“Remember the quality of your Safari has EVERYTHING to do with the quality of the guide who leads your experience…”
Greater Kruger Wildlife Safari Tour from JHB Overview:
“Sawubona!!! Wamukelekile eMpumalanga” (Hello and Welcome to Mpumalanga)
This 7 Day 6 Night South Africa Wildlife Safari Tour focuses on offering guests the opportunity to not only seek and photograph the African animals they dream about seeing but also to get the opportunity to look some of them in the eye and to learn about the plight of South Africa’s wildlife.
Experience the splendour of the Mpumalanga escarpment on the journey from Nelspruit to Hoedspruit via the scenic Panorama Route followed by unique “up-close-and-personal” animal encounter experiences which includes meeting Stoffel the Honey Badger Houdini, touching a cheetah and feeding Jessica the Hippo in the Hoedspruit region!
Anyone who has ever wanted to take a Hot Air Ballooning flight (weather dependant) also has the opportunity to glide over this spectacular region which promises to be an unforgettable experience (not included in Tour price, optional extra and for own account).
Wildlife viewing activities include visits to both the Kruger National Park as well as to a Private Game Reserve ensuring guests get to experience the best of both “worlds”! Early morning Bush walking as well as a Night drives are included in the company of armed Rangers ensuring an all round ultimate Safari Tour experience.
Greater Kruger Wildlife Safari Tour from Johannesburg - What is included?
1 nights’ accommodation in Nelspruit in a luxurious Guest House on a bed and breakfast basis, a Panorama Highlights Tour to view the Blyde River Canyon (all entrance fees for own account), 1 nights’ Full board accommodation at a Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre including a guided tour of the centre and all meals (drinks own account), 1 nights’ accommodation in a Self-catering Chalet where your guide will prepare a typical South African dinner and breakfast (included), 1 nights Full board accommodation at a Private Game Reserve including morning and afternoon safari activities and all meals (drinks own account), 3 Day/2 Night Kruger Safari on a DBB basis
Greater Kruger Wildlife Safari Tour from Johannesburg - What is not included?
All flights (both International and Domestic), optional extra activities, entrance fees not specifically stated as included in Itinerary, lunches daily, soft and alcoholic drinks, travel insurance, tips and gratuities (it is customary in South Africa to tip your guides), expenses of personal nature.
What to expect on your Kruger Wildlife Safari from Johannesburg:
Day 1 - Day of Arrival
Nelspruit (Mbombela) - Gateway to the Kruger National Park...
For guests guests arriving by road (Shuttle bus ticket INCLUDED): Please make your way to the bus & coach terminal at O.R Tambo International Airport Johannesburg for the 11h00 shuttle bus transport to Nelspruit. Guest are to ensure that they are at the departure point 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Upon arrival in Nelspruit a representative from Kruger South Safaris South Africa / Isivuba Tours & Safaris will be waiting to welcome you to the region and deliver you to your first evenings destination.
For guests guests arriving by air (Flight not included, for own account): A representative from Kruger South Safaris South Africa / Isivuba Tours & Safaris will meet you at the Nelspruit Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) off your domestic flight to transport you to your first evenings destination. Please keep a look out for a paging board with your name on.
The town of Nelspruit (Mbombela) is the capital of Mpumalanga Province, and gateway to the Kruger National Park South region. Check in upon arrival at Loerie’s Call Guest House (or similar). Afternoon at leisure. Dinner (own account) can be enjoyed at Orange restaurant* on the premises (al-a-carte).
* Sleek wood, glass and steel restaurant with balcony offering fine dining, plus panoramic city views.
Accommodation: Nelspruit (Mbombela) luxury GH (BB)
Day 2 - Nelspruit (Mbombela) to Hoedspruit
Panorama Route Blyde River Canyon Highlights Tour
Please be ready for departure at 08h00 so as to make the most of the day, breakfast is served from 07h00. Remember to settle any extras charged to your room prior to departure. Today’s Itinerary includes some light walking and exposure to the elements, please dress accordingly. Highlights could include The Graskop Gorge Lift, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Gods’s Window Viewpoint, Three Rondavels Viewpoint, and numerous waterfalls.
All per person and vehicle entrance fees along the Panorama Route included. Arrive Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre 15h00 for a 2.5 hour guided tour (included) followed by check in at Forest Camp (or similar). A Game drive and dinner (drinks own account) is also included.
