(No availability) 6 Day Bush and Elephants Safari in Kruger National Park, South Africa
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South Africa Safari
Who says adventure in the wild heart of South Africa can’t be combined with a touch of luxury? At Ku Sungula Safari Lodge, you can enjoy an unforgettable safari experience and comfort. The authentic African safari-style rondavels are tastefully decorated and with a pristine nature.
Key information
- Children policy: Children from 3 to 12 years old are allowed to join
- Starts and ends in Johannesburg
- English-speaking guide
- Park fees are included
Highlights
- Beautiful game drives
- Exciting big five game viewing opportunity
- Explore the wonderful Kruger National Park
- Full-day Panorama scenic route
- Daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Welcome drinks on arrival
- 5 nights accommodation
- Shuttle service
Styles
Accommodation
Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
Experience the African Bushveld in the wild heart of South Africa with a touch of Luxury. Ku Sungula Safari Lodge is a Greater Kruger Park Safari Lodge in South Africa that exudes the romance and beauty of a bygone age. At the lodge, they offer you daily comfort and convenience during an unforgettable safari experience. Your stay is your own unique personal adventure in the South African bush.
Ku Sungula means “new beginnings” in the local Shangane. The authentic African rondavels in safari style are built and tastefully furnished and are completely absorbed in the charm of the surrounding bush. The rondavels are situated in such a way that they offer a view of the pristine bush, they are exclusively designed to provide coolness in the heat of the African bush.
Enjoy this comfortable style and personal atmosphere in this rustic, intimate lodge. Listen to the Sounds of the bush at night and discover the breathtaking starry sky. Experience the magic at Ku Sungula Safari Lodge.
Program
On this holiday, enjoy the convenience and personal atmosphere of this rustic, intimate lodge. The charming rondavels offer breathtaking views of the bush while cooling against the heat through their clever design. Witness the most spectacular starry sky at night and listen to the sounds of the wilderness in the morning. At the lodge, you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks according to the itinerary.
Itinerary
Day 1
Today the adventure begins! In the morning, you take a flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival, the driver from our partner Swift Kruger Shuttles will be waiting for you at the OR Tambo Airport bus terminal. The pickup time is 07:45 a.m. local time. The shuttle arrives around 1:20 p.m. at the Olifants West Gate endpoint, where one of the guides will be waiting to take you to Ku Sungula Safari Lodge. After a warm welcome, you check in, and it’s time for a delicious lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, our guide and tracker will take you on your first game drive, exciting! Keep your camera and binoculars ready because the game drives go off-road and take you as close as possible to the animals. Once back at the lodge, a delicious dinner awaits you.
- Accommodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
- Meal plan: Lunch, dinner, and drinks
- Activities: Transfer from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport to Balule Olifants West Game drive PM
Day 2
You know you can’t leave Africa without having seen elephants. So that’s exactly what you’re doing today! Today’s plan includes not one but two exhilarating game drives in the Olifants West Nature Reserve. This is the home of, as you may have guessed it, elephants. And so much more!
As the early morning sun paints the horizon with hues of gold, you depart from the lodge to the Olifants River Valley within the reserve. Tucked away along the western border of Kruger National Park, a piece of paradise awaits. Prepare to be spellbound by the breathtaking landscapes, the untouched wilderness, and the diverse array of wildlife that calls this place home. You’ll peer carefully at the waterholes in hopes of spotting leopards or hippos.
After the morning safari, breakfast back at the lodge will be a welcomed must. Then, you’ll have some free time before lunch. A perfect opportunity for a power nap. Because in the evening, we’ll be returning to the reserve once more.
Be extra quiet and experience the interactions of the animals, from the haunting howls of hyenas to the thunderous roars of lions. With adrenaline still coursing through your veins, you’ll be grateful to return to the lodge for dinner. What a day!
