Kruger Park Private Safaris

Kurt Safari offers world-class private Kruger National Park safaris with a fleet of modern open safari vehicles, specially equipped for game viewing in comfort. Our team has been arranging transfers, accommodation and various Kruger tours for more than 20 years.

Our Kruger Park tours are renowned widely as unforgettable experiences. We ensure that every client is met with a true South African welcome and taken on a Kruger National Park safari adventure. Daily shuttles from major airports are included in the rate for a Kruger Park Private safari.

With our own fleet of open safari vehicles, as well as closed transfer vehicles, Kurt Safari’s team takes care of all your Kruger tour arrangements; from private safaris to various other en-route Kruger Park tours. No one can predict what will happen on Kruger safaris; every game-drive is different. We can’t know where the Big 5 will hide, but when you book a Kruger Park private safari with us, you set the pace and we’ll track the wild.

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Full-day Private Kruger Park Safaris

Whether you’re a group of friends, on a family trip or celebrating your honeymoon, our private Kruger National Park full-day safaris are tailored to your preferences. The specially kitted open vehicles are designed to ensure a comfortable panoramic experience.

Kurt Safari can arrange airport transfers from the international airports in Gauteng and Nelspruit to Hazyview. We also book accommodation in Hazyview on the day of arrival. Guests are collected in open vehicles early the next morning for morning or full-day Kruger safaris.

Private tours for guests staying over in Skukuza, Pretoriuskop, outside of Hazyview, White River and Nelspruit (Mbombela) can also be arranged.

The pickup time from hotels for a Kruger Park Private safari is between 5:30 & 6:00 AM, and drop-off at chosen places of accommodation is around 16:00, but since it is a private safari, clients can amend times to their preference. An early start to the safari is advised since many species of wildlife is active at this time. Most animals will find water, forage and hunt when the day is fresh, then seek shade in the heat of summer afternoons.

Most hotels and lodges in and around Hazyview will supply breakfast and lunch packs for Kruger Park safaris; the guide will take clients to different picnic spots at rest camps en-route of your safari or stop at restaurants if clients prefer it. The routes chosen in the Kruger Park depend on the kind of wildlife that clients on private vehicle safaris have asked the guide to track.

The vastness of the Kruger National Park and the widespread territories of the wildlife makes it challenging to find all the Big 5 mammals on Kruger Park Private safaris. Kurt Safari has travelled countless hours and kilometres on Kruger safaris. We’ve designed the 3, 4 & 5-day Kruger Park private safaris, including accommodation and transfers, aiming to ensure that all our clients are sent home having witnessed the Big 5 roaming free.

Kruger Park Safari pick-up & drop-off times in Hazyview:

October to March: 5:30 – 15:30 pm
April to September: 6:00 – 16:00 pm

Please Note: Kurt Safari can also make bookings at rest camps inside the Kruger National Park and arrange transfers upon request.

Why book a private Kruger Park full-day safari?

Since children under 8 are not allowed on shared safaris, booking a private vehicle for families with your children gives them a chance to experience the beauty of the wildlife seen on Kruger National Park safaris.

Photographers enjoy private safaris, as the guide will wait at a waterhole or stop for that perfect shot as requested. Bird watchers are guided to the hideouts where congregations of birds are known to gather. A private vehicle safari ensures that specialized groups can focus on the wildlife they wish to encounter on a Kruger private safari.

All vehicles are equipped with canvas roofs for sun protection, although sunscreen and a hat would still be advised. Getting out at lookout points will require comfortable shoes and since the weather changes constantly, always carry a jacket with you. There are bottles of mineral water available on all vehicles and frequent stops at rest camps during private safaris. Our open vehicles can take groups of up to 10 per vehicle, but private vehicle safari rates are per vehicle and can be booked for just two people as well.

Private safari rates include:

Vehicle & Guide
Fuel
Mineral Waters

Private safari rates exclude:

Conservation Fees

Unforgettable private full-day safaris in the Kruger National Park

Kurt Safari’s famous Kruger Park Tours

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In addition to private Kruger Park safari’s, we book extended 3, 4 &5-day tours where half or full-day private safaris can be requested for every day of the Kruger tour. Our aim is to provide the best experience for every private safari. Spending at least 3 days in the Kruger National Park increases changes of seeing all the famous Big 5 by 80%.

