Overview:
Discover the renowned Kruger National Park and exclusive game reserves on our economical Kruger Safari in South Africa. Reside in a serene safari lodge that provides understated comfort within a private wildlife reserve next to Greater Kruger Park.
Devote a whole day to a safari in South Africa’s premier wildlife reserve, Kruger National Park. Additionally, partake in an afternoon wildlife drive within the lodge’s exclusive nature reserve and a morning game drive in a private Big 5 reserve of the Greater Kruger Park.
This invigorating brief Kruger Safari provides a genuine South African animal experience.
Detailed itinerary:
DAY 1: Johannesburg to the Greater Kruger Region – South Africa
This economical Kruger Safari in South Africa originates from Johannesburg or Pretoria. The shuttle driver will pick you up from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 07:00, or at the specified collection place in Pretoria at 07:30.
Departing from the urban commotion, we proceed eastward into the Highveld region of Mpumalanga. The shuttle halts at the Guernsey Boom Gate in Hoedspruit, where your safari guide awaits you. Your guide will transport you to the adjacent safari lodge, where you will reside for the subsequent two nights. The safari resort is situated within a private nature reserve adjacent to Thornybush Nature Reserve in Greater Kruger Park.
Take residence in your thatched cabin and savor lunch in the lodge’s main dining area, where you can see the bustling waterhole. Following a delectable lunch, we will go on our inaugural 4×4 game drive in the Greater Kruger region. Board the open-sided safari vehicle and proceed into the private natural reserve around the safari lodge. Recline and absorb the visual, auditory, and olfactory experiences of the South African bush. We pause at a picturesque location to observe the sunset while enjoying refreshments. Observe nocturnal fauna as darkness descends. Following our initial tranquil twilight in the bush, we return to the safari lodge, employing spotlights to seek nighttime wildlife.
At the safari lodge, we dine in the lantern-lit dining area. You may then relax by the campfire in the outdoor boma area, chill in the cozy lounge, or enjoy a drink at the bar. Conclude your exhilarating first day on safari in South Africa by returning to your private chalet for a restful night.
Included meals: Midday Meal & Evening Meal
Included safari activities: Afternoon safari in a private wildlife sanctuary
DAY 2: Safari in Kruger National Park – South Africa
On the second day, we rise early for our exhilarating full-day safari in Kruger National Park. Following a brief coffee and rusks at the luxury safari lodge, we embark on our open-sided safari vehicle and proceed to the Orpen Gate of Kruger National Park.
The entirety of day two is dedicated to exploring South Africa’s premier national park on a guided 4×4 Kruger Safari. Your safari guide leads you in pursuit of the remarkable diversity of animals and avifauna present in Kruger Park. This morning, we stop at a rest place in Kruger National Park to savor our packed breakfasts from the safari lodge.
Following breakfast, our Kruger Safari expedition proceeds. During our exploration, your guide will provide insights into the wild African bush and its many ecosystems. During midday, we proceed to a Kruger rest camp where you may extend your legs and rejuvenate. There will be an opportunity for curio shopping, resting in the shade, replenishing food and cool beverages from the shop, and having lunch at one’s own expense. Subsequently, we embark on an afternoon game drive in Kruger Park. Your guide leads you to explore the varied species, including mammals, birds, and reptiles, of Kruger National Park, stopping to view notable animal encounters and capture photographs.
Our afternoon wildlife drive concludes at one of the park gates, marking our exit from the renowned Kruger National Park in South Africa. We thereafter return to the safari lodge in the Great Kruger region. This evening at the safari lodge, we enjoy a delectable dinner and unwind in the pristine bushveld environment of the private nature reserve. Select a comfortable location to relax—either the lounge, the open-air boma, or the bar. Alternatively, enjoy a nocturnal swim or retreat to your cozy chalet, which features a private deck with views of the bush.
Included meals: Consolidated Breakfast and Dinner
Included activities on the safari: Comprehensive Day Safari in Kruger National Park
Day 3: Greater Kruger Area to Johannesburg, South Africa
The third day of our budget Kruger Safari commences with an early morning coffee and rusks at the resort. Subsequently, we embarked on our concluding 4×4 safari within a Big 5 private game reserve in Greater Kruger Park.
During this final wildlife drive, you will tour a private nature area next to the safari resort. The private game reserve is a component of Greater Kruger National Park and accommodates substantial African wildlife, including the Big Five. It also harbors a multitude of avian species, flora, and diminutive fauna. Other creatures commonly observed here include hippopotamus, hyena, giraffe, zebra, kudu, bushpig, crocodile, and blue wildebeest.
Your skilled safari guide locates many animals and birds in the private game reserve and reveals the intriguing aspects of this wilderness. This Kruger Safari transcends the pursuit of Africa’s Big 5, offering an immersive experience of the African bush. Your safari guide will provide information about the animals, insects, reptiles, birds, and flora that contribute to the uniqueness of Greater Kruger Park. Relish your final expedition in the South African bush, exploring the wonders of this extraordinary ecosystem.
Following our gratifying 4×4 game drive, we return to the safari resort and indulge in a substantial breakfast. It is now time to return to the Guernsey Boom Gate at Hoedspruit for the shuttle transfer to Johannesburg or Pretoria. Upon returning to the metropolis, you will be transported to O.R. Tambo International Airport (between 18:00 and 19:00), concluding this economical Kruger Safari in South Africa.
