Is it safe to visit the Kruger National Park
Welcome to Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd – AWARD WINNING TOUR OPERATOR AND KRUGER NATIONAL PARK SAFARI SPECIALIST
If you are reading this, you are probably thinking of, or you are already planning a trip to South Africa’s largest wilderness reserve, Kruger National Park! With all planning in mind, safety is always a number one topic to discuss and should certainly be high up on your priority list.
Now, the question remains – is it safe to visit the Kruger National Park?
We have put together this useful newsletter regarding the safety, rules and regulations when visiting the Kruger National Park. This will hopefully answer all your questions regarding safety concerns when visiting the Kruger National Park in South Africa.
There are many safety questions one can ask when visiting the Kruger National Park, for example:
- Is it safe to visit the Kruger National Park?
- Is it safe to camp in the Kruger National Park?
- Is it safe to overnight in the Kruger National Park?
- Is it safe to go on a safari with an open safari vehicle in the Kruger National Park?
- Is it safe to do a self-drive in the Kruger National Park?
These are only a few safety questions that we will discuss…
General rules to ensure your safety in the Kruger National Park
STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE AT ALL TIMES – Visitors should remain in their vehicle at all times, unless you are entering a camp or designated area where you can exit the safety of your vehicle. Remember that wild animals roam free and can attack at any given time when you are not in the safety of your vehicle. Humans are also seen as food and predators will kill you if they have the opportunity to do so.
It is critical that you don’t expose any body parts from the vehicle. For example; do not sit on your car door window, do not hang out of the window; do not stick out any arms, legs etc. do not stand up through the sunroof, do not climb onto your vehicle, do not drive with an open side door or trunk.
Keep your doors locked, convertible roof closed as well as your sunroof window closed.
Always remain seated in your vehicle and you will be safe when visiting the Kruger National Park.
Always think smart!!
KEEP TO THE SPEED LIMIT– Remember when you are entering the Kruger National Park, you are entering a wildlife sanctuary or a “safe area” for animals. This means that we as humans are only visitors in this animal Kingdom and most importantly, we have to respect the animals and their safety.
When you drive, it is crucial that you keep to the speed limit at all times. Your safety as well as animals is very important! Always try your best to avoid hitting or killing animals that are crossing the road. Always be alert and mindful when driving or when approaching animals.
The speed limit on the tar roads are 50km/h and on gravel road the speed limit is 40km/h.
People caught speeding will be prosecuted or reported and will be dealt with accordingly. Speeding is a lawful offence!!!
DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE – Even though the Kruger National Park is a nature reserve, legal traffic laws are still in place as per the above speed limits and drinking & driving is also not allowed. Drinking under the influence of alcohol is punishable by law.
Drinking whilst driving can also lead to other safety issues. Always have your safety and the safety of the animals in mind whilst driving. Never drink and drive!!!
RESPECT THE ANIMALS AND VIEW THEM FROM A SAFE DISTANCE – Your safety and the safety of the animals in the Kruger Park is of utmost importance. Never speed towards oncoming animals or animals crossing the road. Always maintain a safe distance from the animals to ensure that they don’t feel trapped or threatened.
Give the animals enough space so that they can pass by freely and unharmed.
Give yourself plenty of space between yourself and an elephant or a herd of elephants. Elephants can be extremely aggressive and they can charge you and they will if they feel threatened. Make sure you have enough space between your vehicle and them in order for you to move away if the situation becomes unsafe.
MAINTAIN A SAFE FOLLOWING DISTANCE BETWEEN VEHICLES WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPING BEHIND SOMEONE – Always make sure you maintain a safe following distance, not just between you and the animals but also between you and the other road users.
Do not tailgate or follow closely behind someone. The person in front of you can break suddenly and it will cause you to either slam breaks on hard causing whiplash or even an accident.
Make sure when you stop behind someone that there is enough space between you and them, in order to move out of the position fast if need be. This is especially important when you stop to view an elephant or a herd of elephants. Elephants can suddenly (for no reason) charge, leaving you trapped in your vehicle without any space to do a quick maneuver in order to avoid a possible unsafe incident.
FEEDING OF ANIMALS – NEVER EVER feed or leave out any food for any animal in the Kruger National Park or any natural area for that matter.
