Sensational Safaris for All Budgets

Aug. 1, 2008— -- If the call of the wild has you craving adventure of the animal kind, grab your khakis and head to South Africa for some of the best safari camps in the world.

Safari vacations are always a huge investment in time and money, so you want to make sure you get what you're looking for.

Do you want to splurge and stay at a private game reserve, or pitch a tent at a rest camp? Whatever your budget, South Africa's Kruger National Park has you covered, from the affordable to the outrageous. Kruger is one of the top-rated safari destinations in Africa and continues to impress with new safari options.

The goal of any safari vacation is to spot the "Big Five" -- the lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. Be sure to bring binoculars and have your best camera gear ready because what you'll see will blow you away.

One of the best-kept safari secrets is that you can actually camp out in Kruger National Park. This is a popular budget option because two people can stay in a tent for less than $50 per night. The area where you camp is fenced off to keep the animals out, unlike the private game reserves where you can wake up and have a rhino on your front porch.