Kruger & Vic Falls Lodge Safari

A one-week long budget safari adventure exploring the Best of Southern Africa, visiting top travel highlights in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana.  

Encounter Africa’s diverse wildlife on game drives in the famous Kruger National Park of South Africa. Explore the white saltpans of the Kalahari Desert, a vast expanse of dramatic contrasts and open skies. Witness the mighty Victoria Falls and enjoy a wide array of optional adventure activities, from white water rafting and scenic flights to elephant back safaris from the Zambian side of Vic Falls.

An exciting budget lodge safari through Southern Africa's wild landscapes, encountering its abundant wildlife and meeting its diverse people!

Tour Highlights:

• Panorama Route - Blyde River Canyon & Three Rondavels
• Oliphant’s River Cruise in South Africa
• Game viewing in South Africa's premier Kruger National Park
• Polokwane Reserve game viewing bush walk
• Victoria Falls & optional adventure activities, Zambia

Day 1: Johannesburg to Oliphant’s River (Dinner)

Departing from Johannesburg, the economic powerhouse of Africa, we travel through one of the most scenic parts of South Africa, the Panorama Route in the Mpumalanga Province. Highlights along the scenic route include the impressive Blyde River Canyon and the rock formations of the Three Rondavels.

We have lunch and make our way to our first stop where we get to see Africa’s elusive cheetah, a threatened species. At the cheetah rehabilitation centre, a non-profit organization, we see the remarkable work done by volunteers helping to rehabilitate the gentle cheetah and other endangered wildlife. After visiting the Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre we head to our first overnight camp, set on the banks of the Oliphant’s River. We relax at this pleasant camp, enjoying the African wilderness and even sighting wildlife at the river’s edge in the evening.

Chalet accommodation.

Day 2 & 3: Oliphant’s River Cruise to Kruger National Park (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – both days)

On day two we get up early in the morning and head off on a river cruise along the Oliphants River. After our river cruise we continue our journey west, making our way to over 2 million-hectare Kruger National Park, South Africa’s premier game reserve.

Kruger is South Africa’s flagship game park and top travel destination, boasting an unrivalled diversity of plants and animals, including Africa’s Big Five - elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo. Our game drives in Kruger take us in search of the Big Five and a variety of other wildlife, such as giraffe, zebra, cheetah, hyena and various antelope species. With around 507 bird species, 147 mammal species and 114 reptiles game drives in Kruger Park offer excellent photographic opportunities. In addition to its abundance of wildlife, the untamed Kruger Park is also rich in archaeological and historical sights.

On our Kruger Park safari we also visit a colonial era town to get an idea of what life was like for the pioneers of old South Africa. The route that we take through the park depends on where wildlife has recently been sighted as well as on seasonal conditions. We focus on the more remote parts of Kruger, near the Transfrontier National Park, escaping the crowds who visit the southern section of this popular game park.

The process of creating the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park involves linking the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as two areas between Kruger and Gonarezhou, one in Zimbabwe and the other in South Africa. This vast Peace Park wilderness area is being established as fences between the countries are being dropped, allowing animals to roam freely between the national parks. Removing the fences allows for the wild animals to follow their natural migration routes between South Africa and neighbouring countries, making for some excellent game viewing in this area.

A typical day in Kruger starts early; with a morning game drive into the untamed bush, as many wild animals are at their most active early in the day. We return to our camp for lunch and a rest during the hottest part of the day, before venturing back out into the wilderness on a late afternoon game drive, when the predators become more active.

Chalet accommodation.

Day 4 & 5: Polokwane Game Reserve to Nata, Botswana (Breakfast & Dinner – Both days)

We depart from Kruger Park on day four, making our way up towards Botswana. Before reaching the Botswana-South Africa border we stop at the town of Polokwane where we will stay overnight. We take a bush walk in a local game reserve that is home to over 20 mammal species, including white rhino and about 200 species of birds.

The next morning we continue our journey north, crossing over into Botswana.

Today we explore the vast Kalahari Desert region of southern and central Botswana. Our overnight stay is in a lodge located close to the small town of Nata. At night elephant can sometimes be seen wandering through our overnight camp, situated near the expansive Magkadigkadi Pans.

As we drive around this shimmering white landscape it is difficult to imagine that an immense super-lake once covered the now dry plains of the flat saltpans. When on occasion seasonal rains do form large shallow lakes on the saltpans, a multitude of bird and animal life can be seen congregating at the waters. 

Chalet accommodation.

Day 6 & 7: Livingstone, Zambia (Breakfast x 2 & Dinner x1)

With an early morning departure from Nata, we drive on to Kasane from where we take a ferry across into Zambia. We drive a little further, arriving at our final destination, Livingstone town. Victoria Falls lies a few kilometres from Livingstone, which serves as our next base. Our campsite, set on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, features a restaurant, bar and swimming pool, as well as a viewing deck overlooking the river and surrounding bush.

During our time at Victoria Falls there are plenty of exciting activities to choose from, including white water rafting, scenic flights, bungee jumping, canoeing, game viewing, elephant back safaris, river cruises and more. When you witness the impressive spray rising from the plummeting waters of Vic Falls, you will understand why it is called the “Smoke that Thunders” or “Mosi oa Tunya”, as Vic Falls is called locally. Our budget lodge safari comes to an end after breakfast on day seven.

Twin Share: en suite

Tour Accommodation:

On this tour accommodation is mostly in shared rooms with twin beds in chalets or bungalows, with en-suite bathrooms. Most of the places that we stay at are located in picturesque settings with a swimming pool, restaurant and bar.

Tour Transport:

Transport on this tour will be in a comfortable mini-bus or microbus. 

Participation on this Tour:

Although this budget safari offers accommodation, meals are mostly prepared by the tour leader in camp; therefore help with meal preparation is welcomed on the tour. 

Camping Tour Option:

Please note that this Lodge Safari is also available as a Kruger & Vic Falls Camping Safari. For more details about the Camping Safari option contact African Budget Safaris.

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