A visit to the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre is an unforgettable experience. A wide variety of birds and animals can be seen here, where Brian Jones and his team nurses and nurtures the injured and orphaned, rehabilitating them for release back to the wild.
Guided tours through the Centre brings visitors in close contact with the rare and common species such as the lovely Crowned and Martial Eagles, Owls, Vultures and a variety of raptors, Serval, Duiker, Lions, Leopard, Wild Dog Hyena and many other animals and birds.
Many years ago Brian Jones rescued a honey badger he named Stoffel from a trap who has been called an “ambassador for his species” due to his astonishingly blasé attitude and penchant for escaping his enclosure...a section of the Centre has been named after Stoffel and the unique Stoffel memorabilia on sale has become a bit of a collector’s item.
Accommodation: Hoedspruit in a Luxury Chalet (Full board).
Day 3 - Hoedspruit
Meet Jessica the Hippo!
Weather permitting (to be confirmed the day before) a provisional booking has been made for an early morning one-hour Hot Air Ballooning flight over the scenic Lowveld section of the Blyde River, 15 km West of Hoedspruit. Please consider wearing closed shoes and warm clothing and be ready for departure at 05h00.
Payment to be made on the day to the operator direct, credit cards accepted. Price includes fruit juice/sparkling wine and snacks. Breakfast is served between 08h30 and 09h30 at Moholoholo upon return to Forest Camp followed by check out and departure.
Today you will ge to meet Jessica the very famous Hippopotamus who has been raised by her owners Tony and Shirley Joubert if she was their own child. The Joubert family took care of the animal whilst her mother was found exhausted at the border of the Kruger Park.
With a background as a ranger Tony knew exactly what he needed to do to get Jessica vital again with success. Though Jessica is free to roam wherever she would like to go, again and again she chooses her favorite spot on the sidewalk of the house in Hoedspruit. Jessica sleeps in the house of Tony and Shirley and is approachable by humans.
She weighs about 1,2 tons and is without a doubt the world’s most famous hippo. In recent years Jessica caught a lot of media attention and performed in more than 90 films and documentaries. During your visit you will have the opportunity to feed and to caress Jessica. A unique experience that cannot be matched anywhere else in the world.
A stop will be made in Hoedspruit town for supplies over lunchtime where you will be able to do some shopping/draw money etc. Late afternoon arrival and check in with some leisure time to relax by the pool. Overnight in a fully equipped Self-catering Chalet with private “braai” (BBQ) area. A BBQ dinner (included) will be prepared by your guide at the Chalet around the campfire under the stars (weather permitting).
Accommodation: Hoedspruit Self-catering Chalet (BBQ dinner and continental breakfast included)
Day 4 - Hoedspruit
Private Game Reserve Experience
Check out and departure after breakfast (included, prepared by your guide at your chalet). Optional (own account), Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre (HESC) a unique African wildlife facility focusing on conservation and the sustainability of rare, vulnerable and threatened species.
Open safari vehicles with experienced guides depart every 2 hours, commencing at 09h00 every day, HESC houses a number of animal species including cheetah, African wild dog, lion, African wild cat, Ground hornbill, Sable antelope, to name just a few. Visitors can view the resident animals in close proximity, in a habitat simulating what they would experience in the wild. Payable on the day to HESC direct, credit cards accepted.
Check in upon arrival (13h00/13h30) at the nearby Private Game Reserve where the evening will be spent. At around 4pm, everyone gathers for a decadent high tea, before heading out with your ranger and tracker for the afternoon game drive through the reserve.
En route, you’ll stop for a sundowner drink and will have a chance to stretch your legs as you watch the sun set over the distant peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains.
The skilled tracker will scan the landscape using a spotlight at night which illuminates animals’ eyes. Arrival at the lodge is usually around 8pm, allowing time to freshen up before enjoying a sumptuous dinner.
Accommodation: Hoedspruit Private Game Reserve on a Full Board basis (drinks for own account)
Day 5 - Kruger National Park
3 Day / 2 Night Kruger Open vehicle Safari - Day 1
The day starts with an early wake-up call between 5am and 5:30am. Tea, coffee and rusks (eaten by dunking into a hot beverage) are enjoyed together before heading out at first light. Halfway through the game drive, there’s a stop for hot drinks and snacks, before returning to the lodge at around 9am for a full breakfast.
