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- Introduction
- Acknowledgements
- How to Use This Book
- Ten Essential Tips to See More Wildlife
- The Advantages of a Self Guided Safari
- You can see as much wildlife guiding your own safari as when using a safari operator
- Independence and flexibility
- Budget
- Family travel
- Best of both worlds
- Perfect for a repeat safari
- Interact with the locals
- Estimated Cost of a Self Guided Safari
- Car Rental: Leave the 4x4 Behind
- The car we use for self drive safaris
- Car hire optional extras that will enhance your safari
- Air conditioning
- Maps
- GPS navigation
- Cell/Mobile phone
- Where to rent a car for your safari
- South Africa
- Namibia
- Swaziland
- Detailed Packing List for Your Self Drive Safari
- Packing list 1: before you leave for Africa
- Safari clothes
- Equipment and odds
- Toiletries and first aid
- Documents
- Packing list 2: on arrival in Africa
- Consumables
- Packing list 3: camping
- Basics
- Kitchen goodies
- Packing list 4: self catering
- Suggested self catering grocery list
- Self catering menu
- South African recipes
- Conversion Charts
- Speed conversions
- Distance and weight conversions
- Temperature conversions
- Safari Tips
- Once your there
- Wildlife Tick List
- Self Drive Safari Rules of the Road and Etiquette
- Within wildlife parks and reserves
- At game sightings
- When approaching wildlife
- At single lane bridges
- At the gate in the early morning
- What to do around elephants
- Africa Travel Insurance
- Your Health - Before and On Safari
- Malaria: prevention is better than cure
- Bilharzia
- The Sun
- Water
- South Africa
- Getting there
- Airlines
- Airports
- Visas
- Inoculations
- Getting around
- Booking domestic flights in South Africa
- Rules of the road
- Money Matters
- Currency
- Banks
- Credit cards
- Travellers cheques
- ATM's
- Tipping
- Crime and personal safety
- Public and school holiday chart
- The SANParks daily conservation fee
- How to pay less conservation fees
- The Best Self Guided Safari Destinations In South Africa
- KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
- Wildlife
- Often seen
- Rarely seen
- Not found here
- Birdlife
- Distance and travel times
- Top five Kruger Park routes for great sightings
- Detailed Kruger Park self drive example itinerary
- Estimated cost of a Kruger Park self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Best time to go
- Temperature and rainfall charts
- Getting there
- By car
- Toll gates
- By air
- By shuttle
- Arrival at the gate
- Gate times
- Where to stay
- Main camps
- Bush camps
- Bush lodges
- Luxury lodges
- Overnight huts
- Camping
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Hides
- Dams and waterholes
- Lookout points
- Walking trails
- Activities
- Morning, sunset & night guided drives
- Morning/afternoon guided walks
- Bush breakfast/dinner
- Full day guided game drive
- Mountain bike trails
- Eating and Drinking
- Restaurants
- Deli
- Quick service restaurants
- Selati train restaurant
- Self catering
- Shops
- Animal numbers chart
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- PILANESBERG GAME RESERVE
- Wildlife
- Often seen
- Rarely seen
- Not found here
- Birdlife
- Tips to improve your wildlife watching
- Driving Around
- Distance and travel times in the reserve
- Estimated cost of a Pilanesberg self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Best time to go
- Temperature and rainfall charts
- Getting there
- By car
- Toll gates
- By air
- Arrival at the gate
- Gate times
- Where to stay
- Main rest camp facilities
- Luxury lodge facilities
- Camping
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Hides
- Dams and waterholes
- Lookout points
- Walking trails
- Cultural/historic sites
- Activities
- Morning, afternoon & evening guided game drives
- Hiking trails
- Bush breakfast/dinner
- Balloon safaris
- Other activities
- Eating and Drinking
- Restaurants
- Self catering
- Shops
- Animal numbers chart
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI
GAME RESERVE
- Wildlife
- Commonly seen
- Rarely seen
- Birdlife
- Tips to improve your wildlife watching
- Driving Around
- Distance and travel times in the reserve
- Good game viewing areas
- Estimated cost of a Hluhluwe-Imfolozi self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Best time to go
