Indigo Safaris

Kruger Private Reserve specialist Indigo Safaris has a wide range of off-the-shelf and tailor-made tours with some excellent deals.

A small, owner-operated safari company promoting ethical tourism with a strong focus on conservation and giving back to communities and wildlife with over 20 years of experience, we know the best lodges and camps in each price range and offer add-ons to Vic Falls and Cape Town, and beach breaks.

About Kruger Park 

'The Kruger' is possibly the best-known safari destination in the world. Established in 1898, The Greater Kruger Park extends over some 22,000 square km (8,500 sq. miles). That’s the size of Wales or Massachusetts. It supports a total of 145 mammal species, 500 bird species, and 110 reptile species, including an estimated 13,000 elephants, 40,000 buffalo, 2000 lions and lots of rhinos. We aren’t allowed to say how many, but it is lots and lots.

The Greater Kruger Park is comprised of the Kruger National Park (KNP) and a number of private reserves next to the KNP. The fences between the private reserves and the KNP came down 23 years ago allowing the animals to move freely.

The KNP is managed by Sanparks, a government-run organisation, and covers about 80% of the total area. Tarmac roads run through the middle of it, there are numerous large rest camps, of which at least half a dozen have over 100 one to four-bedroom units, camping sites, and fast food restaurants catering to self-drive clients - not the kind of safari experience we promote to our clients and hence, we do not sell any of the government-run rest camps, but only very few, selected camps on private concessions within the Kruger National Park. Apart from that, we focus on the private game reserves adjacent to the KNP, which deliver a much better experience.

The private reserves are managed by groups made up of small lodges and camps. Many lodges and camps only have between six and twelve one-bedroom chalets or luxury tents. No self-driving is permitted, there are no tarmac roads, and vehicle movements are carefully managed, for a much more authentic safari experience.

We can arrange fully-inclusive safaris in the Greater Kruger, typically from 2 to 6 nights in length, with pick-ups and drop-offs from Johannesburg airport, which can also include the scenic Panorama Route, or one of the regional airports such as Hoedspruit or Nelspruit. For the more discerning client we also offer charter flights directly into the private game reserves. We work with a range of accommodation, from tented camps to luxury lodges, with game drives conducted by experienced guides in specialised open-sided safari vehicles, perfect for game-viewing, and half-day walking safaris with armed rangers. All the lodges have a watering hole, river, or lake, meaning that there is good chance of seeing wildlife when you are not out on safari too. Many lodges are also unfenced, so having interesting visitors around the grounds is not uncommon.

Of course it is possible to combine reserves. The landscapes of the individual reserves do slightly differ and combination itineraries with two or three nights in one reserve, then two or three in another are the best way of getting a variety of experiences and discovering different habitats. It also makes it easier to spend some time in the higher-priced lodges without blowing all your budget in three nights.