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Lion on Kruger Safari by Flowcomm

3 Day Budget Kruger Safari - Backpackers Tour

Tour Length3 days
Priced from pps $645 R12200 £511 598 A$990 C$873 NZ$1079 Full pricing info
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Summary of this Lodge Safari

  • Max. Group Size 10 Travellers
  • Starts & ends in Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Accommodation Bungalow or Chalet / Backpacker Hostel
  • Transport 4x4 Vehicle / Microbus
  • Wildlife Big 5, Elephant, Exceptional Birding, Leopards, Lions, Rhino & More
  •  See Departure Dates

Quick Itinerary Overview

This 3 Day Budget Kruger Safari Backpackers Tour is ideal for travelers on a tight budget with limited time available. It's a short Kruger Safari for visitors who want to experience a world-class African wildlife safari on a budget without camping.

On this affordable Kruger backpackers tour, you'll take a sunset game drive in the Big 5 Balule Reserve in an open safari vehicle. Then you'll be treated to a bush barbecue out in the private reserve. Spend the whole of day two exploring Kruger National Park on the lookout for the Big 5 and spot an amazing variety of African wildlife and birds. To round off this Budget African Safari safari you'll embark on a thrilling bush walk with an armed game ranger.

All this and two nights of affordable lodge accommodation in en-suite chalets. Enjoy the African safari experience of a lifetime without breaking the bank!

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Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Johannesburg to Balule Reserve, South Africa

This Budget Kruger Safari Backpackers Tour kicks off in Johannesburg, South Africa. Our air-conditioned transfer vehicle collects guests from their accommodation or the airport and heads out of the city into the African bushveld. Our journey takes us to Hoedspruit where we meet up with our game ranger for the transfer to our safari lodge in Greater Kruger.

Without wasting time we soon set out in our open Landcruiser for a sunset game drive in Balule Private Reserve. The game reserve hosts healthy populations of the famous Big 5 of Africa - lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, and buffalo, along with other wildlife. Balule shares unfenced borders with Kruger National Park which allows wildlife to move freely between these protected areas.

Late afternoons are a great time for spotting wildlife as the day cools down. Whilst some animals gather at the waterholes for a final drink before settling for the night, lions prepare to hunt, hippos begin to emerge from the river to graze and hyenas come out for their evening scavenger hunt. The experienced game rangers inform you about the wonderful African animals and plants you encounter. These may include the Big Five of Africa.

As dusk approaches, we make our way to the open-air boma for our bush barbecue out in the game reserve. Here dinner is prepared on the open fire as darkness falls. After watching a spectacular sunset we tuck into a tasty dinner around the campfire out in the African bush.

Then we proceed on a night game drive using spotlights to find nocturnal animals such as leopard, African civet, aardwolf, and striped polecat. Our night drive ends back at the game lodge where we retire to our air-conditioned chalets with en-suite bathrooms, for a well-deserved rest.

  • Meals included: Dinner
  • Activities included: Sunset game drive and bush barbecue

Day 2: Kruger National Park - South Africa

On day two of this Budget Kruger Safari, we spend a full day in Kruger National Park. We get up early to breakfast and get on our way. Our open safari vehicle not only gives us unobstructed viewing (great for photo opportunities), but it also awakens our senses to the sounds and smells of the African bush.

Kruger is a world-famous safari destination, especially for sighting the Big 5 of Africa - lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo, so we go in search of these icons and spot an abundance of other wildlife and birdlife as we drive. The 19 485 km² Kruger National Park, one of Africa's biggest game parks, is home to about 150 mammal species, more than 500 bird species, and 100 reptile species, among other life forms. Common sightings include hippos, giraffes, zebras, various antelope species, and endangered African Wild Dogs. Our professional rangers are Kruger experts and know where to go for the best wildlife sightings. We take time to stop for lunch at Satara rest camp which is situated in an open grassland area that is frequented by herds of antelope, zebra, giraffe, and buffalo - a magnet for predators.

As the day fades we head to our next safari lodge. Here you can relax and prepare for dinner under the stars again. After dinner, sit back around the campfire with fellow guests and listen to the tales of an exciting day on safari in Kruger Park. Tonight's accommodation is in basic, yet clean and comfortable chalets with en-suite bathrooms.

  • Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
  • Activities included: Full-day Kruger Safari

Day 3: Greater Kruger to Johannesburg, South Africa

This may be the last day of our Budget Kruger Safari but there is still some excitement ahead.

Take a thrilling walk in the bush along the Klaserie River, a popular spot for buffalo, the dainty nyala, and various other animals. Your armed ranger is equipped to safeguard guests but it is very important to follow his instructions. Who knows what is around the next bend in the river? He has accumulated so much knowledge of the bush, the ways of the animals, the plants, and what to look for when tracking an animal. The guide happily shares his knowledge with guests and may regale you with his own experiences on this exciting bush walk.

Leaving our safari lodge behind we head to the Blyde River Canyon and the spectacular views of this and the Three Rondavels before continuing our journey on to Johannesburg. We arrive late in the afternoon around 17h00, bringing our Budget African Safari to a close.

  • Meals included: Breakfast
  • Activities included: Morning bush walk & Blyde River Canyon scenery

Kruger Safari Fuel Subsidy

Please note that as a result of sustained fuel price increases a fuel subsidy has been added to this Kruger Safari. Hopefully, this will be a temporary measure to be discontinued should fuel prices drop. This small fuel subsidy ensures that the excellent quality of this Kruger Safari is maintained. To see the cost of the fuel subsidy, please view the full tour pricing.

About the Safari Lodges

The first safari lodge is located in the Balule Private Reserve of Greater Kruger Park. It is an excellent value-for-money, budget lodge, ideally located near Kruger Park.

Accommodation is in air-conditioned chalets with en-suite bathrooms. The en-suite bathrooms have a shower, toilet, and basin. There are tea and coffee stations in the chalets and the windows are fitted with mosquito netting for peace of mind. Each bed also has a mosquito net over it.

There is a swimming pool in lovely tropical gardens and an open-air boma. At the nearby waterhole, a variety of animals and birds can be spotted. Electric fencing also ensures the safety of guests but does not keep out the vervet monkeys that are regular visitors, along with birds.

The second safari lodge is a smaller camp with only eight chalets set in the African bushveld. These rustic chalets are basic, yet clean and comfortable. They are equipped with en-suite facilities and mosquito nets on all beds.

This safari lodge is set inside a private game reserve near Kruger Park. It features a swimming pool, outdoor boma area, and outdoor lapa overlooking a floodlit waterhole visited by wildlife. There is also a covered lounge and dining area with a bar. Dinner is served in the outside boma area around the campfire, under the stars - a great spot to relax after dinner. It is a no-frills safari camp that offers more comfort than camping along with hearty meals and a true bush experience.

Pre and Post Safari Lodge Option:

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.

Child Policy

Bush Walks

The recommended age for bush walk participants is 16 years and over, however, guests aged between 12 and 16 may be permitted to participate in the bush walks as long as their parents take full responsibility in ensuring their children strictly obey all instructions from our rangers.

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+Where does the tour go to?
Countries
South Africa
Top Destinations
Kruger National Park
+Included in the Tour Price
  • Transfer to and from Johannesburg
  • Park entry fees
  • Game drives
  • Guided bushwalk
  • Bush barbecue
  • Breakfast & dinner
  • En-suite chalet accommodation
+Not Included in the Tour Price
  • Lunch
  • Drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Items of a personal nature
+Departure Dates

This tour departs daily.

Scheduled Tour Departures
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