Kruger National Park and Greater Kruger Safari – Five Days

Overview

Countries visited: South Africa

On this five day safari you will combine the authentic Kruger National Park experience with luxury at one of the selected high-end lodges in the Greater Kruger or Sabi Sands.

Taking in some of Kruger’s most beautiful natural sights, as well as the abundance of wildlife before travelling to a private game reserve in the Greater Kruger area. Here you will have every opportunity to spot the ever elusive leopard, and enjoy morning and afternoon game drives, as well as bush walks.  The trip includes a free optional excursion where you will be taken on the Panorama route, which includes stops at the Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondavels, Lisbon Waterfalls and God’s Window.

This tour is ideal for solo travellers, groups of friends, couples, romantic getaways, wildlife and photographic enthusiasts.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at Kruger National Park  

We depart from Johannesburg between 06h00 – 07h30 to allow for various collection points. Our route takes us through the wide open spaces of the Highveld, down the escarpment and through the scenic Lowveld area. We stop for lunch en-route (own expense) and reach the Kruger National Park and Skukuza Rest Camp in the afternoon.

After settling in to our accommodations (twin bed chalets with en suite bathrooms), you go out on your first game drive.

Dinner is a three course meal, served al fresco at our private camp within Skukuza. Wine is served with dinner but guests are welcome to bring along additional / alternative drinks which can be purchased at the shop.

Day 2: Game Drives & the Kruger Park

Safaris are all about early mornings, getting out there and seeing animals! The time you go on your Game Drive varies according to the seasons and camp gate opening times. We have tea or coffee with muffins and fruit before departing on the Game Drive which will take approximately 3-4 hours. Your guide has an intimate knowledge of the park, which contributes a great deal towards brilliant sightings!

On returning to Skukuza brunch will be ready at our camp. You then have time to enjoy a swim, visit the Skukuza museum, visit the park shop which includes African curios, general food items and drinks, take a walk around the camp, or simply relax at the viewing platform in front of the restaurant, which overlooks the Sabie River. Be sure to bring your binoculars, Skukuza Rest Camp is also a bird watcher’s paradise!
After a siesta we set off on the afternoon Kruger Park game drive. We conduct all our game drives in specially adapted 4×4 open game drive vehicles to allow our guests the best possible vantage point.
We share African safari stories at the camp fire under the stars after a scrumptious dinner served at our camp.
(Breakfast & Dinner included)

Day 3: Kruger Park to Private Game Reserve

After an early wake up you will go on a final morning game drive- The time you go on your Game Drive varies according to the seasons and camp gate opening times. We have tea or coffee with muffins and fruit before departing on the Game Drive which will take approximately 3-4 hours. Your guide has an intimate knowledge of the park, which contributes a great deal towards brilliant sightings!

Directly after breakfast at our camp we head to one of the world renowned Private Game Reserves adjacent to Kruger National Park in our closed, air conditioned tour vehicle. We arrive in time for lunch and have some time to freshen up before departing on your afternoon game drive in one of the Luxury Game Lodge’s open game drive vehicles. This drive generally takes about 4 hours and extends into the early evening. Private Reserves are particularly famous for its close-up sightings of predators. We cannot guarantee these sightings, however your chances of seeing these magnificent animals are very good!

Dinner is served under the stars (weather permitting). The day ends with African Wildlife Safari stories around the open fire and planning the next day.
(Breakfast, Lunch & dinner included)

Day 4: Activities in a Private Game Reserve

Luxury Private Game Reserve Lodges offer two game drives per day. Your experienced game ranger and expert local tracker will share their extensive knowledge and love for the African bush with you. Animals and birds in the reserve have become used to having the game drive vehicles in close proximity due to a carefully planned and managed habituation process. This allows us to get really close to them and forms part of the appeal of the Luxury Lodge Safari!

Guests are welcome to join the morning bush walk after breakfast. The rest of the day is spent at leisure, relaxing in your room or at the pool. Lunch is served around 14h00.

Meal times are a sociable affair, with dinner served under the stars (weather permitting). Only the freshest produce is used and this is served with the local wines which South Africa is famous for.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 5: One last Game Drive

An early wake-up and coffee starts your last day on your Africa Wildlife Safari. One last opportunity to experience the magic that only the African Bush can offer!

After your morning Game Drive breakfast is served. Directly after breakfast we begin our journey back to Johannesburg.. We stop en-route for lunch (own expense).

The drive back to Johannesburg takes at least 6 hours and guests are advised to sleep over in Johannesburg on this night.
(Breakfast included)

Optional Excursion (free of charge)

On offer an optional excursion to visit select attractions along the Panorama Route. Depart camp at 06h00 stop in one of the small towns en-route for breakfast (included) and visit attractions such as the Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondavels, Lisbon Waterfalls and God’s Window. This excursion is available free of charge and will replace the morning game drive. You will be at your Lodge in time for lunch. This excursion will be co-ordinated while you are on safari with. (Kindly note that this excursion is only available on the day that you leave Skukuza Camp for the Private Lodge due to time constrictions)

Accommodation

Combination safaris stay in the Kruger, at either Skukuza, Pretoriuskop or Letaba camp, as well as either Nkorho or similar, all dependent on availability.  Greater Kruger lodges are also included in the combination stay, at either Kapama River Lodge, Kapama Buffalo Camp or Pondoro – Balule, all dependent on availability.

More Info

Price includes:

• Professional drivers / guides (FGASA registered – Field Guides Association of Southern Africa)
• Meals as specified per itinerary
• All day / night drives in the Private Game Reserve in an open 4 x 4 game drive vehicle
• All entry fees and daily conservation levies
• Accommodation as per chosen option
• Select Panorama Route attractions
• Return transfers from Johannesburg

Price excludes:

• Meals not specified in itinerary
• All drinks
• Items of a personal nature
• Gratuities
• Optional extra activities, such as spa treatments

*Minimum of 2 people needed to depart, extra single departure supplement or R2500 will apply for single departures. 

Important Notes

It is important to note that this is not a private safari and more than likely there will be other guests joining you on the game drive vehicles, air-conditioned mini bus transfer vehicles as well as in the dining facility.

The child policies vary from lodge to lodge. Some lodges do not accept children under 12 at all, while others gladly accept children but do not allow younger children on the open game drive vehicles for safety reasons. These lodges offer babysitting services at a nominal extra charge. Please be sure to enquire about this before making your reservation.

Guests flying out of OR Tambo Airport on the last day are reminded to not book any flights earlier than 19h00 (domestic) or 20h00 (international) in order to give us enough time to get you to the airport. We recommend that you rather stay over in Johannesburg if possible. Since we cannot guarantee our arrival time in Johannesburg on the last day we will not be held responsible for reimbursements of flight tickets, should we arrive later than expected. Guests flying out of Nelspruit on the last day may, depending on their flight details, not have enough time to see the Panorama Route. Private transfers for guests with early flights can be arranged in advance at an extra charge.