The Private Lodge Experience!

People often ask me what the difference is between going to the Kruger National Park and one of the private reserves. Recently I had the opportunity of going to some of the private reserves, and I had a great time. It is a very different experience to going to the main park. First of all, there are not that many people. People cannot drive around with their private vehicles. All safaris are guided. With guides and trackers present it means a more interpretive and interesting experience. Trackers have an incredible knack of finding animals. Secondly, although the private reserves are considered part of the greater Kruger (there are no fences between their private property and the Kruger National Park allowing animals free rein), one traverses a much smaller area than in Kruger. In the Kruger Park one tends to travel many kilometers through different habitats in search of the animals. You would think that driving in a smaller area would mean less success, but that is not necessarily the case. In private reserves one can drive off-road to get better views of the animals. Although it initially seems disruptive to the environment and the animals, habituation over many decades ensures that the animals behave as they would do naturally. Careful attention is giving to driving off-road so that environmental impact is not much more than say an elephant moving through the bush. It gives you greater insight into the movement and behaviour of animals as you are able to follow them through the bush. It also allows for magnificent close-up encounters of especially the Big Five. Although no guarantee of seeing them as it is still up to nature, I managed to see them on two drives. Morning and afternoon drives are done with a bush walk after breakfast. The hot hours in the middle of the day can be spent relaxing around the pool. The luxury level between different lodges vary (as does the prices), but they are all very comfortable and well-equipped and a great way of experiencing the African bush. It’s a very different experience to going to the main Kruger National Park, which is a public reserve, and it’s a great add-on to get a taste of both.

 

Simon Vegter

Wild Wings Safaris

www.wild-wings.co.za