Overview:
This 3-Day Budget Kruger Safari Backpackers Tour is suitable for those with constrained finances and limited time. This is a brief Kruger Safari designed for travelers seeking a premier African wildlife experience at an economical price, without the need for camping.
This economical Kruger backpacking tour includes a twilight game drive in the Big 5 Balule Reserve aboard an open safari vehicle. You will then experience a bush cookout on the private reserve. Dedicate the entirety of day two to touring Kruger National Park in pursuit of the Big Five, while observing a remarkable array of African animal and avian species. To conclude this Budget African Safari, you will participate in a guided bush walk accompanied by an armed game ranger.
Additionally, two nights of economical lodge lodging in en-suite chalets are included. Experience an unforgettable African safari without incurring excessive expenses!
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Johannesburg to Balule Reserve, South Africa
The Budget Kruger Safari Backpackers Tour commences in Johannesburg, South Africa. The air-conditioned shuttle van retrieves passengers from their lodging or the airport and proceeds from the city into the African bushveld. We travel to Hoedspruit to rendezvous with our game ranger for the transport to our safari resort in Greater Kruger.
We promptly departed in our open Landcruiser for a twilight game drive in Balule Private Reserve. The game reserve contains robust populations of the renowned Big 5 of Africa: lion, elephant, leopard, rhinoceros, and buffalo, in addition to various other animals. Balule has unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park, facilitating the unrestricted movement of wildlife between both conservation zones.
Late afternoons provide an excellent opportunity for seeing wildlife as temperatures decrease. While certain animals congregate at waterholes for a final drink before nightfall, lions ready themselves for hunting, hippos start to surface from the river to eat, and hyenas emerge for their nocturnal scavenging. The knowledgeable game rangers educate you about the remarkable African fauna and flora you encounter. This may encompass the Big Five of Africa.
As twilight nears, we proceed to the open-air boma for our bush BBQ in the wildlife reserve. Dinner is prepared over an open fire as night descends. Following a magnificent sunset, we indulge in a delectable dinner by the campfire in the African wilderness.
Subsequently, we embark on a nocturnal game drive utilizing spotlights to locate species such as leopards, African civets, aardwolves, and striped polecats. Our nocturnal excursion concludes at the game lodge, where we retreat to our air-conditioned chalets featuring en-suite bathrooms for a well-deserved respite.
Included meals: Evening meal
Included activities: Sunset safari excursion and outdoor barbecue
Day 2: Kruger National Park, South Africa
On the second day of this Budget Kruger Safari, we dedicate an entire day to exploring Kruger National Park. We rise early to get breakfast and commence our journey. Our open safari vehicle provides unrestricted views, ideal for photography, while also heightening our awareness of the noises and scents of the African wild.
Kruger is a renowned safari destination, particularly for observing the Big Five of Africa—lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo—while also encountering a plethora of other wildlife and avian species during our trip. Kruger National Park, spanning 19,485 km², is one of Africa’s largest game reserves, housing over 150 mammal species, over 500 bird species, and 100 reptile species, among various other organisms. Frequent observations encompass hippopotamuses, giraffes, zebras, many antelope species, and rare African wild dogs. Our qualified rangers possess extensive knowledge of Kruger and are adept at identifying optimal locations for wildlife observations. We pause for lunch at Satara rest camp, located in an open grassland inhabited by herds of antelope, zebra, giraffe, and buffalo, attracting predators.
As daylight diminishes, we proceed to our subsequent safari lodge. This is a space where you can unwind and ready yourself for dinner beneath the stars once more. Post-dinner, relax by the campfire with fellow guests and absorb the narratives of an exhilarating day in Kruger Park. This evening’s lodging consists of simple, yet tidy and pleasant cottages including en-suite facilities.
Included meals: Morning and Evening Meals
Included activities: Full-Day Kruger Safari
Day 3: Greater Kruger to Johannesburg, South Africa
Although this may be the final day of our Budget Kruger Safari, there remains anticipation for the experiences to come.
Embark on a guided excursion into the bush alongside the Klaserie River, a renowned habitat for buffalo, the elegant nyala, and numerous other wildlife species. Your armed ranger is prepared to protect guests, but it is crucial to adhere to his directives. Who can ascertain what lies ahead at the next curve of the river? He has amassed extensive knowledge of the wilderness, including animal behavior, plant species, and tracking techniques. The guide willingly imparts his knowledge to tourists and may recount his personal experiences throughout this exhilarating woodland trek.
Departing from our safari lodge, we proceed to the Blyde River Canyon to see its breathtaking vistas, including the Three Rondavels, before continuing our journey to Johannesburg. We arrive in the late afternoon at approximately 17:00, concluding our Budget African Safari.
Included meals: Morning repast
Activities comprised: Morning bush walk and Blyde River Canyon vistas
Kruger National Park Safari Subsidy for Fuel
Due to persistent gasoline price escalations, a fuel subsidy has been incorporated into this Kruger Safari. This is intended as a provisional measure to be revoked if fuel costs decrease. This modest gasoline subsidy guarantees the preservation of the exceptional quality of this Kruger Safari. For the fuel subsidy cost, please consult the whole tour pricing.
Concerning the Safari Lodges
The inaugural safari resort is situated within the Balule Private Reserve of Greater Kruger Park. It is a superb budget resort, optimally situated near Kruger Park.
Accommodation consists of air-conditioned cottages featuring en-suite bathrooms. The en-suite bathrooms are equipped with a shower, toilet, and sink. The chalets are equipped with tea and coffee stations, and the windows are adorned with mosquito netting for further security. Each bed is equipped with a mosquito net.
A swimming pool is situated inside beautiful tropical grounds, accompanied by an open-air boma. A diverse array of fauna and avifauna can be observed at the adjacent waterhole. Electric fencing guarantees the protection of guests; nonetheless, it fails to deter the frequent presence of vervet monkeys and birds.
The second safari lodge is a compact camp of eight chalets situated in the African bushveld. These rustic cabins are simple, yet hygienic and cozy. They feature en-suite amenities and mosquito netting on every bed.
This safari lodge is located within a private game reserve adjacent to Kruger Park. It includes a swimming pool, an outdoor boma area, and an outdoor lapa that overlooks a floodlit waterhole frequented by wildlife. A covered lounge and dining room featuring a bar is also included. Dinner is served in the outdoor boma area around the campfire, beneath the stars—a fantastic location to unwind post-dinner. It is a basic safari camp that provides greater comfort than traditional camping, along with substantial meals and an authentic wilderness experience.