If you've been to a game reserve, sorry, this post probably isn't for you! If you've never been & need an intro into the basics - here you go!
Private & Government run: In South Africa for example, there are a number of government conservation bodies (SAN parks, KZN Wildlife & others), that run nature & game reserves. If a game reserve is refered to as a National Park (Kruger, Etosha) it implies that it is government run. As a rule of thumb, these parks are far more financially accessible with a great cost range for accomodation & are self drive. Private reserves are run as a private business & can be exclusively high end - that cameo of honeymooners being driven around by game rangers by day, 5 star dining by night after a dip in the pool, with accom to match! I have to confess, I can't talk to this market much though it sounds like a fab treat!
Nature vs Game Reserves: From what I can tell in Southern Africa the difference is in the conservation focus of the reserve - preserving the habitat primarily or the game. There are likely to be some wildlife in both, but generally if a reserve has the big 5 it'll be a game reserve.
Booking: Most game reserves have more than 1 accommodation camp. Often different camps will have a different target audience - more/ less privacy, more/ less expensive, more/ less rustic. The bigger camps are also likely to have a range of accommodation options, from camping to lodges.
Costs: Assuming you are staying overnight, you will usually pay an entrance fee, a daily conservation fee & your accommodation cost (varies depending on what 'level' of accommodation you choose).
Arrival: You will need your own transport if you are not part of a tour group. You enter through one of the entrance gates, BEFORE close which is usually before dusk. Here you will park up & register at the entrance office, paying your fees & receiving the keys for accommodation (unless you're camping of course!). You then drive through the entrance &, usually, will immediately be in the game reserve - as you can probably imagine this means that your sightings can start at arrival - we've started with grazing elephant before (but don't expect that! It was lucky). Depending on your preference, you can take a long or short route through the park to your accommodation camp. You will need to arrive at your camp before the allotted time (camp gates run on dawn & dusk - aligning opening & closing times to this) & check in at reception.
Viewing: best times are early morning (dawn) & early eve (dusk). You pick the route, get in your car & off you go. Be sure to have sufficient food & water if you're out for the day & don't underestimate the distances - there are strict speed limits for a reason & you could be stopped for a while if you get lucky with a good viewing (or cut off from a path if you get unlucky with a pissed elephant - from experience).
Types of Game Reserves
First off, it is not safari. In Southern Africa at least, it's referred to as a game/ nature reserve. There are different types, so here's 2 key distinctions.Private & Government run: In South Africa for example, there are a number of government conservation bodies (SAN parks, KZN Wildlife & others), that run nature & game reserves. If a game reserve is refered to as a National Park (Kruger, Etosha) it implies that it is government run. As a rule of thumb, these parks are far more financially accessible with a great cost range for accomodation & are self drive. Private reserves are run as a private business & can be exclusively high end - that cameo of honeymooners being driven around by game rangers by day, 5 star dining by night after a dip in the pool, with accom to match! I have to confess, I can't talk to this market much though it sounds like a fab treat!
Nature vs Game Reserves: From what I can tell in Southern Africa the difference is in the conservation focus of the reserve - preserving the habitat primarily or the game. There are likely to be some wildlife in both, but generally if a reserve has the big 5 it'll be a game reserve.
Government run parks
As you're very much looked after at the high end private reserves, this is focused on the government run reserves.Booking: Most game reserves have more than 1 accommodation camp. Often different camps will have a different target audience - more/ less privacy, more/ less expensive, more/ less rustic. The bigger camps are also likely to have a range of accommodation options, from camping to lodges.
Costs: Assuming you are staying overnight, you will usually pay an entrance fee, a daily conservation fee & your accommodation cost (varies depending on what 'level' of accommodation you choose).
Arrival: You will need your own transport if you are not part of a tour group. You enter through one of the entrance gates, BEFORE close which is usually before dusk. Here you will park up & register at the entrance office, paying your fees & receiving the keys for accommodation (unless you're camping of course!). You then drive through the entrance &, usually, will immediately be in the game reserve - as you can probably imagine this means that your sightings can start at arrival - we've started with grazing elephant before (but don't expect that! It was lucky). Depending on your preference, you can take a long or short route through the park to your accommodation camp. You will need to arrive at your camp before the allotted time (camp gates run on dawn & dusk - aligning opening & closing times to this) & check in at reception.
Viewing: best times are early morning (dawn) & early eve (dusk). You pick the route, get in your car & off you go. Be sure to have sufficient food & water if you're out for the day & don't underestimate the distances - there are strict speed limits for a reason & you could be stopped for a while if you get lucky with a good viewing (or cut off from a path if you get unlucky with a pissed elephant - from experience).
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