Kruger National Park vs Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve
We at Outlook Safaris operate safaris into the Kruger National Park as well as the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve.
Questions we often get asked before people book a safari with us, is what the difference is between the two? Which destination is better? Where will we see the most animals?
First off, it must be mentioned that the Sabi Sands Reserve, is in fact incorporated into the Kruger Park, in other words the western border between the Kruger and Sabi Sand used to be separated by a fence. This fence has been broken down to enlarge the area for the sake of the animals and to increase the natural size of what has effectively been named the Greater Kruger National Park, incorporating the Kruger, Sabi Sand, Timbavati, Klaserie, Manyeleti and Balule Private Game Reserves.
So to get started, in my opinion, it depends very much on what you expect from your safari experience.
The Kruger National Park, is a national treasure in South Africa, most of us living here are extremely passionate and protective of our “Park” and take exception to anyone who criticises our small piece of paradise!! Small however is relative, the Kruger is in fact a huge expanse of land dedicated to the conservation of natural wildlife, a job South African National Parks seems to take very seriously.
A good friend of mine aptly describes a Kruger Park safari as the “great unknown”. You never know what lurks around the next corner or over the next hill.
You may be driving along with your guide, having not seen anything for the past hour, and suddenly it all comes to life, a pride of seven lion lying in the road, having just killed a huge giraffe, being harassed by a clan of hyena’s wanting in on the action! Cameras fly, camcorders get warmed up, guides are whistling, highlighting the fact that you are extremely lucky to be seeing this, as it does not come along every day.
So there you are, in the bush witnessing an amazing wildlife sighting and there is nobody else in sight! Then other vehicles start arriving and before long 10 vehicles are in on the sighting, trying to get the best possible position for a good photo, often oblivious to other people also trying to do the same thing.
Your guide decides to leave and carry on further down the road, satisfied that you have photographs worthy of the cover of next months National Geographic magazine, or are about to conquer YouTube with the most popular wildlife home movie of all time!
Everyone is excited and your guide is relieved, you have come to Africa for this, and we have shown it to you, everyone is happy?
This is a typical scenario for the Kruger National Park; it is an absolutely amazing destination. In fact after guiding safaris their for the past 15 years, it is still the place I go for my annual holiday. The ambience, to put it rather simply, is special and must be experienced. Visit our website www.outlook.co.za for more information.
The Sabi Sand on the other hand, is a little different.
You may be driving along with your guide in the lodge’s open 4×4 vehicle, having not seen anything for the past 5 minutes. Suddenly the vehicle’s radio crackles to life, “Calling all vehicles, ingwe (Shangaan for leopard) Kurula (this is the leopards name, given to it by the one of the rangers when it was born) is lalapanzi (sleeping) in the marula tree just off Nkorho’s (name of a lodge!!) cutline”
This is one of the main reasons you have come here, to see the famous leopards of the Sabi Sand, and once again it does not disappoint. Your guide informs you that a leopard has been spotted and that he is currently making his way to its location. Right now this is the priority and other animals are passed by to get to the sighting as quickly as possible. Arriving around the corner from the sighting, the guide suddenly slows down, and surprisingly stops to talk about a bushwillow (kind of tree) for a couple of minutes. The reason for this is that the sighting is full and has three vehicles at the leopard; you have now been placed in a queue and must wait your turn because three vehicles per sighting is the maximum. This is however a very good thing! It keeps the animals generally relaxed and stops fifteen vehicles all crashing through the bush at the same time to get the best possible sighting of the leopard. When it is finally your turn, you see the method behind the madness as you are rewarded with the ultimate photographic opportunity with hardly any disturbance from other people or vehicles.
You leave the sighting after ten minutes and continue your game drive satisfied that at the first opportunity you will email National Geographic your photos and demand huge compensation from them, or alternatively wow everyone on YouTube with the essence of an African safari.
You see, the same result, but quite different experiences.
It is becoming commonplace to experience a similar safari in the Kruger National Park as there are open vehicles in radio contact that race from sighting to sighting. We at Outlook do not operate our Kruger safaris in this way as we believe in that ‘great unknown” phenomenon, we like to be surprised by what is around the next corner.
Neither destinations are necessarily better and they do not seem to compete for each others market, they are however quite different and where you go will depend on what you expect whilst on safari in South Africa, and of course what your budget is. For wildlife photography few destinations beat the Sabi Sand. For a mix of more traditional South African culture accompanied by excellent wildlife, the Kruger is a good bet and you will not be disappointed.
Just for those who cannot decide, we also offer a safari that combines the two spending two nights in the Kruger and two nights in the Sabi Sand. We call it our 5-day Combination Safari and you can get more info on the safari by clicking here. (My apologies, shameless advertising once again! But go have a look, it’s a great safari)
As for me, I’m about to leave on my very own safari, and I will be visiting both destinations! Africa is our passion, and we can’t get enough of this place!
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