- Accommodation: Ku Sungula safari lodge
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks
- Activities: Game drive AM & PM
Day 3
This morning, you wake up early again because today you will spend the entire day in Kruger National Park. And of course, you want to make the most of it! You leave the lodge in the dark, as you head toward the beautiful orange sky of sunrise. The discovery continues, and together you explore the winding rivers and deep ravines in Kruger National Park. After the morning safari, you return to the camp, where a delicious breakfast awaits you. Once finished, you leave the camp for the next destination in the natural park: one of the Kruger Rest Camps. Along the way, you enjoy the long game drive through the wilderness. After dinner in the evening, you can relax in the comfortable bed of your bungalow in the camp.
- Accommodation: One of Kruger's rest camps
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks
- Activities: Whole day game viewing in the Kruger Park
Day 4
You wake up to the sound of birds chirping, and is that a zebra in the distance? It’s your last day in Kruger National Park, so you’re up early again. Today, you return to the Ku Sungula Safari Lodge, but not before having a good breakfast in the camp and making a beautiful journey through the nature reserve. Perhaps you are in the right place at the right time and spot the rare black rhino!
In the early afternoon, you arrive at the Ku Sungula Safari Lodge with a festive welcome: an extensive lunch. After that, there’s time for a small break to recharge your batteries, including those of your camera. And that is necessary because in the afternoon, you go on another spectacular game drive until dusk. You return to the lodge in time for a tasty dinner.
- Accommodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks
- Activities: Game driving in Kruger Park
Day 5
Today, the impressive Panorama Route is on the agenda. Beautiful natural wonders, waterfalls, and breathtakingly beautiful vistas live up to the name of this route. You visit as many viewpoints and sensational landscapes in the area of the Panorama Route as possible. There is much to see, so we have lunch on the way. When the day is done, you return to the lodge, where you enjoy an appetizing evening meal lovingly prepared by the chefs.
- Accommodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks
- Activities: Full-day Panorama route
Day 6
Early rise! Greet the new day with a bush walk. In the morning, you will take a final safari on foot, accompanied by an experienced and armed guide. During the bush walk, the guide will share their knowledge while your nose fills with the scent of crushed wild grass as you make your way through the bushes. You will learn about tracking, animal behavior, and the ecosystem of the bush. Smell and taste the wild herbs, learn traditional customs, and explore the smaller wonders of the bush.
After the morning safari, an extensive breakfast will be waiting for you at the lodge. Then it’s really time to say goodbye. The shuttle bus to Johannesburg airport departs around 9:40 am, and you arrive in Johannesburg between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. From there, the connecting flight home departs, and you will land the next day with a suitcase full of beautiful memories.
- Meal plan: Breakfast and Drinks
- Activities: Bush walk, transfer from Balule Olifants West to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport
Included excursions
Full day of exploring the Kruger National Park.
Get up early for a full day at Kruger National Park and camp on one of the great
campsites. ......Be sure you have your binoculars ready; we will provide the rest. After entering the Kruger, keeping our eyes peeled as anything can happen.....and the chase is on!
Bushwalk
Explore the fascinating African nature by foot, accompanied by a qualified and armed guide. During the walk, you will learn about tracks, plants, trees, birds, and much more. Although you can encounter big game during the walk, the emphasis lies on the smaller things in the bush that often get overlooked during a drive.
Game drives
Somehow, the time, seems to fly past, and you find yourself clambering back onto the vehicle, heart pounding with excitement, for your afternoon adventure, deep in the African Bush, with a superb blend of African experience.
Full day Panorama scenic route
Discover the beauty of the panorama route. The Graskop Gorge Lift, a glass elevator that descends from a plateau 51 meters deep to the tropical rainforest below. God's Window, Tree Rondavels, and Bourke Luck's Potholes.
Location
This safari will take place in Kruger National Park and its surroundings, in South Africa. The venue will be situated in the 40,000-hectare Olifants West Private Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger Park ecosystem. The reserve is home to the big five and many other animals and is a paradise for birds.
Get to know South Africa
South Africa is a country with an incredible amount to see. From wild animals to green nature reserves. And from vast mountain tops to wide rivers. There, on the eastern border, you’ll find the well-known African bush as you see it in many travel documentaries. In the heart of this stunning nature, you’ll find the Ku Sungula Safari Lodge, the heart of this trip. The lodge is located in the Olifants West Private Nature Reserve, a park that consists of 40,000 hectares of unspoiled nature and borders the famous Kruger National Park. Did you know that there are over 336 species of trees, 250 different species of birds, and 30 species of mammals living here?