All our guides on Kruger Park safaris keep in constant contact on two-way radios to inform each other of Big 5 sightings and which direction the animals are heading when they’re on the move. Guides set out to find the biggest variety of wildlife on every Kruger Park tour.

Being passionate about the Kruger National Park means all our guides spend most of their time memorising the most popular locations for unforgettable animal sightings. They might still be surprised by the unpredictability of certain wildlife, but they have witnessed the changes in animal behaviour throughout the seasons and know just where to look.

None of our priceless Kruger Park tours would have been possible if it wasn’t for the famed Paul Kruger. A president of the now-defunct Transvaal Republic made the decision to conserve a large area of nature and wildlife found in the Transvaal. It is believed that animals like lions and elephants would have been hunted for trophies until they became extinct if it wasn’t for Paul Kruger’s efforts.

A Kruger National Park safari is basically a journey into the untouched wilderness of South Africa. The wildlife survives on pure instinct and receives minimal intervention form the park officials or rangers to thrive. Finding yourself in the middle of a herd of buffalo can be intimidating beyond belief, giving you a taste of the raw power in numbers. Feeling the roar of a lion vibrate through your rib-cage is riveting and watching how calm a herd of the largest land mammals can forage with their trunks is almost therapeutic.

Kurt Safari’s passion for plant and wildlife is clear in the way our guides conduct their Kruger Park safaris. Our attention to detail will find chameleons in passing bushes or well camouflaged leopards in nearby trees. Our guides frequently stop to point out specific plants native to our culture and explain what they were used for by past generations. Medicinal plants are also found all over the Kruger National Park.

Booking Kruger Park safaris or a Kruger Day Tour has never been this easy. Our website offers several game-drive options. All our Kruger Private Safari options include an open vehicle and an experienced guide, greatly increasing your chance of finding the animals you wish to see.

The history of the Kruger National Park

The Kruger National Park was founded in 1898, when hunting was still rife and big game was regarded as a trophy, especially lions and elephants. Tourists would hunt and kill these animals for fun and take their skin & tusks as souvenirs. To prevent extinction of these and other animals, the founders thankfully insisted that the park must become a no hunting zone. These efforts have saved our Kruger National Park and ensured that it became one of the largest and oldest conserved areas of land worldwide.

The fact that our predecessors had the foresight to preserve the wildlife, mankind can still experience a Kruger Park safari to be remembered. The wildlife in these parts of Africa is so unique and would not have survived, had the founders allowed hunting to persist. Game drives are one of the most wonderful and affordable ways to witness the majestic elephant or the vicious leopard in person. Although no one was initially allowed to enter the park apart from hunters as first, this changed in 1927 when the first paying tourists were welcomed into the park. There was no accommodation back in this era, which meant that guests had to leave the park before sunset.

As time elapsed and transport revolutionised, more & more visitors travelled great distances to experience the wild game in Southern Africa. The influx of capital meant that the park could be develop rapidly and attract even more tourists. The rest camps expanded, and accommodation was built at each of the main camps. It was eventually dubbed as the People’s Park, because the entry fees were so low that anyone could enjoy the beautiful pristine nature. Kurt Safari had been fortunate enough to offer tourists from all over the world 3, 4, 5 and even longer safari tours in the Kruger National Park at the most affordable rates, and we vow to keep offering our dedicated safari services!

10 years of Safari excellence With Kurt Safari.

Kurt Safari turned 10 in September of 2019!

We started with 1 old safari vehicle that Kurt drove himself, and the company has become a leading safari operator in the whole of Southern Africa.

Rated as #1 on TripAdvisor for Kruger Park Safaris, this is truly a huge achievement and we could not have achieved this without our irreplaceable guides & office staff offering an all-round professional service.

With 24 safari vehicles in the fleet, we offer a range of quality products; Morning & Afternoon safaris are popular, but our Full day safaris are by far the best Kruger Park Experience!

We have recently launched our 3, 4 & 5-Day Best of Kruger, as well as Kruger Via Panorama tours with daily departures from Johannesburg and they are becoming a name brand of their own.

