The Best Kruger National Park Safari Guides
Kruger National Park Factfile
Animals
The saying goes that variety is the spice of life, and this is proved to be true when it comes to the wildlife you can see in this fantastic reserve.
Apart from the so called 'big 5' animals comprising lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, there are also a multitude of other predators and plains game to be seen.
Cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, black backed jackal, civet, crocodile and genet are some of the hunters that feature and giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala, wildebeest, duiker, steenbok, hippo and warthog are regularly seen browsers and grazers.
Collectively there are some 150 mammal species, 500 birds, 340 trees, 115 reptiles, 50 fish and 35 amphibians in the Kruger National Park.
Accommodation
There are places to stay here that suit just about every style and budget, from camping and caravanning to rondavels, huts, safari tents, bungalows, family cottages and very high end private luxury lodges.
Accommodation can be found in twelve main rest camps namely Berg-en-Dal, Crocodile Bridge, Letaba, Lower Sabie, Mopanie, Olifants, Orpen, Pretoriuskop, Punda Maria, Satara, Shingwedzi and Skukuza.
Five bush camps with the names Bateleur, Biyamiti, Shimuwini, Sirheni and Talamati and three bush loges called Boulders, Roodewal and Pafuri Border Camp.
Additionally four small camps, Balule, Maroela, Tamboti, Malelane, two overnight hides, Sable and Shipandani and a rustic camp site called Tsendze.
A grand total of thirteen private luxury lodges complete the places to stay in Kruger.
Weather
Don't let the climate put you off visiting the Kruger National Park because game viewing is good all year round.
Situated in a summer rainfall area, October to March are historically wet and hot months when the vegetation becomes dense and lush, making it a little more challenging to spot wildlife.
During the winter months (May to August) there is little rain, so vegetation becomes sparse and animals cluster around water holes and rivers.
Summer temperatures average 19 °C (min) to 33 °C (max) and in winter you can expect 8 °C (min) to 27 °C (max) average temperatures.
Size And Distance
The Kruger National Park is situated in Mpumalanga, South Africa and is around 2 million hectares in size, which is a little meaningless until you compare it to something else, like maybe Hawaii, which is roughly half the size, or Wales which covers about the same area.
The distance from north to south as the crow flies is 356 km (221 mi) and the longest distance from east to west is 94 km (58 mi).
There is a very well developed road network in this park made up mostly of gravel but a fair amount of well maintained tar on the main routes too.
In total there is more than 4000km (2485 mi) of road which is a good thing as going off-road is strictly prohibited.
Flights
There are two options when it comes to flying to the Kruger National Park...
The first is to fly to the Skukuza Airport from either Johannesburg or Cape Town, the big advantage of this being that you land right inside the park itself, and then can do a game drive to get to your accommodation.
The disadvantage for overseas visitors is that this isn't an international airport so there are no direct flights from outside of Africa.
The second option is to fly directly to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport which is situated just outside Nelspruit in Mpumalanga and then transfer to the park via the closest gates, which takes about an hour.
Mosquitoes And Malaria
The park is situated inside a malaria area, so it is important to take precautions when visiting in the form of medication and bite prevention strategies.
Consult your physician before traveling regarding the medication because it's only available on prescription.
To prevent being bitten apply an insect repellant directly to the skin such as Peaceful Sleep or Tabard, and wear long clothing that covers as much skin as possible, particularly if you are outside at dusk, during the night and dawn.
Accommodation has mosquito netting on the doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes getting inside, and some of the lodges have nets that cover the beds.
HOW AND WHY DID YOU BECOME A SAFARI GUIDE?
Almost by default! After graduating from the University of KwaZulu-Natal with a four year degree in Geography and Social Sciences I took up a 'temporary' job as a barman at a lodge in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, just biding my time before the official graduation ceremony in April of 1998.
Once I saw what the guides were doing however, I decided that I would like to be a guide, for a few years anyway. So I made my wishes known to management, and nine months later I started guiding guests.