Feeding animals can cause their death. Meaning; if you start feeding wild animals, they lose their natural fear for humans and will approach you. This will also prevent them from being able to look for their own natural food source and at the end they will associate people with food and will then later attack humans to get food.
In the end, these poor confused animals will have to be put down in order to avoid any safety issue.
ONLY DRIVE ROADS THAT ARE INTENDED TO DRIVE; DO NOT ENTER A “NO ENTRY” ROAD AT ANY TIME – Not all roads are equal. Some roads are not accessible by bus, caravans or large vehicles.
Some roads will be closed temporarily due to maintenance or flooding or for any other reason. Do not under any circumstances enter a closed or no entry road. Offenders will be prosecuted.
ENTRANCE GATES – Visitors visiting the Park should always keep to the time schedule and should not enter or exit the gate past any scheduled time. Latecomers will be fined.
IS IT SAFE TO VISIT KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AND STAY OVER IN THE PARK? – It is certainly safe if you follow a few simple guidelines.
For example:
- Do not walk alone after dark, as some animals can wander into fenced campsites. All campsites are fenced off with electric fencing. 99% of all camps in Kruger have electricity.
- When you do make use of overnight accommodation in Kruger, you should avoid walking bare feet to prevent getting stung my insects and scorpions.
- Always put out your fire at night to avoid ambers from creating a veld fire or burn down your or any accommodation.
- Always close your windows and doors to prevent insects, spiders, scorpions and snakes etc. from entering your accommodation.
- Always lock your accommodation unit when you are not occupying it.
- Never leave food unattended or outside your accommodation, it may attract unwanted animals like monkeys and baboons that are cute but very dangerous.
- Never leave your fire unattended.
- Make use of bug spray and insect repellant.
IS IT SAFE TO GO ON A SAFARI WITH AN OPEN SAFARI VEHICLE IN THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK? – Visiting the Kruger National Park and going on safari with an open safari vehicle is one of the safest ways to view animals in their natural habitat. Field Guides are trained and knows the Kruger Park very well. They are also trained to anticipate animal behavior in order to avoid unsafe situations.
HERE ARE A FEW FACTS WHY GOING ON SAFARI WITH AN OPEN SAFARI VEHICLE IN THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK IS WAY SAFER THAN GOING ON A SELF-DRIVE:
- If you go on safari with an open safari vehicle, you will enjoy the benefit of being guided by a registered and accredited Field Guide that knows the Kruger National Park very well.
- Your Field Guide will know in what area he/she can find certain animals. This will give you an additional advantage to hopefully find more animals. Who knows, perhaps you will find the Big Five animals or at least some of them!
- Field Guides are trained to anticipate animal behavior. This way you can rest assure that you will be safe (if your Guide is ethical and adheres to his/her code of conduct that is). A good Guide will always have the safety of his/her guests and animals in mind. Guides know how to read the animals and when it is safe or unsafe to approach certain animals.
- Guides have to write exams, do practical assessments, have special driver’s licenses, be registered with the South African Tourism Department and participate in orientation programs to be able to guide in the Kruger National Park. By doing so, your Field Guide gains incredible knowledge about the area and its Fauna & Flora. A good Field Guide will share their knowledge with you.
- Going on safari with an open safari vehicle will allow you to use all your senses. You will experience freedom and will be able to feel the wind in your hair and the sun on your skin. This is not really possible to experience fully when you are stuck in a normal motor vehicle. You will also experience viewing the animals in their natural habitat without having to look through a car window.
- Not even to mention the height advantage you have in comparison to a normal vehicle.
- Going on safari with an open safari vehicle and being guided by a Field Guide will give you extra peace of mind knowing that the Guide knows the area and you won’t get lost, knows which roads to take, knows where to find certain species, knows the traveling distances and time it takes between stops and campsites, knows the rules and regulations of the Kruger National Park and also knows the conditions of the roads. Travelling with a Field Guide is certainly a must!!
- Rest assured your Guide has First Aid skills in case of medical emergencies.
If this is not proof enough that you should rather go on a safari with an open safari vehicle, I don’t know what is. But the decision is still yours to make.
BOOKING A SAFARI IN THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
- Visit Lion Roar Safaris (Pty) Ltd, Kruger National Park, South Africa
- View safari Rates & Services
- Book a safari in Kruger National Park today
- Visit Lion Roar Safaris Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & Pinterest
IS IT SAFE TO VISIT KRUGER NATIONAL PARK AND GO ON A SELF-DRIVE?
