4 Day Budget Kruger Safari Adventure

This four day Budget Kruger Safari Adventure offers budget travellers extremely well priced basic accommodation in backpacker-style chalets within a private game reserve.

This excellent value-for-money Kruger Safari is ideal for backpackers who don't want to rough it in tented accommodation as well as for travellers on a tight budget. On this affordable Kruger Safari you stay in simple yet comfortable en-suite accommodation at better value for money than budget camping.

The budget Kruger Park Tour includes a full day of game viewing in the world-renowned Kruger National Park in an open 4x4 safari vehicle. You also venture into the wilderness on a thrilling sunset game drive that lasts into the night, in search of nocturnal wildlife in the private game reserve. A guided bush walk in the private game reserve gives you the opportunity to explore the untamed bush up close, even experiencing the exhilaration of close up wildlife encounters.

This budget accommodated safari to South Africa's premier game park, Kruger Park, and a Private Big Five Game Reserve is definitely a step up from camping - an excellent deal!

Tour Highlights

• Private Big Five Reserve Sunset Game Drive
• Big Five Game Walk with armed game ranger
• Afternoon Game Drive in Balule Game Reserve
• Full day of Game Viewing in Kruger National Park
• Sunrise Bush Walk with amed game ranger 
• Panorama Route - Blyde Canyon & Three Rondawels

Day 1: Johannesburg to Private Game Reserve – South Africa

This Budget Kruger Safari Adventure starts in Johannesburg where you will be collected from your pre-tour hostel or the Johannesburg International Airport. 

From Johannesburg we travel east towards Kruger National Park in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. We pass through Dullstroom or Nelspruit on the way to our Private Game Lodge in the Big Five Balule Game Reserve, within Greater Kruger Park.

In the late afternoon we embark on a three-hour long sunset game drive in an open safari vehicle. Discover the excitement and serenity of the African bush and enjoy your first magnificent sunset in the wilderness.

The early evening game drive lasts into the night and once it is dark powerful spotlights are used to spot nocturnal wildlife.

Overnight accommodation for the first night is in air-conditioned chalets at the private lodge, offering a comfortable and cool night's rest after our first rewarding bush adventure.

Back at the safari lodge we enjoy a typical South African meal around an open fire in the outdoor Boma area. The dining Boma is a superb setting for experiencing the star-filled skies and the sounds of the untamed wildlife in the surrounding African bush.

About Balule, Greater Kruger Park

There are no fences separating this 35000-hectare Private Game Park from Kruger National Park allowing the numerous wild animals to roam freely between these wilderness areas. The Olifants River flows through the Bulule Game Reserve attracting a variety of birds and animals year-round.

Balule is home to the iconic Big Five of Africa with buffalo, lion and elephant being sighted the most regularly and sometimes even from the lodge property! Other wildlife commonly sighted in Balule includes giraffe, wildebeest, hyena, zebra, hippo, warthog, mongoose, vervet monkey and various antelope species, such as waterbuck, steenbok, impala and kudu.

Nocturnal animals such as civets, bushbabies, bats, hares, genets, wild cats and porcupines can be spotted on night game drives. Some of the more elusive wild animals found in this part of Greater Kruger include cheetah, African wild dog, bat-eared fox and badger, as well as caracal and serval cat and a variety of antelope species, such suni, roan and sable antelope.

The Greater Kruger Park area consists of various private game parks, such as Balule, that share unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park proper. Staying in a private game lodge allows you to escape the main throng of tourists, as the Balule game reserve is not open to the general public.

On this exclusive safari experience you get a more secluded bush experience that brings you closer to nature. In the private game reserve you travel on dirt roads encountering much fewer vehicles on your game drives. Another advantage of game viewing in the Balule private reserve is that your qualified guides communicate with each other via two-way radio, increasing the number of wildlife sightings on your drives.

Yet another perk of staying at a private lodge is that off-road driving is permitted in this exclusive game reserve area of the Greater Kruger Park, improving your chances of spotting wildlife in the bush.

Day 2: Balule Private Game Reserve

Awaken at sunrise for an exhilarating day exploring Africa's wilderness.   

Drive to a remote part of the Balule Game Reserve, where you enjoy a three and a half to four hour Bush Walk.