While I was fortunate to have a lot of pre-existing natural history knowledge, instilled by a family interest in all things wild, I still had a lot to learn! But I completed about two years of guiding at that greater Kruger National Park lodge successfully, and then set off to the UK for something different.
A few months through a winter in London got the better of me however, and soon I was back to guiding, this time at a new concession lodge within Addo Elephant National Park.
From there I moved to two other lodges before I realised that, while I loved the guiding part, the insular lodge-life didn't suit me, and eventually I landed in the right nest with the safari company I'm at now.
This combines guiding and bush-time with a settled home life, and it suits me to a T.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD SAFARI GUIDE?
There are all the usual qualities associated with being a good guide - punctuality, neatness, a willingness to serve, knowledge and enthusiasm.
These need to be backed up by a genuine fondness for people, as it's really about creating relationships.
One needs to be interested in one's clients and invested in creating the best possible experience for each and every client.
YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING GUIDING MOMENT?
Back to the top of the page, where I said I still had a lot to learn… I think it was my very first game drive as a fully-fledged guide, and we came across a group of White Rhino standing around a small mud wallow.
Great way to start off, and one client asked me if Rhino's lie down.
At the time I actually hadn't seen any lying down, so took a chance and said 'No, they don't', but of course they do, and as I finished answering one of the animals proceeded to lie down. Epic failure! But that was back in 1998…
MOST MEMORABLE SIGHTINGS?
Samson and the Lion - an epic 45-minute battle between a Warthog boar and a Lioness during the floods of the year 2000.
FAVOURITE ANIMAL?
It's hard to narrow it down! But the most excitement comes with the five big mammalian predators - Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild Dog and Spotted Hyena.
Finding them is always a thrill, and they can make for the most exciting moments on a safari.
But fortunately, in my specific guiding niche, they aren't usually the yardstick by which clients will rate their safari experience.
I do a lot of Kruger National Park birding safaris, so the big predators are usually considered to be a bonus and not the whole point of the exercise. But I also guide tours with a focus on these big predators now and then, and I like the challenge of going out to find big predators.
The rewards when you do find them can be extremely high.
GUIDING AREA OF SPECIALIZATION?
Birding is my main area of specialisation.
THE MOST INTERESTING ANIMAL BEHAVIOR YOU'VE WITNESSED?
I'm sure there are many examples, but one I would like to find out about is a particular kind of beetle, like a large Jewel Beetle, that I've seen feeding on the hides of Hippo's at Sweni Bird Hide in the Kruger.
They seem to even stay on if the Hippo submerges briefly, and that's the only place I've seen this interaction. More investigation is required.
WATCH A GAME DRIVE WITH COMMENTARY PROVIDED BY THIS GUIDE - LEON MARAIS FROM LAWSON'S BIRDING AND WILDLIFE SAFARIS
WHAT MAKES A GOOD SAFARI GUIDE IN YOUR OPINION?
Guests need to see that their guide is enjoying the sightings as much as they are. Guides must have a lot of passion for the job not just regard it as an income.
YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL?
Leopard - the most amazing hunter and then a camouflage specialist which frustrates us guides no end.
MOST MEMORABLE SIGHTING OF YOUR FIELD GUIDING CAREER?
While watching some lions moving around in the riverbed I suddenly saw a leopard appear on the bank above them that was chasing a porcupine.
It caught and killed the porcupine but the lions had heard the commotion and proceeded to steal the kill from the leopard.
MOST EMBARRASSING GUIDING MOMENT?
I saw rhino and told the guests and 3 of them remarked immediately, the 4th one only later. There was a leopard sighting about 500m away so went there. Once 'we got there the 4th guest said - 'oh there was another cat in a tree by the rhino'. Still there when we went back!
GUIDING AREA OF SPECIALIZATION?
General guiding as most of the guests we take are looking for a mix of everything.
