Day 1: Gauteng to Graskop
You will begin the journey at a centrally located spot in Gauteng and drive through some of the most scenic areas of the Eastern part of South Africa. You will visit the intriguing museums and shops in Pilgrim’s Rest and then drive to view Pinnacle Rock and then to experience the amazing view from God’s Window.
You will then visit the Berlin Falls, where numerous local arts and crafts are for sale. From here, you will visit Bourke’s Luck Potholes for lunch, and then head the Blyde River Canyon, where you will overnight in a chalet at the resort: Forever Blyde Canyon (or similar). Dinner at the restaurant.
Day 2: Kadishi Tufa Waterfall to Satara
You will leave after breakfast to take a boat trip on the Blyde Dam. An interpretation tour will take you to the Kadishi Tufa waterfall and the Three Rondawels. An abundance of wildlife will keep you distracted while learning more about the natural history of the Blyde Canyon.
The Kadishi Tufa waterfall, at 200 meters (around 660 feet) in height, is the second tallest Tufa Waterfall on earth. The waterfall’s formation strikingly resembles a face which is crying profusely, and is thus sometimes known as ‘the weeping face of nature’.
Completing this, you will head to the heart of the Kruger National Park through the Orpen gate, watching game as you head to the Satara Rest Camp. (Lunch en-route not included, restaurants available)
The Satara Rest Camp is situated in an excellent game viewing area, with the bush relatively open and the animals plentiful and diverse. The camp itself has a rustic charm, with the bulk of the accommodation set out in a series of circles. Satara is well wooded and the bird-life is prolific. At night the clink of fruit bats is fused with the chirping of cicadas and crickets. The calls of owls and night-jars add to the symphony that is punctuated intermittently by the whoop of hyenas, the screech of jackals and the roars of lions.
Enjoy a Sunset Game Drive which transitions into the night where you can see the nocturnal activities of Kruger's secretive creatures and lasts at least 3 hours. Dinner at the restaurant follows. Overnight in a bungalow or cottage at the Satara Rest Camp, or similar.
Day 3: Kruger National Park
Starting the game drive early after coffee, you explore every possible opportunity to view the spectacular wildlife scenery. Chances are excellent to spot a variety of some of the estimated number of animals:
- Lions, 1620 to 1750
- Leopards, 1,000
- Cheetahs, 120
- Wild dogs, 120
- Spotted hyena, 5340
- Elephant, 13750
- Burchell's zebras, 23700 to 35300
- Hippopotamus, 3100
- Warthogs, 3100 to 5 700
- Giraffes, 6800 to 10300
- Buffalo, 37130
- Eland, 460
- Roan antelope, 90
- Sable antelope, 290
- Greater kudu, 11200
(Brunch en-route for own cost, restaurants available) After a 140-kilometer game drive, you will return back to Johannesburg via Nelspruit (Mbombela).
