7 Day Kruger Park Open Vehicle Safaris
You will be picked up between 7.00 and 7.30 am from your Johannesburg Hotel or from any early morning flight into Johannesburg International (Oliver Tambo) Airport. Then we take a leisurely 4 hours' drive through Mpumalanga Province to its capital, Nelspruit.
A break in Nelspruit giving you time to do a little last minute shopping before setting out for the bush. Suggested items: Cool drinks, film, snacks, mosquito repellent.
Another 45 minute drive up to the Kruger National Park, where we enter the game-rich Southern region of the park by the Numbi Gate.
Collection from MQP or KMIA:
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, your Game Ranger will pick you up off your midday flight. Then there's a leisurely 40 minute drive up to the Kruger National Park, where we enter the game-rich Southern region of the park by the Numbi Gate.
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From Numbi Gate we drive northwards towards Skukuza and follow the Numbi to Skukuza road, viewing plenty of game as we do. Many animals move towards water in the hot afternoon sun, and you'll see herds of Impala and Waterbuck on the banks of the waterholes. When we pass a shallow section of the waterhole you may see a family of Hippos sleeping in the wterhole, a sharp lookout being kept by the head of the family. Crocodiles are dotted about on the banks of the waterhole, basking in the sun. By the time we arrive at Skukuza, the largest camp in the Kruger National Park, you will have had a good idea of what's to follow in the next few days.
You'll be booking into Skukuza Camp before the gates close for the night, and after checking in you'll get a chance to freshen up in your chalet before joining others for a delicious buffet dinner at the camp's restaurant. The restaurant is alongside the river, so keep your eyes open for the spotted hyena, warthogs, the purple-crested Lourie and fruit bats.
Days 2 & 3: Kruger Park - Skukuza Camp (B D)
Everything starts early in the Kruger park in order to have a greater chance of seeing game, so you'll get a wake-up call at 0530 in order to get on the road when the gates open at 0600. We'll stop at the Lower Sabie camp mid-morning to catch a bush breakfast and to stretch your legs. On the way to Lower Sabi we're likely to see plenty of Impala alongside the road and the odd White Rhino, maybe taking a mud bath or scratching itself against a post. Like most game rangers, yours has the eyes of a hawk, and will draw your attention to game that may otherwise be difficult to see.
After a leisurely breakfast at Lower Sabi camp on the banks of the river we'll continue with our game drive, this time stopping off at some of the water holes and dams that follow the line of the Sabi River, aiming to get back to Skukuza late afternoon. Your game ranger is keeping an ever- watchful eye on the sky for Eagles soaring on the afternoon's thermals. You'll see plenty of Zebra and Wildebeest grazing on the open grass plain, tall elegant Giraffes, their heads among the branches of the acacia trees, and a family of Elephants crossing the road ahead of you. You'll see plenty of birds too - there are more than 500 species present in the Park.
We'll get back to Skukuza at about 1600 to give you a chance to have some refreshments and to stock up with drinks for your night drive, which leaves the camp at 17h00. A National Parks ranger will be in charge of the three-hour night drive in an open sided truck.
You get back to Skukuza at 20h00 in time for a scrumptious dinner, which you can enjoy in the open air, listening to the never to be forgotten night sounds of the African bush.
Days 4 & 5: Kruger Park - Satara Camp (B D)
Today we'll slowly make our way up to Satara Camp, some 70 kms to the North of Skukuza. It's fortunate that your guide has heard about a Lion kill just off the road, so we'll make our way there to see what we can see. It seems that a pride of seven Lions and Lionesses have killed a Buffalo. Most of them have eaten their fill, and are now dozing with full bellies. A couple are still tearing pieces of flesh off the bones. A spotted Hyena trots up but keeps a wary distance, outnumbered by the greater number of Lions. A black-backed Jackal arrives and decides to take his chances by dashing in and snatching odd scraps lying around under the very eyes of the remaining Lionesses.
At about 1000 we pull into the Tshokwane picnic spot where you can get a full English breakfast. Refreshed, we continue our drive up to Satara Camp, stopping off at waterholes and dams along the way, when we should see plenty of wildlife.
