Southern Africa (SA/Zim/Zam/Botswana/Namibia) Master Thread

[YYZOGG]

Just wanted to share with everyone. A huge yasher koach to @cgr for finding this for me. Jewish people local to South Africa are opening a brand new private luxurious lodge in one of the private game reserves bordering Kruger (with no fences between them and Kruger). It is opening this coming August 2025. It is called 18 On The Hill https://www.18onthehill.com/ It is located in Maseke, which is within the Balule Nature Reserve. It is in Central/North Kruger area. They have a completely separate Kosher kitchen with on site Mashgiach certified by Bais Din in Johannesburg. As a grand opening they are offering prices insanely lower than any other luxurious private lodge. I have spoken to the owners a few times and they are excited to offer a kosher safari experience for us. One negative that @Saulius mentioned to me, though, is that there may not be as much wildlife density there as compared to Sabi Sands area. Although the owners did tell me that they had gone on a 2 hour drive there this past Thursday and had seen: 13 lions, 1 male leopard, 20 elephants, 8 white rhino, and a considerable amount of general game. So it's not completely sparse from wildlife. If you want more information, feel free to PM me...

Great find! Where will they do the game drives? Assuming they drive into Kruger, do you know if they can go off road and can they be in Kruger at night?

[Saulius]

Great find! Where will they do the game drives? Assuming they drive into Kruger, do you know if they can go off road and can they be in Kruger at night?

If you’re heading to Kruger, some of the best game viewing is in the triangle between Lower Sabie, Skukuza, and Satara — plus Crocodile Bridge just south of that. That whole area has some of the highest animal density in the park, and sightings of the Big Five (especially lions and leopards) are pretty common.

Night drives in the main Kruger Park are only done with SANParks guides — but to be honest, sunset is usually far more rewarding. Once it gets properly dark, it’s mostly hit or miss. You’re relying entirely on a spotlight, and unless something steps right into the beam, there’s not much to see. You might spot nocturnal animals like bush babies, genets, civets, or porcupines — and taking decent photos in pitch black is nearly impossible.

For most people, it’s a once-off kind of thing. They’ll tick it off, say they’ve done it… but deep down, they’d have preferred a proper night’s rest. It’s a unique experience, sure — but if you’re after solid sightings and decent photography, early morning is a much better bet. Rather get to bed early and be up before sunrise. At dawn we ride — and that’s when the bush really comes alive.

During the day, water is the big drawcard — especially in winter when it gets dry. Animals tend to hang around rivers and waterholes, so areas along the Sabie River (which flows past Skukuza, Lower Sabie, and down to Crocodile Bridge) are usually very productive.

Also check out the Latest Sightings app ( https://latestsightings.com). It was started in 2011 by a local guy (and member of the tribe) when he was just 16.  The app gives real-time updates from other visitors, so you can plan your drives based on what’s being seen around the park.

Also worth checking out: My Africa Adventures YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@MyAfricaAdventures/videos

Now about the private game reserves that border Kruger — like Sabi Sands, Balule, Timbavati, etc. They’re all part of Greater Kruger and aren’t fenced off, so animals can move freely between the areas. But the land itself is privately owned, and each lodge only has permission (called traversing rights) to drive in specific zones.

Even in a place like Sabi Sands, which is probably the most exclusive and most expensive, lodges can’t just drive anywhere they like. The land is divided between different owners, and each lodge has agreements that define exactly where their vehicles can go.

That said, a major plus in private reserves is the ability to go off-road within those zones. So if a guide spots a leopard in the bush or lions relaxing off the track, they can head off the road for a closer look — which gives you a much more up-close and personal experience, especially for photography or tracking.

And since winter’s arrived and the mornings are getting chilly - and lions often lie on the tar roads to soak up the warmth. Asphalt holds heat better than the bush, so you’ll find them right on the road, not just at dawn but even later in the morning or midday if the night was cold enough. (If you’re coming in winter, make sure to pack a few layers and even fingerless gloves. It’s a very dry cold in the early mornings and at night, and with the big temperature swings between day and night, no one ever really gets used to it — even the locals).

The main Kruger park is still brilliant, especially for self-driving. There’s a huge network of roads, loads of freedom, and no fixed schedule. Some of the best sightings happen right from the road — especially along the Sabie River or near places like Tshokwane and Crocodile Bridge.

