Vic Falls to Kruger Park Safari

This southern African Camping Tour sets out from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe heading to Chobe National Park in Botswana.

Travelling south into South Africa we overnight in the Magaliesberg Mountains, before visiting the Hoedspruit Cheetah Centre en route to our 3 Star Safari Lodge just outside Kruger Park.

We spend two days on game drives in search of Africa's Big Five and other wildlife within the borders of the famous Kruger Park.

The Kruger Park spans over thousands of hectares and is home to a staggering abundance of diverse plants, wild animals and birds. Game drives are done in comfortable 4x4 safari vehicles built to optimize game viewing. 

From our affordable Safari Lodge near Kruger Park we return to Johannesburg driving via the scenic Panaroma Route. We stop to view the impressive Blyde River Canyon and Three Rondawels viewpoint, before our unforgettable Vic Falls to Kruger Park Safari comes to a close. 

• Chobe National Park - Botswana
• Khama Rhino Sanctuary - Botswana
• Kapama Cheetah Centre - South Africa
• Kruger National Park - South Africa
• Blyde River Canyon - South Africa

Day 1: Victoria Falls to Chobe National Park - Botswana

The Victoria Falls to Kruger Park Safari departs from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe early on the morning of day one.

This African Budget Safari travels to the Botswana border via Zimbabwe's Matetsi Game Reserve, where we keep a look out for herds of elephants, sable antelope, buffalo and many more wild animals.

We arrive at our overnight camp near Kasane in the late morning. Our safari campsite is set on the banks of the Chobe River, close to the gate of Chobe National Park.

At camp we have some free time to relax at the swimming pool and explore the riverbanks or exchange money and rest.

In the afternoon we set off on an exciting game drive in an open 4x4 safari vehicle inside Chobe National Park, renowned for its high concentration of African wildlife. 

Chobe game drives offer a rewarding safari experience and you can expect to sight large numbers of wildlife, especially elephants. Returning to the safari camp after our successful game drive in Chobe Park, dinner will be served.

Accommodation: Camping near Chobe Park (optional upgrade to bedded accommodation)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Khama Rhino Sanctuary – Botswana

Today we leave our camp near Kasane after a light breakfast, travelling south through Botswana to Palapye where we stop for lunch (own cost).

Driving on a little further we arrive at Khama Rhino Sanctuary, where we will spend the next night of our Victoria Falls to Kruger Safari.

Established in 1992, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a community based wildlife project, working to help save the endangered rhino and restore this Botswana wilderness area.

At this Botswana Rhino Sanctuary you can participate in one of the many optional game viewing activities on offer, including game drives, night drives, nature walks, rhino tracking or giraffe tracking.

Or you can relax at camp and visit the local bird hide to watch the numerous birds at the watering hole.

Accommodation: Camping at Khama Rhino Sanctuary (optional upgrade to bedded accommodation)
Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3: Hartbeespoort - South Africa

We leave Khama Rhino Sanctuary early in the morning, crossing back into South Africa. 

Our next stop is Hartbeespoort, where we overnight at a backpacker lodge located on a game farm in a valley flanked by the Magaliesberg Mountains. Along the way we pause for breakfast and lunch (own cost).

Rare and exotic wildlife, including golden wildebeest, black impala, sable antelopes, nyala and many more, can be sighted from the lodge.

The backpacker lodge has a full kitchen where you can prepare your own dinner if you choose. Your safari guide stops in Hartbeespoort along the way, so that you can buy dinner ingredients or take aways (own cost).

Accommodation: Bedded Accommodation with en-suite bathrooms, at a Backpacker Lodge on a game farm near Hartbeespoort.

Included meals: None.

Day 4: Kapama Cheetah Centre – South Africa

Our morning starts with tea and coffee, before we travel to Kapama Cheetah Centre.

We drive via Nelspruit where we collect any additional passengers joining the tour and continue to Kapama Cheetah Centre.

After lunch (own cost) we enjoy a guided tour of the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre, formerly the Kapama Cheetah Centre. 

