3 Day Classic Kruger Park Safari in South Africa
Awe-inspiring South African Safari
Join this short safari in South Africa with Wildlife Safaris. On this safari, you will journey through the famous park led by a professional guide. This safari will focus on maximum safari drives in the Big Five areas of Kruger National Park, including early morning, mid-morning, afternoon, and evening drives. If you want to experience a memorable African safari at Kruger National Park with its diversity of animals, this is the right one!
Key information
- Group safari: 2 - 6 persons
- Children from the age of 12 years are allowed to participate under the supervision of a parent or guardian
- Starting and ending point: Johannesburg
- English speaking guides
- All park fees are included
Meet the guides
Highlights
- 5 game drives in the Big Five areas
- Encounter with elephants, giraffes, hippos, and antelopes
- Ride in a nine-seater open safari vehicle
- Visit Kruger National Park
- Services of a specialist Kruger National Park guide
- 2 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
- Transfers to and from the airport
Types
3 activity days in English
Accommodation
Sabie River Bush Lodge (1 night)
Sabie River Bush Lodge is located on the banks of the mighty Sabie River overlooking the massive and thriving world-renowned Kruger National Park. The Lodge has access to the Southern Section of the Kruger National Park, home of Africa’s big 5: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo. Redeveloped and reopened in 2010, Sabie River Bush Lodge offers exciting views of wild animals as they come down to the Sabie River to quench their thirst, all of which is viewed from the raised pool deck. This award-winning Lodge offers various types of accommodation from luxury bush tents, located under a 100-year-old jackalberry tree, to luxury log cabins on the banks of the Sabie River.
Facilities
- 24-hour front desk
- Bar or lounge area
- Secured and free parking
- Laundry service
- Outdoor pool
- Restaurant
- Wi-Fi
- Tour or sightseeing desk
Skukuza Rest Camp
Wondering what the best camp to stay in the Kruger National Park is? Many visitors think Skukuza Rest Camp is the best camp in Kruger Park. The activities, attractions, and facilities are diverse, as are the animals and plants found both within Skukuza Rest Camp and the surrounding area. Skukuza Rest Camp is an excellent rest camp from which to pursue the Big Five and birds in the vicinity. Lions are frequently spotted along this route. At night, look for the Fruit Bat that hangs under the eaves of the shop, and the Thick-tailed Bush Baby climbing the trees in search of gum.
Program
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Johannesburg - Kruger Park - Sabie River Bush Lodge
Leave Johannesburg in an air-conditioned microbus with an experienced Kruger Park guide. Travel east across the Highveld farmlands and down the beautiful Elands Valley to Nelspruit - the center of the finest citrus farms. Continue to the entrance of Kruger Park with a lunch stop en route. Spend the afternoon on your first exciting game drive looking for herds of elephants, giraffes, and antelopes. Before sunset, exit Kruger Park and drive a short distance to Sabie River Bush Lodge. Book into an ensuite lodge room, then relax on the deck overlooking the Sabie River. You often see elephants, hippos, or crocs. Join your guide for dinner in the alfresco restaurant and overnight.
Day 2: Kruger Park - Skukuza Camp
Awaken at dawn, leave the lodge, and drive directly to the Kruger Park entrance gate. Prepare your cameras for the early morning game drive to look for lions and other Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo). Call into one of the camps for breakfast, then continue with the mid-morning drive, stopping at waterpoints to see animals enjoying their morning drink or crocodiles lazing in the sun.
By midday, you can expect very hot weather, and your guide will head for Skukuza Camp (or similar). Book into a chalet with air-con and screens to prevent insects, then time for a swim or lunch. Later, board the national park's open safari vehicle for a sunset game drive and a chance to see hyenas or other nocturnal species with spotlights. Your guide will arrange dinner in the main restaurant and walk back to your chalet under the starlit sky.
Day 3: Last game drives - Johannesburg
After a quick coffee, pack up and depart from camp for an early morning game drive to search for elusive animals such as leopards, often found in trees or rocky outcrops. For the birdwatchers, it is a wonderful opportunity to see many different species in the bushveld or near the water. Breakfast and time for the final photos, leave the park and enjoy a relaxing homeward journey via Schoeman's Kloof, and then up the escarpment to Johannesburg. Arrive back at OR Tambo International Airport or nearby hotels by 4:00 p.m. Please allow one and a half hours connecting time for local flights or preferably three hours for international flights. Passengers staying at hotels in the northern suburbs are advised to use the Gautrain to Sandton or make arrangements for a transfer.
General information
Refreshment or comfort stops will be planned every two or three hours during transfers. Please discuss the daily program with your guide. The duration of each game drive is two and a half to three hours. This itinerary includes five drives.
Guides
Anthony (Hoppy) Hawell
Anthony Hawell (Hoppy) has been described as a real gentleman who takes great care of his passengers. He is an ex-fireman and fortunately, a very useful mechanic. He has had many years experience as a field guide and obviously enjoys imparting his knowledge of the animals and environment to overseas tourists. One of his hobbies is photography, so he can give you some good tips on wildlife shots to take home.