If you can, try do both — a few nights self-driving in Kruger, and then a stay in a private reserve for that off-road experience. But even if you stick to Kruger alone, you’ll still have an unforgettable trip.

[Dan]

Just wanted to share with everyone. A huge yasher koach to @cgr for finding this for me. Jewish people local to South Africa are opening a brand new private luxurious lodge in one of the private game reserves bordering Kruger (with no fences between them and Kruger). It is opening this coming August 2025. It is called 18 On The Hill https://www.18onthehill.com/ It is located in Maseke, which is within the Balule Nature Reserve. It is in Central/North Kruger area. They have a completely separate Kosher kitchen with on site Mashgiach certified by Bais Din in Johannesburg. As a grand opening they are offering prices insanely lower than any other luxurious private lodge. I have spoken to the owners a few times and they are excited to offer a kosher safari experience for us. One negative that @Saulius mentioned to me, though, is that there may not be as much wildlife density there as compared to Sabi Sands area. Although the owners did tell me that they had gone on a 2 hour drive there this past Thursday and had seen: 13 lions, 1 male leopard, 20 elephants, 8 white rhino, and a considerable amount of general game. So it's not completely sparse from wildlife. If you want more information, feel free to PM me...

Are you booked here? Anyone else book?
Sure is a lot less expensive than Kings.

[sds1493]

Are you booked here? Anyone else book?
Sure is a lot less expensive than Kings.

I've got family booked for August.

[TravelMoshe]

Are you booked here? Anyone else book?
Sure is a lot less expensive than Kings.

Yes. We're officially booked there. Although we haven't actually signed a contract or submitted payment yet. They say they are still working on tying up all loose ends. I hope that's not a problem.

[TravelMoshe]

You got really lucky by going to Kings Camp in Covid. Today, Kings Camp is not that much cheaper than some other luxury lodges..

[Peekskill18]

Hey all! I’m planning a trip to SA for mid August with wife and baby (1yr old).

Can anyone help with suggestions or input?

Here are some of my main questions

-Is Kruger doable with a baby? Especially factoring in Malaria(I’m reading that August is very low risk,but not quite sure what to do with that information)

-how is pilansberg? Is it just as good and worth not shlepping further to Kruger?

-recommendations for a lodge in Kruger (or pilansberg) that is kid friendly, kosher friendly, and budget friendly? (Can’t afford to spend over 6/700 per night)

[Peekskill18]

I've got family booked for August.

Can I ask what week you booked for?

[Yehoshua]

I did Pilansburg with it for a month old, and it worked fine. It might not have been as impressive as Kruger, but I never saw Krueger so I don't know what I'm missing. We were definitely able to see all the major animals and had a lovely time. Also, it was a short drive from Johannesburg, maybe 2 hours.

[Peekskill18]

I did Pilansburg with it for a month old, and it worked fine. It might not have been as impressive as Kruger, but I never saw Krueger so I don't know what I'm missing. We were definitely able to see all the major animals and had a lovely time. Also, it was a short drive from Johannesburg, maybe 2 hours.

which lodge did you stay at? Also did you take your baby on the game drives or left with babysitter?

[Yehoshua]

which lodge did you stay at? Also did you take your baby on the game drives or left with babysitter?

Black Rhino. We left her with a babysitter the first time, but she cried the whole time. After that we took turns going.

[Something Fishy]

South Africa will require an ETA starting September.

[Dan]

South Africa will require an ETA starting September.

Our kids will never believe how easy international travel was until 2025.

[Something Fishy]

Our kids will never believe how easy international travel was until March 2020

FTFY

[Dan]

FTFY

Fair enough, but 2020-2022 travel was the best time to travel since the invention of the airplane. Tickets were insanely cheap, I flew on empty planes, and we literally had the entire Victoria Falls, Chobe NP, and Kruger NP to ourselves!

[Yehuda57]

South Africa will require an ETA starting September.

How difficult is this? Time to renew my South African passport?

[Something Fishy]

How difficult is this? Time to renew my South African passport?

I was going to say "how hard can an ETA be", but then I saw this gem:

Powered by artificial intelligence, the ETA system promises to deliver faster turnaround times and stronger security.

So basically, the system will not work, ever, is what they're saying.

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/new-digital-visa-system-travel-eta-launching-september-home-affairs/