- Getting there
- By car
- Toll gates
- By air
- Arrival at the gate
- Memorial gate
- Nyalazi gate
- Cengeni gate
- Gate times
- Where to stay
- Main rest camp and bush lodge facilities
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Hides
- Dams and waterholes
- Lookout points
- Wilderness trails
- Cultural/historic sites
- Boat excursions
- Activities
- Morning, afternoon & sunset guided game drives
- Morning and afternoon guided walks
- Self guided walking trails
- Eating and Drinking
- Restaurants
- Terrace quick service menu
- Self catering
- Shops
- Animal numbers chart
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- KGALAGADI
TRANSFRONTIER NATIONAL PARK
- Wildlife
- Commonly seen
- Rarely seen
- Not found here
- Birdlife
- Often seen
- Tips to improve your wildlife watching
- Driving Around
- Distance and travel times in the reserve
- Fuel stations
- My top seven waterholes for great sightings
- Estimated cost of a Kgalagadi self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Best time to go
- Getting there
- By car
- By air
- Arrival at the gate
- Gate times
- Where to stay
- Main rest camps
- Wilderness camps
- Campsites
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Hides
- Rivers and waterholes
- Cultural/historic sites
- Activities
- Sunset guided game drives
- Guided walks
- Eating and Drinking
- Restaurants
- Self catering
- Shops
- Bread delivery
- Animal numbers chart - large predators
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- ADDO ELEPHANT
NATIONAL PARK
- Wildlife
- Commonly seen
- Rarely seen
- Not occurring here
- Birdlife
- Insects
- Tips to improve your wildlife watching in Addo
- Driving Around
- Distance and travel times in the park
- Good game viewing areas
- Estimated cost of an Addo self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Best time to go
- Getting there
- By car
- By air
- Arrival at the gate
- Addo main camp entrance gate
- Main game viewing area gate
- Addo heights gate
- Camp Matyholweni entrance gate
- Eyethu hop-on guides
- Gate times
- Where to stay
- Main rest camp and bush camp facilities
- Campsites
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Hides
- Pans and dams
- Lookout points
- Activities
- Guided game drives
- Self guided walking trails
- Zuurberg day hiking trails
- PPC discovery trail
- Horse trails
- Eating and Drinking
- Restaurants
- Self catering
- Shops
- Animal numbers chart
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- MOUNTAIN ZEBRA
NATIONAL PARK
- Wildlife
- Commonly seen
- Rarely seen
- Not occurring here
- Birdlife
- Tips to improve your wildlife watching in Mountain Zebra
- Driving Around
- Distance and travel times in the park
- Estimated cost of a Mountain Zebra Park self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Best time to go
- Getting there
- By car
- By air
- Arrival at the gate
- Gate times
- Where to stay
- Main rest camp and bush camp facilities
- Camping
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Rivers and dams
- Lookout points
- Activities
- Guided game drives
- Hiking trails - Day and overnight
- Swimming pool
- Khoisan cave paintings
- Eating and Drinking
- Restaurants
- Self catering
- Shops
- Animal numbers chart
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- ITHALA GAME
RESERVE
- Wildlife
- Commonly seen
- Rarely seen
- Birdlife
- Driving Around
- Distance and travel times in the park
- Best game viewing areas
- Estimated cost of an Ithala self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Best time to go
- Getting there
- By car
- By air
- Arrival at the gate
- Gate times
- Where to stay
- Main rest camp and bush camp facilities
- Camping
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Hide
- Lookout points
- Cultural/Historic sites
- Activities
- Auto route
- Morning and sunset game drives
- Morning and afternoon guided walks
- Self guided walks
- Eating and Drinking
- Restaurants
- Coffee shop
- ladies bar
- Self catering
- Shop
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- MKHUZE GAME RESERVE
- Wildlife
- Commonly seen
- Rarely seen
- Not found here
- Birdlife
- Driving Around
- Distance and travel times in the park
- Fuel stations
- Estimated cost of a Mkhuze self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Best time to go
- Getting there
- By car
- Toll gates
- By air