MOST INTERESTING ANIMAL BEHAVIOR YOU'VE WITNESSED?
A female cheetah that we see often in this area was hunting and as soon as the impala sounded an alarm she launched an attack instead of giving up as a lot of them do. She was successful in the hunt.
When I was 18 years old, I participated in a volunteer project in Zimbabwe and now I knew: the African bush is where I want to spend the rest of my life! I still had one more year of High School ahead of me and so returned to Europe. After enquiring about options to work in a game reserve or national park in different African countries, I realised that I would have to have a few more qualifications before realising my dream.
During my Bachelors degree, we had a field trip to Kenya to study the wildebeest and zebra migration in the Masaai Mara, amongst other study subjects. After having completed my Bachelors and then Masters degrees, I enrolled in a FGASA course close to Numbi Gate, Kruger National Park, South Africa.
And that’s where my guiding career began. Have loved every minute of it and never regretted my move to SA!
WHAT MAKES A GOOD SAFARI GUIDE IN YOUR OPINION?
A good safari guide should be able to read their guests so that they are able to get the best possible experience out of the safari.
Everyone is unique and has different interests. There is no point chasing after Big 5 sightings when in fact the guests are more interested in birds. Some people like humour, others prefer straight facts.
Make the safari as interesting and informative as possible without boring the guests. Also try to explain as much as possible about what they are experiencing at the moment rather than just rattling off animal facts randomly.
YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL?
My favourite animal has always and will always be a leopard. When I was younger, it was their beauty that drew me in. However, as I spent more time with them in the bush, they became even more amazing to me.
They are incredibly adaptable and can live in every single habitat in Africa. From the bushland savannah to the desert to the rainforest to high up in the mountains to big cities, leopards can survive anywhere they can find any kind of animal protein.
The list of prey they hunt is very comprehensive starting from termites and mice all the way up to kudu, zebra or wildebeest. Their beauty still captivates me but their ability to disappear in front of my eyes is even more amazing! The illusion of the bush, blending in perfectly with any given background.
MOST MEMORABLE SIGHTING OF YOUR FIELD GUIDING CAREER?
There have been a lot of memorable sighting over the years but there is one which stands out particularly in the Kruger National Park.
A male lion was about 3-4 metres up a Jackalberry Tree and had an impala kill. I quickly explained to the guests that there was no way he had carried the kill into the tree and that he must have stolen it off a leopard.
As we watched, another two male lions appeared at the bottom of the tree – his coalition partners. Suddenly there was a movement in the top of the Jackalberry Tree. The leopard was still there! Right at the top, hiding amongst the smallest branches, sat an adult female leopard.
The lion in the tree was struggling to get down and kept picking up the kill and twisting and turning until he eventually jumped out. All we heard was roaring and all we saw was dust as the three brothers quickly devoured the antelope.
As the leopard watched her kill being devoured by the larger carnivores, I happened to glance to the other side of the road and there in a Leadwood Tree sat the leopard’s subadult cub, patiently waiting for his mother to get out of her predicament. And that’s exactly what she did once the lions finished their breakfast and moved off.
She swiftly climbed down the tree, as gracious as only a leopard can be, crossed the road and greeted her cub with a head rub. Turned out she had been teaching him how to cache prey into trees when the three lions arrived. She continued up the tree but the cub was able to get to safety across the road. A valuable lesson for him: no meal is ever worth arguing over with lions!
MOST EMBARRASSING GUIDING MOMENT?
Many moons ago, when I was just at the beginning of my guiding career, we stopped next to a herd of zebra. My guests asked me if the round one in front is pregnant. I assessed the situation and agreed that yes, this one must be pregnant.
He then urinated and it was very clearly a stallion and most definitely not pregnant! I then went home and made sure I knew how to differentiate between males and females to avoid such moments in the future.
BEST EXPERIENCE OF YOUR GUIDING CAREER?
