Overview:
Embark on a genuine African safari at a budget-friendly 4-star game lodge in Greater Kruger Park. Reside within the esteemed Klaserie Private Reserve throughout this economical Kruger Safari at Big 5 Klaserie Lodge.
Evade the throngs and immerse yourself in authentic South African wildlife and hospitality on our competitively priced 3-day Budget Kruger Safari Tour. Engage in game drives and guided bush walks with seasoned game rangers in the Big 5 Klaserie Reserve, a private reserve with unfenced boundaries adjacent to Kruger National Park. Observe several species of birds and wildlife at the waterhole while you unwind by the pool.
Experience the wildlife-abundant African wilderness while indulging in the luxury and elegance of a premium game lodge at an exceptional value.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Johannesburg to Klaserie Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park
The Budget Kruger Safari for the Big Five Klaserie Lodge commences its journey from Johannesburg early on the initial morning. You will be transported from the city to Greater Kruger Park in an air-conditioned shuttle. Upon arrival at the Klaserie Reserve gates, a cordial safari guide from the wildlife lodge retrieves you.
Your guide transports you to the game lodge situated within the private wildlife reserve. Your game viewing excursion commences immediately upon entering the Big 5 Klaserie Reserve.
Upon acclimating to the luxurious safari lodge, it is time to partake in lunch and unwind. In the afternoon, you go on your inaugural complete game drive in an open safari vehicle. This game drive occurs at sundown, an optimal time for observing wildlife and avifauna in the African bush.
All game watching activities on this Budget Kruger Safari are led by certified senior guides who possess a fervent enthusiasm for African wildlife. While you explore, your knowledgeable game ranger reveals the marvels of the African bush, highlighting both large and little wildlife.
Klaserie Private Reserve hosts the Big Five of Africa: lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhinoceros. Additional African fauna you may encounter comprises cheetahs, wild dogs, giraffes, zebras, various antelope species, and numerous others.
Following a pause for sundowners in the wilderness, you resume your search for animals. The safari van is outfitted with a strong spotlight for identifying nocturnal animals at night. A three-course dinner is given at the game lodge. On clear nights, dinner is served at the campfire in the open-air boma beneath the stars. Conversely, a substantial home-cooked lunch is provided in the cozy dining area.
Included Safari Activities: Sunset safari with refreshments
Included meals: Midday Meal & Evening Repast
Day 2: Klaserie Reserve Game Lodge
On the second day of this Budget Kruger Safari to Big 5 Klaserie Lodge, we rise before dawn for our sunrise game drive. Commence your day with a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea accompanied by rusks before venturing into the wilderness.
We departed prior to sunrise, as dawn is optimal for observing wildlife and avian species. Your guide escorts you to local waterholes frequented by animals and birds for bathing and drinking during the early morning hours. The fauna at Klaserie Reserve is acclimated to safari vehicles, allowing for close encounters with the animals. This region of Greater Kruger boasts a diverse avifauna, featuring numerous eagles, owls, francolins, kingfishers, rollers, and weavers among the more than 300 documented bird species.
The game drives are conducted in open safari vehicles, providing optimal vistas for photography and close observation of the wildlife in Klaserie Reserve. A limited number of game lodges exist in the Klaserie Private Reserve. This indicates that you are improbable to encounter more automobiles during your game drives. The guides maintain communication with other cars to exchange notable wildlife sightings, so enhancing your likelihood of encountering large game species.
We pause for coffee and refreshments in the pristine wilderness. The morning game drive endures for approximately three hours, after which you return to the resort for a delectable lunch.
The morning game drive may be substituted with a guided bush walk upon request. The guided morning bush walk is incorporated in your safari tour cost, allowing you to examine the intricacies of the African bush more closely. Your informed guide will conduct the walk and highlight notable features and organisms of the local ecology as you traverse on foot.
Following your morning wildlife drive or stroll, you may refresh and unwind in the private lodge. Recline on a comfortable lounger with a library book and swim in the pool that overlooks an active waterhole. Relax in the lounge area or withdraw to your serene suite for a nap.
Subsequently, your expert guide escorts you for your second sunset game drive. During the game drive, your guide may navigate off-road in pursuit of wildlife, a luxury exclusive to private game reserves. You will pause for refreshments and snacks at a picturesque location in the wilderness. Your game viewing expedition progresses into the night, utilizing a strong flashlight to search for nocturnal fauna.
At the cozy lodge, pre-dinner beverages are offered around the campfire. A delectable dinner with locally produced, fresh ingredients is served in either the outside boma or dining room, contingent upon the weather conditions.
Safari activities comprised: sunrise game drive or guided bush walk, and sunset game drive.
