Welcome to the site. My 2 sisters and I did just what you ask last summer 2021. Completed a 21 day multi area hunt with outfitter, then dropped off at Port Elizabeth, rented a car, cheap high slung regular car, not 4x4, in dry/winter season normal car is perfect, in 20 days we drove 6000 KM on our own. Car all in for 20 days different pick up and drop off points with unlimited KM, 2 drivers, all insurance including tire, glass and normal totalled $1100 cnd. Shark cage dive in Gansbaai, penguins at Boulders beach, Cape of good hope, Addo park, mnt horseback trail rides and many smaller tourist sites along routes then finally drove to Kruger and spent 4 nights in Rondoval's within park. Dropped car at Joberg airport and flew home.
I would most definitely recommend this to anyone, in 4 days self driving and self catered locked in nightly within Kruger park we saw the full big 5 and dangerous 7, all VERY close (like feet away), 100+ buffalo caused us shock and awe as they moseyed across the rd all around us, also painted dogs, hyena, honey badger, cheetah, birds and all PG game (some made the hunter in me drool at their size). We stayed in Lower Sabi and planned on adding and signing up for a photo safari, and night drive while in park, but when we experienced all on our own we saved those extra dollars. All was organised and booked by me before we left Canada, only nights on road between main attractions were booked on the fly, using cell phone on route. With internet things seam very easy, SanParks was outstanding, replied fast, proper answers and as their site stated had my guns Park locked and accompanied me. Prices were extremely reasonable for self catered places, camps and outings. Lower Sabi has all amenities, dam good food/dinning all while wildlife makes noises on other side of concrete wall. Restaurant even had spotlights for free use while eating, we always got the wall table. Think hippos, hyenas and crocs at mere feet away while you enjoy supper and bats flying around.
Things can be expensive (for me) if you want royal treatment, pampered or someone to do leg work for you, we camp, road trip at home and wanted same experience while in Africa. I see no reason to pay daily rates for a company to do what I organised and did for 1/10 the cost all from couch in Canada prior to trip.
Never once did we ever feel scared, worried or threatened, people, food, driving, freeway rds are same as at home, smaller side rds watch for massive unexpected pot holes and off course right hand drive but easy to master and no special licence for Canadians at least. Our whole self catered trip was safe and outstanding.
I did learn that those blue flashing lights on police cars mean you are speeding, they do not chase you just flash lights, getting the 7 speeding tickets sent to me after returning to Canada was a $150 unexpected bonus gesture. But not fake as we were speeding, I will learn to slow to 120km for next time. 140km = tickets.
Hope you get the idea from my post that it is totally doable for anyone who is not afraid to research, investigate and book, just do it. PM/DM me if you want specifics, more than happy to help.
PS I did same in Zim, Hwange and Vic Falls. Not scary dangerous but not SA.
MB
