“If you want to see the ‘big five’ this is the place to go – safari country at its best.
“If you want to see the ‘big five’ this is the place to go – safari country at its best. The Kruger National Park is one of the most famous national parks in the world and the oldest one in Africa. It is 350 km long from North to South, at most 60 km wide and covers a surface area of 16 685 square kilometers (almost the size of Wales). At present the park boasts 148 mammal species, 500 bird species, 45 lizard and 34 amphibian species. Approximately 400 types of trees and shrubs have been recorded. There are more than 3000 km of roads to explore and 24 camps catering for rustic to luxurious accommodation styles.”
Tour Code | ZKL01 (four star rating) |
Duration | 5 days / 4 nights |
Start | 18h00 from The Peermont Mondior or similar |
Vehicle | Air-conditioned vehicle to suite group size |
Minimum | 5 passengers |
Price | Price available on request |
Single | Price available on request |
Included | SATOUR Registered Guide, porterage, transportation as per itinerary, accommodation, meals as per itinerary, entrance fees, information pack. |
Excluded | Gratuities, drinks, laundry and items of a personal nature. |
Meals | 4 x breakfast, 4 x dinner & 4 x lunch |
Accommodation | Peermont Mondior Emperors Palace, Protea Hotel Kruger Gate or similar should the accommodation need to be changed. |
Comments | The tour will cover the best of the world-famous Kruger National Park and the scenically spectacular Panorama Route. Malaria precautions are recommended – Please consult with your GP. The tour will run subject to minimum numbers being reached. |
Activity Level | Moderate |
Day 1 – 18h00
Johannesburg Mondior Hotel Emperors Palace or similar (Dinner)
Make your own way to the hotel by using the complimentary shuttle service. Meet your guide in the hotel reception area at 18h00. Dinner is taken in the restaurant where you will meet your fellow tour participants and the guide will briefly discuss the tour routing. Overnight at the hotel which is included in you tour package price.
Accommodation: Peermont Mondior Hotel or similar
Day 2
Johannesburg to Protea Hotel Kruger Gate (or similar) – Hazyview (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
After breakfast we depart from the hotel for Mpumalanga. We travel out of Johannesburg on the N4 towards Maputo. We bypass Middleburg and near Belfast we leave the freeway. We pass through Dullstroom and take a break at the Dullstroom Bird of Prey centre where a light lunch is taken and there are demonstrations by falconers of various raptors. We proceed to Lydenberg, which, was established in 1849. The English translation of this name is the ‘Town of Suffering’ and it was named after its founders who had suffered greatly as a result of malaria and floods in the original town of Ohrigstad. From here we take the scenically spectacular Long Tom Pass over the Mpumulanga Drakensberg to Sabie. The pass is 57 km long with a summit of 2149 metres. The origin of the pass goes back to 1871 when a wagon track was built to connect Lydenberg with Lourenco Marques (Maputo).
In September 1900 the British recaptured Lydenberg during the Anglo-Boer war. The Boers used a 15cm cannon to shell the British and the gun was nicknamed ‘Long Tom’ by the British troops – a name which, has survived to this day.
We travel via Sabie down the escarpment to reach our hotel in Hazyview. Depending on timings we will check in first or travel straight to our dinner venue for a cultural experience.
We are given insights into the traditional Shangaan way of life, their culture and their dances as well as being treated to a fine dinner, which includes some traditional offerings.
Accommodation: We overnight at the Protea Hotel Kruger Gate (or similar), which is situated on the border of
the Kruger National Park.
Johannesburg to Kruger Park via the Panorama Route – 480km
Day 3
Protea Hotel Kruger Gate (or similar) – Hazyview (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
A full day today with an early start. We board the open vehicles for a full day game drive in the world famous Kruger National Park. More than 2 million hectares in extent – we have excellent game viewing opportunities with a good chance of encountering the ‘big five’ as well as a wide variety of mammal, bird and insect species. We enter the park as soon as the park gates open and breakfast is pre packed and eaten ‘on the road’. Dress warmly and take hats and sun creams for later on in the morning.
We spend three to three and half-hours out with the chance to see many of the exciting animals.
Around lunch we stop for a picnic affair at one of the venues where it is safe to leave the vehicles.
In the afternoon we board the vehicles again and spend the rest of the day game viewing and searching for that elusive leopard perhaps! In the late afternoon we make our way back to the hotel, freshen up and discuss the sighting of the day.
Dinner is taken in the hotel restaurant.
Tomorrow is a full day so make sure you get your beauty sleep!
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Kruger Gate or similar
Kruger Park – 100km
Day 4
Protea Hotel Kruger Gate (or similar) – Hazyview (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
After an early breakfast we board the coach for a half-day trip to view the famous Panorama Route. We travel via Graskop, the centre of a substantial timber industry and travel Northwards along the edge of the escarpment with highlights being the view sites at the Pinnacles, Gods Window and the Bourkes Luck Potholes.
We take time to view some of the traditional arts and crafts of the area before taking a light lunch in Graskop on our return journey.
Back at the hotel there is time to freshen up before we are transferred to the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. We board our open vehicles, each with their specialist driver/guide and spend the next few hours taking in the nightlife of this pristine area.
Sundowners will be taken deep in the bush, under the watchful eye of your guide. Dinner is under the stats in a boma around the fire at one of the lodges in Sabi Sands reserve. Return to your hotel which is reached at about 22:00. This is weather dependent.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel Kruger Gate or similar
Hazyview – Panorama Route – 100km
Sabi Sands Reserve – 50km
Day 5:
Depart for Johannesburg (Breakfast & Lunch)
A leisurely start to the day after our previous early mornings. A relaxed breakfast and then we leave the park and start our journey back to Johannesburg. Lunch today will be at a restaurant en-route. The tour will end at approximately 16h30 when you will be dropped off at OR Tambo (Johannesburg) International Airport or your hotel in Johannesburg.
Distance: Kruger to Johannesburg – 480km