How To Guide Your Own Safari Successfully

Guide Your Own Safari Index

Introduction

Acknowledgements

How to Use This Book

Ten Essential Tips to See More Wildlife

The Advantages of a Self Guided Safari

You can see as much wildlife guiding your own safari as when using a safari operator
Independence and flexibility
Budget
Family travel
Best of both worlds
Perfect for a repeat safari
Interact with the locals

Estimated Cost of a Self Guided Safari

Car Rental: Leave the 4x4 Behind

The car we use for self drive safaris
Car hire optional extras that will enhance your safari

Air conditioning
Maps
GPS navigation
Cell/Mobile phone

Where to rent a car for your safari

South Africa
Namibia
Swaziland

Detailed Packing List for Your Self Drive Safari

Packing list 1: before you leave for Africa

Safari clothes
Equipment and odds
Toiletries and first aid
Documents

Packing list 2: on arrival in Africa

Consumables

Packing list 3: camping

Basics
Kitchen goodies

Packing list 4: self catering

Suggested self catering grocery list
Self catering menu
South African recipes

Conversion Charts

Speed conversions
Distance and weight conversions
Temperature conversions

Safari Tips

Once your there

Wildlife Tick List

Self Drive Safari Rules of the Road and Etiquette

Within wildlife parks and reserves

At game sightings
When approaching wildlife
At single lane bridges
At the gate in the early morning

What to do around elephants

Africa Travel Insurance

Your Health - Before and On Safari

Malaria: prevention is better than cure
Bilharzia
The Sun
Water

Getting there

Airlines
Airports
Visas
Inoculations

Getting around

Booking domestic flights in South Africa
Rules of the road

Money Matters

Currency
Banks
Credit cards
Travellers cheques
ATM's
Tipping

Crime and personal safety
Public and school holiday chart
The SANParks daily conservation fee

How to pay less conservation fees

The Best Self Guided Safari Destinations In South Africa

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Wildlife

Often seen
Rarely seen
Not found here

Birdlife
Distance and travel times
Top five Kruger Park routes for great sightings
Detailed Kruger Park self drive example itinerary
Estimated cost of a Kruger Park self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Best time to go

Temperature and rainfall charts

Getting there

By car
Toll gates
By air
By shuttle

Arrival at the gate

Gate times

Where to stay

Main camps
Bush camps
Bush lodges
Luxury lodges
Overnight huts
Camping

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Hides
Dams and waterholes
Lookout points
Walking trails

Activities

Morning, sunset & night guided drives
Morning/afternoon guided walks
Bush breakfast/dinner
Full day guided game drive
Mountain bike trails

Eating and Drinking

Restaurants
Deli
Quick service restaurants
Selati train restaurant
Self catering

Shops
Animal numbers chart
Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

PILANESBERG GAME RESERVE

Wildlife

Often seen
Rarely seen
Not found here

Birdlife
Tips to improve your wildlife watching
Driving Around

Distance and travel times in the reserve

Estimated cost of a Pilanesberg self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Best time to go

Temperature and rainfall charts

Getting there

By car
Toll gates
By air

Arrival at the gate

Gate times

Where to stay

Main rest camp facilities
Luxury lodge facilities
Camping

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Hides
Dams and waterholes
Lookout points
Walking trails
Cultural/historic sites

Activities

Morning, afternoon & evening guided game drives
Hiking trails
Bush breakfast/dinner
Balloon safaris
Other activities

Eating and Drinking

Restaurants
Self catering

Shops
Animal numbers chart
Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI GAME RESERVE

Wildlife

Commonly seen
Rarely seen

Birdlife
Tips to improve your wildlife watching
Driving Around

Distance and travel times in the reserve
Good game viewing areas

Estimated cost of a Hluhluwe-Imfolozi self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Best time to go
Getting there

By car
Toll gates
By air

Arrival at the gate

Memorial gate
Nyalazi gate
Cengeni gate
Gate times

Where to stay

Main rest camp and bush lodge facilities

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Hides
Dams and waterholes
Lookout points
Wilderness trails
Cultural/historic sites
Boat excursions

Activities

Morning, afternoon & sunset guided game drives
Morning and afternoon guided walks
Self guided walking trails

Eating and Drinking

Restaurants
Terrace quick service menu
Self catering

Shops
Animal numbers chart
Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER NATIONAL PARK

Wildlife

Commonly seen
Rarely seen
Not found here

Birdlife

Often seen

Tips to improve your wildlife watching
Driving Around

Distance and travel times in the reserve
Fuel stations

My top seven waterholes for great sightings
Estimated cost of a Kgalagadi self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Best time to go
Getting there

By car
By air

Arrival at the gate

Gate times

Where to stay

Main rest camps
Wilderness camps
Campsites

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Hides
Rivers and waterholes
Cultural/historic sites

Activities

Sunset guided game drives
Guided walks

Eating and Drinking

Restaurants
Self catering

Shops

Bread delivery

Animal numbers chart - large predators
Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK

