Is a private reserve or Kruger National Park better for safari?

Kruger National Park

• Offers extensive public roads for self-driving.
• Has accommodation at different price points.
• Provides guided activities through authorised services.
• Requires visitors to follow road, gate and activity rules.

Private reserves

• Commonly combine accommodation, meals and guided drives.
• Often manage the number of vehicles at sightings.
• May permit off-road tracking and night drives under reserve rules.
• Offer different lodge styles, from intimate camps to larger properties.

Some private concessions are inside Kruger itself, so compare the specific property and its operating rights rather than relying only on the label “private.”