ABOUT KRUGER
Kruger and the Sabi Sands is flat - with a few hills or rocky outcrops 'here and there'. The SW corner of Kruger has quite a lot of hills, near Berg-en-Dal camp and Bongani reserves. There are a few rivers, as shown on the maps, that run through Kruger - and occassional flooding occurs during extreme weather conditions in summer.
Kruger and Sabi Sands is located in a tropical climate with different bacteria, flora and fauna than most visitors are accustomed to, so it is advisable to take a few health precautions when travelling to make sure that you trip goes as comfortably and smoothly as possible. Malaria, this usually top on the list of visitors worries and prevention goes along way towards keeping you protected. Although it is believed that the anopholes mosquito (the species that carries malaria) hunts only at night, make sure that all exposed areas are well slathered in insect repellent at all times. Sleep under a net, there are some very good travelling mosquito nets available now, but budget travellers are well advised to bring their own since the nets at most low end guesthouses have holes or are invariably too small. If you’re sleeping in a tent that doesn’t have a net, spray insect repellent inside tent and leave for a few minutes. Although middle and up market lodges have great mosquito nets, fans and air conditioners. Make sure to visit your doctor to get a prescription for the antimalarial drugs that best suit your health and condition – there are some very good ones available on the market now, but tell your doctor of any symptoms that you may have, for example headaches, hot flushes, or a fever whether during your trip or up to two weeks afterwards, visit your doctor to be tested for malaria. Malaria test only takes 15 minutes and is available worldwide. We personally do not recommend Larium. VACCINATIONS- the only one that might be useful if visiting Kruger area is for tetanus. (in case you cut yourself on something sharp and dirty and do not clean it immediately!!) NO other jabs are required!! (Consult your doctor for more information.) If middle and up market establishments follow good hygiene health practices, your chances are very slim of contracting diseases.
If you are staying at the private lodges, these are of international standard and their reputation is at stake and so the best standards are maintained and you have no fear of eating nor drinking anything that could make you ill. As HIV/Aids is a major problem in especially Africa, obviously do not be stupid - control your hormones and avoid having sex with a local!! Prevention is better than cure - rather go have a cold shower if such a thought crosses your mind!!
You cannot self-drive around any of the private game reserves nor when staying at the private concession camps inside Kruger. The lodges supply rangers and open vehicle 4x4's and they take you on professional game drives around the reserve. As some of the reserves, the Rangers are allowed to drive off the tracks/road and into the bush, to get you closer to the wildlife and then they return to the road/track. Inside Kruger park, you HAVE to remain on the roads at all times. You can drive yourself around, or at most of the rest camps, there is a 3 hour morning and a 3 hour afternoon/sunset drive available with a ranger - BUT, these drives are for all members of the public and all ages. The vehicles are from a 12 to 30 seater -so not as quiet or personal as the private game lodges which will only have from 4 to 12 people per vehicle, depending on which lodge you are staying at. We rent our cars that are less than 1 year old, from Hoedspruit, Kruger Airport and Skukuza camp - and all our vehicles come with unlimited kilometres.
Kruger has hot and humid summers from November to March each year and then the cooler months of 'winter' are from June to August - where the days are warm and sunny and nights are cool and fresh. If and when it rains, it is in summer.