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Popular Packing Lists | Other Packing Lists Tips | All Tips (28) A good pair of hiking boots is definitely a must bring along when visiting the Kruger Park, Due to the long wild grasses and insects as well as spiders and other creatures of the veld it is advisable to wear your boots at all times while out in the veld. Leave a Comment
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you must get something for your head as the sun is hot in the park ......
there are lots of toilets in the camps
One can get film in the park at the big camps but again its going to cost you .......
bring your drinks as well even th ewater is expensive ...... Leave a Comment
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Sun hat, shorts and short-sleeved shirts are a must. Also, sandals will be much more comfortatble than shoes while you are driving around, especially if you go bare-foot!
You must have a decent telephoto/zoom camera. The photo here shows the first lioness that we came across, lying down on the bank of a dry river bed. Our poor 105 mm (2X) maximum zoom camera could not do the job. You should have at least 400 mm (8X) capability if you really want to get some great game shots! We came across this lioness during our first morning expedition near Satara Camp. Our videos are not bad and we had some great binocular views, but the photo just does not cut it! Leave a Comment
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We brought our usual suit cases plus day-packs for driving. This worked fine.
I would recommend during any time of the year to wear sneakers or a good walking shoe. I wouldn't feel comfortable in sandals due to bugs, snakes, what have you. . .
We were there in the Fall (late April / early May) and shorts & T-shirts were good during the day, but early mornings and evenings were very cool and jeans and sweatshirts were best.
Despite the cool weather, the sun was intense. I wore a wide-brimmed hat, even in the car, for sun protection. Also a good pair of sunglasses is a must!
Definitely, you'll want to bring sun block at any time of the year.
Kruger is a malarial zone, so I brought prescription pills for malaria prevention, but during the fall, there aren't many mosquitoes. Better safe than sorry, I say.
Bring bug repellent with Deet and wear it at least at night & early morning, if you're out.
To get nice views of the wildlife, you'll need a zoom lens that goes up to about 300mm. That's not to say the animals are always far away. Sometimes they're a little too close for comfort!
Even though we stayed at the rest camps, we didn't need any camping gear. The huts at the camps are really just cottages and they are equipped with anything you need. The camp shops also sell food, utensils and other camping supplies. Leave a Comment
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A t-shirt and shorts will do. A jersey for the nights as it cools down. Good footwear is important.
The normal stuff, like painkillers and bandages. Make sure you had your shots and malaria pills.
Digital camera. Here you can really find out what your camera is worth. Not only pictures but filming is great as well.
If you stay in the camp, you have to use the national parks campsites. Most of the times its fully booked. Look out for campsites outside the park (most are situated near the gates of the park). It is likely to be cheaper outside the park than inside. Leave a Comment
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Because of the nature of the trip I took a lot more camera gear than usual. To carry and protect this I bought a Lowepro mini trekker backpack. These are great. There was room for all my camera gear and my other hand luggage. The internal sections can be changed to accommodate your own needs and the bags give lots of protection (www.lowepro.com).
Baggy cargo style trousers and long sleeve shirts for mosquito protection. Rohan gear is great (www.rohan.co.uk). I took a good pair of hiking boots.
Malaria tablets from home and mosquito repellent.
I took 2 SLR bodies and while in the park hept a 70-210/F4 on one and a 300/F4 on the other. I also used a 1.4x converter with the 300/F4 at times. Film was a mixture of 200 and 400 ASA. The conditions were overcast at times and with a long lens the 400 was useful. For support I used a bean bag which sat on our lunch cool-box inside the truck. I rested the camera on this instead of trying to use a tripod or monopod. This seemed to work quite well. Leave a Comment
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Sunglasses and a hat for daydrives, a windjack and warm hat for nightdrives.
Don´t forget your malaria profylaxe! Malaria is a deadly dissease.......
Wildlife pics will be much nicer when you use a zoomlens. Tom has a 300-500 mm zoom and Gonnie has a 28-200 mm zoom.
Flashlights can come in handy as the sun goes down before dinner! A candle in a beercan is very romantic, but almost every campside has electric connections so if you bring a lamp it will be easier. Leave a Comment
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Luggage with wheels is always a good idea, wherever you are travelling.
If you are doing a night hike, bring a backpack and a water bottle.
Some ideas:
Light coloured clothing that doesnt absorb the sun as much as dark clothing. If you're going on safari, pack comfortable walking shoes and khaki, brown or beige casual clothes.
