides on these types of trips tend to feel under pressure to produce as many sightings as possible. Especially if the big one, lion, hasn’t been ticked yet. You start to rush from sighting to sighting, when you would rather just enjoy what is in front of you.        

Okay, I admit that scenario is a bit exaggerated: 

However, you would be surprised, supply and demand. There are some people out there that need this type of trip (on a budget, time limit etcetera), so these itineraries exist. I said I’d give you both sides of the spectrum, the closer you can move toward the better side and stay within your budget, the more enjoyable safari you will have. Maybe in the bad example, you have 3 nights. Improving your chances by having a second full day in Kruger exploring another area, but it will be the same itinerary. Get in late and leave early, so still not ideal, but better. Just look to check as many of the right boxes I describe and you’ll be fine.

Alright, so let me break the group safari into the general pros and Cons, considering the ‘good’ safari as above:

Pros	Cons
Planned itinerary from start to finish. No stressing about timings, directions and all that.	The itinerary is very rigid. People have contacted me for a private safari, because their scheduled flight landed an hour after the group safari they wanted to book was due to leave. The operators wouldn’t budge and they rarely do. Then as mentioned earlier, if you want to change the plan, due to weather or other, the entire group has to agree.
Having a dedicated guide. Enhances both the road transfer and of course the safari drives in Kruger, and are there to answer any other questions or concerns you may have.	A lot of operators don’t schedule guides for the transfers. It is an additional expense they don’t see necessary. It is a bonus if you do and even more so if he is with you for the entire trip, including the drives in Kruger.
No hidden costs (again if you choose well), which I covered in the self-drive option.	No real cons against hidden costs. Just make sure to read the fine print and you will know what additional expenses you can expect. A typical example is entrance fees, often this is not included, so be aware. If it isn’t included and not declared, then ask!
Like-minded travel companions (hopefully, see cons) to meet and share the experience with.	Travel companions. We covered this previously as well in self-drive Safaris, when joining an open vehicle drive. You are always going to run the risk of an annoying person on your trip. At least on just a 3 hour game drive it won’t affect your whole experience. On a group safari, there is no escaping them for 4 full days and can be a deal breaker!
Budget. Not much of a surprise here, travelling in a group and sharing costs will make this the cheapest safaris you’ll find, other than self-driving, but remember the ‘hidden costs’ I mentioned about that. These are covered for you in point 1 of pros, making this better value for money, in my opinion.	So, here you need to consider the value for money, which is better than self-drive because of factors like time, decision making, relaxation, hidden costs and so forth. However, you need to look at what value you’ll get by paying a bit more (or even quite a bit), to avoid the cons we are listing and getting a private safari experience.
Following on with budget, your game drives will all be in open safari vehicles. Sharing costs means this is affordable for the operator. Which is not always the case as covered next in the private safari category.	I have touched on this numerous times now through the series. Everybody imagines a safari has to be in an open vehicle, hair blowing in the breeze. The reality is, wind and dust in the eyes, bugs, heat and rain are all factors. If your itinerary has a few hours in the morning (freezing in winter) and a couple more in the afternoon, that is great. When driving for 8–10 hours, every day, this could even  be considered a con.

Okay, so that is basically it, except for 2 more things. I wrote right in the beginning about how ‘most’ of the group safaris use accommodation outside the actual Kruger and rarely stay within the reserve itself. However, there are some operators that do have itineraries that make use of the camps within Kruger. They most probably won’t have guaranteed departures, as they need to get the requests first, then team up guests together and look for the accommodation in Kruger to suit. So this is why most operators don’t do it this way and follow the other model I have described. As it gets complicated trying to align traveller dates, availability and so forth, so most don’t want the headache and prefer the ridged way of things.

If you can find one of these, then great, it is probably a good choice. As you’ll notice, is my theme throughout this blog series. I advocate, when choosing a safari, to immerse yourself as much as possible in the wilderness to get the full experience. This by no means ‘roughing it’ either, as you’ll see as we move onto the next safari types, private guided and luxury guided.

The 2^nd thing, is the overland ‘safari’ experience. So I never included this, as I am writing to help decide on the best Kruger safari. Overland’s, by nature hit a number of different destinations in as many days. So expect your Kruger leg to be but a fleeting glance, probably 2 nights max. The one positive of these, is generally you stay with in Kruger for those nights, maximizing your wildness experience. But yes, if you are into 10 stops in 12 days, and are looking to see as much diversity as possible, as quick as possible. Then by all means look into an overland safari, but that is a whole new way of travel to dissect another time.

However, once again contact us and we can book you onto one of our preferred partners’ overland experiences.      

Guided game drives

This is where the pros and cons of a self-drive versus a guided experience really come to the fore. Everything up until this point has had its advantages and disadvantages. However, having a guide to help you explore the wilderness can be invaluable. The main benefits being: game spotting, identifying and interpretation of the animals. If you are driving yourself, you must seriously consider buying a wildlife field guide of sorts. The map book you purchased can do the trick as it contains a checklist with some animal and bird illustrations. This is limited however and contains little info on the wildlife. 

Conclusion for a Guided Group Safari in Kruger:

Who does this type of safari suit best?

People on a budget, traveling solo (or in pairs), generally younger and who want an inclusive, guided experience. It also suits the extroverted, people who love to meet new people and these come in all ages. Most (and I say most) operators don’t have an age limit on their trips. If you don’t like the thought of a 50 year old dude, making corny jokes all tour long, then you may want to look into that!

So, I’d say, self-drive would best suit young traveling families and couples. Those looking to save money and have time on their hands. Then next, a solo traveler with both of the above, as well as looking for some solitude.

Prefer flexible timing or one one-on-one attention, up next…

The Private Guided Safari

Like what you have been reading? Decided on what is the right type of safari for you, but still need a little more help? Then email the Endless Summer team on bookings@endlesssummertours.co.za or contact us