If you don't want to follow the suggestions for exploring this region in your own car, you may want to consider going with one of these recommended tour operators.
Thompson's Indaba tours (tel. 013/737-7115; www.indaba.co.za) offers open-vehicle safaris with an experienced game ranger to Kruger -- expect to pay R740 ($110) per person for a full day (5 or 6am-5:30pm), or R592 ($88) for a morning; prices exclude meals. Walking safaris in Kruger (weather dependent) will run you R830 ($124). Thompson's also offers night safaris; these take place either in Kapama, which can include an afternoon visit to the Hoedspruit Research & Breeding Centre (R700/$104; dinner included), or in the Sabi Sands (R830/$124), arguably the most game-dense private reserve in South Africa. The Panorama Route tour, with a stop for lunch at Pilgrim's Rest or Graskop, costs R552/$82 per person. (Other tours include Mohololo Centre and Shangana Cultural Village, but if you have your own vehicle, you're better off visiting these places on your own.) Safaris Direct (tel. 013/737-7945, or cellphone 082/804-5026; www.safarisdirect.co.za) offers similar tours at similar rates -- a full-day safari in an open-vehicle will, for instance, cost R710 ($106).
Specialist Tours
John Williams at Monsoon's African Travel and Adventures (tel. 015/795-5114 or 083/700-8921; www.monsoongallery.com) will help plan a
self-drive itinerary that takes in the less-publicized cultural and archaeological sights in the big-game regions of the lowveld, offering the opportunity to meet many of the artists and craftspeople whose works stock Williams's gallery. He will also assist visitors in visiting the far reaches of the Limpopo Province, an area that is not yet well geared for tourism. For accompaniment by a specialist guide, be sure to make arrangements well in advance.