These tours include all transfers, open vehicle afternoon, full day & morning safaris, quality accommodation, a Panorama tour, conservation fees, as well as breakfast & dinners. For our all-inclusive adventure packed tours, we make use of the newly renovated and exquisitely modified Umbhaba Eco lodge in Hazyview, reopened on the 1^st October2019. We have allocations to lovely rooms and each stay will include a boma dinner (weather permitting). Umbhaba Lodge is a mere 10 to 15-minute drive to the Phabeni & Numbi gates of the Kruger National Park, so we gain early access in open safari vehicles.

Each safari includes a professional guide in our modern open vehicles, specially equipped for the best game-drive experience. 90% of clients that book 3, 4 & 5-Day Safaris experience Big 5 wildlife sightings; our professional guides will share their passion and knowledge of the abundant bird, plant and wildlife on every safari.

Why choose Kurt Safari?

We have our own fleet of 24 modern safari vehicles.
We also have new air-conditioned transfer vehicles.
Own in-house mechanics and 24 hours back up service.
Tracking systems on all vehicles.
24-Hour emergency and operations call line.
Experienced office staff with many years in the travel industry.
Our passionate safari guides are the best in the region.
We’re rated # 1 on TripAdvisor for Kruger Park Safaris.
Allocated accommodation at a newly renovated Eco Lodge.
We go the extra mile and offer only excellent catering.
SATIB insured – The leading safari insurance operator available.
SATSA bonded tour operator – Member No. 1934

Going forward we will strive to keep offering quality safaris and tours to each and every client. We pride ourselves at being rated #1 on TripAdvisor and will continue to dig deep by going the extra mile. With the correct partnerships in the industry, the best staff and guides, we can only but move forward and continue to offer an all-round quality product.

The core of a man’s sole is based upon new experiences – Join Kurt Safari for an experience you will never forget and a great thank you to all our loyal agents and clients over the last 10 years! it’s been a truly great experience and our success wouldn’t have been possible without your support.

Camps of the Kruger

The Kruger National Park is a remarkable reserve full of exceptional animals. When you do decide to say a night or two, and maybe join a Kruger Tour, consider these top Rest Camps

Crocodile Bridge

Crocodile is a very well known camp in the Kruger Park that doesn’t boast with all the amenities, like a restaurant. Crocodile Bridge is the smaller of the rest camps but one of the most popular as well. Getting its name from the Crocodile River, the camp was built on the banks of the river and is a prime spot for spotting a large variety of animals as the viewing spots overlook the river, giving people a front row seat to the animals drinking at the water. The location gives visitors an increased chance to see the Big 5 and Rhinos as well as elephants, antelope and a variety of birds.

Mopani

Mopani is known for its amazing bird watching potential and is a hotspot for animal lovers and bird watchers alike. Located on the banks of the Pioneer Dam, you are hit with an amazing view of the animals who come to the dam during the middle of the day to get a drink of water. The Pioneer dam is fed by the Tsende River which provides the surrounding area with a constant source of water which makes the area very lush and green. If you are someone that loves camping, hiking or any other outdoor activities, you can do the Lonely Bull backpacking trail, a 4-day adventure that will take you over the low water Letaba Brige and the Mingerhout Dam. Mopani received its name from the mopani fields located in the area.

Berg en Dal

One of the few camps set in a mountainous area, Berg en Dal is located between two dry river beds, one on the Southern border and one on the Norrthern border. There are plenty of large trees in the area which makes it perfect to spot Leopards and other cats using the trees as shelter. The rocky terrain makes for a very interesting environment with Klip Springers often seen scaling the rocks. The rocky environment isnt restrickted to the outside as Berg en Dal sports a very beautiful rock garden that visitors can explore. Built on a prehistoric settlement, visitors do the Bushman Trail and experience San Bushman Art that litters the walls of the rocky terrain and caves. If you want to experience a quieter and more laid-back vibe, you can definitely put Berg en Dal on your list.

Letaba

Letaba Rest camp is perfectly in the middle of the camp, between the Northern and Southern borders. Letaba is famous for the amazing elephant spotting and is also home to the Letaba Elephant Hall. The Elephant Hall is a museum that displays the history and tusks of the Magnificent 7, elephants that lived in the Kruger that had the largest tusks. Letaba is one of the few camps in the Kruger National Park that isn’t turning into grassland but is beautifully green and lush. At night, Letaba erupts with noise as owls, nightjars, cicadas, frogs and other nocturnal animals come to life.

