4 Day Greater Kruger Safari in Big 5 Balule Game Reserve
Concise Itinerary Summary
4 Day Greater Kruger Safari in Big 5 Balule Game Reserve -This four-day Kruger Safari transports you to the secluded Balule Game Reserve for exceptional Big Five wildlife observation. Reside in opulent, en-suite cabins at a refined safari lodge within the exclusive wildlife reserve.
Engage in exhilarating wildlife drives within this uncrowded reserve of Greater Kruger Park. An area where wildlife traverses freely, migrating between Kruger National Park and adjacent private game reserves. An exhilarating opportunity in an open 4 x 4 safari vehicle, accompanied by a knowledgeable game ranger to enhance understanding of the region’s flora and fauna, while remaining vigilant for encounters with Africa’s huge beasts at close range.
This economical Greater Kruger Safari at Balule Private Game Reserve promises to be a remarkable experience.
Comprehensive itinerary
Day 1: Johannesburg to Balule Game Reserve, Greater Kruger National Park – South Africa
The Greater Kruger Safari commences with an early morning pickup at 07:00 from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
We drive north from OR Tambo to Pretoria, the second specified gathering place for this budget lodge safari. Following the collection of passengers in Pretoria at 07:30, we will continue to the Balule Game Reserve inside the Greater Kruger Park. During this picturesque journey, we traverse the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve and descend the exquisite Magoebaskloof Mountains, proceeding into the Kruger Lowveld region.
Upon arrival at Balule Private Game Reserve, the shuttle deposits you at York Gate, where a driver from the safari lodge retrieves you for the brief journey to the lodge. Relax and savor a lovely afternoon tea prior to embarking on our inaugural game drive in Greater Kruger Park.
The afternoon game drive offers an optimal introduction to the African wilderness, featuring initial observations of remarkable wildlife and avian species. We pause our game drive to see the sunset and enjoy refreshments with beverages. Darkness swiftly ensues after sunset, and as we return to our safari lodge, we observe the nocturnal wildlife as they emerge for their nightly pursuits.
Dinner is prepared at the safari lodge, where we will eat in the boma beneath the expansive African night sky. Unwind around the campfire and absorb the nocturnal noises before retiring after a day filled with activities.
Days 2 and 3: Balule Game Reserve, South Africa
The schedules for days two and three of this Greater Kruger Safari are analogous, while each day on safari is unique.
Our days commence at dawn. Following pre-dawn coffee and rusks, we embarked on our game drive into the bush to observe the awakening of Africa. Staying in a private wildlife reserve, such as Balule, offers numerous advantages. The private game reserves possess a restricted quantity of safari lodges accommodating a finite amount of guests, making it most probable that you will not encounter another vehicle while your safari in the African wilderness. The trained game rangers maintain communication with one another, ensuring that all rangers are informed of any noteworthy sightings, such as a lion kill, so minimizing the likelihood of guests missing an intriguing event. The rangers are authorized to operate their 4×4 safari vehicles off-road to approach the action closely, a luxury not given within Kruger National Park proper. In addition to Africa’s Big Five, one may expect to observe diverse antelope species, zebras, giraffes, remarkable avian life, and an abundance of other wildlife.
The open safari vehicle amplifies the excitement of encountering a magnificent, untamed animal at close range, significantly elevating the adrenaline rush. These excursions serve as exceptional educational experiences, as the ranger elucidates the intricacies of the bushveld, allowing tourists to inquire and gain knowledge about the lesser fauna in this ecosystem, while also engaging in birdwatching and capturing breathtaking photographs.
Following an exhilarating few hours, we return to our accommodation for a much-anticipated breakfast. It is now the moment to unwind, as the sun attains its apex. Absorb sunlight while safeguarding your skin from the unyielding afternoon summer sun, then refresh in the swimming pool and have a nap, or simply recline on your bed and observe the wildlife along the riverbed below.
Afternoon tea is succeeded by a wildlife observation drive into the bush once more. Our game rangers will employ their exceptional expertise to guarantee the optimal game-watching experience. As the sun sets over Africa, we will partake in a sundowner in the bush before embarking on a night drive in the safari vehicles.
Upon returning to the lodge, we partake in dinner and the time-honored custom of congregating around the campfire to converse about the day’s observations with our fellow travelers, before succumbing to slumber amidst the nocturnal sounds.
Day 4: Balule Game Reserve, Greater Kruger Park to Johannesburg, South Africa
This morning, we rose early once more, and after enjoying coffee and rusks, we embarked on our final early morning wildlife drive in Balule wildlife Reserve. This morning, your game ranger escorts you to seek any species you may have overlooked, maximizing your final expedition in the African wilderness.
Following our gratifying morning wildlife drive, we return to the safari lodge for a delectable breakfast. Regrettably, it is now time to bid farewell to Greater Kruger Park. The lodge transports you to the York gate of Balule Game Reserve, where the shuttle retrieves you at 11:30 and conveys you to the specified drop-off location in Pretoria at 17:00, followed by OR Tambo in Johannesburg at 18:00.
Balule Shuttle Transfers
Pick-up and drop-off occur at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and a specified location in Pretoria. For further information and scheduling, please reach out to African Budget Safaris. Transportation to and from these designated destinations is excluded from the cost of our Greater Kruger Safari.
Drop-off and pick-up at Balule Game Reserve occurs at Balule York Gate. A driver from the safari lodge 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
About the Balule Safari Lodge
Ideally situated on the seasonal Mohlabetsi riverbed within the Balule Game Reserve, the exclusive safari resort represents an idyllic South African safari locale.
The central lodge features a cozy parlor with a fireplace, a shaded verandah, a sun deck, and a swimming pool, providing an ideal setting for relaxation in any weather condition. The elevated leisure spaces, crafted to harmonize with the environment, provide breathtaking vistas of the African bush.
Meals are provided either in the dining room or by the campfire within the traditional boma, beneath the expansive, star-studded African sky.
Accommodation consists of fully-equipped, opulent units strategically distanced to guarantee solitude and a sense of space. Each unit features a bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with a shower, and a private patio that overlooks the seasonal riverbed.
About Balule Game Reserve
Balule Game Reserve encompasses 40,000 hectares and is a component of the Greater Kruger National Park. The entire wilderness region is unfenced, facilitating the unrestricted movement of the animals. This is great turf for the Big Five.
The primary benefit of remaining in and investigating this 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.