The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, this national park of nearly 2 million hectares, the Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.
The sheer majesty of Zululand will take your breath away. Under the hot African sun, the cobalt blue Indian Ocean, mangrove swamps and limpid lagoons give way to rolling green hills and indigenous forests which shimmer in the distance before they reach the Drakensberg Mountains.
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Day 1 - Johannesburg via Panorama Route to the Kruger National Park
We depart Johannesburg early and leave the bustle of the City behind us as we head towards Mpumalanga – The place where the sun rises. With fresh air and open fields around us, we sit back and relax as we head to the Panorama Route. We explore the Mpumalanga Panorama route, and along the way we visit some breathtaking views and spectacular scenery. We stop at God‟s Window, an overwhelmingly beautiful viewpoint with a 1000 m drop into the “Lowveld”. At the Bourke‟s Luck Potholes, the Blyde (Happy) and the Treur (Sad) Rivers meet up and form a magnificent display in the Blyde River Canyon. We stroll back in time, down the historic main street of Pilgrim‟s Rest, taking us back to the days when dreamers and desperadoes from around the world converged on this little-known valley in a hectic scramble for the riches that lay beneath its grassy hillsides. Right in the heart of Mpumalanga, lies the world famous Kruger National Park. The park, established in 1889, is more than 2 million hectares, and bigger than the countries Whales or Israel. More than 146 mammal species, 507 bird species and 400 different tree types call this spectacular “Bushveld” home. Arrive and check in to the luxurious Umbhaba Lodge situated outside the Park, our home for the next few days. There is time to explore the lodge with its luxury en-suite rooms, and enjoy lunch (own expense) before embarking on our first afternoon Game Drive. Our open 4X4 Game Drive vehicles are the perfect vantage point and will prove to make this an unforgettable experience. We will arrive back in the camp before dark. Dinner is served and we have time to enjoy the magical sounds of the African night before retiring to our rooms.
Overnight: Umbhaba Lodge/Similar Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 2 – Full Day inside the Kruger National Park
We start at dawn and embark on a full day Game Drive to try and spot as many animals as possible. We will stop several times during the day to freshen up as well as have breakfast in one of the rest camps along the way. We also stop at a rest camp for lunch (own expense). We will go on an afternoon game drive to see if we can spot some more of the magnificent creatures that roam this area. Our Game Drive vehicles are radio linked to other vehicles in the Park and therefore we have an advantage in tracking down the elusive “Big 5”. We return to our camp in the late afternoon and to relax before enjoying dinner.
Overnight: Umbhaba Lodge/Similar Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 3 - Full Day inside the Kruger National Park
Again we start at dawn with a morning drive taking in as much as possible on this, our last day in the Park. By this time hopefully we have caught a glimpse of the elusive Leopard. We have a late breakfast and then depart on a mid-morning game drive. We also stop at a rest camp for lunch (own expense). We will go on an afternoon game drive to see if we can spot some more of the magnificent creatures that roam this area. Our Game Drive vehicles are radio linked to other vehicles in the Park and therefore we have an advantage in tracking down the elusive “Big 5”. We return to our camp in the late afternoon and to relax before enjoying dinner.
Overnight: Phumulani Lodge/Similar Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 4 - The Kruger National Park to Northern Zululand
We depart after breakfast and head for the Northern Zululand area where we will spend the next few days of our journey. En-route we drive via Nelspruit, Amsterdam & Pongola and stop several times during the day to freshen up and to shop at the local roadside markets. Zululand has long been famous as the home of the Zulu people and boasts many world-class attractions and some breathtaking scenery. We arrive at the Zululand Safari Lodge near the Hluhluwe Game Reserve in the afternoon and relax before we have dinner at the lodge.
Overnight: Ubizane Safari Lodge/Similar Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 5 – Zululand & Lake St. Lucia
After breakfast we visit the False Bay National Park at Lake St. Lucia. We take a boat cruise on this inland saltwater lake and have a good chance of seeing Hippos and Crocodiles. We visit the town of Hluhluwe before we head to the Dumazulu Zulu Village where we take a tour through this authentic Zulu village. This once-in-a-lifetime experience shows us the lifestyle of the traditional Zulu and we participate in a cultural song and dance performance. We have a traditional lunch including dishes like buffalo and warthog. We visit a crocodile farm and wildlife refuge, before returning to the Lodge in the late afternoon. Dinner is served at the lodge.
Overnight: Ubizane Safari Lodge/Similar Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 6 – Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve
We depart on an early morning game drive into the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve in open 4X4 Land Rovers. This reserve is world renowned for the greatest concentration of Black and White Rhino. In the afternoon, we have the choice of doing a guided walk (getting up close to animals like Zebra, Wildebeest and other Antelope) in the reserve or an afternoon game drive on the open Land Rovers. This evening we have a farewell dinner at the lodge.
Overnight: Ubizane Safari Lodge/Similar Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 7 – Northern Zululand to Johannesburg
We depart after breakfast and head north-west towards Johannesburg. After the scenic drive past many rural villages, sugarcane plantations and wildlife areas we reach Johannesburg in the late afternoon.
Breakfast
01 November 2010 - 31 October 2011
R15750 per person sharing twin / double
R3525 single supplement
Minimum 2 pax
Includes
Accommodation as stated or similar
Breakfast on all days
Dinner on day 1-6
Transportation in luxury air-conditioned vehicle and 4X4 Safari vehicle
Services of professional English speaking Tourist Guide
Entrance fees and excursions where applicable
Excludes
All airfares and airport taxes
All other meals
All excursions and entrances other than stated in itinerary
Items of a personal nature such as tips, beverages, laundry, etc.
Collection time: 07:00
Anti-malaria
prophylactics are recommended for visitors for Kruger. The highest risk
period is between December and April (end of the rainy season).