- Arrival at the gate
- Gate times
- Where to stay
- Main rest camp and bush camp facilities
- Mshopi Campsite
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Hides
- Pans
- Walking trails
- Cultural/Historic sites
- Activities
- Night drives
- Eating and Drinking
- Take away diner
- Self catering
- Shops
- Animal numbers chart
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- NAMIBIA
- Getting there
- Airlines
- Airports
- Visas
- Inoculations
- Getting around
- Booking domestic flights in Namibia
- Rules of the road
- Money Matters
- Currency
- Banks
- Credit cards
- Travellers cheques
- ATM's
- Tipping
- Crime and personal safety
- Public and school holidays
- ETOSHA
NATIONAL PARK
- Wildlife
- Often seen
- Rarely seen
- Birdlife
- Tips to improve your wildlife watching in
Etosha
- Driving Around
- Distance and travel times in the park
- Fuel stations
- Top ten waterholes for good wildlife viewing
- Estimated cost of an Etosha self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Best time to go
- Getting there
- By car
- By air
- Arrival at the gate
- Gate times
- Where to stay
- Main rest camps
- Campsites
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Waterholes and Pans
- Lookout points
- Cultural/Historic sites
- Ghost tree forest
- Activities
- Morning, afternoon and night guided drives
- Eating and Drinking
- Restuarants
- Bar and kiosk
- Self catering
- Shops
- Other amenities
- Curio shop
- Post office
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- SWAZILAND
- Getting there
- Airlines
- Airports
- Visas
- Inoculations
- Getting around
- Rules of the road
- Border gate times
- Money Matters
- Currency
- Banks
- Credit cards
- Travellers cheques
- ATM's
- Crime and personal safety
- Public and school holidays
- MLILWANE
WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
- Wildlife
- Commonly seen
- Rarely seen
- Birdlife
- Driving Around
- Distance and travel times in the reserve
- Estimated cost of a Mlilwane self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Best time to go
- Getting there
- By car
- By air
- By shuttle
- Arrival at the gate
- Where to stay
- Main rest camp, bush camp, bush lodge and backpackers
- Campsites
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Dams and Waterholes
- Walking Trails
- Cultural/Historic sites
- Activities
- Horse riding
- Mountain biking
- Sibhaca dancing
- Eating and Drinking
- Restuarants
- Self catering
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- MALOLOTJA
NATURE RESERVE
- Wildlife
- Commonly seen
- Rarely seen
- Birdlife
- Driving Around
- Distance and travel times in the reserve
- Estimated cost of a Malolotja self drive safari
- How to make a booking yourself
- Getting there
- By car
- By air
- By shuttle
- Arrival at the gate
- Where to stay
- Main rest camp
- Campsite
- Communications
- Facilities
- Picnic spots
- Waterfalls and Dams
- Lookout points
- Walking Trails
- Activities
- Eating and Drinking
- Self catering
- Shops
- Useful Contacts
- Recommended reading and websites
- Glossary
About the Authors
Bruce Whittaker was born in South Africa and started going on regular self drive safaris to the Kruger National Park with his family from the age of eight.Thirty years and thousands of kilometers later he is still going on self drive safaris to game reserves and National Parks throughout the whole of Southern Africa on a regular basis.
He studied at the University Of Pretoria and received a Honors Degree in Marketing Management before later developing his passion for African wildlife safaris and photography using the web.
He is intimately involved in the safari industry through the African Safari Journals website which he founded in 2003 and which has developed into the leading authority African safari review website worldwide.
In 2007 he launched the worlds first African safari wildlife spotting service which allows self guided safari travellers to receive and communicate the latest animal sightings in real time using cellphones/mobiles.
His wife, Wilma Whittaker, also a born and bred South African, shares his passion for African safaris and wildlife and began working on the website full time in 2006.
Without her support, hard work, logistical and editorial capabilities this book would not have been possible.
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