Come face to face with giraffes, hippos, or even the Big Five. Discover how large herds of zebras, crocodiles, and Kori bustards live. During the trip, you’ll stay in both nature reserves. All you need to bring is your binoculars – we’ll take care of the rest.
Olifants West Private Nature Reserve
Olifants West Private Nature Reserve is a protected area located in the Limpopo province of South Africa, and is part of the Greater Kruger National Park. The private nature reserve is situated southwest of Phalaborwa and north of Hoedspruit, with the Olifants River flowing through the center of the reserve for approximately 20 kilometers.
Balule lies in the subtropical Lowveld, an area with multiple eco-zones and an enormous variety of flora. The area boasts more than 336 tree species, with baobab trees, fever trees, thorns, marula trees and mopane trees being the dominant species in this wooded savanna. The varied flora is home to an equally diverse group of fauna. There are over 250 different bird species in the area, including many raptors such as vultures, the Pel’s fishing owl, the martial eagle, and impressive larger birds such as the Kori bustard, the hornbill, and the saddle-billed stork.
In addition, there are about 30 species of mammals. Of these, the so-called “Big Five” are the most well-known: the lion, the buffalo, the leopard, the rhinoceros, and the African elephant. Large herds of hippopotamuses and crocodiles live in the rivers and other watering holes. Even the rare white rhinoceros has been spotted here.
Kruger National Park
At the border of Olifants West Private Nature Reserve lies Kruger National Park. Kruger National Park is perhaps the most famous wildlife park in the world and houses an enormous diversity of flora and fauna. Which comes as no surprise, with a total area of over 2 million hectares. One moment you’re driving through typical African savanna, the next through dense forests. The main roads in the park are asphalted, but there are also many smaller dirt roads. In addition to a variety of nature, the park is known for the huge number of different animal species, including the Big Five. The African elephant from this group has the largest population in the world in Kruger Park. In 2003, the park had 11,700 elephants.
In addition to these five animals, you’ll find many more species of wildlife such as giraffes, hippos, impalas, wild dogs, zebras, cheetahs, hyenas, baboons, and various bird species with the most interesting names. But don’t forget the many unique reptiles, trees, and plants either.
Kruger National Park is part of SANParks, an umbrella organization that manages a total of nineteen national parks in South Africa. There are nine entrance gates and a total of 25 camps, all of which are fenced. During this trip, you will spend two nights in two of these camps. Because you are in the middle of the bush, it is only allowed to leave the vehicle in these camps and at the picnic areas.
Panorama Route
The Panorama Route runs along one of the largest forested areas in the northeastern province of Mpumalanga and centers around the Blyde River Canyon, the third-largest canyon in the world. The route begins at the foot of the Long Tom Pass, descends to the Lowveld Plains, and ends near the border with the Limpopo province. Along the route, you’ll come across multiple waterfalls and a few unique natural phenomena, such as the Bourke’s Luck Potholes rock formations, the grass-covered mountains of The Three Rondavels, and the God’s Window lookout point.
The route starts in Graskop, a bustling town with souvenir shops and restaurants where you can grab a cup of coffee and buy mementos for yourself or friends. From Graskop, you’ll pass by the following highlights:
Gorge Graskop
The journey begins as you descend the grassy cliff in a specially designed lift. In just a few minutes, the lift descends 51 meters along the cliff face to the cool, tropical mountain rainforest below. The descent is spectacular, but the destination where the lift takes you is even more breathtaking! A path with suspension bridges has been constructed below, where you can walk among the trees of the ancient forest and over various streams while learning about the plants and animals that live there. The walk along the path takes about 1 hour.
