Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to visit Southern Africa?
Absolutely. Some people are concerned about safety
due to negative media reports, which may give
potential visitors the wrong impression. By and
large, South
Africa is calm and peaceful and we continue to
welcome millions of tourists a year to our beautiful
country. We have never had any cause for concern regarding the
safety of our guests.
For an update on Victoria Falls, please see our
Victoria Falls safari page. Regarding the ongoing concern of crime in South
Africa, that question is addressed further down on
this page.
How does a Kruger National Park safari compare to a private game lodge safari, for example in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve?
The Sabi Sand Game Reserve shares an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park, and the bush and animals found there are the same. Here are some benefits of each.
Guided Kruger National Park safari benefits:
* More affordable (costs less than a safari at a private lodge).
* Expert guide (our guides are older and more experienced than most of the guides at private game lodges).
* Better general game viewing. You will see a greater number and variety of wildlife on a Kruger Park safari.
* You will see more of the Kruger Park and the game drives cover greater distances.
* Longer, more flexible game drives.
Private Game Lodge benefits:
* More luxurious accommodation.
* Vehicles can go off-road to get closer to the animals.
* Night drive and bush walk included in the cost.
* Better chance of seeing big cats up close, like leopards.
Overall, for a first safari we would recommend a Combo safari, combining the best of both by spending a couple of nights
in the Kruger National Park on one our guided open vehicle safaris, followed by a couple of nights at a private game lodge in the
Sabi Sand Game Reserve. If you have to choose between the two, we would recommend a Kruger National Park safari (better overall game viewing for less money).
Which part of the Kruger National Park should I visit?
The Kruger National Park is huge (over 220 miles from North to South) and it is impossible to see
it all in one trip. To the West of the Kruger Park are a number of large private game reserves that
share an unfenced border with the Kruger Park. Together the whole reserve is called the Greater Kruger
National Park and it spans more than 2.2 million hectares of pristine wilderness. The private game
reserves like Sabi Sands and Timbavati are home to a number of private game lodges which are renowned
for their luxury accommodation, excellent service and superb game viewing opportunities on open
Land Rovers. Some of these lodges are quite expensive, but the experience is absolutely worth it.
For our standard Kruger Park safaris, we focus on the game-rich Southern half of the Kruger National Park,
which has the richest diversity of habitats and animal life. We make use of some of the best camps like
Lower Sabie, Skukuza, Bergendal, Pretoriuskop, Satara, Olifants and Letaba. Each of these camps has superb
accommodation, a good quality restaurant and well-stocked shop, and is surrounded by an excellent network
of roads for game drives.
How do I decide which lodge is right for me?
We work with a large number of excellent lodges, and will always recommend a lodge where we know you will
get superb food, excellent service, fantastic game viewing and value for your money. We
have personally visited each of the
game lodges we work with, and the best is to contact us and let us know what is important to you.
The factors that may influence your decision include your budget, the type of accommodation, game viewing
opportunities, the style of hosting and atmosphere at the lodge, etc. For a honeymoon couple we may recommend
a different lodge than for a family with children, for example. With so many options to choose from, you can
relax with the knowledge that we will give you honest and expert advice about all the different options, and
will never recommend a sub-standard lodge for your safari. We work hard to find you the best destination at
the best possible price.
Does it cost more to book through Wild Wings?
Not at all! In fact, it costs less to book through
us than booking directly with the lodge, because we
offer you a discount on the normal rate wherever
possible, and we add no booking fees. We maintain a
very good reputation and relationship with the
lodges, which protects you and ensures that as a
guest from Wild Wings Safaris you always receive the
best possible service. If the lodge or another
operator offers you a lower rate than what we have
quoted you (for the same dates and accommodation),
send us proof and we will beat that price.
Will I see the big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino)?
Yes, at least some of them. In the greater Kruger National Park, spotting all of the big 5 in one or two days is very possible
but cannot be guaranteed. Due to the vastness of Kruger, it is impossible to predict in advance what animals
you will find on your safari. This is part of the excitement and adventure of looking for wildlife in their
natural environment. Also, in your quest to view the big 5, be sure not to miss out on the many other
interesting animals, birds, plants, insects and reptiles to be found. Your guide will consult with you about
your interests and what you most wish to see. This will help us determine what approach we take. If the
‘big 5’ is what you want to see, we will make every effort to try and find them. If you are
interested in birds, we will take you to some of the best birding spots in Kruger. If your passion is
photography, we will create ample opportunity for this and put together a fantastic photographic safari
for you.