Hoedspruit is a breeding and conservation centre for the endangered cheetah and other rare and endangered African wildlife species. The wildlife centre takes care of vulnerable, orphaned and injured cheetahs and other wild animals, rehabilitating them for reintroduction into the wild. In addition to breeding and treating rare wild animals, the Hoedspruit Centre serves as an education facility informing people about conservation and Africa’s wildlife.

After our informative tour at the Cheetah Centre we head to our 3 Star safari camp 30 minutes from Kruger National Park's Orpen Gate. A wide diversity of wild animals including zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, impala, bushbuck and nyala are often sighted at the safari camp.

Take a refreshing dip in the large swimming pool, or relax at the poolside bar at camp. In the evening the lodge's chef prepares a three course dinner, which is served in the restaurant beside the pool.

We spend the night listening to the sounds of nearby wildlife, while relaxing around the campfire at this is beautiful safari lodge.

Camping accommodation: Camping in permanent canvas tents at a 3 Star Safari Lodge near Kruger National Park. 
Bedded accommodation: Chalets with en suite bathrooms at the 3 Star Safari Lodge.

Included meals: Dinner

Day 5: Kruger National Park - South Africa

In the morning a short drive brings us to the main entrance of Kruger National Park, known as Orpen gate.

Early departure ensures our arrival at Orpen as the gates are opening. Kruger Park is South Africa's premier game reserve, home to the famous Big 5 African animals. The game reserve boasts some 147 mammal, 114 reptile and 502 bird species. When we arrive at Kruger we will be transferring to an open sided safari vehicle, a customized 4x4, in which we will do our game viewing drives.

The Kruger National Park is a vast expanse of wilderness of roughly 20,000 km2. The Park is about the size of Israel, the Netherlands or Wales. Due to its sprawling size the reserve spans several different vegetation types, each forming the habitat of different wild animals adapted to the various areas of the park.

Most of our time on safari in Kruger Park is spent on game drives giving us the best opportunity to see the different animal and bird species that live in the various zones of the reserve. We focus on the central region of the park, as this is where chances of seeing the big cats and a large variety of other animals on our game drives are best. 

You will get to stop throughout your game drives at the various view points and hides of the Kruger Park. Both breakfast and lunch will be prepared by the safari guide on your trip, so you can sit back and enjoy your meals in the African surrounds of Kruger at one of the picnic stops.

During the day we stop at the shops where you can buy snacks, drinks and souvenirs. We stop at a shop before leaving Kruger Park to buy drinks for the evening at camp.

Camping accommodation: Camping in permanent canvas tents at a 3 Star Safari Lodge near Kruger Park. 
Bedded accommodation: Chalets with en suite bathrooms at the 3 Star Safari Lodge near Kruger.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Kruger National Park - South Africa

We get up early on day three for a morning cup of coffee, before heading into the Kruger National Park in our open-sided game viewing vehicle.

Arriving at Kruger Park as the gates open, we will spend most of the day in search of the Kruger's wildlife, keeping an eye out for any wildlife we may have missed on our previous game drives.

We enjoy breakfast and lunch at the various picnic sites inside Kruger National Park. We stop to buy drinks and snacks at the shops in Kruger during the day and again before exiting the national park.

Camping accommodation: Camping in permanent canvas tents at a 3 Star Safari Lodge near Kruger Park. 
Bedded accommodation: Chalets with en suite bathrooms at the 3 Star Safari Lodge near Kruger.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Night Game Drives:

You have the option of taking night game drives in a private game reserve, known for its excellent game viewing on game and night drives.

These night drives are conducted in open 4x4 game viewing vehicles. Night game drives depart after dinner, when the game viewing is at its best. Taking a night drives is an optional activity, costing around R 200 to R 250 per person, payable in cash to the night drive guide.

Day 7: Johannesburg & Pretoria - South Africa

An early morning departure sees us back on the road heading towards Johannesburg where this budget camping safari ends.

We drive through the scenic Panorama Route, one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa.

