Day 1 — Tue 18 Aug 2026: Arrive Hoedspruit and Transfer to the Lodge
Arrive at Eastgate Airport, Hoedspruit, after your journey from home. Once you’ve collected your luggage and cleared immigration and customs, you’ll be met by our friendly local driver for your short transfer to our beautiful lodge in the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate a peaceful haven set within natural bushveld, and your home for the first leg of your Art Safari adventure.
Settle into your accommodation and enjoy a relaxing lunch overlooking the surrounding wilderness. The small town of Hoedspruit, known as the “Safari Capital of South Africa,” lies in the heart of the Greater Kruger Area in Limpopo province, an area rich with wildlife, dramatic scenery, and artistic inspiration.
In the late afternoon, we’ll set out together on our first sundowner drive through the African bushveld. This gentle introduction to the landscape will allow you to unwind after your travels, breathe in the warm evening air, and perhaps capture your first sketches as the sky turns gold and lilac over the horizon.
Back at the lodge, enjoy dinner under the stars and share a toast to the creative journey ahead.
Your tutor, Yvonne, will gather everyone for a short welcome and outline of the days to come — a perfect opportunity to meet your fellow travellers and start dreaming up your first art adventures.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge (drinks are not included and can be settled directly at the end of your stay).
Day 2 — Wed 19 Aug 2026: Plein Air Sketching and Evening Safari
After breakfast, we begin our first full day of creativity in the African bush. Today is dedicated to plein air watercolour sketching at one of the nearby watering holes — a tranquil setting that perfectly captures the rhythm of life in the Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate.
Under Yvonne’s gentle guidance, we’ll focus on capturing reflections, the shifting colours of the bush, and the unique light that dances across the water. As we paint, we’ll wait in quiet anticipation for the animals to appear, perhaps a family of warthogs trotting down to drink, graceful giraffe bending awkwardly to the water’s edge, or herds of zebra and antelope moving through the heat haze.
The estate is home to a wide variety of wildlife, and while it’s safe to walk during the day, please remember to remain vigilant after dark, as hyena and even the occasional leopard may wander nearby.
In the late afternoon, we’ll set out for an unforgettable sundowner and night drive in a neighbouring Big Five private game reserve. As the sun dips below the horizon, we’ll have the chance to sketch directly from the vehicle, capturing the silhouettes and soft evening tones that make the bushveld so magical.
Return to the lodge after dark for dinner and a relaxed evening sharing stories, sketches, and impressions of your first full day on safari.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 3 — Sat 20 Aug 2026: Kruger National Park Adventure and Sketching
Rise early this morning for an exciting departure to the world-renowned Kruger National Park, the second oldest national park in the world and spanning nearly 20,000 square kilometres of iconic African wilderness.
Travel in our private vehicle, allowing us the freedom to pause at any moment to sketch the remarkable wildlife, sweeping landscapes, or intriguing details of the bush. Along the way, we’ll take brunch at one of the local picnic spots, surrounded by the sounds and scents of the savannah.
After brunch, we continue to Nwanitsi Viewpoint and Bird Hide, a haven for artists and nature lovers alike. Here, the lighting, perspectives, and diversity of birds and wildlife provide excellent sketching opportunities, whether you prefer watercolours, pencil, or quick field studies.
Throughout the day, Yvonne will offer tips and guidance for capturing movement, light, and detail in the wild, helping you translate the energy of the bush into your artwork. The flexibility of our private vehicle ensures that whenever something catches your eye — a lone giraffe, a herd of impala, or the glint of sunlight on a waterhole — you have the perfect moment to sketch it.
Return to the lodge in the late afternoon, relaxed and inspired by a full day in one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife reserves.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 4 — Sun 21 Aug 2026: Full-Day Painting Workshop
Today is a full day dedicated to painting and creative exploration. Under Yvonne’s expert guidance, we’ll focus on developing your skills and experimenting with new techniques in a relaxed, inspiring bushveld setting.
The day includes:
Demonstrations on composition, brushwork, and capturing the essence of the African landscape and wildlife.
Colour mixing exercises, helping you understand and apply the rich hues of the bush.
Creating your own folding sketchbooks, perfect for on-the-go sketches during the rest of the safari.
Exploring abstract backgrounds, giving your work depth, texture, and creative flair.
Throughout the day, Yvonne will provide personal guidance and inspiration, helping each participant find their own artistic voice. The lodge’s tranquil surroundings offer the perfect backdrop — from the rustling of the bush to the distant calls of wildlife, every moment is an opportunity to observe, interpret, and capture the world around you.
Breaks are built in for refreshments, relaxation, and reflection, ensuring the day is both productive and enjoyable. By the evening, you’ll have a collection of sketches, studies, and painted pieces that showcase your growing confidence and creativity.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 5 — Mon 22 Aug 2026: Blyde River Canyon Boat Safari and Timbavati Arrival
This morning, we set out for a magical boat safari on the Blyde River Canyon Dam. Towering mountains rise up to 1,947 metres, making this one of the highest peaks in the Northern Drakensberg, and the views across the canyon and dam are truly spectacular.