Your experienced field guide will lead you through the bush. The thrill of following Africa’s large animals on foot to take photographs up close is unforgettable. Your adrenalin will get pumping on this exciting walk, with an armed ranger ensuring your safety. Return to the lodge for brunch and a nap in your chalet or a dip in the pool. At around 14h30 we go on an afternoon game drive. 

Transfer to the Adventure Camp where accommodation is in en suite chalets fitted with fans and mosquito nets.

About the Safari Accommodation

Our first night on this wildlife safari is spent in air-conditioned chalets at a relaxed and tranquil private lodge in Balule Game Reserve, Greater Kruger.

This comfortable lodge accommodation, set in a lush garden, is easily accessible year-round. An electric fence encloses the private lodge property, to keep the roaming lion, elephant and buffalo out.

Accommodation for the remainder of this very reasonably priced safari is at an adventure safari camp.

The relaxed safari camp is located within the Motlala Game Reserve, which lies between two private game reserves, situated next to the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Motlala is home to various wild animals, including three of Africa’s Big Five - leopard, buffalo and both black and white rhino. 

Accommodation at the Adventure Camp is in spacious chalets with overhead fans and en suite bathrooms. These excellently priced chalets are supplied with linen, towels and soap.

The safari camp features a open air dining boma and swimming pool, as well as a covered entertainment, lounge and dining area. Wild animals including buffalo and rhino can be spotted at the camp, adding to the excitement of staying here.

This backpacker style accommodation offers great value-for-money, compared to camping budget safaris staying in tents.

Day 3: Kruger National Park – South Africa

On day three of this budget accommodated safari we have breakfast before heading to Kruger Park’s Orpen Gate in an open-sided safari vehicle.

The safari vehicle is designed to maximize game viewing with its’ open sides and extra height off the ground. We enter Kruger Park where superb game viewing and photographic opportunities can be expected.

As we explore Kruger Park in search of the abundant wildlife found in this vast game park, your qualified guide will point out various large and small wild animals. The area of Kruger that we visit boasts the highest percentage of giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and impala populations found in this famous wilderness area. The presence of grazers in turn attracts numerous predators, such as lion.

After our thrilling day of game viewing in Kruger Park we return to the adventure safari camp for dinner and a relaxing evening around the fire.

About Kruger Park

Kruger Park, South Africa's flagship national park is world-renowned for its superb game viewing. Covering nearly 2 million hectares of African bush Kruger is one of Africa's largest game reserves and South Africa’s top travel destination.

Kruger National Park is home to an unrivalled diversity of African wildlife, including huge populations of Africa’s Big Five (leopard, lion, rhino, elephant and buffalo). South Africa’s premier game park, Kruger Park is considered a world leader in terms of its environmental policies and management techniques. 

Day 4: Private Game Reserve to Johannesburg

On the last day of this Budget Kruger Safari Adventure we head into the private game reserve on an early morning Bush Walk, after having a morning coffee and some rusks.

The game ranger that accompanies you on this walk will be armed to ensure your safety. The bush walk is an excellent opportunity to explore the bush more intimately, getting a closer look at the various animals, birds and insects in the game reserve. Your guide will interpret the various signs of wildlife activity, pointing out animals’ tracks and droppings to show you the intricate details of the bush.

There is an excellent chance that you will encounter buffalo, nyala antelope and other game on this exciting bush walk. 

After exploring the game reserve on foot we have breakfast and set off for Johannesburg driving through one of the most scenic parts of South Africa, the Panorama Route. We travel via the Three Rondawels in the Blyde River Canyon admiring the spectacular views.

This excellently priced Kruger Safari Adventure ends in Johannesburg at about 5pm when you will be dropped off at your post tour hostel or the Johannesburg International Airport. 

Pre and Post Kruger Safari Accommodation Rates:

Please note that we offer convenient lodge accommodation for before and after the Kruger Safari Adventure, which can be added to your tour booking upon request. The travel lodge accommodation is located 10-15 minutes from the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and the rates include a transfer, en-suite accommodation and breakfast. 

2012 Lodge Rates: 

• R350 per person sharing
• R550 per single booking

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