A Great Holiday Escape

Central New York winter weather already got you down? If winter isn’t really your thing, maybe it’s time to get out of the area. Why not a jaunt down to South Africa for a little safari? For starters, if you’re already sick of the cold, seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere. So winter here equals summer in South Africa! In fact, Kruger National Park is offering special Christmas safari packages specifically for travelers that want to get away from the usual holiday experience. The Christmas packages involve a 4-5 day safari including a special dinner and several game drives. Game drives generally occur in the early morning or evening, offering the chance to see the variety of animals that are active at different times of the day. Game drive vehicles are equipped with handheld spotlights on the window-side seats. These come in handy during night drives, when guides tell riders to swirl the lights around outside of the vehicle, hoping to catch the eyes of an animal. Big predatory cats’ eyes reflect a different color than other animals like impalas or waterbucks. During a night drive, visitors are advised to keep quiet as to not scare off the animals. Guides provide blankets in the vehicle as the sun goes down and the temperatures drop. Riders are often permitted to bring a small cooler with them on a night drive, and alcohol is allowed, making for quite a special evening.

The Kruger National Park website says that game viewing is best in the morning, encouraging travelers to seek the Big Five. The Big Five - lion, buffalo, elephant, rhino, and leopard - are major animals that can be tricky to find while on safari. Park guides communicate via radio during game drives, letting each other know where lions, for example, might be found that day. That way, they can make sure that people on the game drives get to see as many animals as possible.
Plants and animals are dispersed throughout the Park, and there’s certainly no guarantee that you’ll get to see everything on your list. Kruger National Park provides extensive maps that show where particular plants and animals can often be found. The Park also has detailed documentation of the wildlife, focusing on endangered species. Large safari parks like this one give travelers the chance to observe animals in as natural a setting as possible. However, Park guides do caution visitors to remain aware of the fact that these animals are un-caged and wild. Kruger National Park guides advise visitors to take normal precautions when on safari. Guides make sure to discuss safety, whether game viewing is done from a vehicle or on foot. The Park’s website says that while in some areas animals may be more familiar with people, they should never be teased or fed. You never know how an animal will respond, and the balance in the Park could be upset. The Park is home to a variety of species, including some potentially dangerous ones like snakes, scorpions, spiders, and insects. Kruger National Park’s website says that generally, few visitors encounter problems with the animals. In lodging areas, the Park provides mosquito nets and other insect proofing. They do advise visitors to wear enclosed walking shoes, socks, and long pants as a precaution, however.

These are not the only tips the Park offers for proper attire while on safari. Their main suggestion is to travel light. While most people dress for warm weather during the day, the Park’s website recommends long-sleeves and pants for the evening because temperatures drop and mosquitoes become more active. For daytime, loose cotton shirts are recommended in khaki, brown, olive, or beige colors if you hope to see wildlife. White is not a good color to wear if you’re going on a game drive or walk because it increases your visibility to the animals. Additionally, be sure to pack a sweater or light jacket for game drives because evenings can get chilly even in the summer. Layering is your best bet while on safari.
Kruger National Park offers a wide variety of accommodations, ranging from resort hotels to restcamp sites. Restcamp sites are especially good for those that prefer to independently enjoy the Park. Most restcamps have bungalow accommodations as well as safari tents and camping sites. The Crocodile Bridge Restcamp is particularly popular for those wishing to pursue the Big Five. There is a Laundromat, small grocery store, and even a liquor store at Crocodile Bridge. Staying at a restcamp such as this one certainly ensures that visitors have a more authentic safari experience than if they stay at a hotel or outside the Park itself.

To get to Kruger National Park, flying…is your only option from Syracuse. If you plan to visit the southern section of the Park, the destination airport is Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA). If you’re going to the central section, fly into Hoedspruit Airport. And if you’re headed for the north section, Phalaborwa Airport. SAAirlink and Nationwide Airlines are the airlines that fly into these airports. SAA is the only airline that travels between Johannesburg and KMIA, as well as Johannesburg and Phalaborwa Airport. So coming from Central New York, it’ll be quite a journey. First from here to maybe JFK then onto perhaps Amsterdam in order to reach Johannesburg. You can also fly into either Durban or Cape Town. Both cities have daily flights that will get you to Kruger National Park. Then it’s up to you! If you’re feeling adventurous, rent a car and drive through the Park at your own pace to see the animals and wildlife. Either way, if you go now, you’ll escape the snow.