Southern Africa Escapades 3 to 5 Star (5 Days) – Module Two SAE5DA

Pick up from OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, OR pick up point within 30km radius of Sandton. Depart for Dunkeld about 4 hours away. Lunch can be en-route or in Dullstroom. Dunkeld Country and Equestrian Estate, located in the peaceful and beautiful countryside of Dullstroom, is a luxury estate with spa services and an indoor swimming pool.  Not only will you be taken in by the beauty of the architecture and decor of the estate, you will experience that the beautiful horses on the estate add to the atmosphere of serenity. There are multiple activities to engage in, from horse riding to quad biking. Relax and enjoy the estate at your pace before pre-dinner entertainment in the boma. Dinner is in the estate’s restaurant.
Overnight:  Dunkeld Country & Equestrian Estate or similar

After early morning coffee, you depart for a full day tour of the Panorama Route with packed breakfast-to-go. Your first stop is Elephant Whispers in Hazyview, a forever home for rescued and traumatized elephants. The founder's unique methods of working with elephants on the basis of patience, trust and respect, belied the common belief that African Elephant can only be tamed by means of submission and earned him the esteemed 'Elephant Whisperer' title. Here you are afforded the honor of touching educational encounters with the gentle giants of the bushveld. After lunch at Harrie’s Pancakes in Graskop, you will continue on the Panorama Route:  Gods Window, so called because it is claimed to be the view from God's window;  Lisbon Waterfalls, longest waterfalls in the area, plunging 94 meters, with a name that speaks to the original identity of miners who came to the area to pan for gold in the late 1800s;  Bourke’s Luck Potholes, formed at the mouth of the canyon by two raging rivers that formed swirling eddies and, over thousands of years, eroded the sandstone bedrock into huge and otherworldly cylindrical potholes (bridges and viewing platforms allow visitors to see the fascinating network of tunnels, tubes, and interconnected whirling pools, each with their own striking strata of colors);  Three Rondavels, three mountains shaped like African huts (aka rondavels);  Blyde River Canyon, third largest canyon in the world and largest green covered canyon in the world.  Return to your hotel for dinner before retiring for the night.
Overnight:  Dunkeld Country & Equestrian Estate or similar

Enjoy breakfast at Dunkeld then head north to Imbali Safari Lodge, located within the private 10,000-hectare concession of Mluwati, in the western region of the Kruger National Park. As one of the first private concessions in the Kruger National Park, Mluwati has worked tirelessly to ensure the sustainability of this pristine wilderness that for over 100 years has been a sanctuary for over 114 reptiles, 34 amphibians and 147 mammal species, including Africa’s Big Five. Imbali continues the safari tradition of a bygone era, incorporating comfort and luxury in the serenity of the African bush with just twelve private suites, each with their own plunge pool, an expansive deck, large king bed cocooned in a mosquito net, and romantic en-suite bathroom.  On arrival, lunch is a relaxed, informal affair, served on the deck of the dining room with beautiful views of the surrounding bushveld and the Nwaswitsontso River. Guests are treated to light salads and tasty desserts before retiring to their rooms for an afternoon siesta.  Beverages and selected alcoholic drinks are included at Imbali. Afternoon tea, served on the deck, heralds the imminent departure of your sunset safari through the Mluwati Concession. Sip a sundowner G&T as you watch the sky turn from the brilliance of an African sunset to a bright band of stars. Back at the lodge, enjoy a magical three-course table ‘d hotel menu under those stars.  Good wine and good conversation flow while you listen to the enchanting sounds of the surrounding bush coming alive at night. Expect a bedtime story on your pillow or a sweet treat to enjoy before retiring for the night.
Overnight:  Imbali Safari Lodge or similar

Kick-start your day before the sun rises, dunking a homemade rusk into a steamy cup of coffee before setting off on your sunrise safari with your assigned ranger. Some of Kruger’s most spectacular landscapes and extraordinary variety of wildlife lies within the Mluwati Concession, ensuring that each safari experience will be unique. Keen birders will delight in the hundreds of bird species (over 500) that call Kruger home, many of which occur in the Mluwati Concession including the Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Crested Barbet and Burchell’s Glossy Starling. Enjoy a delicious hot plated breakfast after your morning safari either in the gorgeous dining room which boasts an impressive hundred year old Jackalberry rising through the deck of the dining room and Tsonga-styled thatched roof or under the tree’s on the outside decks. Then retire to your room and relax, or laze at the crystal-clear infinity pool. Spa treatments are available in the privacy of your suite or request a bush walk for an up-close encounter with the Kruger. Indulge in High Tea with a delicious selection of cakes and pastries freshly baked at the lodge before embarking on your sunset safari with a stop for sundowners. Your three-course dinner will, no doubt, be accompanied by much chatter of your game viewing successes. Restful sleep will come easy this evening.
Overnight:  Imbali Safari Lodge or similar

On this early morning start, Imbali will transport you to Orpen Gate where you will meet your tour guide who will take you to the airport in Nelspruit, a road trip of about 3 to 4 hours in total and Imbali will provide a packed breakfast for the road trip. Check-in for your flight home or onward to another adventure on your vacation.