Our scenic drive takes us via the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world, where we stop to admire the impressive Three Rondawels view point.

Stopping en route for lunch (own cost) we travel back to Nelspruit, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Your safari guide takes you to your choice of backpackers hostel, hotel or guesthouse, or the airport; bringing this memorable Victoria Falls to Kruger Park Safari to a close. 

Meals Included: Light Breakfast

Safari Accommodation Description:

Camping accommodation is included on this Budget African Safari and all camping equipment, except sleeping bags (available for hire) is provided.

At several of the safari camps on this tour you have the option of upgrading to fixed accommodation - usually in ungalows / chalets or similar accommodation.

If you choose to upgrade your accommodation, the camping portion of your upgraded accommodation will be covered and the balance will be at your own cost. You will need to budget around R150 per person per night sharing, for the upgraded accommodation option.

You can also upgrade to single occupancy at about R250 per night. Your safari guide will assist you with any upgrades you choose to make, on the day of arrival. Please note that upgrades cannot be pre-booked and are subject to availability.

Chobe National Park Accommodation:

Camping accommodation is included on the Chobe Park leg of this tour.

We stay at a popular safari lodge on the banks of the Chobe River in Kasane, near Chobe National Park. This area attracts large herds of elephants, buffalo, antelopes and other wildlife including lion, leopard and wild dog, as well as numerous bird species.

There is the option of upgrading your accommodation (extra cost) at this safari lodge, offering various bedded accommodation options with en-suite bathrooms.

Khama Rhino Sanctuary Accommodation:

Camping accommodation is included at Khama Rhino Sanctuay, with the option of upgrading to bedded accommodation with en-suite bathrooms at the lodge (extra cost).

Khama Rhino Sanctuary is home to black and white rhino, and the safari lodge offers a variety of optional game walks, rhino tracking and game drives.  

Hartbeespoort Backpackers Lodge Accommodation:

Accommodation is in comfortable rooms with en-suite bathrooms, at a Hartbeespoort Backpackers Lodge. The lodge accommodation is set on an 8-hectare property at the foot of the Magaliesberg Mountains in a scenic valley.

The backpackers lodge has cooking facilities where guests can prepare their own dinner, with your guide stopping at a supermarket to allow for shopping. Alternatively the driver can transfer you to a local restaurant for dinner.

Resident wildlife includes exotic and rare species, such as golden wildebeest, black impala, sable antelope, hartswater springbuck and nyala, as well as jackal and various antelopes. 

Kruger National Park Accommodation Options:

For the Kruger Park stretch of our safari we camp in permanent tents with the option of upgrading to bedded camping accommodation at the same safari camp near Kruger.

The tranquil safari lodge features a large pool, lounge areas, bar, restaurant and open-air dining boma. This beautiful safari camp is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including zebra, nyala, impala, giraffe, wildebeest, warthog, bushbabies and many more.

The lodge's chef prepares dinners, served in the poolside restaurant and on some nights local children perform traditional African dancing.

We depart for the gates of Kruger National Park early in the mornings to ensure that we arrive at the park gates as they open. After a full day of exploring the Kruger Park we return the private safari camp to relax around the campfire. 

Standard Camping Accommodation: 

Camping accommodation is in 3x3 meter canvas dome tents, fitted with built-in floors and zip-up mosquito netting covering the doors and windows.

Each premanent safari tent features two single bed mattresses with fitted sheets. Towels and sleeping bags are not included, but camping clients can hire a sleeping bag for the once off fee of R60 if required.

Bedded Camping Accommodation:  

Stay in bungalow accommodation with en-suite bathrooms at a 3-Star Game Lodge just outside Kruger Park.

These clean and comfortable rondavels (African--style huts) are set on leafy grounds among indigenous trees, providing excellent bird watching opportunities in a truly African bush setting.

Each colourfully painted Ndebele chalet includes an en suite shower, washbasin and toilet. These peaceful chalets are fitted with mosquito nets, and bedding and towels are provided.

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