Long-sleeved shirts and trousers will help protect you against the sun and insect bites.
Take a warm jacket for game drives; and, if you're going in summer, make sure it's water-proof.
A cap/hat that covers your head and neck.
Long socks if you are going hiking (extra protection against snakes if you come across one).
Sunglasses.
Comfortable sandals and tackies/trainers/sneakers.
The KNP supplies towels and linen. These are excellent quality. You may want to bring an extra towel for swimming though. (Rock pools are lovely!)
Take your recommended Malaria tablets, sun screen (Factor 35), headache tablets (from being in the car during the sun all day, may bring on a headache), and usual little things like some plasters for blisters, Tabard for the mossies (mosquitos), cotton wool, germolene etc.
Your camera, with charger, and a SOUTH AFRICAN plug extension.
Bring along the best lens you can - a zoom lens will be needed as the animals are often in the distance and may only look like tiny specks in your photos when they are developed.
If you are on an overnight safari tour and will be camping, you will need a roll-up matt, a blanket and a torch.
Find out what cooking implements will be provided by your guide.
Have a map of KNP handy, plus a local bird, flower and tree book. For this you also need a pair of good quality binoculars
This is so that you don’t get lost (you don’t want to be left in the Park at night!), plus can appreciate all that’s around you that much more.
It is not just a place to sight-see, but a place to learn from too.
Dont forget a torch! Leave a Comment
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Hat – it gets really hot in the highveld and you are well advised to bring a nice hat to wear while sitting outside at the designated picnic spots viewing game, or sipping your sun-downers.
Light coloured clothing – Africa is generally hot, so unless you are visiting the park in winter, I recommend wearing light coloured clothes that reflect the light.
Warm clothing – make sure you pack some warm clothing if you intend going on any early morning or late night drives/walks. The wind chill factor can be quite intense with the wind whistling through the open-backed truck.
Walking boots – if you are planning on going on a game walk, ensure you bring along a decent pair of walking boots, or failing that, a good pair of trainers. Whatever you do, don’t go out in flip flops or high heels. It is recommend your walking boots or trainers cover your ankle (use a pair of thick socks if your shoes don’t ride that high). This is an extra precaution against snake-bites.
Tick-spray – ticks are in abundance in game parks, especially if you go on any walks in the bush. Make sure you spray your legs and arms before heading out and check your legs and socks when you return!
Malaria tablets – Kruger National Park is in a malaria zone, therefore it is highly recommended you begin taking your malaria tablets before you arrive and throughout your stay. Your chemist or doctor will be able to provide you with information on the type of tablet and dosage.
Mosquito repellent – Mosquitoes can be a pain. Make sure you buy some effective mosquito and insect repellent for your stay in the park. If you forget to buy some before you arrive, most parks have small shops that stock a multitude of odds and ends – insect repellent is always readily available!
Binoculars – these are a vital piece of equipment for any game safari. If there are more than two of you in the car at once, try to bring along more than one pair. There is nothing more frustrating than seeing a huddle of beige smudges in the distance, and having to wait your turn to gaze in detail at the lions sleeping in the summer sun.
Binoculars are fantastic for seeing the little details: the ox-peckers picking ticks off the back of an elephant’s back, the lion cubs playing with grasshoppers and spotting the lilac-breasted rollers flitting from tree to tree.
Camera – Another necessity! You will want to capture for all time, the great and wonderful sights you see while traversing the African savannah. I highly recommend bringing along a zoom lens if possible, as they enable you to take photographs that appear really up close and personal.
Books: Signs of the Wild: A field guide to the spoor and signs of the mammals of Southern Africa by Clive Walker and Roberts Birds of Southern Africa by Gordon L. MacLean, Austin Roberts
Notebook – List the wildlife you spot and where - especially if they’re rare or any of the big 5: Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Elephant & Rhino. You can put this information to good use at the sightings board set up in almost all the rest camp reception areas.
Map – Maps are available to buy at each entrance gate – you'll need them to navigate your way through the park.
Food – Most of the camps are self-catering
Cooking Utensils – whether you need to bring these items along depends on the camp in which you stay. (ie Punda Maria)
Board-games/Cards – There are no TVs/radios so if you think you’ll get bored in the evenings, go the old fashioned route and play some board games.
See General Tips for more Leave a Comment
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South Africa has a very unique plug system as you can see on the picture. Adapters are available in many shops including some supermarkets. My recommendation is that you by your adapters when you are in the country. Leave a Comment
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