Lower Sabie

Lower Sabie is one of the more laid-back camps in the Kruger Park and is siuated along the banks of the Sabie River. With massive trees in the area it is a perfect place to spot leopards. Other animals in the area that you can see include Hippo, Lions and antelope. Just because Lower Sabie has a laid-back feel to it doesn’t mean it offers up accommodation or amenities. Lower Sabie offers all the amenities of the other camps just with an additional laid-back feeling.

Orpen

Orpen rest camp is well situated between two satellite camps, Tambotie and Maroela. Orpen is a very grassy area which means grazing animals like antelope and buffalo will be a very common sight. Orpen received its name from the person who donated the stretch of land, Eileen Orpen. With wide open grassland being populated by grazers, many prides of lions also call Orpen home. At night you will be trated to a true show as the night air is filled with the sounds of roaring lions and this is something you will definitely not forget. Aside from the grazers and lion prides in the area, Orpen also has a large variety of animals including Rhinos, Leopards and Elephants. The occasional Jackal and Wildebeest is also a treat.

Pretoriuskop

Located in the South-Western area of the Park and nestled among millions of years old rock outcrops, Preoriuskop is home to a large number of interesting granite boulders. Though the boulders are a sight to see, the animals are the real show stoppers. Kudu, Lichtenstein Hartebeest, Wild Dogs and Sable Antelopes are just some of the animals that can be seen. As the oldest of the camps in the Kruger National park, the style drastically differs from the newer camps. The layout and style of the camp resembles the original style of the Kruger National Park. Pretoriuskop is a very popular camp as it is close to an entry point of the Park.

Olifants

Located on the top of a high hill, Olifants has a great overview of the park below and is known for the amazing views of the park. Olifants has plenty of viewing platforms littered all over the camp, allowing visitors unique views of the Park. With animals like lions, elephants, hippos and crocodiles. With amazing views, relaxing atmosphere, unique decorations and amazing amenities, Olifants is definitely a camp to visit.

Satara

Satara was home to the first rondavel in the Kruger National Park. After the Park became more and more popular, more rondavels had to be built that could hold the amount of visitors. Located in a very wooded area of the Park, many animals that interact with trees can be found here including lions, leopards, giraffe, wildebeest, antelope and more. The park is considered to have a rustic style, being some of the older camps in the Park. Satara is a bird lover’s dream as it provides a great variety of birds. The first rondavel has been turned into a museum and is located at the centre of the camp.

Punda Maria

Punda Maria is the camp that is farthest north in the Park and is on the edge of a sandveld. With a very large variety of plants in the area, Punda Maria has been called the Botanical Gardens of the Kruger Park. Though the plants are mind-blowing, the animals are also varied including Wild Dogs, Nyala and large Zebra herds. With Punda Maria on the border of a sandveld, it makes the camp and the surrounding area extremely hot, both during the summer and the winter. Because the Camp is also so far out of the way, it will be very hot trip and it will be a good idea to make the trip a two-day thing, because of the heat and the distance.

Shingwedzi

Shingwedzi is one of the camps in the Park that requires a special route to reach it. One must travel along the Panoramic route along the Shingwedzi river to reach the camp. Shingwedzi is one of the few camps in the Park that is still considered rustic and it doesn’t have all the modern conveniences as the other camps do. Shingwedzi is a great place to spot animals and birds, including Nyala, Waterbuck, Elephant, Green Pigeon and Giant Eagle owl. Because Shinwedzi is also a bit out of the way, there aren’t a lot of people present which makes this camp very tranquil. The area around the camp has much sparser vegetation which allows you to spot animals much easier.

Skukuza

The best and biggest camp in the Park, Skukuza is the headquarters of the Kruger Park and everything runs through Skukuza. With plenty of lookout points and located on the southern banks of the Sabie River, Skukuza has amazing animals spotting potential. Hyena, Wild Dog and Bushbabies can be found in this area along with Warthogs, antelope and monkeys that enter the camp to scrounge some foot or explore. Skukuza was renamed in honour of the first warden of the Kruger Park, James Stevenson-Hamilton, who received the name from his colleagues. Skukuza means ‘He who sweeps clean’. Skukuza is the ‘Capital City’ of the Kruger Park and therefore has many of the amenities of the other camps and much more.

