5 Day Kruger Safari & Panorama Route Tour - South Africa

DAY 1: Johannesburg to Greater Kruger Area – South Africa

This affordable South Africa Safari to Kruger and the Panorama Route departs from Johannesburg or Pretoria. Our shuttle driver collects you from the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 07h00, or the designated collection point in Pretoria at 07h30.

Leaving the city bustle behind we drive east into the Highveld region of Mpumalanga. The shuttle stops at the Guernsey Boom Gate outside Hoedspruit, where you are met by your safari guide. From there your guide drives you to the nearby safari lodge where you will spend the next four nights. The safari lodge is located in a private nature reserve bordering Thornybush Nature Reserve in Greater Kruger Park.

Settle into your thatched chalet and enjoy lunch in the main dining area of the safari lodge where you can keep an eye on the busy waterhole. After a tasty lunch, it's time for our first 4x4 game drive in the Greater Kruger safari area. Hop on board the open-sided safari vehicle and head out into the private nature reserve of the safari lodge. Sit back and take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the South African bush.

Along the way, we stop at a scenic spot to watch the sunset with sundowners. Keep an eye out for nocturnal wildlife, as night falls. After our first peaceful sunset in the bush, we return to the safari lodge, using spotlights to search for nocturnal animals in the dark.

Back at the safari lodge, we have dinner in the lantern-lit dining area. Then you are free to relax around the campfire in the outdoor boma area, unwind in the comfortable lounge or have a drink at the bar. At the end of your first exciting day on safari in South Africa, retreat to your private chalet for a good night's rest.

• Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
• Safari activities included: Afternoon game drive in a private nature reserve

DAY 2: Kruger National Park Safari – South Africa

On day two, we get up early for our exciting full-day Kruger National Park Safari. After a quick coffee and some rusks at the exclusive safari lodge, we board our open-sided safari vehicle and head to the Orpen Gate of Kruger National Park.

The whole of day two is spent exploring South Africa's leading national park, on a guided 4x4 Kruger Safari. Your safari guide takes you in search of the stunning array of wildlife and birds found in Kruger Park. This morning, we pause at one of the rest areas in Kruger National Park to enjoy our packed breakfasts from the safari lodge.

After breakfast, our Kruger Safari adventure continues. As we explore your safari guide will tell you more about the untamed African bush and its rich habitats. At lunchtime, we head to a Kruger rest camp where you can stretch your legs and freshen up. There will be time to do a bit of curio shopping, rest in the shade, top up on snacks and cold drinks from the shop, and have lunch (own expense).

Then we venture back out into Kruger Park on an afternoon game drive. Your guide takes you in search of the diverse wild animals, birds, and reptiles of Kruger National Park, pausing to observe interesting wildlife sightings and take photos.

Our afternoon game drive ends at one of the park gates where we exit the world-famous Kruger National Park of South Africa. We then make our way back to the safari lodge in the Great Kruger area. Back at the safari lodge this evening, we have a delicious dinner and relax in the unspoiled bushveld setting of the private nature reserve. Choose a comfy place to unwind - the lounge, the open-air boma, or the bar, take a night swim, or retreat to your private chalet with its own deck overlooking the wilderness.

• Meals included: Packed Breakfast & Dinner
• Safari activities included: Guided Full-day Kruger National Park Safari

DAY 3: Greater Kruger Area – South Africa

Day three of our affordable Kruger Safari & Panorama Route Tour begins with breakfast at the lodge. Then we drive to the nearby Blyde River and take a scenic boat cruise through the rugged mountains.

This scenic area has an interesting history and hosts unique geological features that the river guide can tell you all about. The river flows through the Blyde River Canyon, one of the largest vegetated canyons in the world. Sit back and take in the magnificence of the distinctive mountains and rock formations from the boat. Enjoy the quiet setting and watch for hippos, crocodiles, and birds along the unspoiled Blyde River.

After our laid-back boat cruise, we return to the safari lodge in the indigenous trees. Relax and enjoy lunch at the lodge, keeping an eye out for wildlife at the waterhole and in the surrounding bush. Later we set off on an afternoon 4x4 game drive in one of Greater Kruger's Big 5 game reserves. This private game reserve in Greater Kruger Park offers a more exclusive safari experience. Although the reserve is far smaller than Kruger National Park, it is closed to the public, and visitor numbers are restricted. This is your chance to search for any of the Big 5 animals that may have eluded us thus far.

