On this affordable 5 Day Kruger Park Safari you stay at an intimate bush camp lodge tucked away in the Greater Kruger Park of South Africa. The private safari camp is ideal for families and small groups in search of an authentic Big 5 African safari experience at a reasonable price.
Explore Kruger National Park and the Maseke Balule Game Reserve on open 4x4 game drives in the early morning and late afternoon-to-night. In between game drives, soak up the African wilderness setting at the bush camp safari lodge and splash in the pool, keeping an eye out for visiting animals and birds.
On the first morning of this 5 Day Kruger Park Safari, our shuttle picks you up from the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, or from the designated starting point in Pretoria. The shuttle first collects passengers from OR Tambo at 07h00 and then proceeds north to Pretoria to collect any additional guests, at 07h30. From Pretoria, we travel northeast to the Greater Kruger Park safari region of South Africa.
The shuttle transfers you to Three Bridges, near Hoedspruit, arriving at 12h30 to 13h00. Then, your safari guide from the lodge collects you from Three Bridges and takes you to the Maseke Balule Game Reserve in Greater Kruger Park.
The bush camp is set within an 8000-hectare wildlife management area, called Maseke Game Reserve, forming part of the Balule Private Nature Reserve. The intimate camp is thus surrounded by undulating hills with rocky ridges and mopane thickets where animals roam. You can expect to see elephants, bushbuck, kudu, and other wild animals from the comfort of the deck area that surrounds the swimming pool.
After a relaxed lunch soaking up the atmosphere of the bush camp, we embark on a late afternoon to night game drive. The night air comes alive with the sound of the African bush as your guide takes you in search of nocturnal predators like leopards as well as civets, porcupines, hyenas, and more. We return to the safari lodge for a delicious meal followed by drinks around the cozy campfire.
Rise early with the African sun for a quick snack and a coffee before heading into the cool morning bush on a game drive. Sharing unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park which teems with wildlife, the game viewing in this region is exceptional. One of Africa's largest reserves, the Kruger National Park boasts over 150 mammal species, over 500 birds, and many reptiles, plants, and trees to marvel at. We return mid-morning for a hearty breakfast.
The tranquil and intimate setting of the bush camp, surrounded by mopane woodland is all yours to enjoy. Take advantage of the sparkling pool, go for a leisurely stroll around the safari camp or just relax on the deck and soak in the ambiance of this family-friendly retreat.
Lunch is served in the afternoon and later we depart for an afternoon to night game drive. Exploring from a set location over a few days gives you an intimate knowledge of the movements and rhythms of the animals and the bush. The expert safari guides are there to make sure that you get the most out of your safari experience. The cooler times of day, early mornings, and late afternoon to evenings are the times of most activity in the bush. Expect to see any of the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo - or with some luck, all five! In addition to the iconic Big Five, you'll come across all sorts of other wild animals from giraffe to duiker, zebras to impala and hyenas to honey badgers and wild dogs. Every outing is unique and you never know what is hiding in the grass nearby.
After the exhilaration of the nighttime game viewing, we return to the bush camp to relax and eat a sumptuous meal. After dinner, we take part in the age-old tradition of sharing stories around the campfire. Flames leap and jump, lions roar in the distance and a blanket of stars stretches overhead. Days two, three, and four of this budget Kruger Park Safari follow a similar itinerary, offering a balance between leisure time at the bush camp and game viewing in open 4x4 vehicles.
On the final day of this 5 Day Kruger Park Safari, we wake early and take one last game drive in the world-renowned Kruger Park. Returning to the bush camp for the last time we enjoy a hearty breakfast prepared by the lodge staff. Full and satisfied, it is time to say goodbye to the game-rich South African bush.
Your safari guide transfers you back to the collection point at Three Bridges where the shuttle collects you at 11h45. From there, the shuttle returns to Pretoria and then to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Guests are dropped off in Pretoria at about 17h00 and at OR Tambo International at about 18h00, bringing our budget Kruger Park Safari to a close.
The bush camp used on this budget Kruger Park Safari is set in the undulating hills of the Maseke Balule Game Reserve. As part of the Greater Kruger Park the private game reserve shares unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park, allowing wildlife to move freely between the two protected areas. The bush camp is located near the Olifants River, in a diverse area providing a variety of habitats for animals, birds, and small creatures.
Fringed by mopane woodlands, this family-friendly safari lodge sleeps only 10 people. The small size and remote location of the bush camp ensure a personal and intimate African safari experience ideal for small groups and families with children. Common animal sightings from the game viewing deck beside the sparkling pool include elephants, kudu, bushbuck, and other antelopes.
Pick-up and drop-off are at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and a designated point in Pretoria. For more details and times please enquire. Transport to and from these set locations is not included in the tour price.
Collection times on the first day:
Drop off times on the last day:
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 take children.
Children of five and over are accepted on this safari. If the camp is booked for exclusive use, then children of all ages are welcome.
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