Do you use open vehicles?
Yes, all game drives are conducted on a specially designed open safari vehicle with valid
permit and SABS safety certificate. Transfers from
Johannesburg are done with a luxury air-conditioned
vehicle, and at the entrance gate to the game
reserve we switch over to the open safari vehicle.
The vehicle can seat a maximum of 9 people, but our
average group size is 4-7 people.
Can you accommodate families with children?
Yes. Most of our safaris can be done with children of any age. For families who wish to bring their children
on a wildlife safari, we can offer a number of family-friendly accommodations both inside and outside the
Kruger National Park, where children are more than welcome. On our guided Kruger Park safaris, we will usually arrange an exclusive departure for families with young children.
Should I be worried about malaria?
No, not worried, but informed. You should be aware of the risk and take anti-malaria medication before and
during your trip, but do not let the risk of malaria stop you from enjoying your safari! Over a million
visitors come to the Kruger National Park every year, and very few cases of malaria are reported. All
accommodations are fitted with insect screens and fans or air-conditioning. Please see our
Malaria information page.
What should I bring?
Bring comfortable shoes or sandals, cool clothing with neutral colors
for during the day, long pants, a warm jacket, scarf
and gloves for night drives, a light raincoat in summer, swimsuit, brim hat, sunglasses and suntan
lotion, camera, flashlight, spare batteries, spending money for personal expenses, insect repellant,
binoculars (we do provide binoculars on game drives but it is best to bring your own). Please keep
baggage limited to 2 soft bags per person. If you need to charge any camera equipment, do not forget to
bring a travel adapter. Your accommodation will have a 220V power point. Also make sure you bring enough
film or memory cards for your camera!
How does payment work?
Payment can be made by direct bank transfer (also called EFT, wire or SWIFT transfer) or by secure online
credit card payment. We accept most major credit cards
and charge no additional credit card fee. We will send you detailed payment instructions once
you make a booking, and we can provide references of previous clients upon request.
As SATSA member we are covered by bonding insurance,
which means you can never lose any money paid
upfront.
Do you offer tours to the rest of Southern Africa?
Yes. We offer a variety of guided, self-drive and fly-in safaris to all the top travel destinations in Southern Africa, including the
Kruger National Park and Lowveld, Cape Town, the Garden Route, Victoria Falls,
Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and more. We recommend that you have a look at our new website designed to showcase all the
African safaris we can offer.
Do you have insurance?
Yes. Wild Wings Safaris is a fully licensed and insured tour operator with extensive public liability
insurance. However, our terms and conditions require that you also take out your own comprehensive travel
insurance against personal accidents, cancellations, loss of baggage, theft or any other eventuality. As a member of SATSA, we are also covered by bonding insurance, which ensures that you will never lose any money paid upfront.
Should I be worried about crime?
No. As far as tourists are concerned, South Africa is as safe or more safe than many other popular travel destinations around the world. All
our destinations are generally very safe areas. This does not mean you should leave your valuables lying
around unattended, but we place high priority on the safety and security of our guests, and your experienced
guide will be able to advise you about places or activities that may be unsafe. We have never had any
problems or incidents of crime on any of our safaris.
Do you book flights?
Yes, but you may be able to secure a better rate
online than what we can offer you. We earn no
commission on flights and add a minor admin fee of
ZAR 150 (about $20) per leg. In most cases, we
arrange the necessary charter flights and sometimes
local and regional flights, but we leave you to
arrange your own international flights. You may want
to download this helpful document with
tips and information about
purchasing flights to
South Africa. (Right-click the link and choose
Save Target As...)
Is it possible to fly directly from the Kruger National Park to Cape Town, or to Victoria Falls?
You can fly directly between Cape Town and the
Kruger Park (Nelspruit) with SAA or SA Express. Another easy way to get from Cape Town to the Kruger Park is to fly to
Johannesburg and request that we pick you up from there. It is
also possible to fly directly between the Kruger Park and Victoria Falls
(Livingstone) on certain days of the week, but this
is a rather expensive flight. In most cases people
choose to go via Johannesburg,
and spend one night
stopover in Johannesburg. For local flights, there are a number of well-priced airlines you can
try, like
Kulula,
1time,
Mango and
South African Express Airways.
If you have any questions that are not answered here, please
contact us.
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