- First of all the Kruger National Park is the largest Nature Reserve in South Africa and visiting it for the first time can be quite overwhelming and intimidating at first. If you can read a map you should be fine, just make sure you give yourself enough time to travel between camps and that you don’t arrive at the gate or at your campsite later than the scheduled gate closure time. You will be fined if you are late!
- Before you visit Kruger National Park, it would be advisable to do some research and planning with regards to route plans, rest stops and distances between camps.
- Do some research on the animals and their behavior- this way you will know when to approach or when not to approach animals. You wouldn’t want to end up being trampled by an African Elephant. Have a look at the YouTube video of tourists being trampled by an African Bull Elephant in Kruger National Park. CLICK HERE
- Follow all the above safety rules and you will be fine.
Enjoy your Trip to Kruger National Park. We hope this newsletter was useful. We hope this answered your question – is it safe to visit the Kruger National Park?
YES! We offer affordable Kruger National Park safaris
Our rates include the following:
Please note:
Our area of operation covers Nelspruit and surrounding areas, White River | Malelane | Hazyview | Komatipoort | Marloth Park | Kruger National Park | KMI Airport | Skukuza Airport.
Please contact us if your accommodation falls outside of our area of operation.
We also conduct safari tours in the North of Kruger upon request and need. You also have the option to hire the safari vehicle privately, email us to find out more. Additionally, you have the option to add your Kruger entrance/conservation fees when you make your booking so you don’t have to go to the office on the morning of the safari to make payment for entrance fees.
Important articles you should read: CLICK on the LINKS below for more information!
- What is the duration of a full day safari/ How many hours is a full day safari in Kruger National Park and why?
- Read all about Children on safari, the do’s and don’ts, safety, rules & regulations etc.
- General Rules and regulations and good safari etiquette
- Reasons why you should visit South Africa
- Things you need to know when planning a trip to South Africa
- How tipping in South Africa works
- What to bring and pack for a Safari
- When is the best time to go on Safari in Kruger National Park?
- How to book a Kruger National Park safari to Kruger from Nelspruit | White River | Hazyview | Malelane?
- The benefits of going on a Guided safari with an open safari vehicle to Kruger National Park
- Is it safe to visit the Kruger National Park?
- All about Malaria in South Africa and Kruger National Park
REVIEWS
World-class safari operatorMy mother and I travelled to Nelspruit to do a one-day safari inside Kruger. Our guest villa (Utopia in Africa – amazing stay!) told us about Lion Roar Safaris – from the moment I contacted Liz to book a guided safari with them until Luzille (our guide) dropped us off it was world class service! The safari is split in three, you do a few hours before breakfast, a few hours before lunch and then drive towards the end of the tour. Besides being able to rest with this type of schedule we also appreciated all the different detours in the park we were able to do. This operator is passionate about the animals, the park and their customers. They are very knowledgeable in both big things and small things regarding the park and the animals. I hope to come back someday, my only regret is that we didn’t book one more day.
Fantastic experience
We really enjoyed our safari with Liz and the web photographer. They pointed out many sightings which we would never have seen on our own. We saw 3 leopards, many elephants, rhinos, cape buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hippos and different types of antelopes and birds.
They provided binoculars which helped a lot, especially when observing the leopards in the reed!
The service is top: on time, friendly, very informative and you get a feeling how much they enjoy “going the extra mile” for the customer. They tried to keep ahead of the crowd and do not enter thru Numbi gate which is usually very crowded. Its great the park fee is included in the price because then you do not need to queue at the entrance like in the case of some of the other operators. We will definitely recommend you!
(Translated by Google)
For those who go to South Africa, do safaris be sure to contact this company they are grade 10.
(Original)
Para quem vai para África do Sul ,fazer safáris não deixe de contatar está empresa eles são nota 10 .
Great services! Amazing commmentsThe guide was very friendly and helpful!
