The lowveld surrounding the Kruger National Park is one of the top hunting areas in South Africa.

South Africa’s lowveld lies wedged between the Drakensberg in the west and Mozambique in the east. Large parts of the Kruger National Park fall within this region. It is generally regarded as South Africa’s finest Big Five area, and is definitely the most productive as far as buffalo, elephant, crocodile and hippopotamus hunting is concerned. Several large rivers traverse the savanna, creating an oasis for the wildlife endemic to the lowveld.

We hunt in concession areas not far from Malelaan part of the lowveld just south of the Kruger National Park, as well as concessions around Hoedspruit which lie in the central lowveld to the west of the Kruger National Park. The hunting camps and lodges utilized by Golden Safaris in this region of South Africa are of a very high standard.

GETTING THERE

Although it is possible to fly to Hoedspruit or Nelspruit from Johannesburg, the hassle with these short flights and the time it takes to check in and retrieve luggage and rifles, make it much more practical to drive. The drive is between four and five hours in duration, depending on which part of the lowveld your safari will be conducted in. If your international flight arrives before 10:00 am, we will travel to the hunting area on the same day. If, however, it arrives later, a connecting night will be spent in Pretoria.

BEST TIMES OF YEAR

The lowveld, like the bushveld, is best hunted during the autumn, winter and spring months from the middle of April to about the end of September. The lowveld is very hot and humid during the summer months from late October to the end of March.

ACTIVITIES FOR NON-HUNTERS

The lowveld area offers a variety of activities that can be enjoyed by non-hunting members of your party. These range from game drives in the Kruger National Park to elephant-back safaris, hot air balloon flights, visiting regional attractions like God’s Window, the Sodwala Caves and the Blyde River Canyon. The region is also home to cultural villages and a wide variety of adrenalin-style adventures.

TERRAIN & VEGETATION

The terrain you will encounter when hunting in the lowveld ranges from forested hills to moderate and densely wooded savanna. The region is crisscrossed by a number of rivers that drain from the eastern escarpment to the Indian Ocean. The largest of these rivers are the Crocodile, Letaba and Olifants.