Henry Zeiler
Henry has vast experience conducting guided safaris in Kruger Park and Pilanesberg. As an ex fireman he is most capable with emergency situations. He also pays great attention to the senior groups. He acquired his National Tourist Guide Cultural and Nature Guiding in 1996 and his hobbies include Photography of wildlife, historical buildings and landscapes
Simon Taylor
Simon is a National Culture and Nature Guide. He has been involved in the wildlife industry for 30 years. As a conservationist, is very knowledgeable on various aspects of South Africa’s fauna and flora, also having a keen interest in the various cultures and history of South Africa and its people. He is an outdoors person enjoying activities such as hiking and bird watching in his spare time. His qualifications include a National Diploma in Nature Conservation (1991) and National Culture and Nature (Bushveld Biome) obtained in 2016
Barney Smith
Barney is extremely passionate about the outdoors, having been a Game Ranger at Kruger National Park and Pilanesberg National Park between 1978 & 1985. He qualified as a National Cultural & Tourist Guide in 2003 and enjoys spending time in the bush on safari with guests.
Nick Snyman
Nick Snyman is a retired Naval Officer after 42 years’ service. After retirement he qualified as a National Tourist Guide and is working as a freelance Cultural Tourist Guide. He is married with 2 sons and 2 grandsons, is a keen sportsman and loves outdoor living. He likes working with people and does mainly small group tours, but has also done large group tours.
Location
The safari will take place in South Africa.
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park, which attracts over one million visitors in a year, is one of the oldest and largest national parks in Africa. The original Sabie Game Reserve was proclaimed by President Paul Kruger in 1898 and later extended to its present size of approximately 19,000 square kilometers or 8,000 square miles. It extends from the Limpopo River in the north to the Crocodile River in the south, a distance of nearly 380 kilometers. To the east, it borders Mozambique, and on the west, it joins many other private game reserves. Kruger, one of the great natural sanctuaries of the world, is home to an impressive number of species, including 147 mammals, 507 birds, 114 reptiles, 34 amphibians, 49 fishes, and 336 trees.
It is recommended that overseas visitors join a guided tour for three or four days to have the best opportunities for game viewing and to benefit from the knowledge of the professional guides. Since most of the animals are used to the presence of motor vehicles, the place is usually ideal for photos and videos. The countryside throughout the park varies and has typical bushveld in the southern regions which give way to grasslands towards the central and northern areas. There are six major rivers flowing throughout the year, in addition to dams and water holes. The climate is subtropical. The wet season extends from October until May, with much of the rainfall occurring as thunderstorms of short duration. Game viewing is possible at any time of the year.
Each season has its unique attraction, although perhaps springtime, with the arrival of the baby impalas and the blossoms on the trees and wildflowers, is the most memorable. There are nine entrance gates that lead to a network of roads covering different areas of the park. The fourteen main rest camps (similar to resorts) provide comfortable en-suite accommodation, restaurants, shops, petrol stations, and telephones. Organized wildlife activities are available and can be booked at the camps.
Food
You will be served daily breakfast at a venue to suit the morning game drives, a dinner in the Gecko Lapa restaurant, and a dinner at Cattle Baron Bistro included in the price. Vegan, Halal, and Kosher dietary options are not available.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- 5 game drives by a 9-seater open safari vehicle in Big 5 areas of Kruger Park
- 1 evening drive in Kruger Park by a larger national park's open safari vehicle using spotlights to see nocturnal species
- 2 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Transport from Johannesburg to Kruger Park by a 7-seater air-conditioned microbus
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Services of a specialist Kruger Park guide for 3 days
- Entrance into Kruger Park and daily conservation fee
What's not included
- Airfare
- Lunches
- Drinks
- Personal items
- Tips
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer included
O. R. Tambo International Airport
333 km away from your destination
Transfer included
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
51 km away from your destination
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) or Nelspruit Airport (KMIA/MQP). Transfers from and to these airports are included. Wildlife Safaris will pick you up from either of the airports. Pick-up from O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is between 07:00 and 08:00, while it is from 12:00 to 12:30 at Nelspruit Airport (KMIA/MQP) by arrangement only. On the departure day, arrive at O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) by 16:00. Please allow one and a half hours connecting time for local flights or preferably three hours for international flights.
Arrival by shuttle
Pickup: In Johannesburg, between 07:00 and 08:00 at hotels nearby OR Tambo Airport. Other areas, such as Sandton or Rosebank, are available on request. Please avoid Johannesburg City Center, Lanseria Airport, and Pretoria.
Drop-off: At nearby hotels usually by 16:00. Passengers staying at hotels in the northern suburbs are advised to use the Gautrain to Sandton or make arrangements for a transfer.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
Reviews
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