She really knew the way around the park and we were able to see a big variety of animals
Great services! Amazing commmentsA wonderful bush and animal experienceOur family, including children and grandchildren, recently went on a full day Lion Roar Safari experience in the Kruger National Park. What an amazing, unforgettable experience in the most positive sense. Our guide/ranger, Lizelle, was extremely knowledgeable, professional and responsible, showing a deep personal respect for the bush, the wild animals and the rules. We saw everything, from a group of ‘gompou’, to a young leopard hunting and several prides of lion, spotted hyena, bush pigs, a jackal, not to mention the elephants, deer, giraffe and kudu. We warmly appreciated the snug ponchos that were provided so thoughtfully against the cold and wind. We made wonderful memories and have stacks of special photos to prove it. Thanks a million!
The guide was very friendly and helpful!
She really knew the way around the park and we were able to see a big variety of animals
Great services! Amazing commmentsSo much more than expected!!Wow! Just had an incredible 2 day safari from Lion Roar. Our guide Liz was so knowledgeable, helpful and friendly we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and saw so much including the big 5. I would highly recommend and would use again.
The guide was very friendly and helpful!
She really knew the way around the park and we were able to see a big variety of animals
Super accommodating and informative.Liz was super patient in making sure we get the morning bush walk and night drive within limited dates. They know lots about every animal we saw. I love that they provide parkas for their guests because it gets super chilly as the truck moves. Their truck is clean and not loud like other trucks which tend to scare the animals away.
Spectacular day in the Mighty Kruger!Even if the weather was cold during the day, the spectacular sightings we had made up for it all. Luckily this company is not one of those that rush from one big sighting to another but rather take it at a slower pace and therefore not miss even the small things like some bird species and trees and plants, lizards and much more.
Oh and I am so glad their Photographer was also on board with her very sharp eye sight. She spotted plenty of animals where the rest of us missed them…especially that Cheetah! And she took the most beautiful pictures (and some short videos clips) of all our sightings that day. We were surely one lucky group of people seeing all those magnificent wildlife, especially the Elephant Calves, Wild Dogs as well as Hyena Pups!
Oh and let’s not forget the snack bags that was packed for us!!
The Guide was very informative and interactive with our group. Evidently her kindness and helpfulness is not only restricted to the time a guest is on her vehicle still busy on the Tour but even helping when one of our group members was staying over at a place in the Kruger Park, she assisted him from booking in at the camp to taking him to where he would be staying, to briefly showing him around on what is where and available to him in the camp. And this all took merely a few minutes.
I would definitely be recommending Lion Roar Safaris.
Best experience ever!
Lizelle was very informative and made sure we had the best views of all the animals!
Lizelle was the most amazing tour guide. She knew everything about the animals and gave us plenty of time to take photos and ask questions while still ensuring that we saw 4 of the big 5. She was just as excited as we were to view the animals. Without using a radio she was knowledgeable enough to know where to look and how to spot the animals even in the summer bush. Liz was there to help point out animals as well. We were pleasantly surprised to have two guides to make this experience incredible. The vehicle was as impeccable as the guides. They even provided snacks that can easily substitute lunch. The cherry on top is the fleece lined ponchos that kept us warm as it was a bit chilly and a little rainy.
Amazing safari and the best guide!We did a lot of research and chose Lion’s Roar based on it and were spot on with our choice! To my own shame, I cannot remember the name of our guide because it’s been a few months since he experience, but she truly rocked – she was knowledgable, funny and easygoing.
We got very-very lucky on the day we went and saw elephants, rhinos, wild dogs, hippos, numerous birds and other animals. We went again just with friends and saw hardly anything, so do yourself a favor and book with these guys!
We loved it!Liz was so great! Without a doubt, she made our trip a lot better than it would have been otherwise. She was knowledgeable and really wanted us to have a good time.
Professional, great knowledge of all types of Wildlife, friendly and affordable!
Friendly, professional, safari guides
1
Best safari company in the Kruger!I want to congratulate Lion Roar Safaris once again for taking me on safari to the Kruger.
I had a spur of the moment urge to go on a safari. Even though it was a last minute booking, they were stil happy to accommodate me.
It’s always nice to just sit back and relax while everything is taken care of. For me, it is always a special occasion going to the Park. It’s the perfect opportunity to relax and recharge my batteries. Best of all, I learn something new everytime I go with Lion Roar Safaris.
Every safari with this company is unique. Everyone should do a guided safari with them atleast once in their lives otherwise you are missing out!
Keep up the good work Lion Roar and see you again soon for another safari adventure!