I had a family from Soweto as guests one day. A Grandma, her daughter and four grandchildren. None of them had ever been on safari before but were very well educated and had learnt about all the animals on TV, giving them a good general knowledge.
Early on in the day, we say a herd of giraffe and the Grandma started crying with delight, as she never thought she would see them in the wild and with her own eyes as long as she lived. A very touching moment!
MOST INTERESTING ANIMAL BEHAVIOR YOU'VE WITNESSED?
It has often been stated by people working closely with elephants that these pachyderms may in fact be telepathic and are able to heal certain injuries.
I never had reason to believe one way or the other…until one day. I had cracked my head whilst cleaning the house the day before and had a massive bump on my forehead and a headache that wouldn’t buckle to pain medication.
The following day I had a group of Swiss guests in Kruger. We arrived at an elephant sighting at midday close to the Sabie River. It was hot and the elephants were moving in the direction of the water. I stopped at a fair distance, leaving their path open so they could cross in front of us. As they arrived at the road, they all stopped and gathered in the shade of the tree with the matriarch.
A younger elephant cow looked at our vehicle and ambled across to us, with, what must have been, her first calf. She showed no aggression at all but came to my passenger side window and peered in at me. I had already instructed the guests to be as silent as possible and not to move.
The elephant stood and stared at me for about 5-10 minutes. She then signalled to her calf that it was time to go and they both carefully squeezed passed our vehicle and disappeared into the bushes, giving me one last look. Afterwards, the entire herd crossed towards the river as I had anticipated.
My guests were amazed by the experience and asked me what had just happened. I had to be honest and admitted that I was not entirely sure but that I too found it a wonderful experience. We continued on our path and about 10 minutes later, I realised that my headache was gone. Still gives me goosebumps even after all these years.
GUIDING AREA OF SPECIALIZATION?
Animal Behavior. Both of my degrees were based on behavioral studies and I can sit in the bush for hours watching the behavior of wild animals. I also enjoy teaching others why the animals are doing what they are doing.
Their early visits to Kruger circa.1930, from their home in Barberton where my grandfather was an engineer at Sheba Mine for Moodies mining, filled my imagination and along with my early visits to the Park, were enough to plant the seed. I grew up on a “gentlemen’s” farm outside Johannesburg where I attended school and then later went on to University, earning a commerce degree and then spending 16 years in the corporate world.
In 2016 I made a life changing decision to completely re-engineer my life and leave behind a successful and lucrative corporate career to rather pursue my passion and a life filled with a greater and more meaningful purpose. This in itself has been a very interesting journey and process and it’s a backstory that I share with most of my clients (on request of course), most cant understand why a person would leave a 7 figure career to become a Safari guide but for me its all about passion.
In 2009 I took a sabbatical to western Zambia with my wife to run two lodges for a friend Gavin Johnson, ex 95 Springbok, this was my first attempt at exiting the fast paced corporate environment but after 9 months I was sucked back in until the end of 2016 when I finally exited.
WHY AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A SAFARI FIELD GUIDE?
My 'why' has always been passion. Like most guides we all grew up with an insatiable appetite for wilderness but I was redirected to commerce career but the calling never left me.
Following the FGASA self-study program I completed my guiding qualification and was assessed by 3 FGASA Scouts (of which there are only 9) and continue to regularly go through self assessments and mentorships with Andreas Liebenberg who conducts all my Track and Trail as well as Dangerous Game engagement on foot.
I have a hunger for information so I’m always learning and studying through FGASA. My learning philosophy is to find the best in the industry and then learn and be mentored by them.
Apart from passion and an endless desire to learn more, I started my own business and this offers me the opportunity to also stay in the business arena as an entrepreneur and fulfils my commercial passion to grown and build small businesses.
Ultimately you don’t guide yourself and people are key ingredient in the 'why'. The privilege of being a safari guide is not just spending endless days in the bush but of course being able to share your passion with others and I do love sharing and telling stories.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD SAFARI GUIDE IN YOUR OPINION?