After exploring the private Big 5 game reserve we head back to our intimate lodge where you can freshen up or take a quick swim before dinner and drinks. End the day off with a nightcap at the bar or sit beside the campfire listening to the sounds of nature.

• Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Safari activities included: Scenic morning boat cruise & afternoon game drive in a Big 5 Greater Kruger game reserve

DAY 4: Panorama Route Tour – South Africa

Today our South Africa Safari takes us on a full-day Panorama Route Tour. We spend the whole day exploring the scenic highlights of the breathtaking Panorama Route. This is one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa, so have your cameras ready.

Leaving the lodge, we drive into the lofty Drakensberg Mountains. Your guide will take you to see various top attractions and tell you all about the Panorama Route region. Panorama Route Tour highlights include God's Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes, Blyde River Canyon, Lisbon Falls, the Three Rondavels, and Graskop village.

God’s Window offers spectacular views over the Kruger Lowveld some 1000 meters below. Bourkes Luck Potholes is an unusual rock formation formed by water erosion over hundreds of years. The famous Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world, about 40 km long and up to 1200 m deep. Another unique feature of the Blyde River Canyon is its abundance of vegetation, earning it the title of the largest 'green' canyon in the world. The Three Rondavels is a distinctive landmark of the Panorama Route, named after the traditional rounds huts known as Rondavels. The 94-meter Lisbon Falls flows year-round and is the tallest waterfall in the Mpumalanga Province. For lunch (own expense), we stop in one of the small towns on the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment.

After marveling at the spectacular sights of the Panorama Route, we return to our affordable safari lodge. Sit back and enjoy a sundowner or take a refreshing swim in the pool, before a hearty dinner is served. Then, sit back and enjoy your final evening around the campfire in the open-air boma or unwind at the bar.

• Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
• Safari activities included: Guided Full-day Panorama Route Tour

DAY 5: Greater Kruger Area to Johannesburg – South Africa

The final day of our lodge safari starts with early morning coffee and rusks. Then we set off on a thrilling bush walk in the private nature reserve surrounding the lodge. This guided bush walk is one of the highlights of our Kruger Safari & Panorama Route Tour in South Africa.

Your expert guide leads the way and shows you the small marvels of the African bushveld along the way. The early morning walk is ideal for getting a closer look at the fascinating ecosystems around the lodge and potentially spotting wild animals and birds. The nature reserve is home to prolific birdlife, plenty of plains game, and an array of predators, including leopards. This South Africa Safari is about more than chasing Africa's Big 5 animals, it's an opportunity to immerse yourself in the unspoiled African bush. Along the way, your safari guide can tell you all about the animals, insects, reptiles, birds, and flora that make Greater Kruger Park so special. Enjoy your last adventure out in the South African bush, discovering the fascinating details of this remarkable ecosystem.

After our invigorating bush walk, we return to the secluded lodge for breakfast. Then it is time to depart for the Guernsey Boom Gate outside Hoedspruit and catch the shuttle transfer back to Johannesburg or Pretoria. Back in the big city, you are transferred to the O.R. Tambo International Airport (between 18:00 and 19:00), bringing this affordable Kruger Safari & Panorama Route Tour to a close.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Safari activities included: Morning bush walk in the private nature reserve

Pre and Post Safari Lodge Rates:

Please note that we offer convenient pre-tour and post-tour lodge accommodation for before and after this Kruger & Panorama Route Safari, which can be added to your safari booking upon request. This 4-star lodge accommodation is located 10-15 minutes from the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

About the Private Nature Reserve of the Safari Lodge

On this South Africa Safari, guests stay at a safari lodge inside a private nature reserve in the Greater Kruger Park area.

The private nature reserve covers about 400 hectares of prime bushveld. It includes a variety of ecosystems that provide diverse habitats for wildlife and bird species found here. Of the Big 5 animals, this private nature reserve is home to leopards and buffalos. In addition to leopards, there are also African wild dogs, honey badgers, African wild cats, genets, and civets here. The game reserve also hosts other large mammals such as giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and other antelopes like kudu, klipspringer, and impala. The birdlife is also impressive with over over 200 species of birds recorded in the reserve.

