3 Days Affordable Tented Kruger Park Safari in South Africa

Day 1: Gauteng to Kruger National Park

Outlook Safaris wants to get the earliest possible start on your Kruger tented safari, so they pick you up and leave the departure point at Outlook Lodge O.R. Tambo between 06:00 and 07:00 on the first morning of your safari. The road journey is lengthy but it showcases the various aspects of South Africa’s diverse beauty. You make one stop en-route to your African safari in the Kruger National Park, where you can purchase something tasty for lunch (own expense).

Shortly after arriving, you’ll go on a SANParks Sunset Drive, unless you’re told otherwise by the team. Its value lies in the fact that while all tour operators and guests have to be back at camp before the gate closes, the park’s rangers do not. There are many magnificent species of wildlife that come out mostly during night safaris, and you’ll hopefully be able to see them on this game drive.

After a thrilling drive, you’ll return to the camp for dinner. Outlook Safaris' chefs prepare all the cuisine with love and care and will introduce themselves as well as what will be served.

• Dinner is included

Day 2: A full day in the Kruger National Park

While you’re on your Kruger wildlife safari with Outlook Safaris, they want you to see and experience as much as possible, so early mornings are a given! Better still, you’ll get to enjoy a strong cup of tea or coffee and a light snack before the game drive. Due to the fact that the camp gate opens at different times during each season, the time the group leaves varies. You spend several hours out in the bush, learning about the flora and fauna in the Kruger National Park and, of course, eagerly anticipating those incredible wildlife sightings.

Brunch will be ready for you when you get back to camp and, after filling up on all that delicious food, you’ll have some free time. Pretoriuskop has an amazing pool so you could go for a swim, explore the camp or visit the curio shop and pick up a few Kruger Park momentos. You might even see birds flying about or several species of mongoose scurrying around the camp, so be sure to have your camera on hand.

Later on in the day, you’ll embark on your afternoon Kruger Park safari. With a 4×4, open game drive vehicle, you’ll have an unhindered view of the park and the various wildlife, which further enhances your safari experience. In the evening, you’ll get to chat with your guides and fellow guests about the day’s events over a tasty dinner.

• Breakfast and dinner are included.

Day 3: From Kruger Park to Gauteng

This morning of your Kruger Park safari will be your final chance to try and spot the animals that you have not checked off your must-see list as yet. Following your game drive, breakfast will be served and then it’ll be time for your transfer back to Johannesburg. Because the drive takes several hours and guests' arrival time varies, Outlook Safaris usually advises their guests to stay over in Joburg that evening.

• Breakfast is included

Vehicles use on this safari

Your transfers to and from the Kruger National Park and the airport is in a 12-seater bus. For your game drive, you will be taken in open safari vehicles, which are designed with comfort in mind and to ensure that you see all that you need to on the drive.

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 minibus transfer vehicles as well as in the dining facility.

SANParks sunset drive

Please note that sunset game drive times are subject to change and availability on the day. These drives are conducted by SANParks, by one of their rangers and in one of their vehicles. There will most likely be other guests on this drive. Children under 12 years of age are not allowed to join this safari.

Children information

Although Outlook Safaris welcomes children on this safari, they reserve the right not to allow younger children on normal game drives. This will be entirely up to the guide’s discretion and will be in order to ensure a pleasurable game drive for all the guests (including the parents). Should this be the case, a bush bumble (kiddies game drive) will be conducted after the normal game drive, especially for the kids. Outlook Safaris does not offer babysitting and as such one of the parents will have to stay behind to watch the children. Private game drives for families can be arranged at an extra charge.

Kruger National Park

The diversity of the Kruger National Park is truly astounding, a veritable nature lover and photography enthusiast’s paradise. All wild and free-roaming animals, that have always occurred here naturally, integrating perfectly into their respective ecosystems.

If, as a visitor to the Kruger National Park, you want to see a wide range and diversity of wild animals, there is no better national park to visit on the entire African continent. Yes, Kruger Park is commercial and yes, there are a lot of people driving around and, at some sightings especially the Big 5, it can become overcrowded. But the diversity of species found in Kruger Park is fantastic. Visitors are seldom disappointed. Kruger Wildlife Safaris has, on many occasions during the course of a single morning game drive on one of their safaris, seen all of the Big Five, and it did not end there. You’d be hard-pressed to have as an exceptional experience in other National Parks in Africa.

The Big Five consists of lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant. Originally a hunting term used to describe Africa’s 5 most dangerous animals to hunt on foot in the bush, the photographic safari industry has “hijacked” the phrase and it’s now used worldwide as a marketing tool to attract tourists to Africa’s National Parks in the hopes of spotting these animals.

And yes, the Big 5 are fantastic to see, but remember, Kruger Park offers so much more than just the Big 5. Antelope, giraffe, hippopotamus, crocodiles, beautiful birds such as ground hornbills, lilac-breasted rollers and fork-tailed drongos and stunning savannah and bush landscapes all make the Kruger National Park a must-see when visiting South Africa.

Included meals

• Day 1: Dinner
• Day 2: Breakfast and dinner
• Day 3: Breakfast

Morning walk

A walk in the Kruger Park affords you the opportunity to experience the bush from a totally different perspective. You really do get up close and personal with Africa's wild animals, insects, trees and birds. Qualified trail guides take you on a three-hour walk where there is a chance you could come across Africa's Big 5 on foot.

Please be advised however, the focus is not on Big Five encounters, but rather smaller and often very interesting aspects of the bush that only a walk can offer. This activity is available at an additional fee of 570 ZAR per person and needs to be pre-booked with your consultant when you confirm your Kruger safari tour with Outlook Safaris. This activity is dependent on availability.

Panorama Route

The full day Panorama Route tour covers the best sights of this famous South African sightseeing route. The tour will include the Three Rondavels, Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, God's Window and the glass elevator near the town of Graskop. This tour is available at an additional cost of 795 ZAR per person and needs to be pre-booked with your consultant when you confirm your safari with Outlook Safaris.

If you choose to do the Panorama Route, you forfeit your morning and afternoon drive in the Kruger Park as there is not enough time to include both activities. You cannot book a Panorama Route tour whilst on safari. Kindly note that this excursion is not available on the first or last day of your safari due to time constraints. All entry fees and the glass elevator are included in the price. Lunch is excluded.

Please note that optional extras that are pre-booked are non-refundable in the event that you decide to no longer participate in the activity.

• 2 safari per day
• 2 nights accommodation
• Professional drivers/guides (FGASA registered - Field Guides Association of Southern Africa)
• Meals as specified per itinerary
• All game drives in the Kruger National Park in an open game drive vehicle
• A SANParks sunset drive
• All entry fees and daily conservation levies

• Shuttle service (1,720 ZAR)
• Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
• Pick up and drop off in Johannesburg/Pretoria
• Items of a personal nature
• Gratuities

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• A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
• The deposit is fully refundable if the booking is cancelled up to 51 days before the arrival date.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 50 days before arrival.