Wildlife

Commonly seen
Rarely seen
Not occurring here

Birdlife
Insects

Tips to improve your wildlife watching in Addo
Driving Around

Distance and travel times in the park
Good game viewing areas

Estimated cost of an Addo self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Best time to go
Getting there

By car
By air

Arrival at the gate

Addo main camp entrance gate
Main game viewing area gate
Addo heights gate
Camp Matyholweni entrance gate
Eyethu hop-on guides
Gate times

Where to stay

Main rest camp and bush camp facilities
Campsites

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Hides
Pans and dams
Lookout points

Activities

Guided game drives
Self guided walking trails

Zuurberg day hiking trails
PPC discovery trail

Horse trails

Eating and Drinking

Restaurants
Self catering

Shops
Animal numbers chart
Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

MOUNTAIN ZEBRA NATIONAL PARK

Wildlife

Commonly seen
Rarely seen
Not occurring here

Birdlife

Tips to improve your wildlife watching in Mountain Zebra
Driving Around

Distance and travel times in the park

Estimated cost of a Mountain Zebra Park self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Best time to go
Getting there

By car
By air

Arrival at the gate

Gate times

Where to stay

Main rest camp and bush camp facilities
Camping

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Rivers and dams
Lookout points

Activities

Guided game drives
Hiking trails - Day and overnight

Swimming pool
Khoisan cave paintings

Eating and Drinking

Restaurants
Self catering

Shops

Animal numbers chart
Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

ITHALA GAME RESERVE

Wildlife

Commonly seen
Rarely seen

Birdlife

Driving Around

Distance and travel times in the park
Best game viewing areas

Estimated cost of an Ithala self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Best time to go
Getting there

By car
By air

Arrival at the gate

Gate times

Where to stay

Main rest camp and bush camp facilities
Camping

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Hide
Lookout points
Cultural/Historic sites

Activities

Auto route
Morning and sunset game drives

Morning and afternoon guided walks
Self guided walks

Eating and Drinking

Restaurants
Coffee shop
ladies bar
Self catering

Shop

Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

MKHUZE GAME RESERVE

Wildlife

Commonly seen
Rarely seen
Not found here

Birdlife

Driving Around

Distance and travel times in the park
Fuel stations

Estimated cost of a Mkhuze self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Best time to go
Getting there

By car
Toll gates
By air

Arrival at the gate

Gate times

Where to stay

Main rest camp and bush camp facilities
Mshopi Campsite

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Hides
Pans
Walking trails
Cultural/Historic sites

Activities

Night drives

Eating and Drinking

Take away diner
Self catering

Shops
Animal numbers chart

Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

Getting there

Airlines
Airports
Visas
Inoculations

Getting around

Booking domestic flights in Namibia
Rules of the road

Money Matters

Currency
Banks
Credit cards
Travellers cheques
ATM's
Tipping

Crime and personal safety
Public and school holidays

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK

Wildlife

Often seen
Rarely seen

Birdlife
Tips to improve your wildlife watching in Etosha

Driving Around

Distance and travel times in the park
Fuel stations
Top ten waterholes for good wildlife viewing

Estimated cost of an Etosha self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Best time to go
Getting there

By car
By air

Arrival at the gate

Gate times

Where to stay

Main rest camps
Campsites

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Waterholes and Pans
Lookout points
Cultural/Historic sites
Ghost tree forest

Activities

Morning, afternoon and night guided drives

Eating and Drinking

Restuarants
Bar and kiosk
Self catering

Shops
Other amenities

Curio shop
Post office

Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

Getting there

Airlines
Airports
Visas
Inoculations

Getting around

Rules of the road
Border gate times

Money Matters

Currency
Banks
Credit cards
Travellers cheques
ATM's

Crime and personal safety
Public and school holidays

MLILWANE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Wildlife

Commonly seen
Rarely seen

Birdlife

Driving Around

Distance and travel times in the reserve

Estimated cost of a Mlilwane self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Best time to go
Getting there

By car
By air
By shuttle

Arrival at the gate
Where to stay

Main rest camp, bush camp, bush lodge and backpackers
Campsites

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Dams and Waterholes
Walking Trails
Cultural/Historic sites

Activities

Horse riding
Mountain biking
Sibhaca dancing

Eating and Drinking

Restuarants
Self catering

Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

MALOLOTJA NATURE RESERVE

Wildlife

Commonly seen
Rarely seen

Birdlife

Driving Around

Distance and travel times in the reserve

Estimated cost of a Malolotja self drive safari
How to make a booking yourself
Getting there

By car
By air
By shuttle

Arrival at the gate
Where to stay

Main rest camp
Campsite

Communications
Facilities

Picnic spots
Waterfalls and Dams
Lookout points
Walking Trails

Activities

Eating and Drinking

Self catering

Shops
Useful Contacts
Recommended reading and websites

Glossary