BootsnAll Travel Community

I have only a limited time in September to do a 3-4 day quick safari, and I have affordable proposals for Elephant Plains Lodge or Phinda in the KZN. I need advice. I am a little concerned about the heat/humidity (I live in Colorado where it is very dry). I will be in a dry part of S.A. for 2 weeks (Kalahari), then I have the 4 days for safari when I return to Jo'Burg. Help! Thanks.

P.S. I was interested in cheetahs, and the Sabi Sands trip offers a day at the Endangered Species center, but I've read about the cheetah reintroduction at Phinda, so it's a toss up.

Hey Meerkats

Anytime of the year in KZN is hot and humid especially in the game parks. Well most people flock to the well known kruger many overlook the Umfolozi-Hluhluwe complex in KZN. It is an awesome game park with all the animals of kruger but more chance of seeing them.
If your hope is to see a cheetah in the wild it is highly unlikely. I have been to the game park many many times and only once saw a cheetah way off the distance. My parents recently went and had a cheetah relaxing in the shade by the road (that however is an unheard of occurence) and considering they have probably been to the parks over 200 times and this was the first time they saw one.
If you are determined to see a cheetah perhaps the endangered species center is a thought.
I don't know much about Phinda, I think it opened after I left south africa.
But either way you will have a blast and I envy you your time there, I miss it everyday.

Trekker

I agree with Trekker re: the Umfolozi park - its VERY nice
...as is Phinda (I did some volunteer work with an ex-guide from there too)

Kruger is of course the flagship park, but these other 2 are EXCELLENT and I would recommend either of them