Here are some tips and recommendations on what to bring to Kruger National Park to make the most your trip.
Bring a pair of binoculars
Binoculars are an invaluable tool which will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the park. Animal sightings vary, so you might bump into a pride of lion resting a meter from the road but you don’t want to miss out on the distant rhino sighting because you lack binoculars. The number one regret of international travellers is not bringing binoculars, don’t make the same mistake!
A cheap pair will do the trick, but i recommend investing a little bit more for a quality pair and a lifelong investment. The difference between entry level and quality is spectacular in terms of quality of image, ability to use in low light conditions, field of view and ability to see detail. I also take great enjoyment using my binoculars for subjects at close range to see the exquisite colours on a beetle, the texture of a Klipspringer’s fur or the patterns of a Water Monitor’s skin, something only quality binocular can provide. Finally, Kruger is the perfect place to to start birding as it boasts around 500 species, many of which are easy to see and just as spectacular as the mega fauna (see below for advice on birding in the park).
A cheap pair will do the trick, but i recommend investing a little bit more for a quality pair and a lifelong investment. The difference between entry level and quality is spectacular in terms of quality of image, ability to use in low light conditions, field of view and ability to see detail. I also take great enjoyment using my binoculars for subjects at close range to see the exquisite colours on a beetle, the texture of a Klipspringer’s fur or the patterns of a Water Monitor’s skin, something only quality binocular can provide. Finally, Kruger is the perfect place to to start birding as it boasts around 500 species, many of which are easy to see and just as spectacular as the mega fauna (see below for advice on birding in the park).
Take an interest in the birds, bees and trees
Birding is a fantastic complement to searching for the Big 5. You might spend a while driving between sightings depending on the luck of the draw but birds are always present so you’ll always something of interest to search for and look at.
It slows down the pace of your visit. Instead of chasing from one lion sightings, you’ll stop more often, and have more opportunities to have unusual sightings. Some of my best sightings occurred when i was quietly waiting and birding in the car or in bird hides: the sound of slithering in the grass alerting me to a nearby African Python, two honey badgers appearing in a dry stream and even a pack of wild dogs surging from the savannah to catch an Impala right in front of the bird hide.
If you are a beginner birder buy a bird book before your departure and learn the bird families. The biggest hurdle to birding is identification, but if you know which family a bird is in, then identification is much easier and becomes a pleasant experience. You can go one step further and learn bird species either using your guide book or this great resource
It slows down the pace of your visit. Instead of chasing from one lion sightings, you’ll stop more often, and have more opportunities to have unusual sightings. Some of my best sightings occurred when i was quietly waiting and birding in the car or in bird hides: the sound of slithering in the grass alerting me to a nearby African Python, two honey badgers appearing in a dry stream and even a pack of wild dogs surging from the savannah to catch an Impala right in front of the bird hide.
If you are a beginner birder buy a bird book before your departure and learn the bird families. The biggest hurdle to birding is identification, but if you know which family a bird is in, then identification is much easier and becomes a pleasant experience. You can go one step further and learn bird species either using your guide book or this great resource
Tips for birding in the park:
- Visit different habitats to see many different species (riverine forest, woodland, thicket, grasslands, etc).
- Drive slowly to see more mammals and birds. I recommend a cruising speed of 20 to 30km/h.
- Look out for group of birds. Called bird parties or mixed flocks, they often numerous species moving together hunting for insects.
- When you see something of interest stop the car, cut the engine and let the birds settle into their normal routine.
- Before you start driving again, scan all around, you never know what might have walked into view as you sat there quietly!
- Get a good bird book. If Kruger is your only nature reserve visit i recommend Robert’s Bird of the Kruger National Park. Otherwise a Field Guide covering Southern Africa will give you more milage for the rest of your trip - Newman's Birds of Southern Africa is a good option.
- If you have trouble identifying a bird, take a photo and post it on the SANParks Birding in South Africa Forum.
Download the Kruger Park checklist. Full checklist or condensed checklist.
Bring a powerful flashlight
If you are staying a few night in the Kruger and other parks a powerful flashlight will allow you to make some sightings at night from the camp perimeter fence. Strictly nocturnal species like Porcupines and others such as Hyena may wander close to camp and offer you a lovely intimate encounters separated only by the electric fence. You also often hear owls in the camps and it can be fun to follow their hoots to seek them out.
For animals spotting I use an LED Lenser P7, and frankly we are in love with this product. Small and lightweight, yet powerful, adjustable beam and power and solid german manufacturing, you’ll be using it well after your trip. The best thing about it is that in my experience the batteries never fails unexpectedly but the luminosity output drops until you notice it enough to change the batteries.