Graskop Big Swing
Are you a true daredevil, and is the lift not exciting enough for you? In the same cliff, you’ll find the highest swing in the world, where you can experience a free fall of 68 meters at a speed of 180 kilometers per hour in less than 3 seconds. After that, you’ll swing over the stunning surroundings and a beautiful waterfall. You can take this jump alone or together. The swing is completely safe, as it is inspected daily and monitored by professional inspectors.
Bourke's Luck Potholes
A natural wishing well, it really exists. Erosion formed Bourke’s Luck Potholes centuries ago, creating rock formations with bizarre cylindrical holes. The ravine where these holes are located is 30 meters deep, but the holes themselves are about 6 meters deep. The area is named after Tom Bourke, a local gold miner who predicted the presence of gold in this area. Ironically, he himself never had the luck to find it here. You can reach this natural work of art by taking a short walk of about 700 meters along paths and bridges.
The Three Rondavels
The Three Rondavels are spectacular mountain peaks that really look like the rounded, hut-shaped structures known as rondavels. The names of the rondavels commemorate a 19th-century chief, Maripi, and three of his wives: Magabolle, Mogoladikwe, and Maseroto. This is why they’re also called the Three Sisters at times. On a clear day, the lookout point offers expansive views, such as the high plateau of Mariepskop behind the rondavels in the distance.
God’s Window
God’s Window is a popular attraction along the slope of the mountains of Drakensberg on the south side of the nature reserve. Steep cliffs here plunge more than 900 meters into a lushly forested ravine. The name refers to a rock that looks like a square window. The view offers a panoramic view of the Blyde River Canyon and the Mpumalanga area with its vast hillside forests and waterfalls.
Food
During this holiday, you will be served daily breakfast, lunch, and three-course dinner, as well as a welcome drink upon arrival, coffees, and teas. Ku Sungula Safari Lodge can also provide special meals for children. If you have special dietary requirements, it is a good idea to communicate it to Ku Sungula Safari Lodge when making a reservation.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
Things to do (optional)
Hot air balloon flight
Experience the magic of floating over the scenic Lowveld in a hot air balloon at sunrise. In the hour-long flight above the Blyde River area, just west of Hoedspruit, you can enjoy the beautiful views. Come aboard for the experience of a lifetime.
Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center
You can avail a tour at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center, which focuses on the conservation of rare, vulnerable, or endangered animals. Cheetah conservation is one of their core disciplines.
Moholoholo
Moholoholo is situated in the shadow of the majestic Mariepskop. This unique conservancy is home to many wild animals. Whenever possible, rehabilitated birds and animals are returned to the wild and those that are not so fortunate due to the nature and extent of their injuries are used to educate the many people who visit each year.
What's included
- 5 nights accommodations as per the itinerary
- All meals, local drinks and house wines (excluding premium brand drinks and spirits)
- Entrance fees to all nature reserves
- All excursions and activities as mentioned
- Local, English-speaking guide
- Transportation
- Fuel for the vehicle
- Pick up and drop off to Johannesburg Airport is included with public shuttle service
What's not included
- International flights + airport taxes
- Additional excursions
- Additional accommodations
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Vaccinations
How to get there
Recommended Airports
O. R. Tambo International Airport
341 km
Transfer not provided
Driving directions from Johannesburg
- Take the N12 to eMalahleni (Witbank).
- Here, it becomes the N4.
- Follow the N4 until Belfast.
- At Belfast, take the R540 towards Dulstroom and Lydenburg.
- In Lydenburg, follow the R36 leading to Ohrigstad.
- From Ohrigstad take the R527 to Hoedspruit.
- In Hoedspruit, follow the road to a 4 way stop.
- Turn left on to the R40 to Phalaborwa.
- After 16 kilometers, you will see the sign "Balule, Olifants West Gate".
- Turn right and enter the reserve.
- Inside the reserve, turn left onto Maroela Road.
- Follow this road, first alongside the fence then turning right into the reserve.
- After about 4 kilometers, you are at a crossing.
- Turn right into Sable Road.
- After 1 kilometer, you will see the Ku Sungula sign on your right-hand side.
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at either Air Force Base Hoedspruit (HDS) or Hendrik Van Eck Airport (PHW).
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