Repast: Breakfast
Included activities on the safari: Morning Safari in a Big Five Game Reserve of Greater Kruger Park
Pre and Post Kruger Safari Lodge Rates: We provide convenient pre-tour and post-tour lodge accommodations for before and after this Kruger Safari, which may be incorporated with your safari booking upon request. This four-star lodge is situated 10 to 15 minutes from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
Concerning the Private Nature Reserve of the Safari Lodge
During this Kruger Safari, visitors reside at a safari lodge within a private nature reserve in the Greater Kruger Park region.
The private nature reserve encompasses around 400 hectares of outstanding bushveld. It encompasses various ecosystems that offer unique habitats for animal and avian species present in this area. This private wildlife reserve is inhabited by leopards and buffaloes, part of the Big Five species. Alongside leopards, this area is inhabited by African wild dogs, honey badgers, African wild cats, genets, and civets. The game reserve additionally accommodates other large species, including giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and various antelopes such as kudu, klipspringer, and impala. The avifauna is remarkable, with more than 200 bird species documented in the reserve.
The safari resort and private reserve are situated a 30-minute drive from the Orpen Gate of Kruger National Park and approximately 30 minutes from Hoedspruit. It adjoins Thornybush Game Reserve, a private Big 5 game reserve within Greater Kruger Park. The resort is optimally situated for experiencing the Kruger safari region and its numerous attractions.
The lodge provides safari activities such as full-day 4×4 excursions in Kruger National Park, 4×4 game drives, and guided bush walks. Guests often have the opportunity to explore a private Big 5 game reserve within Greater Kruger Park, together with the adjacent private nature reserve encircling the safari resort.
Concerning the Safari Lodge in the Greater Kruger Region
The safari resort is situated in a verdant valley within a private reserve. It is encircled by jackalberry, marula, knobthorn, and leadwood trees characteristic of the bushveld savannah. This privately situated safari lodge offers subtle elegance in a tranquil bush environment.
The resort is adjacent to a bustling watering hole that draws a diverse array of fauna and avifauna. Three wooden observation platforms offer an exceptional perspective for observing the wildlife at the waterhole while savoring beverages. The adjacent water tower is the perfect location for evening drinks, with expansive vistas of the bushveld. A swimming pool and verdant garden feature an outside boma area for nighttime campfires. The primary lodge includes a lounge, eating room, and bar. A laundry service is provided, and complimentary WiFi is offered.
Accommodation is provided in elegant cottages concealed among the forest. Each thatch-roofed cottage features a separate wooden deck for guests to relax and observe the visiting birds and wildlife. The cabins feature elevated ceilings and timber flooring. Large windows permit illumination and display the natural landscape. The chalets are elegantly adorned in soothing, natural tones accented by vivid colors and African art. Every cabin is equipped with a private bathroom featuring a shower. Timber walkways link the chalets to the primary lodge and exterior spaces.
This is a serene and refined lodge providing subtle sophistication amidst nature. It offers a traditional African safari experience that is uncomplicated, yet comfortable.
Concerning the Big Five Greater Kruger National Park
The private game reserve we visit during this South Africa Safari is a component of Greater Kruger Park. The Greater Kruger comprises more than 20 private game reserves that have unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park and/or one another. This allows the wildlife in the game reserve to traverse freely between Kruger National Park and the adjacent private game reserves of Greater Kruger Park. The movement of individuals among the several game reserves and national parks in this region is, nonetheless, constrained.
The visitor capacity of the private game reserves of Greater Kruger is restricted, hence offering a more personal safari experience. Our safari resort is among the few that provide access to the area of Greater Kruger Park that we investigate. Consequently, it is improbable that you would see other safari vehicles on your game drives. An additional benefit is the opportunity to observe the animals at your leisure, without the necessity of sharing wildlife encounters or yielding to other cars and spectators.
The private game reserve encompasses 23,000 hectares of bushveld adjacent to Kruger National Park. This obscure Big 5 wildlife reserve is situated between Sabi Sands and the Timbavati wildlife Reserve. Due to the absence of fences delineating these private game reserves from one another or from Kruger National Park, animals traverses the area unimpeded. The Big Five animals are frequently observed during game drives in this area, including the elusive leopard. However, traversing the private wildlife reserve extends beyond the pursuit of Africa’s Big 5, despite their presence here. Game drives in the private reserve focus on immersing oneself in the South African wilderness. Birdwatchers might anticipate observing some of the more than 300 avian species present in the private reserve.
Concerning Kruger National Park in South Africa
Kruger National Park is the foremost safari destination in South Africa. This huge national park encompasses approximately 19,485 km² of wildness, providing exceptional opportunities for game viewing due to its rich wildlife population.
Kruger National Park is home to around 147 species of animals. Additionally, there exists a plethora of avian species, flora, insects, reptiles, and even aquatic life. Kruger is home to substantial populations of Africa’s Big 5: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo. Typical wildlife observations encompass herds of elephants, antelopes, buffalo, prides of lions, packs of hyenas and wild dogs, pods of hippos, and basking crocodiles. Giraffes, zebras, monkeys, warthogs, baboons, and impalas are frequently observed.
During this Kruger Safari, your guide leads you on an exploratory journey that emphasizes both the intricate nuances of the ecology and the majestic wildlife. The game drives provide insight into the fauna, avifauna, insects, and flora of Kruger National Park and the Greater Kruger region.