The safari lodge and private reserve are located a 30-minute drive from Kruger National Park’s Orpen Gate and about 30 minutes from Hoedspruit. It borders Thornybush Game Reserve, which is a Big 5 private game reserve in Greater Kruger Park. The lodge is thus ideally located for exploring the Kruger safari region and its many attractions.

Safari activities offered at the lodge include full-day 4x4 Kruger National Park Safaris, 4x4 game drives, and guided bush walks. Guests typically get to explore a private Big 5 game reserve in Greater Kruger Park, as well as the private nature reserve surrounding the safari lodge.

About the Safari Lodge in the Greater Kruger Area

The safari lodge is nestled in a leafy valley in the heart of a private reserve. It is surrounded by the jackalberry, marula, knob-thorn, and leadwood trees of the bushveld savannah. This scenically located private safari lodge provides understated luxury in a peaceful bush setting.

The lodge is next to a busy watering hole that attracts a variety of animals and birds. Three wooden viewing decks provide an excellent vantage point for watching the creatures at the waterhole while enjoying drinks. The nearby water tower is the ideal spot for sundowners, offering panoramic views over the bushveld. There is a swimming pool and lush garden with an outdoor boma area for evenings around the campfire. The main lodge features a lounge, dining area, and bar. A laundry service is available and there's complimentary WiFi.

Accommodation is in stylish chalets tucked away in the trees. Each thatch-roofed chalet has a private wooden deck where guests can sit back and watch visiting birds and wildlife. The chalets have high ceilings and wooden floors. Expansive windows let in the light and showcase the natural scenery. The chalets have been tastefully decorated in calming, natural shades with touches of vibrant color and African art. Each chalet has a private bathroom with a shower. Wooden walkways connect the chalets with the main lodge and outdoor areas.

This is a tranquil and elegant lodge offering understated sophistication in nature. It provides a classical African safari experience that is simple, yet comfortable.

About the Big 5 Greater Kruger Game Reserve

The private game reserve that we explore on this South Africa Safari, forms part of Greater Kruger Park. Greater Kruger consists of over 20 private game reserves that share unfenced borders with Kruger National Park and/or each other. This enables the wild animals in the game reserve to roam freely between Kruger National Park and the neighboring private game reserves of Greater Kruger Park. The movement of people between the different game reserves and national parks in this region is, however, restricted.

The number of visitors allowed into the private game reserves of Greater Kruger is limited, so they provide a more exclusive safari experience. Our safari lodge is one of few with access to the section of Greater Kruger Park that we explore. You are therefore unlikely to see other safari vehicles while out on your game drives. Another advantage is that you get to take your time watching the animals without having to share wildlife sightings or make way for other vehicles and onlookers.

The private game reserve incorporates 23 000 hectares of bushveld bordering Kruger National Park. This lesser-known Big 5 game reserve lies between Sabi Sands and the Timbavati Game Reserve. With no fences separating these private game reserves from each other or from Kruger National Park, wildlife moves freely through the region. The Big 5 animals are regularly sighted on game drives here, including the shy leopard. But, exploring the private game reserve takes you beyond chasing the Big 5 of Africa, even though they are all found here. Game drives in the private game reserve are all about experiencing the South African bush. Birders can look forward to spotting some of the over 300 bird species found in the private reserve.

About Kruger National Park in South Africa

Kruger National Park is South Africa's premier safari destination. This massive national park covers about 19 485 km² of wilderness, yet it offers outstanding game viewing because of the abundance of wildlife found here.

There are about 147 species of mammals alone in Kruger National Park! Then there is the multitude of birds, plants, insects, reptiles, and even fish! The large mammals of Kruger include impressive populations of Africa's Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo). Common wildlife sightings include herds of elephants, antelopes, buffalos, lion prides, packs of hyenas and wild dogs, hippo pods, and basks of lurking crocodiles. Giraffes, zebras, monkeys, warthogs, baboons, and impalas are very commonly seen.

On this Kruger Safari, your guide takes you on an adventure of discovery that is as much about the small details of the ecosystem as the large animals. The game drives give you insight into the animals, birds, insects, and plants of Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger area.