The Majestic Big 5

The Big 5 are a must see when going on Kruger Park Safaris. Here are some interesting facts about the KNP’s biggest attraction:

The Black Rhino

The Black Rhino is a 1000 kg giant that is anything from gentle. The Black Rhino is the most aggressive of the two species of rhino in the Kruger. Unlike its name, the Black Rhino doesn’t have black skin but its skin colour depends on the kind of soil or dirt it rolls in. The usual colour of the Black Rhino is greyish brown or dark grey. People often get confused between the Black Rhino and the White Rhino but luckily there are a few differences between the two. The Black Rhino has a pointy, beak shaped lip, that it uses to pull leaves from twigs, while the White rhino has a flat and wide lip because it is a grazer. Another notable difference is the Black Rhino has a smaller head than the White Rhino and it keeps its head up high. Black Rhinos are solitary animals, unlike white rhinos, and are only seen with their calves and very rarely seen with another individual.

As before mentioned, the Black Rhino is a highly aggressive animal and lives a solitary life. There is no breeding season for the Black Rhino and there is only a single you born at a time. Black Rhino breeding can be a very violent and protracted event, when the bull bumps the cow with its horns. Black Rhino cows are sexually active after 6 years. Black Rhino bulls are very territorial and will kill any young bulls that wander into its territory. The Lips of the Black Rhino is pointed and uses it to feed on bushes, herbs and tree leaves. The Black Rhino only feeds on grass when it is under nutritional stress. When a Black Rhino is running, it reaches a top speed of 55 km/h and is at times very determined in what it is chasing. Black Rhino numbers have dramatically dropped in the last decade or two because of the increase in black market trade with Rhino Horn as beliefs in the east are that Rhino Horn is a powerful aphrodisiac.

The African Elephant

The African Elephant is the largest land mammal on earth, standing at 3.3 meters at shoulder height on average and weighing anywhere from 5 to 9 tonnes. The tusks of elephants can be massive, with older bulls having tusks that weigh in the 50 – 60 kg range, with some tusks recorded to weigh up to 90 kg. African elephants have a very tough skin that is either grey or dusty grey in colour. Elephants have large flat ears that it uses to cool down and also to project its emotion (hostile or peaceful). The elephants also have the very iconic trunk that hangs from its face. The trunk contains more than 50 000 muscles and has a finger like appendage on the tip that it uses to pick up object as small as a twig or flower. The elephant’s body is very large and has very thick legs and wide feet to carry all the weight. The tusks of the elephant are used to move or break down trees or other large objects and is also a self-defense tool.

African Elephants don’t have a breeding season and after a gestation period of 22 months, a single calf is born. The calves stay with the maternal herd for many years where the males are expelled at the age of about 13 years while the females stay in the herd. Though males are sexually active at 13 months but only breed until far into their 20’s or much later, until they are higher up in the hierarchy. Elephants are very intelligent animals and caring animals. Orphaned calves will be taken in to the group and suckle from various females. A mock charge consists of bush bashing, trumpeting dust throwing and open ears. When it is startled, it shakes its head and flaps its ears against its head. If all intimidation attempts fail, the ears are pinned against the body and the head and trunk is lowered.

The Cape Buffalo

A very large and powerful buffalo that has a shoulder height of 1.5 meters and weighs about 775 kg. Both the cows and bulls have horns, with the male’s being more curved and having a thicker boss. Cape Buffalos have a greyish-brown colour to their skin with their faces being darker than the rest of the body. Cape buffalo live in large herds consisting of a few males, females and the various calves. Buffalos are bulk grazers and herds can have a significant impact on the environment, turning long grasslands into short grassy areas. Buffalo are highly social animals and are very protective of their herd members. When a member of the herd is attacked, the whole herd goes on the defensive t protect the wounded member. The main predator of Buffalo are Lions. Buffalo herds can easily stave of a whole pride of lions. Buffalo are pretty laid-back animals and will not charge if threatened. When grazing, the calves and older members are in the center of the herd while the stronger members are on the outside. This protects the future generation of the herd from predators and also prevents them from wandering off.

