This 5 Day Kruger Safari takes you to Balule Private Game Reserve in Greater Kruger Park, South Africa's leading Big 5 safari area.
Embark on open 4x4 game drives in the early morning and late afternoon. You can't get closer to nature than this, experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells of the game-rich African bush, undisturbed. Based in Balule Private Game Reserve, adjacent to Kruger Park, this is a prime Big 5 wildlife area. There are no fences between the private reserve and Kruger National Park, allowing for the free movement of wildlife and a more exclusive African safari for you.
Stay in comfortable, en-suite chalets, with private decks overlooking the South African bush and enjoy the Big 5 safari experience of a lifetime.
At the start of this 5 Day Kruger Safari you are collected from the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, or the designated pick-up point in Pretoria. The shuttle collects passengers from OR Tambo at 07h00 before proceeding north to Pretoria where it collects any additional passengers, at 07h30. From Pretoria, you travel northeast to the Balule Private Game Reserve in Greater Kruger Park.
On our scenic drive to Balule, we skirt the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve before descending the beautiful Magoebaskloof Mountains and continuing to the Kruger Lowveld region. Arriving at Balule Game Reserve a driver from the lodge collects you and transfers you to the safari lodge, located inside Balule.
Upon arrival, you have some time to settle in before afternoon tea and then we set off on our first game drive in Greater Kruger Park. This afternoon game drive provides an exciting introduction to the African bush and its incredible wildlife and birds. The experienced guides take you in search of the Big 5 animals and other wildlife inhabiting Greater Kruger. A vast wildlife park that incorporates Kruger National Park proper and several private game reserves in the area.
We stop to marvel at a beautiful African sunset which we toast with sundowners and snacks. As darkness falls our afternoon game drive becomes a night drive en route back to our safari lodge. Keep an eye out for the nocturnal prowlers that are beginning to stir in the bush. Back at the lodge, a hearty dinner is served in the boma (weather permitting) around the campfire. Relax around the campfire under the starry African night sky, and listen to the sounds of the night, before heading to your comfy bed.
The next three days of this Greater Kruger Safari are set aside for game viewing in Balule Private Game Reserve.
On safari in the African bush, our days start early, as we set our body clocks to nature's rhythm. Many of the African wildlife and bird species are most active in the early morning hours which makes it one of the most rewarding times for game viewing. Early mornings also offer the ideal light for taking photos of the African bush coming alive.
We start our days with fresh coffee or tea and rusks (tea biscuits) before setting off on our dawn game drive. The open 4x4 safari vehicle is ideal for taking guests off-road, into the bush to get close to all the exciting wildlife action. The game rangers are in communication with each other, so if there is an interesting wildlife sighting you won't miss out. One of the benefits of staying in a private game reserve is that the number of safari lodges, and guests accommodated at these lodges, is limited to ensure an exclusive African safari experience. You won't find hoards of tourists in Balule Private Game Reserve.
The open safari vehicle heightens the anticipation of meeting a beautiful, wild creature up close and really gets the adrenalin flowing. But these drives are also excellent learning experiences as the well-trained ranger explains the mysteries of the bushveldt and guests have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the smaller creatures in this environment, as well as do some bird watching and taking stunning photos.
As the day warms up, we return to the lodge and tuck into a big breakfast - wildlife safaris are hungry work! During the heat of midday, you can relax at the safari lodge, enjoying the scenery and swimming in the pool, or taking a siesta. Afternoon tea is served in the late afternoon before we head back out into Greater Kruger Park in open safari vehicles. As always, the guides use their superb skills to give you the best game viewing experience possible. As the sun sets, we enjoy a sundowner out in the African bush. Then, as darkness falls you proceed on a night game drive with a powerful spotlight.
At the end of our memorable days in the bush, we return to the lodge to relax and feast on tasty dinners. Sit back and enjoy the age-old tradition of sitting around the campfire discussing the day's wildlife sightings and what's in store for the next day.
Day five of our budget Kruger Safari begins with a final early morning wake-up call followed by coffee and rusks. Then it is time for our last game drive in the Big 5 Balule Private Game Reserve. Your guides take you in search of the Big 5 and any other animals on your wishlist that you may have missed thus far. After just a few days of practice, you'll notice how much your game viewing skills have improved already.
After our rewarding morning game drive, we return to the safari lodge for a delicious breakfast. Then, sadly it's then time to say goodbye to Balule and Greater Kruger Park. The lodge driver transfers you back to the gates of Balule Reserve where the shuttle collects you at 11h30.
From there the shuttle drives you back to the designated drop-off point in Pretoria, arriving at 17h00, and then OR Tambo in Johannesburg, arriving at 18h00.
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:
Perfectly located on the seasonal Mohlabetsi riverbed in the Big 5 Balule Private Game Reserve, the game lodge is a dream African safari destination.
The central lodge has a comfortable lounge with a fireplace, shady verandah, sun deck, and swimming pool, offering a perfect place to relax, regardless of the weather. Designed to fit into the surroundings, the raised recreational areas allow for spectacular views across the bush.
Meals are served either in the dining room or at the campfire in the traditional boma, under the vast star-scattered African sky.
Accommodation is in fully-equipped luxurious units set far enough apart to ensure your privacy and sense of space. Each one has a bedroom, en-suite bathroom with shower, and private patio overlooking the seasonal riverbed.
Balule is a 40 000 hectare private game reserve that forms part of the Greater Kruger Park. The entire area is unfenced, allowing free flow of the animals. This is prime Big Five territory.
The major advantage of staying in and exploring this area is that it is private and secluded. Unlike the Kruger National Park, no day visitors are allowed, meaning that you won't be huddled around a lion kill with a hundred other people in cars. This is the real African bush experience, enjoyed in solitude, as it should be.
Please note that we offer convenient pre-tour and post-tour lodge accommodation for before and after the Balule Private Game Reserve Lodge 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.
This tour does take children.
Children 12 years and older are permitted on game drives.
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