Kruger Park Safari, Johannesburg Stay & Soweto Tour

This ideal budget safari combines two of South Africa's most exciting, top travel destinations - the premier Kruger National Park and the cultural melting pot of Soweto Township. The Kruger Park Safari & Soweto Tour is an action packed wildlife and cultural African safari offering excellent value for money in a six-day adventure of a lifetime. Spend three nights inside Kruger Park enjoying exhilarating morning, afternoon and evening game drives in this famous Big Five territory and two nights at an affordable yet comfortable lodge in vibrant Johannesburg, the City of Gold.

This great package deal includes transport during the safari, meals and drinks shown on the itinerary, airport transfers and game viewing drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles with professional safari guides. On this affordable safari you not only travel into the heart of one of Africa's top wilderness areas but also get to experience authentic South African culture on a full-day Soweto Tour.

Day 1: Johannesburg – South Africa

Arriving at O.R. Tambo International Airport in the dynamic city of Johannesburg, you will be transferred to the comfortable yet affordable lodge accommodation for your first overnight stay in Johannesburg, the City of Gold. The four star lodge is conveniently situated 10-15 minutes from the airport. The Kruger Park and Soweto Safari package includes transfers between 08:00am and 8:00pm as well as breakfast at the guesthouse.

Day 2: Johannesburg to Kruger National Park – South Africa

On the morning of day two you will be collected from our pre-safari lodge accommodation in Johannesburg between 07:00 and 07:30am. From our guesthouse we will travel east in an air-conditioned mini bus, making our way to the world-renowned Kruger National Park.

We stop in one of the small towns along the way, entering the Kruger Park at about midday. 

Entering the wildlife rich Kruger game reserve we make our way to Skukuza rest camp, set on the banks of the Sabie River in the heart of this nearly 2 million hectare national park. The game viewing adventure begins as soon as we enter the gates of this diverse wildlife park, heading to Skukuza, the largest rest camp inside Kruger Park.

Upon arrival at Skukuza camp your safari guide will help you check into your budget Kruger Park bungalow accommodation within this top national park. All of the Kruger camps are fenced in to protect visitors from the predators found in this Big Five game park. Your safari guide will inform you of the game drive departure times and provide a brief orientation of the facilities at Skukuza camp, which features dining facilities, a shop, Internet café and swimming pools. After settling in at Kruger’s most popular rest camp we embark on our first thrilling game viewing drive into the African bush in search of the abundant wildlife inhabiting this vast Big Five national park. 

The afternoon game drive is conducted in an open 4x4 safari vehicle for optimal game viewing, although if you prefer a closed vehicle can be used instead. You will be in good hands as the safari guides taking you on the game drives on this Kruger Park Safari are all qualified and registered guides, as well as being experienced and knowledgeable. The afternoon game drives in Kruger usually depart from Skukuza between 2:30 and 3:00pm and take about three or four hours depending on the success of the game sightings. The exciting Kruger game drive ends back at Skukuza rest camp before the gates close for the night. 

Back at our Kruger rest camp there will be some free time before dinner, which is served at the dining facility shown to you by the field guide in the morning. Dinner will be the hearty culinary delight of a traditional South African meal, giving you a taste of truly South African cuisine, prepared by your hostess. This fine local meal includes complimentary South African wine or an alternative such as a soft drink, bottled water or beer, which can be arranged with your hostess. After dinner you are free to retire or relax around the fire recounting the wildlife adventures of your first day of game viewing in Kruger Park, one of Africa’s best game reserves. 

Meals included: Dinner

About Kruger National Park & Skukuza

South Africa's flagship national park, Kruger Park is world-renowned for its superb game viewing and is one of Africa's largest and best game reserves. Kruger National Park is home to an unsurpassed diversity of African wildlife (including the Big Five) and is considered a world leader in environmental policies and management practices. Skukuza is a lush camp set among big, indigenous trees along the Sabie River offering affordable accommodation inside the Kruger National Park. Lions are frequently sighted in the area surrounding Skukuza camp, as well as a variety of other wild animals, including the Big Five, and wide variety of bird species. Within Skukuza rest camp, which acts as the headquarters for conservation and research in Kruger, you can spot the nocturnal fruit bat as well as tree-climbing bush baby and genets.

