Embark on an exhilarating South Africa Safari, traveling overland to Kruger National Park and a private reserve in Greater Kruger for exceptional game viewing.
Spend two nights in a private game reserve of Greater Kruger, engaging in Big 5 game walks and open vehicle drives into the night. Journey along the Panorama Route, soaking in the sights of Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window, and Blyde River Canyon. Enjoy two more nights in stilted log cabins in an indigenous forest by Sabie River near Kruger Park, where you'll spend a day seeking Africa's Big 5, among a plethora of other species. This lodge tour is the perfect blend of wildlife and scenic beauty with a touch of South African culture.
This South Africa Safari departs from Johannesburg at 06h30 am on the morning of day one. From Johannesburg, we travel northeast into the scenic Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.
Along the way, we stop for lunch (own account) in the historic town of Haenertsburg, situated on the edge of the Great Escarpment and offering sweeping views across the landscape. After lunch, we make our way down the escarpment to the famous Lowveld safari region. Our journey to Greater Kruger Park takes us via beautiful mountain passes and on through the African bushveld.
We spend the first two nights of this Private Reserve & Kruger Safari at a comfortable bush lodge, located inside a private reserve on the outskirts of the vast Kruger National Park. The tented camp is designed to blend in with the natural environment and provides stunning views over the surrounding bush and its free-roaming wildlife. The tented rooms feature comfortable beds and en-suite bathrooms. The lodge has a splash pool and active waterhole where you can leisurely watch wildlife and birds coming down to drink.
Sit back and listen to the sounds of mother nature this evening, watching the stars come out while dinner is prepared over an open fire, in true African safari style.
We rise early and kick-start the day with a coffee or tea and some rusks (traditional South African tea biscuits). Then its off into the untamed bush on our first Big 5 wildlife adventure - a game walk with our expert guide and/or a game ranger.
The guided bush walk takes about three hours as we search for wildlife and linger over the fascinating details of the local flora and fauna. Walking in the private reserve of Greater Kruger is an exciting way to experience the South African bush, getting up close to the creatures - big and small.
After our nature walk, it's time for a delicious breakfast back at the safari lodge, followed by downtime to rest and relax in the peaceful setting of the lodge. Watch the wildlife from the pool, your private deck or see the comings and goings at the nearby waterhole.
After the heat of the day, we embark on an afternoon open 4x4 game drive that continues after dark. Dusk is an excellent time to spot wildlife as the diurnal animals take advantage of the fading light and the prowling predators begin to stir. We pause to enjoy sundowners as the sun sets over the bushveld. Night driving in the bush is an exhilarating experience as we go in search of strange and elusive nocturnal wildlife. Back at the lodge, we settle down around the fire, reliving the exciting wildlife encounters of the day. Dinner is a hearty braai - a traditional South African version of the barbecue, enjoyed at the lodge in the middle of the bush.
Today we are up early for breakfast at the lodge, before setting off along the scenic Panorama Route.
Driving through this incredibly beautiful part of South Africa we stop at the impressive Blyde River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world. After marveling at the breathtaking views over the canyon, an unusually vegetated gorge, we continue to the striking rock formations known as Bourke's Luck Potholes. We also stop at the God's Window viewpoint to take in the vistas of the Drakensberg Escarpment and Lowveld savannahs stretched out below.
Our lunch stop (own expense) is in the small, forestry town of Graskop. Descending Kowyn's Pass, we drive to our next comfortable safari lodge. We spend two nights at this lodge, perched on stilts amid an indigenous forest on the banks of the Sabie River. If time allows you can take a nature walk on the lodge property and neighboring coffee farm to admire the forest and surroundings.
Rising at sunrise we cover the short distance to Kruger National Park, entering the game-rich southern sector of this legendary national park.
Kruger National Park, one of the largest national parks in the world … the size of a small country! Wildlife has been protected here since 1898, but was officially declared a national park in 1926 to preserve the pristine habitats. Kruger is home to the Big 5 and boasts an impressive variety of fauna and flora in several habitats, with nearly 150 species of mammals and over 500 bird species to be spotted.
The whole of day four is set aside for game viewing in our comfortable, well-equipped safari vehicle that offers an elevated vantage for better spotting animals in the bush. We stop along the way to take breaks at various rest sites and picnic spots in order to stretch our legs and browse for curios at one of the park's rest camps.
Excellent wildlife sightings can be expected on this full-day Kruger Safari. The Big Five of Africa (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo) are frequently sighted here, along with a host of other large mammals. Some other inhabitants include cheetah, hyena, giraffe, zebra, wild dog, hippo, and numerous types of antelopes - from springbok to kudu.
As the day draws to a close we make our way out of Kruger Park and return to our lodge amid the trees to relax in nature and enjoy dinner.
On the final day of our South Africa Safari we take it easy, starting the day at a laid-back pace. After a relaxed breakfast, we head on our return journey to Johannesburg, the economic heart of South Africa, following the route originally used by the gold prospectors of days gone by.
Upon arrival in Johannesburg, we stop at the OR Tambo International Airport to drop guests catching evening flights. From there, we proceed to Johannesburg city, where this Kruger Safari & Private Reserve Overland Tour comes to an end.
This South African Safari is a fully-accommodated overland tour and all linen and towels are supplied. Seasonal malaria precautions may be advisable and are locally obtainable. Suitable precautions against sunburn should be taken.
Please note that we offer convenient pre and post tour lodge accommodation for before and after this Kruger Safari, which can be added to your tour booking upon request. The 4-star lodge accommodation is located 10-15 minutes from the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Follow the link for information on rates.
This tour does not take children.
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