Buffalo have a breeding season between march and may and they have a gestation period of 330 days. Only a single calf is born between the months of January and April, with increased rates in February. Buffalo inherently carry diseases that are fatal to domestic cattle. Buffalo that do not carry any diseases are bred with other non-disease carriers in the Eastern Cape and are sold at a very high price. A wounded buffalo bull is considered by hunters to be extremely dangerous and has spawned all kinds of myths and legends. A recent problem has risen with buffalo populations being infected with the very lethal and infectious Bovine TB. Herds of buffalo have been reported being infected with B and wardens and scientists are getting to the bottom of the infections and are battling to cure the population.

The Lion

One of the Kruger Park’s most famed animals and given the nickname King of the Jungle. The lion is the largest of South Africa’s cat species, with males weighing up to 200 kgs and standing up to 1.2m at shoulder height. Lions have a tawny coloured coat with whitish under parts. The Males have long manes around their heads which are darker than the rest of the coat. The manes of some lions are sometimes black. The Females are much smaller than the lion and is less muscled than the male. When hunting, the males stay at the den while the females go on the hunt. When it comes to hunting larger prey like buffaloes or Giraffe, both the males and females will partake in the hunt. When a kill has been made, the males will eat first while the cubs and females have to wait their turn. Breeding in lions is non-seasonal although the females usually try and synchronize their births, with gestation lasting about 110 days. Lionesses will suckle their own cubs and the cubs of other females and are hidden for 6 weeks before being introduces to the Crèche.

Lion prides consist of about 12 related females, with their cubs, and the dominant males. Males will also make a coalition of 2 to 7 and hold a tenure over the pride. A lion’s roar is very impressive and can be heard up to 5 km away. The rear of a lion is so impressive that it is one of the most iconic sounds in the Kruger National Park. Lions communicate through vocalizing and using scents to mark territory. Lions can use facial expressions to display how its feeling. An aggravated lion will show its very impressive canines and start twitching its tail to show its agitation. Lions often prey on large animals such as Wildebeest, Giraffe, Zebra, Buffalo and Gemsbok to provide enough meat for the rest of the pride to feast. Smaller prey like Impala, Steenbok, and Porcupines also fall prey to lions as they are considered easy prey. Females will often hunt smaller animals as they are much easier accessible.

The Leopard

Leopards are the second largest members of the cat family in South Africa. Leopards are iconized by their rosette like black spots that cover its body. The Leopard has a yellow-golden coloured coat with a paler underside. The Leopard weighs between 20 – 90 kg and has a shoulder height 700mm. The Leopard’s frame is much stockier than that of the Cheetah and also much larger. The Leopard is a nocturnal predator that can also be seen hunting during the day. When hunting, the Leopard will stalk its prey and then pounce, biting and holding onto the throat of larger animals so they asphyxiate and die, while they bite smaller animals on the neck, severing their spinal cords. The Leopard is a very agile animal for its build and can carry an animal carcass up a tree if there is competition from other predators. The Leopard has a very varied diet and can easily adapt to the circumstances. Generally feeding on medium sized antelope, Leopards also hunt and feed on Baboons, Foxes, Hyrax, reptiles and fish. In extreme circumstances, Leopards have been known to live off of insects and rodents.

The Leopard is a very laid-back animal that has a varied diet and can live in various environments. Leopards can be found in a variety of areas including forest, jungles, wooded areas, semi deserts, coastal areas, bushveld, 2000m above sea level areas, mountains and rocky areas. Something the Leopard needs to have wherever it stays is enough cover for it to stealthily approach its prey. Leopards are non-seasonal breeders and can breed anytime of the year. 2 – 3 cubs are born after a gestation period of 3.5 months and are hidden in caves and natural outcrops from predators that include lions, cheetahs and hyenas. The cubs stay with their mother for a year. During this time, the cubs will learn all the skills they will need to know to survive. Leopards are also so resilient that they can survive on the outskirts of towns. This unfortunately puts the Leopard and people in the towns in danger.