4 Day Kruger Park & Private Lodge Safari in South Africa
Memorable Safari South Africa
Make your dream holidays come true with this safari experience in South Africa! This safari will take you to Kruger National Park which attracts over one million visitors a year, an experience you will never forget. With a total of eight game drives, you will have opportunities to spot an impressive number of species in one of the great natural sanctuaries of the World. Come to "sunny South Africa" and soak up hours of sunshine around wildlife almost every day you spend on safari.
Key information
- Group safari: 2 to 6 guests
- 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
- 8 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
- 3 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
- Transfers to and from the airport
Types
4 activity days in English
Accommodation
Sabie River Bush Lodge (2 nights)
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
Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge (1 night)
Mohlabetsi is situated in the 45,000 hectare Balule Game Reserve in Limpopo Province and it is now part of the Greater Kruger National Park. The lodge was awarded four stars in 2005 following a major upgrade, but prices are still reasonable and so it is a valuable 'bush experience' for overseas visitors. Mohlabetsi consists of the intimate Safari Lodge with 9 ethnic rondavels and Bush Lodge with four chalets, set amongst beautiful African trees. The rondavels (round chalets) have en suite facilities including an outside shower, insect screens, an air-conditioner, and personalised décor.
Evening meals are usually served in the reeded boma with a campfire and breakfast in the lodge dining room looking across to the waterhole where animals often come to drink. Leisure time can be spent on the verandah, enjoying the view or browsing in the shop located in the original hunting lodge. You can expect warm to hot weather most of the year, so the swimming pool is most welcome.
Program
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Southern Kruger Park - Afternoon Game Drive
Pick up and leave Johannesburg in an air-conditioned microbus with an experienced Kruger Park driver or guide. Travel east across the Highveld farmlands and down the Valley towards Nelspruit, the capital of Mpumalanga province. After a lunch stop, get your cameras ready and enter the southern Kruger Park for the first exciting game drive. You will be travelling through lightly wooded bush and you can expect to see antelope, giraffe, and possibly elephant. Before sunset, drive a short distance to Sabie River Bush Lodge, where you stay overnight.
Book into a lodge room or en suite safari tent with air conditioning and modern furnishings. Time for a swim, then relax on the deck looking across the extensive Sabie River, hoping to see some hippos or crocodiles. You can order a drink before dinner in the Gecko Lapa Restaurant and overnight.
Day 2: Full Day Game Drives in Southern Kruger Park - Return to the River Lodge
Early start with a quick cup of coffee, enter Kruger Park for your early morning game drive. Travel through bushveld areas and probably along the river looking for Big Five species (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo). The Sabie River, with its huge trees, is a dominant feature of southern Kruger, and travelling along the banks can be very exciting. After about three hours, stop at a small Camp where your guide will arrange breakfast. Continue on the mid-morning drive, visiting any top sightings reported for the day.
Around lunchtime, stop for refreshments, browse in the curio shop, then continue with the afternoon drive, which terminates back at Sabie River Bush Lodge. Time for a swim, then enjoy sundowners on the deck overlooking the Sabie River with one of the best photo opportunities on safari in Africa. Join your guide for dinner in the restaurant with a varied menu and listen to the hippos in the river.
Day 3: Transit Game Drive to Central Kruger - Exit to Private Lodge for Sunset Safari
Depart on another memorable early morning game drive heading towards the open plains of central Kruger Park. Here you can expect to see some herds of zebra, wildebeest, and hopefully big cats. Enjoy a hearty breakfast on the deck at Satara, then visit the curio shop. Continue on the mid-morning drive, which goes past Nsemani Dam and the Timbarvati river to the Orpen exit gate. Travel to Mohlabetsi Safari Lodge (or Shiduli in the Karongwe Reserve) and book into an en suite lodge room or rondavel with air conditioning.
Look around the lodge, have a swim, and then enjoy lunch in the gardens. Later, board the open safari vehicle for an evening game drive, stopping en route for "sundowners ". Return to the lodge for dinner, usually served in the boma with a campfire, which is a highlight of the safari experience. Overnight listening to jackals or other nocturnal animals.
Day 4: Sunrise Safari with Birdwatching - Breakfast - Return Transfer to Johannesburg
Enjoy coffee and rusks on the verandah, then join the ranger for a sunrise game drive and your last chance for the Big Five species. Also, a wonderful time for bird calls as the bush comes to life. Visit a waterhole to look for rhinos drinking or crocodiles. Return to the lodge and freshen up before a delicious breakfast, then take final photos in the African bush. Depart for the return journey through the farmlands and trout fishing areas of Dullstroom. Arrive back in Johannesburg at OR Tambo Airport or nearby hotels by 4:30 p.m. Please allow one and a half hours connecting time for local flights or three hours for international flights.
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 eight 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
This safari includes daily breakfast and dinner with one lunch on day three. Please advise Wildlife Safaris if you require a special diet, such as vegetarian, or if you suffer from a particular medical condition, such as diabetes. Vegan, Halal, and Kosher dietary options are not available.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- 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
- 8 game drives by a 9-seater open safari vehicle in Big 5 areas of Kruger Park
- 3 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- 1 lunch on day 3
- 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 4 days
- Entrance into Kruger Park and daily conservation fee
What's not included
- Airfare
- Lunches except for day 3
- Drinks
- Personal items
- Tips
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer included
O. R. Tambo International Airport
314 km away from your destination
Transfer included
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
38 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 16h00. 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 such as Sandton or Rosebank, please advise hotel details.
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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