I believe the foundation of a good guide is knowledge but a great guide is knowledge and EQ. For me there is nothing more important than being able to build a personal level of report and understanding with your client.
I also believe its important to cultivate a broad knowledge base covering a vast realm of information around the region that you operate in. Professionalism and how you make your client feel is key, then backed up with well tempered information that isn’t overwhelming but targeted specifically at their area so interest. Ultimately great guides connect with their clients and know how to use their knowledge to dazzle and delight.
YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL?
My favourite animal is an Elephant, their behaviour and sentient nature is just incredible to me. Being in the presence of a larger tusker for me time stands still. There is something primal that resonates in those moments, a sense of origin and evolution in their physiology combined with a deep wisdom in their eyes.
MOST MEMORABLE SIGHTING OF YOUR FIELD GUIDING CAREER?
My clients and I had been watching a large male leopard who calls the S118 and S119 in Kruger his home. He had a killed an impala ram and proceeded to stash it very high up in a Jackleberry tree.
It was too high, higher then a Leopard would usually would take such a kill and this of course left me asking, could there be a lion in the area? After an hour in the tree the leopard made his way down and disappeared. We left the kill to look for him only to return back unsuccessfully an hour later.
Just before we decided to leave a Lioness appeared. She had picked up the scent of the kill and moved in. The kill was very high in the tree and whilst Lions are capable climbers this was certainly outside the comfort range for a 160kg female lioness. But she was clear with her intentions and we watched in awe as she made the 15+meter accent into the top corner of the tree.
She paused and stopped regularly but eventually she made it. It was incredibly exciting to watch and the guests encouraged her the whole way. As she attempted to get purchase on the kill and dislodge it to bring it down the unthinkable happened, she slips.
Losing her footing she falls head first into a forward spin but somehow miraculously manages to set her front foot claws deep into the Jackleberry’s bark. It was a life saving move that prevented catastrophe but she wasn't out of trouble yet. Her weight was clearly against her and gravity was pulling on her heavily.
The shape of the tree was also not in her favour and as she clawed for dear life she eventually ran out of luck and fell out. Her free fall was at least 6 to 8 meters and she landed with a deep “umph” and lay motionless for what seemed like an eternity, but after a minute or so she sat up looking very dazed and confused.
Lions are of course incredibly resilient and she wasn’t about to give up and after 30 minutes she successfully repeated the process and disappeared with her prize back into the riverbed.
MOST EMBARRASSING GUIDING MOMENT?
Lets just say there is a rather famous female Honey Badger that lives at Satara, I call “hop-along” as she has a slight limp. She a fearless old gogo that once chased me up a tree in camp whilst all my guests where watching.
BEST EXPERIENCE OF YOUR GUIDING CAREER?
This is a tough question to answer, Id just have to say all of it. To me you need to keep evolving and not rely on what you’ve experienced but want to create new and better experiences all the time. I’ve had the privilege of guiding many wonderful people including many famous and notable clients over the past 4 years. It’s the people that create the experiences and memories.
MOST INTERESTING ANIMAL BEHAVIOR YOU'VE WITNESSED?
Being a safari guide we are privileged to see some incredible things. From lions hunting and killing prey to bull elephants fighting and moving the earth around. What’s credible as a guide is when you get the ethology right and are able to predict behaviour.
Some of the most interesting behavior has been observing baboons, elephants and lions.
I’ve watched male baboons hunting impala lambs. Observed a how the eastern pride male lions of Pilansberg have become tolerant of retired displaced males at their kill and I once saw bull elephant who was heavily in musth literally fell over drunk as he walked down into a river bed.
On the avarian side I once watched several species of raptor and accipiter gorge themselves on an erupting termite mound.
GUIDING AREA OF SPECIALIZATION?
I specialise in Birding, Track and Sign as well as History and Heritage of Greater Kruger National Park region which is another passion of mine.