5-Day Kruger Park and Private Lodge Combo Safari

We take a magnificent 5-hour trip to Hazyview, which is close to the entrance of the Kruger National Park, after departing early in the morning from Johannesburg's O R Tambo Airport or any of the nearby airport hotels. Flying is another option (at an additional fee). You pay for your own lunch. We will move to an open-sided safari vehicle before going within Kruger Park. We get to see the game as soon as we get through the gates. We go on a private safari drive in the afternoon to search for wild animals. We will check in to our camp, which has a view of the Sabie River, at the end of the afternoon and spend the night there. Depending on availability, we often spend the first two nights in the ordinary bungalows at Skukuza Camp inside the Kruger Park. Every cottage features a tiny private bathroom, air conditioning, and two or three single beds. Upgrading to a 4-star hotel is a possibility (at an additional fee). Included is a delectable meal that, weather permitting, may be savored outside beneath the stars.

Major location is Kruger National Park.
Accommodation: Skukuza Rest Camp
Mid-range rest camp located inside Southern Kruger NP

The focus of today is on enjoying an open safari vehicle while observing wildlife within Kruger National Park. We do not have a set itinerary or time limit for how long we go on wildlife drives. There are no other passengers on board, giving you the most freedom. Usually, the day begins early with tea or coffee before we go for our early morning wildlife drive. Mid-morning brings a substantial brunch, which combines breakfast and lunch. Your driving guide will be a highly qualified English-speaking someone who speaks the bush well and who knows what makes a safari unique. There will be plenty of opportunities for photography, and questions are encouraged. We could pause during game drives at a picturesque vantage point or game-watching hide to take a quick break. There is never a poor time to visit Kruger National Park because it is home to a variety of animals throughout the year. At dusk, we head back to the camp for yet another magnificent meal.

Major location is Kruger National Park.
Accommodations: Skukuza Rest Camp, a mid-range camp inside Southern Kruger National Park

In an attempt to find animals that may have escaped us thus far, we get up with the sun for another early morning game drive in the Kruger Park. Following breakfast, we will leave the park and go to the Timbavati Game Reserve, which is a section of the Greater Kruger Park, in an air-conditioned minivan. We now upgrade to rather more opulent quarters for the following two nights after spending the first two nights in Kruger in pretty modest lodgings.

The itinerary and cost of this tour assume that you will stay at the fantastic mid-range Kambaku River Sands, located in the Timbavati reserve, for the following two nights. We will search for another comparable mid-range resort or camp in the same price range if Kambaku is not available for your dates. We have the choice to either downgrade you (optional, lower cost) to a less costly camp or upgrade you (optional, slightly more expensive camp).

We proceed on an afternoon game drive in the stunning Timbavati Game Reserve with your new guide after you settle in and have lunch at the lodge.

The main location is the Greater Kruger's Tambvati Private Nature Reserve.
Accommodation: Kambaku River Sands
Mid-range lodge located inside Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger)

We will go over the daily schedule of the resort when you arrive. A typical morning at a private safari lodge begins with an early wake-up call, coffee and tea on the veranda, and an open 4x4 safari vehicle game drive (shared with other guests). The ability for cars to travel off-road to get closer to the wildlife is one benefit of private reserves like the Timbavati. Before returning to camp for a well-earned breakfast in the morning, we could make a pit stop for refreshments at a picturesque location in the wilderness.

Following breakfast, there is occasionally the option of a guided bush walk to discover the lesser-known natural treasures on foot (weather and availability of a sufficiently certified guide subject).

Take a nap or spend the midday hours relaxing by the pool. Early in the afternoon, we have lunch before setting out on another afternoon game drive, which ends with a nighttime drive following sundowners. When you get back to the lodge, savor a delicious meal.

The main location is the Greater Kruger's Tambvati Private Nature Reserve.
Accommodations: Timbavati National Park's (Greater Kruger National Park) Kambaku River Sands Mid-range resort

It is time to check out and go after your last early-morning game drive and another delicious meal. There, you may board your next flight to Johannesburg or Cape Town (flight not included; please do not book an early flight out of Hoedspruit). A transfer van will pick you up and drive you to the neighboring Hoedspruit Airport (HDS).

In the event that you would want, we can also set up a 6-hour road transport from your lodge in the Timbavati back to Johannesburg (this is optional, at an additional fee).

Although Kambaku River Sands in the Timbavati Game Reserve is the recommended accommodation for the final two nights of this five-day tour, we may suggest an alternative lodge due to limited availability or guest preferences. We will discuss this with you before doing anything. Since each lodge has distinct pricing, a different lodge will often result in a different total cost. You may alter this tour to fit your needs and budget.

The primary destination is the Hoedspruit Airport.
Accommodations: None (trip ends at this point)