Additionally, the camps are really dark at night and, though unlikely, you might encounter snakes or scorpions while walking to the restaurant or your morning drive.
For general use in the camp, i have an old headlamp outputting both normal and red light. The red light is really useful to preserve your (and others’) night vision when you’re outside enjoying the spectacular night skies, which you should definitely check out. Find a dark spot in the camp, switch off you lamps, wait a few minutes and enjoy a spectacular view of the Milky Way and Southern Hemisphere Stars. Look out for Orion and the Southern Cross.
For animals spotting I use an LED Lenser P7, and frankly we are in love with this product. Small and lightweight, yet powerful, adjustable beam and power and solid german manufacturing, you’ll be using it well after your trip. The best thing about it is that in my experience the batteries never fails unexpectedly but the luminosity output drops until you notice it enough to change the batteries.
Additionally, the camps are really dark at night and, though unlikely, you might encounter snakes or scorpions while walking to the restaurant or your morning drive.
For general use in the camp, i have an old headlamp outputting both normal and red light. The red light is really useful to preserve your (and others’) night vision when you’re outside enjoying the spectacular night skies, which you should definitely check out. Find a dark spot in the camp, switch off you lamps, wait a few minutes and enjoy a spectacular view of the Milky Way and Southern Hemisphere Stars. Look out for Orion and the Southern Cross.
A slower pace
Once you’ve scratched your itch for Big 5 sightings, it’s worthwhile changing your pace.
Bird hides are good places to stretch your legs and spend a while. Quite often when you’ll enter a hide you’ll see nothing of note. Many make the mistake of leaving after 5 minutes, but if you settle down a wait it is likely you’ll have interesting sightings as all the hides are built next to water. Bring a book on animal behaviour or your map to plan your next day’s drive.
Other good spots to park your car and watch bush-life go by are bridges over rivers. Even dry river beds can spring pleasant surprises, such as a pair of Honey Badgers on the morning foray. If you’ve found a pride of lion close to your overnight site, come back in the afternoon and stay with them until gate closing time. You’ll be rewarded when they rouse from their slumber to play and socially interact, or see how other animals react to the Lion’s presence.
Bird hides are good places to stretch your legs and spend a while. Quite often when you’ll enter a hide you’ll see nothing of note. Many make the mistake of leaving after 5 minutes, but if you settle down a wait it is likely you’ll have interesting sightings as all the hides are built next to water. Bring a book on animal behaviour or your map to plan your next day’s drive.
Other good spots to park your car and watch bush-life go by are bridges over rivers. Even dry river beds can spring pleasant surprises, such as a pair of Honey Badgers on the morning foray. If you’ve found a pride of lion close to your overnight site, come back in the afternoon and stay with them until gate closing time. You’ll be rewarded when they rouse from their slumber to play and socially interact, or see how other animals react to the Lion’s presence.
Morning, Sunset and Night Drives
All are definitely worthwhile as they give you the opportunity to be on the road when animals are most active, dawn and dusk, and see nocturnal animals. Sunset and Night drives are your most likely chance of seeing elusive Leopards, Caracal, African Wild Cat, Serval or Honey Badger. You’ll have a guide who knows the area inside out.
For those visiting the park on day trips, we recommend booking a sunset or night drives from one of the larger gates like Numbi or Paul Kruger Gate.
For those visiting the park on day trips, we recommend booking a sunset or night drives from one of the larger gates like Numbi or Paul Kruger Gate.
Nights in the camp
After dark in the camps can be entertaining. Most camps have a path along the fence which provide game viewing opportunities. Hyena may roam looking for scraps of food (don’t feel them!), porcupine become active, elephants may wander close by. This path, far from air-conditioning units and bright lights, is the best place to hear the sounds of the african night and if you look up, the magic african night skies.
It is also fun to seek scorpions which are much more common than we can imagine. The easiest scorpions to find are “Bark Scorpions” (scientific name), which like in crevices and holes on rugged barked trees, Acacias, Sjambok Pod and fallen trees are good bets. Look inside the nooks and crannies of the bark either with a red light or a UV light, you might find five or six in a single tree. UV lights are best as scorpions fluoresce under UV light and are very easy to spot. Red light seems the less bothersome to scorpions and you can get within centimetres without a reaction and finding them is relatively straight forward. Scorpions will retreat into their hiding place if approached with a normal light.
