Top 5 Things To Do in Kruger National Park

by Dalene Ingham-Brown on 06 July 2011

The Kruger National Park: The place known for the Big 5, for its sizzling sun and dusty dust, for the fact that you can experience a slice of wild Africa and then wander back to your camp and enjoy a brewski.

The park’s vast landscape is a playground for exploration and we’ve put together The Top 5 things to do in Kruger National Park, to make sure you’re not missing out on the most awesome activities offered.

1. Hot Air Balloon Safari

Photo by: Bamyers4az

Making an appearance on many a ‘bucket list’, a hot air balloon ride truly is all it’s cracked up to be. Who wouldn’t want to drift with the direction of the wind, watching herds of animals missioning over the escarpment. Well worth rubbing the sleep from your eyes and rising early for a sunrise drift over serene landscapes, forests and hills.

2. Vist to a Cultural Village

Photo by: Asco

People have lived off the land for centuries and there are still traditional cultural groupings in rural areas where cellphones and Xbox’s are as useless as Flickr is to Helen Keller. The beauty is that we still get a peek into the lives of bushmen who live off the land. The Kruger National Park is home to cultural villages of Ndebele, Pedi, San, Shangaan, Tsonga and Venda, offering you the opportunity to watch as a woman makes butter or shapes beads out of ostrich shells; an experience that makes you appreciate the convenience of your own world so much more. Eat with them, learn their dances and observe a day in the life of traditional man.

3. Bush Braais

Bush Braai

Photo by: Siyabona Africa

There is only one thing better than being surrounded by the African wilderness: - Braaing, while surrounded by the African wilderness. A guided night game drive takes you to a clearing dotted with lanterns and fires. While you sit and listen to the sounds of nature, your food is prepared over an open fire. Safe, fun, adventurous.

4. Visit a Cultural Heritage Site

Photo by: Su-Mari Swanepeol

Kruger National Park is a conservation area: conservation of wildlife and conservation of historical sites. Visit the Iron Age old site of Thulamela. When Great Zimbabwe was abandoned over 500 years ago, groups moved down to Northern Kruger and started smaller chiefdoms. Nowadays there are still traces of trade, farming and graves at Thulamela.

To complete the whole African experience, a trip to a time-capsule site, enlightens while you re-discover the areas history.

5. Go on an Elephant back safari

Photo by: Jarred Cinman

If you look down your nose at vertigo and give a thumbs-up to dappling in the adventurously unusual: you’ve GOTTA try this! Saddled on an elephant, you wander the Kruger National Park. You will be riding an e.l.e.p.h.a.n.t: The biggest land mammal. Is there any better way to explore the vast stretches of landscape and wildlife the park offers? I think not. Did I mention that you will be on an ELEPHANT? SCHWEET!

A trip to the Kruger National Park is a hugely exciting adventure: one that should be enjoyed to the nth degree. Sharing these top five things to do in the Kruger National Park, only means you’re one step closer to enjoying the ultimate African wilderness experience.

Dalene Ingham-Brown

Dalene Ingham-Brown Passionate about travel, social media and making lists, there isn’t a puddle Dalene doesn’t itch to jump in, or a sunset she doesn’t want to point a lens at. On a mission to nurture her love for road tripping in South Africa, Dalene hopes to help others discover theirs.

View all posts by Dalene Ingham-Brown

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4 Responses on this page.Add your own

Gila Marshall says:

14 Jul 2011

I think elephant safaris should not happen in Kruger! They are wild animals and should be left like that. In my opinion this devalues the experience of watching elephants in the park.
Natalie Sargent says:

14 Jul 2011

I completely agree with Gila!
Ricarda Hansen says:

14 Jul 2011

I also agree… Especially in a National Park such as Kruger where elephants are supposed to be wild game!
Gila Marshall says:

14 Jul 2011

Thank you Dalene for your response. Although I appreciate that those elephants are not “wild” it shows that we do interfere with nature, and I have a big issue with that. Unfortunately I cannot offer a viable solution to this, but I would still prefer not to have elephant rides in a National Park as we can be and are being informed about poaching etc in many different ways through specialised TV documentaries etc.
Still love the Kurger Park though, especially the North….