Overview:
This Big 5 Kruger Safari investigates Balule Private Game Reserve within the Greater Kruger Park of South Africa. Experience two nights at a genuine safari lodge within an exclusive Big 5 game reserve, emphasizing personalized care and tranquility.
Balule Private Reserve, neighboring Kruger National Park, is recognized as good habitat for the Big 5. There are no barriers separating Balule, other private game reserves, and Kruger National Park, allowing Africa’s Big 5 and other wildlife to traverse this expansive wilderness freely. In the private game reserve, 4×4 game drives are restricted to guests residing within the reserve, resulting in a reduced number of tourists and a more exclusive African safari experience.
Venturing into the wild bush with expert guides, immersing oneself in the unspoiled sights, sounds, and scents of Africa… What more could one desire?
Detailed itinerary:
Day 1: Johannesburg to Balule Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park – South Africa
The Greater Kruger Safari commences with an early morning pickup from OR Tambo International Airport at 07:00. We proceed north from OR Tambo to Pretoria, the second authorized pick-up location for this trip. Following the collection of passengers in Pretoria at 07:30, we will continue to Balule Private Game Reserve within the Greater Kruger Park.
This picturesque route traverses the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve before descending the Magoebaskloof Mountains into the Kruger Lowveld region.
You are dropped off at the York Gate of Balule Private Game Reserve, where a representative from the safari lodge retrieves you for the brief journey to the lodge. Relax and savor an afternoon tea prior to embarking on our inaugural game drive in the Big 5 Greater Kruger Park.
The afternoon game drive offers an excellent introduction to this stunning wilderness region and our initial observations of Africa’s remarkable wildlife and avifauna. We pause our game drive to see the sunset and enjoy refreshments with beverages. Nightfall swiftly ensues after sunset, and as we return to our safari lodge, we observe the nocturnal fauna as they commence their evening foraging.
A four-course supper is presented at the safari lodge around the campfire beneath the expansive African night sky, adorned with stars. It is time to unwind, attune to the nocturnal sounds, and share your day’s wildlife experiences with fellow travelers.
Day 2: Balule Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park – South Africa
The second day of our Big 5 Kruger Safari commences at sunrise. Following pre-dawn coffee and rusks, we embark into the bush to observe the awakening of the African wilderness. This period is when several wild animals and birds exhibit heightened activity, during the coolness of the morning. With some fortune, we might witness the consequences of a predator’s kill from the preceding night. During the wildlife drive, the guides maintain communication with one another to ensure awareness of any thrilling occurrences. They can traverse off-road in their 4×4 safari vehicles, a perk not allowed in Kruger National Park.
Traversing in an open-sided 4×4 safari vehicle facilitates an intimate encounter with nature, allowing one to observe, hear, and scent its marvels—from the wildlife to the flitting birds to the majestic African elephant.
As the temperature rises, we return to the campsite to partake in a substantial breakfast. In the midday heat, we can unwind at the safari lodge, appreciating the natural landscape and utilizing the swimming pool, prior to taking a nap.
Following afternoon tea, we depart into the pristine wilderness in open safari vehicles for our evening game drive. Our guides will employ their exceptional talents to guarantee the optimal game-watching experience. As the sun sets in Africa, we will partake in a sundowner in the bush before embarking on the safari vehicles for an exhilarating night game drive.
Upon returning to the safari lodge, we partake in dinner and the time-honored custom of congregating around the campfire to deliberate over the day’s wildlife observations.
Day 3: Balule Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger Park to Johannesburg, South Africa
Following coffee and rusks, we embarked on our concluding early morning game drive in Greater Kruger Park.
Your guide leads you in pursuit of the Big Five of Africa and additional creatures on your list. Subsequently, we return to the safari lodge for breakfast. Regrettably, this magnificent 3-Day Kruger Safari at Balule Private Game Reserve has concluded, necessitating a farewell to the African wilderness. A lodge driver will transport you to Balule’s York gate. A shuttle will pick you from the gate at 11:30 for a journey to the scheduled drop-off site in Pretoria at 17:00, followed by OR Tambo in Johannesburg at approximately 18:00.
Notice Regarding Greater Kruger Safari
Pick-up and drop-off occur at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and a specified site in Pretoria. For additional information and schedules, please contact African Budget Safaris. Transportation to and from these designated destinations is excluded from the trip cost.
Drop-off and pick-up at Balule Game Reserve occurs at Balule York Gate. A lodge driver will transport you the brief distance to and from the lodge.
Collection schedules on the inaugural day:
07:00 at OR Tambo Bus Terminal Building
07:30 in Pretoria at Steers Glen Fair Shopping Mall, Lynnwood
Final day drop-off times:
17:00 in Pretoria at Steers Glen Fair Shopping Mall, Lynnwood
18:00 at OR Tambo Bus Terminal Building
Concerning the Balule Safari Lodge
Ideally situated on the seasonal Mohlabetsi riverbed within the Balule Private Game Reserve, the game lodge represents an idyllic African safari locale. This location is ideal for a pleasant and economical safari in a Big 5 private game reserve inside the Greater Kruger region.
The central lodge features a cozy parlor with a fireplace, a shaded verandah, a sun deck, and a swimming pool, providing an ideal environment for relaxation in any weather condition. The elevated leisure zones of the safari resort are architecturally integrated into the environment, providing breathtaking vistas of the African bush.
Meals are provided either in the dining room or around the campfire in the traditional boma, beneath the star-studded African sky.
Accommodation consists of fully-equipped, opulent units strategically distanced to guarantee seclusion and a sense of spaciousness. Each unit features a bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with a shower, and a private patio that overlooks the seasonal riverbed.
Concerning Balule Private Game Reserve
Balule is a 40,000-hectare reserve that constitutes a segment of the Greater Kruger National Park. The entire region is unfenced, facilitating the unrestricted movement of the animals. This is great habitat for the Big Five.
The primary benefit of remaining in and investigating this wildlife region is its privacy and seclusion. In contrast to Kruger Park, day visits are prohibited, ensuring that you will not be congregated around a lion kill with numerous other vehicles. This is the authentic jungle experience, appreciated in solitude, as it ought to be.
Pre- and Post-Safari Accommodations
We provide convenient pre-and-post-tour lodge accommodations before and after the Greater Kruger Safari, available for addition to your tour booking upon request. The four-star lodge is situated 10 to 15 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Consult the lodging tariffs for further information.