In assocciation with Kalahari Wildlife Tours

Tour 46: 14 Day Northern South Africa Parks & Kruger Park Wildlife Tour

This tour covers 03 National Parks and 01 Reserve/conservation area

MALARIA FREE AREA!

14 Days
13 Nights

DAY 01 Johannesburg – Pilanesberg Game Reserve (South Africa)
DAY 02 Pilanesberg Game Reserve
DAY 03 Marakele National Park
DAY 04 Marakele National Park
DAY 05 Mapungubwe National Park
DAY 06 Mapungubwe National Park
DAY 07 Mapungubwe National Park
DAY 08 Kruger National Park / Punda Maria
DAY 09 Kruger National Park / Punda Maria
DAY 10 Kruger National Park / Shingwedzi
DAY 11 Kruger National Park / Shingwedzi
DAY 12 Kruger National Park / Letaba
DAY 13 Magoebaskloof Getaway
DAY 14 Johannesburg – Departure

DETAILED ITINERARY

This tour is combination of the wildlife and landscapes of Pilanesberg, Marakele and Mapungubwe National Parks and the northern section of Kruger National Park in northern South Africa. A variety of landscapes and wildlife species in these Big Five Parks and the history of the ancient civilization of Mapungubwe add up to a very rewarding tour.

DAY 01 Johannesburg – Pilanesberg Game Reserve
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 Pretoria. Stop at Zambezi Shopping Mall in Montana, Pretoria for last minute emergency shopping of forgotten necessities and after hour drinks. A pharmacy, supermarket, liquor store and ATM are on the premises.

Continue to Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Pilanesberg Game Reserve is 03 hour’s drive from Johannesburg.

The crater of a long extinct volcano is the setting of Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its kind in the world. Its rare rock types and structure make it a unique geological feature.

The vegetation ranges from open grasslands to densely wooded valleys. This “Big Five” park is home to more than 35 large mammal species, including elephant, giraffe, hippo, buffalo, zebra and 19 antelope species. It is sanctuary to the world’s third largest white rhino population. Predators include lion, leopard, cheetah, brown-hyena and smaller species such as large-and small spotted-genets, bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal and caracal. More than 350 bird species have been recorded.

Check in at accommodation after lunch. Time at leisure in chalet.

Meet at 03:00 p.m. in parking area at chalets. Depart on a 03-hour afternoon game drive in the park. All scheduled game drives in Pilanesberg are in the tour vehicle. The route goes to Mankwe Dam where there are always wildlife as well as a variety of birds, with good quality sightings. Exit the wildlife area at 06:00 p.m.

Optional 02-hour sunset/night drive on an open game drive vehicle at own cost, departs at 06:00 p.m. from the parking area at reception. Bookings have to be made in advance at Mankwe Safaris reservation office at reception.
Overnight: Manyane Camp
Meals: B, L & D (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) Light lunches or picnic lunches will be served.

DAY 02 Pilanesberg Game Reserve
Game drive on various routes in the park. Most of the game drive routes will be covered on these drives.
Overnight: Manyane Camp
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 03 Pilansberg – Marakele National Park
Proceed to Marekele National Park in the Waterberg Mountains, home of the world’s largest colony of cape vultures. Big game species flourish in this transitional zone between South Africa’s dry and moist regions. Marakele is home to most of the large mammals synonymous with the African bush, including elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo, leopard and cheetah. Large Predators such as cheetah, wild dog, brown hyena, leopard and now also lion, occur in the park.

Enter the park and do a game drive through the western section. Continue to accommodation in the eastern section of the park. Accommodation overlooks a dam frequently visited by a variety of wildlife species. (The Camping area is in the western section and rhinos are regular visitors at night.)

Afternoon game drives near accommodation
Overnight: Safari Tent at Thlopi Tented Camp / Camping at Leokwe Camp Ground
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 04 Marakele National Park
Depart on a morning scenic game drive up the Waterberg Mountain. If the wind direction is favorable, one gets excellent photo opportunities from the view point at the top of the mountain of Cape vultures gliding low overhead.

Time at leisure. Afternoon game drive in the Western Section
Overnight: Safari Tent at Thlopi Tented Camp / Camping at Leokwe Camp Ground
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 05 Marakele – Mapungubwe National Park
Depart to Mapungubwe National Park, passing the Venetia Diamond Mine, located within the 360 square kilometre Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve, bordering on Mapungubwe National Park. Mapungubwe Park is situated in the most northern corner of South Africa and borders on the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers and is neighboring Botswana and Zimbabwe. Agreements have been signed between South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe for forming the Greater Mapungubwe Trans Frontier Conservation Area.

Mapungubwe National Park and World Heritage Site is rich in biodiversity, great scenic beauty and the cultural importance of the archaeological treasures of Mapungubwe.

At Mapungubwe Hill, a far developed African civilization prospered between 1200 and 1270 AD. The area was already inhabited by a growing Iron Age community from 900 AD and became rich through trade with faraway places like Egypt, India and China. This is the place where archaeologists excavated the famous golden rhino and other evidence of a wealthy African kingdom.

Elephant, giraffe, white rhino, eland, gemsbok and numerous other antelope species, lion, leopard & hyena roam free between the three countries and the park is home to 400 bird species. The Limpopo Tree-top Boardwalk and hide is a magnificent facility allowing the visitor into the trees alongside the birds.