Around 11h00 after the morning program a representative from Kruger South Safaris South Africa / Isivuba Tours & Safaris will collect you from reception from where you will proceed towards the Kruger National Park for a 3 Day / 2 Night Open Vehicle Safari Tour.
After obtaining the necessary permutations at Orpen gate your adventure will start in earnest (all Kruger entry fees included). The remainder of the afternoon is set aside for game viewing whilst continuously heading up North through the Park towards your overnight destination.
A lunch stop (own account) will be made during the course of the day at a picnic spot/Rest Camp en-route. You will arrive at your Rest Camp shortly before gate closing time, check in to your accommodation, and freshen up before dinner. A La Carte dinner in the restaurant is included (main course only, drinks for own account).
Accommodation: Kruger National Park public Rest Camp Bungalow (DBB) - Central region
Day 6 - Kruger National Park
3 / 2 Night Kruger Open vehicle Safari - Day 2
Early morning wake-up call followed by tea/coffee/snacks before heading out on Safari. Breakfast/brunch (included) will either be enjoyed en-route or your guide might return to Camp for breakfast in the restaurant before check out and departure.
The entire day is set aside to enjoy the spectacular scenery the Kruger region south of Letaba camp has to offer game viewing along the way…expect to see typical African Savannah plains.
The day ends at one of the Southern Rest Camps shortly before gate closing time to allow some time to freshen up before dinner. A La Carte dinner in the restaurant is included (main course only, drinks for own account).
Accommodation: Kruger National Park public Rest Camp Bungalow (DBB) - Southern region
Day 7 - Day of Departure
3 Day / 2 Night Kruger Open vehicle Safari - Day 3
Early morning check out and departure followed by a sunrise game drive before stopping at Skukuza Rest Camp for breakfast (included). Depart Camp to arrive at Skukuza airport from around 10h30 for departing flights to either Johannesburg or Cape Town.
Safari Notes:
The attractions along the Panorama Highlights Tour are spread out on top of the Escarpment and are therefore weather dependant, it will be up to the guide on the day to decide which stops to include!
The Hot Air Balloon Flight is weather dependant and should wind conditions not be favourable for take off on Day 3 of the Itinerary their might be a possibility to move this activity to the morning of Day 4!
Many of our guests say they would have liked to extend their stay at the Private Game Reserve in the Hoedspruit Region with another night. We’ve limited it to a 1 night stay to keep the Tour price affordable whilst still ensuring everyone gets to experience both the National Park and Private Game Reserve experiences but please speak to us about the possibility and additional costs involved should you be interested in taking up this option. There is also an option of upgrading from a standard suite to a smaller more exclusive (and very romantic) Tented Camp located within the Reserve please speak to one of our friendly reservation consultants for more information!
The Rest Camps in Kruger all have well stocked shops which close 1 hour after gate closing times so as to allow overnight guests ample time to get supplies upon arrival. Credit Cards widely accepted. Kruger Accommodation is in very high demand and subject to availability and as a result it might be necessary to find alternative suitable accommodation for the last 2 nights of the Itinerary at a Hotel bordering the Kruger National Park from where Kruger Safari Activities will be conducted. Groups of 2-3 will be accommodated at a Hotel as a minimum of 4 people are required in order to offer the 3 Day / 2 Night Kruger Open Vehicle Safari option.
Important information about our Kruger Wildlife Safari Tour:
Additional info:
Cancellation policy:
Please note that the deposit is non-refundable. Cancellation 30 days prior to arrival date and/or commencement of Safari/Tour/Activity - deposit plus 25% of total bill; 14 to 29 days - deposit plus 50% of total bill; 0 to 13 days - 100% of total bill.
Booking Enquiry
+27 (0) 82 556 1223 [email protected]
Chacma baboons are numerous in the Kruger National Park and live in huge troops numbering up to 200 animals (typically between 30-40). Troops consist of a family group of males, females and their young. Young baboons depend on their mothers for transportation, initially the little “pink foots” cling to the underside of the mother. At around 3 months of age they start riding “jockey style” on mommy’s back (leaning against the tail for support) as seen in this footage...
There are approximately 10000 Giraffes in the Kruger National Park. They are gregarious and live in nonterritorial loose groups of up to 20 at a time, a behaviour that apparently allows for increased vigilance against predators. They have excellent eyesight, and when one giraffe notices approaching danger it will keep staring until the others look in that direction too. Giraffes live up to 26 years in the wild and slightly longer in captivity.