How to safari in South Africa on a budget

To travel to any destination is an adventure on its own.  To travel to our beautiful country is a special kind of magic all on it’s own.  Do not let the fear of over budgeting discourage you to do at least once, something breathtaking……..

Stay just outside the national parks

It is easy and often more affordable to stay outside the parks and self-drive or book guided game drives once inside, via SANParks or the individual park. Addo Elephant national park, an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth and its airport, is a typical example. The 540 sq km park boasts more than 600 elephant, 400 Cape buffalo and 48 black rhino. Transvaal lion and spotted hyena have also recently been reintroduced. There are also plenty of restaurants and supermarkets in the area.

Travel out of high season

Rates for most lodges are also significantly cheaper off peak. South Africa’s dry winter (between May and September) is considered low season, even though, in the north of the country, it is the best time for game viewing. During the drier months, animals congregate around waterholes, making game viewing much easier than in the hot, rainy summers, when they are dispersed and harder to spot in the long grass.

Walk in the morning

Africa on foot in the Klaserie private nature reserve, bordering the Kruger, is six hours’ drive from Johannesburg. The basic but comfortable camp offers guided big-five walking safaris every morning, and guided game drives in the evening. The Klaserie shares unfenced borders with the Kruger and guests can expect to encounter the big five, as well as wild dog, cheetah, honey badger, porcupine, aardvark, plus small cats – civet, caracal and serval. Guests can also request a night sleeping under the stars in the lodge’s treehouse. Rates for 2017 are from £150pppn including three meals a day, a walk and a bush drive each day.

www.theguardian.com/travel/2016/nov/05/how-to-safari-south-africa-on-a-budget-holiday-guide