A camping vacation in the Kruger Game Park can, however, turn out to be more expensive than utilizing self-catering accommodation if proper planning and budgeting is not done. International tourists must take the following money saving tips into account before embarking on a camping trip to the Kruger.
Budgeting Tips for Vehicle Hire
Once the family decides to go camping in the Kruger National Park, visitors should research the vehicle hire options as several rental companies offers excellent deals on camper hire as well as the hiring of caravans and fully equipped tent trailers.
The roads in the Kruger Game Park are negotiable with a normal sedan vehicle. Tourists have the option of either hiring a sedan vehicle and purchasing or renting additional camping equipment or hiring a camper/motor home that is fully equipped. Although hiring a motor home seems costly initially, tourists should bear in mind the fact that no additional camping equipment is required as the motor homes for rent are fully equipped and adapted for South African conditions.
Companies in South Africa providing motor homes for hire include Maui Camper Rentals which charges on average R1500-00 (approximately US$215) per day for two people, depending on the CDW cover the tourist requests. Another company offering to find the cheapest camper rentals is Camperhire.co.za. Bearing in mind that normal car hire will cost the tourist anything between R400-00 to R2000-00 per day, renting a camper makes financial sense when planning a camping holiday in South Africa.
To illustrate, renting a motor home accommodating two people during the FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 will cost on average R26 000-00 for 16 days. Camping in the Kruger Game Park for the same 16 days on a campsite with electrical power will be R150-00 (for 2 people) plus the conservation fee of R160-00 per person per day. This brings the accommodation total to R470-00 per day for two people and the total cost to approximately R2100-00 (± US$ 300 per day) as opposed to self-catering accommodation which will cost R1060-00 per day thus bringing the per day total to R2685-00 (± US$ 384-00).
The best way to save money on vehicle hire is to do proper planning and budgeting before deciding on a rental company.
Saving Money on Groceries While Camping in the Kruger
The main rest camps in the Kruger National Park, like Berg en Dal, Pretoriuskop and Satara have shops where basic food items are available. These items are priced upwards and to save substantially on groceries, tourists should buy food and beverages at the supermarkets outside the Kruger National Park. This could mean a saving of at least ten percent on the grocery bill.
When camping in the northern part of the Kruger Game Park and utilizing the Pafuri and Punda Maria entrance gates, tourists should inquire from the SA National Parks about the regulations currently in place in regards to the transporting of meat and dairy products. An outbreak of foot and mouth decease could prohibit visitors from entering the park with meat and dairy products.