Day 3: Kruger National Park – South Africa

An early morning wake up call from your safari guide gets the day started with the rising time depending on when the park gates open. The opening hours of Kruger gates vary in different seasons according to park management practices. Once you are up you can head to the dining facility at the rest camp for a fresh cup of coffee or tea and rusks (local tea biscuits). 

After the morning snack we set off on an exhilarating morning game drive, an excellent time of day for game viewing, in an open 4x4 safari vehicle. The morning bush drive lasts for about three to four hours and follows routes that provide superb photographic and game viewing opportunities. Upon our return from the morning drive brunch will be served at one of the dining facilities at Skukuza rest camp. 

Brunch is followed by leisure time at the Kruger camp during which you are free to enjoy the camp facilities or take a rest. Facilities at Skukuza rest camp include a museum, swimming pools and a shop selling African curios, food and drinks. Otherwise you could relax on the restaurant look out deck enjoying the views of the Sabie River or explore the bush camp on foot.

At about 5:00 or 6:00 pm, depending on the season and gate closing times, you will depart from a designated meeting point on an exciting sunset game drive. This evening game drive lasts about three hours and will be conducted by a trained Kruger Park safari guide in a Kruger Park safari vehicle. Sunset drives are a prime time for spotting and photographing wildlife action in the African bush. The sunset drives in Kruger are subject to change depending on seasonal changes and availability. After the game drive you have time to freshen up at the Kruger camp before dinner, which will be served in the centrally located dining facility. 

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 4: Kruger National Park – South Africa 

Day four of the Kruger Park and Soweto Tour starts with another early morning wake up call from your safari guide. The day again begins with a refreshing coffee or tea before we venture out on a morning game drive in the bush. The morning game viewing drive is followed by brunch back at the rest camp, after which you are free to rest or enjoy Skukuza camp and its faciities. 

An afternoon game drive takes you back into African bush to encounter the diverse wildlife of Kruger Park. The game drive departs at about 2:30 to 3:00pm from the dining facility and takes about three to four hours, returning to Skukuza camp before the camp gates close. Back at our Kruger camp there is time to freshen up before dinner, which will be served in the centrally located dinning facility.

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner 

Day 5: Kruger National Park to Johannesburg – South Africa

Day five of our safari in Kruger National Park starts bright and early so that we can enjoy one last game drive as we leave this expansive protected area. We depart the wilderness of Kruger returning to Johannesburg or Pretoria via one of the most scenic parts of South Africa, the Panorama Route. This beautiful journey includes the viewpoints and attractions of Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondavels, Lisbon Waterfalls and our lunch stop at Pilgrims Rest. We arrive back in the bustling city of Johannesburg at about 6:00pm when you will be dropped off at our spacious lodge.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6: Soweto Township, Johannesburg – South Africa

Today we embark on an adventure-filled full-day Soweto Tour, following the rewarding wildlife experience of your Kruger National Park Safari. This exciting cultural and historical excursion visits highlights such as Freedom Square, Diepkloof Extension and Vilakazi Street where two noble peace prize winners - Bishop Tutu and former President Mandela lived. The Soweto Tour includes a truly African lunch in Soweto Township.

The lodge manager will arrange a departure time for your full-day Soweto Tour. After the Soweto Tour we return to the lodge to collect your belongings and transfer you to the airport for your onward flight.

About Soweto Township – the Place to Experience Authentic South Africa

The cultural melting pot of Soweto, South Africa’s biggest township or informal settlement, is of great cultural, political and historical significance. Soweto is famous for the 1976 student uprisings which took place during the Apartheid era. This is the place where violent riots changed the political face of South Africa, as thousands of schoolchildren took to the streets on June 16, 1976, in the struggle for democracy. Hundreds of children were killed across South Africa on the day of the Soweto Uprisings, culminating in the first free elections and democracy in 1994.

The name Soweto is an abbreviation of South Western Township, which was formed in 1904. Soweto borders Johannesburg’s mining belt and has a population of about 1 million people. The most populous black urban residential area in the country, Soweto is one of the most unique and vibrant cultural hubs of South Africa. A visit to Soweto gives visitors true insight into this diverse nation’s history as well as its contemporary culture, with its lively atmosphere. The exciting streets, shebeens (informal bars), restaurants and interesting museums make for an authentic South African experience.

Looking for departure date info? It's up here…

Looking for other tours to Kruger National Park? View all Kruger National Park Budget Safaris