LESS accommodation and fewer vehicles in the northern part of the Kruger make it an attractive alternative to the sometimes congested South.

Onne Vegter, Wild Wings Safaris MD, points out that the Northern Kruger is less popular with operators because it is further from Johannesburg, and has less consistent game viewing. 

However, he says its appeal lies in the fewer tourists, less congestion, excellent birding and more exclusivity  that it offers.

“When you do come across a quality sighting, you can often enjoy it without the traffic congestion that is common in the south of Kruger.”  

Reynold Thakhuli, SANParks GM: Media, PR & Stakeholder Relations, also points out that what are not really found in the south are in abundance in the north, including some of the more rare antelope like nyala, tsessebe and others.

Lauren Ritchie, Rare Earth Retreats ceo, argues that Northern Kruger is more often than not either under sold or incorrectly sold.

“Northern Kruger is a very different safari experience to down South, it offers a huge range of diversity in terms of the landscape, the history of the area, the history of the people, the activities and fauna and flora,”  she says.

“I think people are nervous about the Northern Kruger because historically it wasn’t ever booked due to no accommodation providers there.

“But now there is choice in accommodation and thee are offers the raw, wild, untouched, authentic African Safari.”

“When we go on game drive, we don’t even see our own vehicles never mind the other concessionaires. It is not crowded and feels like the hidden gem of the Kruger,” she says of taking guests at The Outpost, or its adjacent lodge Pel’s Post, out on game drives.

The Outpost is situated on a hill overlooking the Luvuvhu River in the Pafuri region of the Kruger.