Keep your eyes open for hippos, crocodiles, and a variety of birdlife, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the canyon. There will be plenty of time to sketch, paint, and capture the magnificent scenery, as well as the interplay of light and shadow on the water and cliffs.
By mid-afternoon, we arrive at Bateleur Safari Camp, our home for the next four nights. Located in the Timbavati Game Reserve, which borders the Kruger National Park, the camp offers animals vast, unrestricted movement across the African bush, giving us a true sense of wilderness and freedom.
The camp is beautifully situated on a seasonal riverbed, with a large undercover veranda perfect for painting, sketching, or simply soaking in the surroundings. After settling in, we head out on our first sundown safari in the Timbavati, experiencing the golden light of the bush and the excitement of the wildlife coming alive as evening falls.
Return to camp for dinner under the stars, inspired by the day’s adventures and ready for the creative days ahead.
Dinner and overnight at Bateleur Safari Camp.
Days 6–8 — Tue 23 to Thu 25 Aug 2026: Creative Exploration in the Timbavati
Over the next three days, we settle into a rhythm of creativity and adventure, taking each day at our own pace. The Timbavati Game Reserve offers endless inspiration, with its open bushveld, seasonal riverbeds, and the free-ranging wildlife that roams across the landscape.
Each day brings opportunities for:
Safari drives to encounter the Big Five and a variety of other animals in their natural habitat.
Bush walks, where we can quietly observe and sketch the smaller details of the ecosystem, from birdlife to plant textures.
Plein air painting and sketching, capturing the ever-changing light, colour, and energy of the African bush.
Evenings are magical, with dinners under the African sky, accompanied by the sounds of the night chorus — hyenas calling in the distance, frogs and insects adding rhythm, and the occasional rustle of nocturnal wildlife. These moments provide the perfect backdrop for reflection, sharing sketches, and soaking in the unique atmosphere of the bush.
With Yvonne’s guidance throughout, these days are designed to nurture your creativity, deepen your observation skills, and allow plenty of time to bring the African landscape to life on paper.
Overnights at Bateleur Safari Camp.
Days 6–8 — Tue 23 to Thu 25 Aug 2026: Creative Exploration in the Timbavati
Over the next three days, we settle into a rhythm of creativity and adventure, taking each day at our own pace. The Timbavati Game Reserve offers endless inspiration, with its open bushveld, seasonal riverbeds, and the free-ranging wildlife that roams across the landscape.
Each day brings opportunities for:
Safari drives to encounter the Big Five and a variety of other animals in their natural habitat.
Bush walks, where we can quietly observe and sketch the smaller details of the ecosystem, from birdlife to plant textures.
Plein air painting and sketching, capturing the ever-changing light, colour, and energy of the African bush.
Evenings are magical, with dinners under the African sky, accompanied by the sounds of the night chorus — hyenas calling in the distance, frogs and insects adding rhythm, and the occasional rustle of nocturnal wildlife. These moments provide the perfect backdrop for reflection, sharing sketches, and soaking in the unique atmosphere of the bush.
With Yvonne’s guidance throughout, these days are designed to nurture your creativity, deepen your observation skills, and allow plenty of time to bring the African landscape to life on paper.
Overnights at Bateleur Safari Camp.
Days 6–8 — Tue 23 to Thu 25 Aug 2026: Creative Exploration in the Timbavati
Over the next three days, we settle into a rhythm of creativity and adventure, taking each day at our own pace. The Timbavati Game Reserve offers endless inspiration, with its open bushveld, seasonal riverbeds, and the free-ranging wildlife that roams across the landscape.
Each day brings opportunities for:
Safari drives to encounter the Big Five and a variety of other animals in their natural habitat.
Bush walks, where we can quietly observe and sketch the smaller details of the ecosystem, from birdlife to plant textures.
Plein air painting and sketching, capturing the ever-changing light, colour, and energy of the African bush.
Evenings are magical, with dinners under the African sky, accompanied by the sounds of the night chorus — hyenas calling in the distance, frogs and insects adding rhythm, and the occasional rustle of nocturnal wildlife. These moments provide the perfect backdrop for reflection, sharing sketches, and soaking in the unique atmosphere of the bush.
With Yvonne’s guidance throughout, these days are designed to nurture your creativity, deepen your observation skills, and allow plenty of time to bring the African landscape to life on paper.
Overnights at Bateleur Safari Camp.
Day 9 — Fri 26 Aug 2026: Final Safari and Departure
Rise early this morning for one last memorable safari in the Timbavati. The soft morning light and quiet of the bush provide the perfect opportunity for final sketches, reflections, and capturing the magic of the African wilderness before we leave.
After returning to camp, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, savoring the last moments of your safari experience and the beauty of your surroundings. Following breakfast, we depart Bateleur Safari Camp, taking with us a wealth of memories, sketches, and inspiration from the African bush.
End of the Art Safari.
