Kruger Lodge Experience – 4 days
Get a taste of one of the most famous game reserves in the world on this 4-day safari in Kruger National Park. Staying in a beautiful lodge just outside of the park, spend days searching out the remarkable animals that make their home here – leopards, lions, giraffe, rhino, hippos, antelope, buffalo are just some of the wild and wonderful creatures to see. After exciting days exploring the open savanna, relax in the evenings eating traditional foods and listening to the nocturnal symphony of this incredible safari destination.
Trip overview
- Start – Johannesburg, South Africa
- Finish – Johannesburg, South Africa
- Destinations – South Africa
- Physical rating – 2/5
- Group size – Max 16
- Experience a private game reserve in an open top 4×4 vehicle
- Enjoy traditional South African cuisine while dining under the stars
- Try to spot the Big Five in Kruger National Park on a full day game drive
- Stay in a comfortable safari lodge in a communal setting with friendly hosts
- Visit the awesome Blyde River Canyon and view the Three Rondavels on your return trip to Johannesburg
- This itinerary starts and finishes in Johannesburg and includes 2 long travel days.
- On Short Breaks, you maintain a good level of independence and freedom, with the added bonus of having the details sorted out for you. You’ll have lots of free time and you won’t be accompanied by a Trip Leader. This means that all included activities and tours will be run by different local partners, and these may operate independently from each other. The included activities and transfers will operate on a join-in basis, which means that you could have your Adventure all to yourself, or others may join you along the way. If you would prefer to travel in a group with a dedicated Trip Leader, just get in touch with your booking agent and they will take you through some alternatives.
- The transport to and from Kruger National Park will be in a 13-seater minivan. This is a shuttle service that departs daily. You may be sharing this shuttle ride with other travellers booked on different trips and itineraries to you.
- Our lodge is located within the Greater Kruger Park ecosystem. It’s about a 50 minute drive to Kruger National Park’s Orpen Gate. On this itinerary you will have Game Drives in both the Kruger National Park and neighbouring Private Game Reserves.
- As the early bird catches the worm, the early camper sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
- Regardless of where you stay, power cuts and breaks in hot water are sometimes unavoidable, as in any developing country. In particular, South Africa suffers from load-shedding: rolling blackouts that are engineered specifically to share out available power in the region.
Itinerary
Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Your Kruger Short Break starts very early this morning to get you to Kruger for a late lunch. If staying at the Holiday Inn Rosebank, you will be picked up at 6am. If you are staying at alternate hotel in Rosebank (and you advised us prior to departure) you will be picked up from 5:30am onwards and you must be in your Hotel Lobby at 5:30am. If your hotel is not in Rosebank area, then please find your way to Holiday Inn Rosebank in time for the 6 am pick-up and kindly advise us in advance.
We depart Johannesburg, the ‘City of Gold’ and head off on an adventure of a lifetime. A truly unique African experience unfolds as we enter the Greater Kruger National Park ecosystem arriving at our Lodge in time for lunch (570 km, approx 8-9 hours travel time including stops along the way).
After some time to settle in, head off on a 3 hour afternoon game drive in open 4×4 vehicles in a private game reserve. Enjoy the thrill of spotting a impala, zebra, giraffe or lion, among other animals. Here you’re likely to see any of the species that one may encounter in Kruger, since there are no boundary fences between the reserve and Kruger itself. Mid way through the safari stop for drinks at one of the waterholes before continuing the game drive into the early evening.
Located in the greater Kruger, your accommodation is wonderfully intimate. Rooms are tastefully decorated and comfortably appointed with private ensuite. The lodge also offers a comfortable lounge, perfect for chatting with the other guests over a drink or two. There is also a swimming pool, shaded deck area, dining tent and WiFi.
Our lodge is located within the Greater Kruger Park ecosystem. It’s about a 50 minute drive to Kruger National Park’s Orpen Gate. On this itinerary you will have Game Drives in both the Kruger National Park and neighbouring Private Game Reserves.
Please note if the lodge is full you will be accommodated in a similar lodge in the same area.
One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog.
An early rise, as we make our way to Kruger National Park
Our wildlife experience begins as soon as we enter the park, heading into prime game viewing areas where we hope to catch a glimpse of some of the amazing animals found inside the park, including the Big Five.
Enjoy breakfast at one of the picnic spots before continuing through the park. Our entire day will be spent game viewing, bird watching and stopping off at the various waterholes en route.
We depart the park in the late afternoon and return to the lodge for an evening of relaxation.
Spend the day at the lodge at your leisure, or take part in the various optional activities on offer including another full day game drive in Kruger National Park.
You may notice businesses offering optional visits to HESC (Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre) and Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. We ask all our travellers to avoid these as they are contrary to our Animal Welfare Guidelines and commitment to responsible travel. While wildlife viewing is a big part of many of our itineraries, we strive to only view animals in their natural habitats and to not include venues where animals are in captivity.
Rise early and head out on a morning bush walk within the surrounds on the property. Guided by a qualified nature guide, we learn about nature’s finer details like bird, tree and spoor identification.
Transfer back to Johannesburg (600 km, approx 9-10 hrs). Along the way take in amazing views at the viewpoint over the awesome Blyde River Canyon and view the Three Rondavels.
On arrival in Jo’burg you can be dropped at the airport or any nominated Johannesburg hotel. No accommodation is provided for tonight, but we are able to book you additional accommodation in Johannesburg. Please ask at time of booking.
Please don’t book any international flights until after 10pm this evening.
Inclusions
- Private Game Reserve – 4×4 Game Drive
- Kruger National Park – Full Day 4X4 Game Drive
- Kruger Lodge Reserve – Morning Nature Walk
- Kruger Lodge – Massage Treatment – From – ZAR480
- Panorama Route – Day trip – ZAR1550
- Kruger National Park – Day trip – ZAR1950
- Private Game Reserve – Big 5 game drive – ZAR1200
