Tour 44B: 8+ Day Kruger Park Wildlife Tour

This tour covers 01 National Park

DAY 01 Johannesburg – Kruger National Park
Time of departure will depend on clients’ travel schedule to OR Tambo International. Flight schedule to be finalised. (Flight not included)

Depart from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park. 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 Kruger is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies.

Truly the flagship of the South African national parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man’s interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries – from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites is very evident in the Kruger National Park.

Kruger is one of the premier game-watching destinations in the world and is home to the Big Five with an estimated 1,500 lion, 12,000 elephant, 2,500 buffalo, 1,000 leopards and 5,000 rhino (black and white). Hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, warthog and many antelope species roam Kruger. Other large carnivores include cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena.

With the Kruger National Park being so vast it naturally has a tremendous botanic diversity including 336 tree species. Due to the diverse habitats and various water points, Kruger is an exceptionally rewarding birding Park and has a list of over 500 bird species, some of which are not to be found elsewhere in South Africa .

Enter the park at Malelane Gate. Game drive to Biyamiti Bushveld Camp. On the banks of the Mbiyamiti River, hidden by Delagoa thickets, nestles one of the most beautiful bushveld camps in the Kruger National Park. The camp is ideally situated between huge Wild Fig and Jackalberry trees with vast numbers of other fauna and flora species in abundance. The area is rich in wildlife..

Afternoon game drive if time allows. Chances are good to see rhino in the area.

Optional guided night drive in open vehicle can be done at all rest camps in Kruger Park
Overnight: Cottage at Biyamiti Bushveld Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 02 Kruger National Park
Game drive to Lower Sabie. Continue on a circular return drive to Biyamiti.

Time at leisure Afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Cottage at Biyamiti Bushveld Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 03 Kruger National Park
Game drive to Skukuza. Continue north to Talamati Bushveld Camp. Talamati is a Xitsonga word that means “Lots of Water”. Yet, despite the meaning of the name, the river is actually dry. The clay soil however, acts as a giant sponge holding a vast reservoir of underground water and keeping the vegetation lush all year round. Talamati Bushveld Camp is situated in a large open valley, affording superb game viewing opportunities. The luxuriant grassveld in the area attracts large herds of grazers, and the predators never lurk too far behind.

Time at leisure Afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Cottage at Talamati Bushveld Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 04 Kruger National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives in Talamati area.
Overnight: Cottage at Talamati Bushveld Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 05 Kruger National Park
Game drive to Satara. Satara is a busy camp, and not without reason. It is situated in an excellent game viewing area, with the bush relatively open and the animals plentiful and diverse.

Continue on game drive via Olifants to Letaba Rest Camp. Visit the Elephant Hall. The museum covers elephant evolution, biology, behaviour, ecology and research. It also showcases the ivory of eight of Kruger’s greatest tuskers (including six of the Magnificent Seven). This site introduces you to these, and some of Kruger’s other big tuskers.

Proceed to Shimuwini Bushveld Camp. Shimuwini is a Shangaan word for “Place of the Baobab Tree”.
The camp is so named because the nearby Letaba River which fronts the cottages, is lined with these huge trees, one of them estimated to be between 2 000 and 3 000 years old.
Overnight: Cottage at Shimuwini Bushveld Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 06 Kruger National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives in Shimuwini area.
Overnight: Cottage at Shimuwini Bushveld Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 07 Kruger National Park – Magoebaskloof
Game drive to Phalaborwa Gate. Exit the park and continue to the scenic mountainous area of Magoebaskloof.

Check in at accommodation Magoebaskloof Getaway. Magoebaskloof Getaway is an oasis of peace and tranquillity where one is able to unwind and enjoy the lush subtropical vegetation. The magic of fresh spring running water is a taste of heaven, as is the chance to breathe some clean, fresh air.

Magoebaskloof Getaway Log Cabins and Cottages are serenely situated in the scenic mountainous setting of Magoebaskloof. You are at liberty to wander around the area, through the forests and along the river in a peaceful environment. You may even be able to see the protected and rare Samango monkey. The bird life is also prolific and is a bird lover’s dream.

Afternoon at leisure
Overnight: Log Cabin at Magoebaskloof Getaway
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 08 Magoebaskloof – Johannesburg
Continue to Johannesburg via Polokwane. Drop-off at accommodation or at OR Tambo International (Accommodation/Flight not included)
Meals: L

Accommodation can vary from the itinerary depending on availability.

Extra days can be added to this tour at Bushveld Camps more north, according to the client’s travel schedule and interests. See RATES. Due to the fact that the Bushveld Camps are small and accommodation is limited we advise clients to make reservations well in advance.

Bateleur Bushveld Camp:
This delightful camp is situated on the banks of the Mashokwe spruit approximately 40km south west of Shingwedzi in the beautiful northern Mopane/Woodland savannah of the Kruger National Park.
Named after the majestic eagle, Bateleur, being the oldest and the smallest of the bushveld camps, offers a unique atmosphere and superb game viewing. One of the many features Bateleur offers is a game-viewing hide that overlooks a waterhole just outside the camp. Two dams, Silwervis and Rooibosrand, are within close range of the camp and are restricted to the residents of Bateleur – good to know as there will never be a traffic jam even if the camp is full.

Sirheni Bushveld Camp:
‘Sirheni’ is a Tsonga word that means ‘cemetery’, after a type of elephant graveyard at a site near to the camp.
Sirheni Bushveld Camp nestles on the edge of the Kruger National Park’s northern plains within the Mopane veld of the region. The Mphongolo River, lies next to the camp. The accommodation facilities and the camp’s two bird hides overlook the river and a wide variety of game and birds are attracted to it. Visitors have been awakened to the sounds of lion and hyena, as there are often kills at the river. Sirheni has a resident leopard that is seen on a regular basis, often coming down to drink at the river.

Accommodation description text with acknowledgement to Sanparks official website

Rates on request:
E-mail: dantes@kalahari-tours.co.za or click on CONTACT US.