Some camps such as Olifants (terrace overlooking the river) and Punda Maria (camping and hide) have resident Thick Tailed Bush Babies and seeking them out and watching them go about their routine is fun. They usually follow the same path everyday, so ask the staff if you don’t find them.
Owls are also common in most camps and the African Scops Owl can often be heard. Follow their call at night, you might get quite close and get a good look with your flashlight. You can find them roosting during the day, your best bet is to find them while being mobbed by other birds or ask the cleaning staff or reception.
The camp swimming pools, especially Punda Maria, are good spots to find frogs.
It is also fun to seek scorpions which are much more common than we can imagine. The easiest scorpions to find are “Bark Scorpions” (scientific name), which like in crevices and holes on rugged barked trees, Acacias, Sjambok Pod and fallen trees are good bets. Look inside the nooks and crannies of the bark either with a red light or a UV light, you might find five or six in a single tree. UV lights are best as scorpions fluoresce under UV light and are very easy to spot. Red light seems the less bothersome to scorpions and you can get within centimetres without a reaction and finding them is relatively straight forward. Scorpions will retreat into their hiding place if approached with a normal light.
Some camps such as Olifants (terrace overlooking the river) and Punda Maria (camping and hide) have resident Thick Tailed Bush Babies and seeking them out and watching them go about their routine is fun. They usually follow the same path everyday, so ask the staff if you don’t find them.
Owls are also common in most camps and the African Scops Owl can often be heard. Follow their call at night, you might get quite close and get a good look with your flashlight. You can find them roosting during the day, your best bet is to find them while being mobbed by other birds or ask the cleaning staff or reception.
The camp swimming pools, especially Punda Maria, are good spots to find frogs.
Read essential books for your trip
 | Game Ranger in your BackpackThis is a must have for all visitors to the Kruger National Park, whether novice or experienced African wildlife watcher, The purpose of this book is to replace the personal guide or "ranger" when viewing game and provide interesting facts to interpret what you will see in the park. It covers common mammal, reptiles, birds, insects, spiders and scorpions, trees, grasses and tracks. This book is also used by student guides and schools, a testament to its quality. In addition it is beautifully designed with lovely photos which makes a great coffee table book once you are back home. On the other hand it isn't ideal for identification purposes. Even though ID pointer are included for each species, its design is suited to quickly nor thoroughly ID the flora and fauna you'll see. For that you'll need specialised field guides. |
 | Southern African Mammals Made SimpleThis book focuses on identification of mammals using a 3 step approach which really helps for tricky identifications such as small antelopes. Its small size makes it a great addition for your trip. Though it contains less information than other mammal field guides it makes great companion book to Game Ranger in your Backpack. |
 | The Behavior Guide to African MammalsIf you want to push your understanding beyond the usual field guide information, this is the reference for african animal behaviour. After a while in the park, you might catch yourself thinking, some more impala and just drive off. in search of the next sighting. This book is the perfect antidote, inciting you to observe more carefully to understand their behaviors and interactions. The perfect book to read while waiting for a pride of lions to be active or when resting as picnic areas. Unfortunately this new anniversary edition does not include any new research since, but it still is the reference used by the professionals. |
 | Sappi Tree Spotting: Lowveld,including Kruger NPIn our opinion the best book for beginner tree spotting in the Kruger National Park. Its approach based on ecozones and habitats is unique among tree books and is great to learn and spot new species. For example, if you are in Skukuza area by the river, you'll find a page detailing which trees to look for. It also shows trees with striking features you'll be sure to see when in flower of fruit. The drawings instead of photographs allows for salient features of trees to be highlighted. |
 | Roberts Bird Guide to Kruger National ParkBirds are the animal you'll see most often and the Kruger Park hosts some spectacular species. Being able to identify some birds you see will make your trip much more exciting. If you are new to birding and plan on visiting only Kruger Park then Roberts Bird Guide, Kruger National Park is a good choice. You'll find birds much quicker and will be sure that all the birds in the book can be found in the park, no confusion with similar species in different locations. If your trip includes nature parks outside of the Greater Kruger area it is worthwhile to buy a Southern Africa Field Guide. Our favorite is Newman's, but the SASOL and Princeton are good alternatives. |
ilanda Guest House
We are a guest house in White River, just 30 minutes from Numbi Gate, 45 minutes from Phabeni Gate and 1 hour from Paul Kruger Gate. Guests staying more than 2 nights and visiting the Kruger National Park on days trips are welcome to borrow binoculars and reference books to make your visit the the Kruger Park more enjoyable.
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