We should get to Satara Camp at about 1300 and the first thing we do is get you checked in. For the rest of the afternoon you can either take a siesta - the sun will be very hot by then - or you can continue with your safari ranger in an air conditioned vehicle for an afternoon's game viewing. Much of the game lies up in the heat of the day, but we may be lucky at one or two of the waterholes. We'll be back at the camp before they close the gates at 1800 and meet up with those who decided to take a siesta. After freshening up and a filling dinner, we'll all get together and discuss the next day's events.
Days 5 & 6: Kruger Park - Letaba Camp (B D)
A day to remember! This morning you start the day off with a casual four hour walk in the bush accompanied and led by two very experienced South African National Parks game rangers, one armed with a .458 rifle. This is an ideal opportunity to see some of the park's smaller animals, identify some of the flora, and to learn a little about surviving in the bush and about tracking. Your guides will identify the spoor of different animals. You'll get back to Satara in time for breakfast at the restaurant.
Satara is a particularly good area for Cheetah, and after breakfast you'll be taking a late morning game drive looking for them. The drive will take you round a number of loop roads in the Satara area and you'll stop off at water holes and other game viewing spots while your game ranger keeps a sharp lookout for this beautiful animal. With luck you'll find a pair of Cheetahs lazing on a fallen tree, and we'll spend enough time there for you to get a feast of photographs.
We'll get to Letaba Camp, A further 70 kms North of Satara, at about 1400, enabling you to book in, freshen up, and stock up with the necessary drinks. In the afternoon you can either continue with another game drive, take a relaxing siesta, or pay a memorable visit to the Elephant Museum. On the afternoon's game drive you'll witness some of the park's 500 species of birds, and arrive back at camp ready for that delicious evening meal.
Day 7: Kruger Park - Johannesburg (B)
It's time to start back towards Johannesburg, and your last morning's game drive will bring you into contact with large herds of Impala as we head our way towards the Phalaborwa Gate. You'll probably witness a troop of Baboons - make sure you keep the windows shut. A last nostalgic look at a small group of Elephants by a distant baobab tree, as we drive towards the exit from the park. We make our way back to Johannesburg via Hoedspruit and the JG Strydom tunnel arriving back at 17h00pm.
Per Person Sharing: R14,500.00 Single: R16,200.00 Private Safari: R20,100.00 Per Person
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Drop-off back at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
If you're flying out of one of the airports close to the Kruger Park, you will probably be lucky enough to spend an extra couple of hours viewing game. Your guide will ensure that you leave the park in plenty of time to catch your flight from either Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) or Mpumalanga Airport (MQP)
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If you're interested in our 5 Day Kruger Park Open Vehicle Safari, email us right now - we'll check availability and reply within 48 hours.
(B L D) refers to the meals included - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Skukuza, Satara and Pretoriuskop Camp are used for explanation purposes in this itinerary and may not necessarily be the actual camps you are booked into, as all accommodation is subject to availability at the time of you booking your safari.
Itinerary may vary slightly due to gate opening times, game movements, weather etc...
What's Included?
Collection & drop off at Oliver Tambo International Airport or any hotel in Johannesburg, Pretoria
Chalet accommodation with en-suite facilities and air-conditioning
FGASA & DEAT registered professional ' Ranger' guides
Transport for the entire duration of the safari tour
Open vehicle 'all day' game viewing drives
One open vehicle night game drive
Kruger Park entrance fees
Breakfasts & dinners
Conservation levy
Excluded?
International flights
Personal expenses
Drinks and curios
Domestic flights
Lunches
Note:
Our Kruger Park Open Vehicle Safaris are carried out with a 'Ranger' guide and not with just a tour guide or a driver guide, departing on any day that suits you.
As a minimum we require the following information with your email:
Type of safari - Open Vehicle Safari
Number of days - 4 days
Number of people - minimum 2 people guarantees departure.
Required departure date - any day that suits you.
Collection & drop off requirements - hotel or flight details can be provided after we have confirmed safari availability.
Price Information
All prices are in South Africa Rand (ZAR). VAT is included.
Our Kruger Park Open Vehicle Safaris cater for small groups, families and big private groups, departing with a minimum of 2 people.
Each open vehicle safari is carried out with no more than 10 people per open vehicle. You are assured of enjoying more of a personal, private safari. For single travellers we would add to any existing tour if possible.
Children under twelve (12) are charged half price. We include a door-to-door collection and drop-off service at your hotel or from the airport. All safaris are conducted in English.
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