Scenic game drive to accommodation situated in spectacular sandstone hills

Optional guided night drive in open vehicle with Sanparks guide.
Overnight: Chalet at Leokwe Camp / Camping at Mazhou Camp Ground
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 06 Mapungubwe National Park
Optional visit to Mapungubwe Hill with Sanparks Guide.

Depart on a scenic game drive in the eastern section of the Park. This is one of the most scenic drives in any park in Southern Africa. Some landscapes are breathtakingly scenic and promote the ambience and mystique of this park. Very large baobab trees are along this way, which contribute to the beauty of this area.

Visit the Treetop Boardwalk in the riparian fringe of the Limpopo, which is of prime importance from the point of view of conservation. It is a dense vegetation community with a closed canopy which occurs in the rich alluvial deposits along the river. The most striking trees in this community are fever trees, ana trees, leadwoods, fig trees and acacias. The Limpopo floodplain has allowed some trees to grow to massive sizes. Nyala berries and Ana trees can get particularly big.

Continue to the View Point at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers.

Proceed on scenic game drive to the Interpretive Centre. With the Park’s UNESCO World Heritage Status, an amazing building (that won World Building of the Year in 2009’s World Architectural Awards) has been constructed that houses a museum section with many of the artefacts uncovered in the park, including the Golden Rhino, are on display

Depart to the Western Section of the Park. Check in at accommodation nestled in Limpopo Riparian Forest, which offers excellent birding. Bushbuck are common residents in and around the camp and the surrounding area is known for leopard sightings they can be heard calling at close proximity at night.

Time at leisure. Depart on a short afternoon game drive along the Limpopo River and adjacent area.
Overnight: Forest Tent Limpopo Forest Camp / Camping at Mazhou Camp Ground
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 07 Mapungubwe National Park
Early morning game drive with the emphasis on finding leopard. Return to camp for breakfast.

Depart after breakfast on a game drive until noon. Spend some time at the Maloutswa Bird Hide overlooking a waterhole. It offers a lovely location from which to view birds and mammals of all kinds.

Time at leisure. Afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Forest Tent at Limpopo Forest Camp / Camping at Mazhou Camp Ground
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 08 Mapungubwe – Kruger National Park
Early departure to Musina. Replenish supplies. Continue 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.

Enter the park at Pafuri Gate. Continue on a game drive to Punda Maria Camp. The camp is situated in the Sandveld region that is often described as the botanical garden of the Kruger National Park. There are numerous plant species which occur that are unique to the area. Game species most likely to be sighted include impala, zebra, buffalo, elephant, eland and sable and the area is a bird paradise.

Check in at accommodation. Time at leisure.

Do a short late afternoon game drive.
Optional guided night drive in open vehicle can be done at all rest camps in Kruger Park
Overnight: Punda Maria
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 09 Kruger National Park
Do a morning game drive to Pafuri Picnic Area on the banks of the Luvuvhu River with its ribbons of lush riverine and fever tree forests flanked by acacia strewn plains. Nyalas are common in this area.

Return to Punda Maria. Time at leisure.

Afternoon game drive.
Overnight: Punda Maria
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 10 Kruger National Park
Do a circular morning game drive around Punda Maria Camp. Leopard is seen quite often on this route.

Game drive south to Shingwedzi Camp. A scenic game drive along the Shingwedzi River in a south-easterly direction towards the Kanniedood Dam is one of the most rewarding drives in the Park. Waterbuck, nyala, kudu and elephant are often seen here and the bird life is prolific. Staying overnight at Shingwedzi is an experience that will last a lifetime. It is a rustic camp that still carries the essence of the bush and is untouched by modern technology.

Check in at accommodation. Time at leisure.

Afternoon game drive. Route will depend on reported sightings on the sightings board in camp
Overnight: Shingwedzi
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 11 Kruger National Park
Do an early morning game drive. Return to camp for breakfast.

Continue on a game drive until noon

Time at leisure. Afternoon game drive. Route will depend on reported sightings on the sightings board in camp
Overnight: Shingwedzi
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 12 Kruger National Park
Do an early morning game drive. Return to camp for breakfast.

Game drive to Letaba. The name means “river of sand”, and the sandy riverbed is an excellent location for game viewing, particularly elephant, which thrive in the area. Letaba is a green oasis in the surrounding mopane veld, and remains a firm favourite with visitors.

Visit the Letaba Elephant Hall, displaying the Magnificent Seven big tuskers

Check in at accommodation. Time at leisure.

Afternoon game drive. Route will depend on reported sightings on the sightings board in camp
Overnight: Letaba
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 13 Kruger National Park – Magoebaskloof
Do an early morning game drive. Return to camp.

Game drive to Phalaborwa Gate. Exit the park and continue to Phalaborwa Town.

Proceed on a scenic drive to the scenic mountainous area of Magoebaskloof.

Check in at accommodation Magoebaskloof Getaway. Magoebaskloof Getaway is an oasis of peace and tranquility 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: Magoebaskloof Getaway
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 14 Magoebaskloof – Johannesburg
Continue to Johannesburg via Polokwane.

Drop-off at accommodation or at OR Tambo International (Accommodation/Flight not included)
Accommodation can vary from the itinerary depending on availability.

Accommodation can vary from the itinerary depending on availability.

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

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KALAHARI SAFARI
TOURS & TRAVEL
Upington 8801

TEL/FAX: + 27 (0) 54 3380375
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