Wonderful safari experience in the Kruger National Park!What an experience. The finer touch and extra service makes it very special. Neat vehicle and well organised logistics. Knowlegable, friendly and professional two ladies. Highly recommended. This safari in the National Kruger Park was definitely a highlight of my year. Well done !
Memorable Father’s Day in the Kruger National ParkUsually I end up in the beautiful Nelspruit to see clients and to deal with work-related responsibilities. This year, my husband and I returned for a well-deserved holiday break. Yes, we came back and it is our second time doing a safari with Lion Roar Safaris, but this time I brought along the kids, my father and mother. One big happy family outing!
We booked the safari on Father’s Day, so my dad can enjoy the Kruger yet again. He hasn’t been to the Kruger for many years, let alone go on safari in an open safari vehicle. Everyone enjoyed it immensely, especially the kids who simply adore all animals.
My dad walks with a walking stick and my mother struggles to see & both of them make use of hearing aids. For this reason, we decided to book the safari vehicle privately so we don’t have to share with other people and if the kids misbehave or granny or grandpa can’t hear, we can talk a bit louder. (Even though we know that their company is child and elderly friendly). I’m glad my husband advised me to book it privately, it made it more special.
I just want to thank the team at Lion Roar Safaris once again. Everything from start to finish was great! I would also like to thank you for the extra touches you provide to make things comfortable, for example, the extra step that helped mom and dad get on the vehicle, the ponchos and most importantly the patience and professionalism of the guide.
We will keep coming back!
Marvellous safari experience in KrugerI have visited South Africa before and this year I decided to bring a group of friends with me. One of the MUST DO things everyone wanted to do was going on safari to Kruger.
So, I searched the web and visited the website of a guest house we stayed at previously in Nelspruit and they have a safari company listed on their things to do page. Automatically I clicked on it because the guest house was wonderful so I trust their judgement. So it turned out Lion Roar Safaris has the friendliest and most helpful staff working in the office as they answered all our questions we had and arranged everything exactly like we wanted it.
Lion Roar arranged accommodation for the 8 of us (outside of the park). The accommodation was neat, clean and modern with a yummy dinner included. The following morning the friendly Guide came to pick us up with a very neat safari vehicle. (I must admit I was quite impressed)
To keep things short, Lion Roar Safaris exceeded our expectations. Everything was seamless, professional and well planned, from the arrangements with the office, the accommodation, pick-up, transfers, payments, to the pre-arranged catered picnic at one of the picnic spots – which was absolutely fabulous may I add – to all the information we received during the day that included information about animals, conservation, anti-poaching efforts to mention but a few.
I would strongly recommend Lion Roar Safaris to anyone, whether you want to go on a private safari or arrange a special safari like ours with friends, or just because, do it! You won’t regret it and I’m sure you will come back for more. I know I will…
Thank you once again Lion Roar Safaris!
Fantastic Safari ExperienceMy family and I enjoyed a safari experience with Lion Roar Safaris recently. We had an amazing time! Liz and Lizelle took fantastic care of us and went out of their way to make sure my elderly grandmother was comfortable. Their personal touches like the ponchos and the snack boxes were greatly appreciated. They were very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. We all learned so much! I highly recommend them to anybody wanting to enjoy a unique Kruger Park experience.
Great experienceThe team went out of their way to ensure we enjoy our game drive and we manages to see 4 of the big 5’s which was impressive
Romantic Private Kruger SafariHad the most Amazing Private tour of the Kruger National Park.
We had an early morning which was Beautiful from the moment Liezel picked us up from our hotel in Nelspruit until the end when she dropped us off.
Even though we didn’t see any cats of the day, we had to accept that we will only see what The Kruger decides to give on that day.
He knowledge of the animals and the park makes You want to know more and shows how much passion she has for the animals.
We even forgot by the end of the tour that we did not see any cats(LOL).
I will Definitely do more tours with Lion Roar Safaris and will recommend it to anyone I know that wants to do a tour of The Kruger National Park.
A Great big Shout to Liz for the seamless booking a few days before the tour and once again to Liezel for a Great tour of The Kruger National Park…
Some of the services Lion Roar Safaris Offer…
Upmarket Luxury Safaris I Tailored Safaris I Professional Personal Holiday Photographer I Hire a Professional Field Guide I Hire a Private Safari Vehicle I Accommodation in and around Kruger I Photographic Safaris I Safari catering – picnic lunches, dinners and BBQ’s and more…
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