Included meals: Brunch, Afternoon Tea, and Dinner
Day 3: Klaserie Reserve to Johannesburg
Rise early on the third day of this Budget Kruger Safari and have a rejuvenating coffee or tea accompanied by pastries. It is now time to embark on our final game drive in the Klaserie Reserve of Greater Kruger Park.
Relax and appreciate nature as your enthusiastic guide reveals the splendor of the African bush and its wildlife. Upon concluding a three-hour exploration of the forest, you return to the Klaserie Reserve game lodge for a late breakfast. It is now time to pack and prepare for your return to civilization.
There is an opportunity to unwind at the game lodge while awaiting the shuttle’s arrival. Your journey will conclude with a transfer back to Johannesburg, marking the end of the Budget Kruger Safari to Big 5 Klaserie Lodge.
Safari Activities encompassed: Sunrise game drive accompanied by coffee and food
Included meals: Brunch Regarding Klaserie Reserve in Greater Kruger Park
The concept of Klaserie Private Nature Reserve originated in 1969 when three farmers deliberated on merging their privately owned agricultural land along the Klaseries River to establish a nature reserve aimed at preserving the natural environment. The concept materialized in 1972 when a collective of farmers made a commitment, a board was chosen, a game warden was appointed, and Klaserie Private Nature Reserve was legally established. Initially, the board shown a strong commitment to conservation, and presently, the reserve participates in various wildlife initiatives, including the Ground Hornbill Project, Rhino Protection, the “Tembo” project focused on buffalo research, and The Elephant Project.
Wildlife traverses freely around the Big 5 game parks of Klaserie, Kruger National Park, and Timbavati Reserve, as there are no barriers between them. Klaserie Reserve encompasses 60,000 hectares along the Klaserie River and is inhabited by a diverse array of species. The fauna comprises the Big Five: lion, rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo, and leopard, among frequent observations of giraffe, zebra, warthog, spotted hyena, baboon, hippopotamus, impala, and kudu.
The board’s strategy has consistently prioritized the preservation of the reserve by reducing human impact, resulting in a limited number of bush camps and game lodges in Klaserie. This results in a reduced number of people simultaneously, allowing guests to relish a unique African safari experience, distanced from the more congested national parks. The Klaserie wildlife lodge where you reside during this safari provides game drives and guided bush walks led by a knowledgeable game ranger. This encompasses nocturnal game drives and occasional off-road driving.
Klaserie provides a distinctive safari experience, devoid of contemporary worries and apart from tourist throngs.
Concerning the Klaserie Reserve Game Lodge
This Budget Kruger Safari to Big 5 Klaserie Lodge stays at a small 4-star game lodge that offers high-quality accommodation at an excellent price.
This affordable upmarket lodge is located inside the prestigious Klaserie Private Game Reserve, an exclusive reserve that forms part of the Greater Kruger Park. The wildlife lodge possesses traversing rights to 6,000 hectares of unspoiled bushveld in Klaserie. Visitors at the game lodge experience diverse terrains and a significant likelihood of encountering the Big 5 species.
The Klaserie Reserve game lodge is a family-operated enterprise characterized by a relaxed ambiance. It is a family-oriented safari lodge renowned for its cordial welcome and amiable personnel.
This exclusive Greater Kruger safari resort comprises seven guest houses discreetly situated in the forest. Each independent cottage is situated on an elevated wooden terrace and features a private lounge and luxurious en-suite bathroom. The cottages feature an open-plan design and are furnished with opulent amenities and fixtures. The decor is classical and elegant, incorporating neutral tones and natural elements with splashes of color. These modern cottages also have verandahs with sitting areas overlooking the African bushveld surroundings.
The main lodge includes a comfortable lounge and bar, a small library, and indoor and outdoor dining areas. There is an open-air boma with a fire pit for drinks and dinners out under the stars. The game lodge has a swimming pool and an expansive wooden deck overlooking a permanent waterhole that attracts a variety of wild animals and birds. The outdoor areas are scattered with comfy loungers that are ideal for watching the comings and goings of visiting wildlife.
Kruger Safari Transport
Guests are transported from Johannesburg (and back) in luxury, air-conditioned vehicles on this Budget Kruger Safari to Big 5 Klaserie Lodge.
Collection and drop-off will be at the OR Tambo Bus Terminal Building. Transport to and from this pre-appointed location is not included in the tour price.
Shuttle departures are as follows:
Collection times on the first day:
06h45 OR Tambo Bus Terminal Building
Drop off times on the last day:
17h00 – 18h00 OR Tambo Bus Terminal Building
Pre and Post Safari Lodge Option:
Please note that we offer convenient pre and post tour lodge accommodation for before and after this Kruger Safari, which can be added to your tour booking upon request. The 4-star lodge accommodation is located 10-15 minutes from the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Follow the link for information on rates.