The 4-night / 5-day Best of Kruger Safari is a popular and affordable guided safari, with comfortable accommodation inside the famous Kruger National Park, and game drives on an open safari vehicle.

Departures:

We normally depart from the Johannesburg International Airport (now called O R Tambo airport) or any of the surrounding airport hotels, at around 07h00 in the morning. We travel by luxury air-conditioned minibus to the Kruger National Park. As we pass Nelspruit at around 12h30 pm, you can also depart from Nelspruit if you prefer that (same cost as departing from Johannesburg). 

This is a scheduled safari with fixed departure dates, but customized departures are possible, subject to availability. You can also request a private departure just for your group. For our scheduled departures, we take a maximum of 9 people per vehicle.

Accommodation:

The safari includes four nights' accommodation in the Kruger Park, usually at two different camps in different areas (subject to availability). We use some of the most popular camps in the Park, in the southern and central parts which are excellent game viewing areas. You will be staying in comfortable, air-conditioned bungalows with en-suite bathroom/shower. These bungalows are very clean and serviced daily with fresh linen and towels. They are equipped with either two or three single beds and insect screens are fitted at the windows and door. This is not a camping safari and you will not be expected to pitch tents, dig your own toilet, share accommodation with strangers or anything like that!

The camps are safely fenced with an electric fence, and have well-stocked curio/supermarket shops, take-away cafés and quality restaurants. Most camps have beautiful lawns with shady trees as well as a swimming pool.

Meals:

Breakfasts and dinners are included in the tour price, and you will not be expected to help with the cooking. Breakfast or brunch is offered either at the camp after your morning game drive, or by our guide along the way, who will make a real feast of it! Dinners are usually prepared by your guide (some of our guides double as chefs) or by a dedicated chef from our catering partners. Meals are delicious and will often include some popular South African dishes. Or it may take the form of a traditional South African braai (barbecue) under the stars, weather permitting. In some cases the guide may decide to make use of the camp restaurant instead. Drinks are for your own account. Our safaris are relaxed and informal, and there is no need to dress up for dinner.

Game drives:

All daily game drives are included in the cost and are conducted on an open safari vehicle, which is designed to offer an unrivalled game viewing experience. You will have an experienced and knowledgeable safari guide who can help you to spot the animals and will be able to interpret their behaviour and relay fascinating facts and stories about the bush. Our guides are English speaking. On each drive we offer courtesy blankets, reference books and mineral water. We usually have one or two pairs of courtesy binoculars available on each drive, but it is best to bring your own. We make regular comfort stops on all game drives, and your guide will take time each day to consult with you about the route and options for the day. With each booking, we also provide you with a complimentary map book and animal checklist of the Kruger Park.

A sunset drive or night drive is included in the price and will be conducted by one of the Kruger Park’s rangers, on an open safari truck equipped with spotlights, to search for nocturnal animals like lions, leopard and hyena. A guided bush walk with an armed Kruger Park ranger is also included. Please note: if you are 65 or older, you need a medical fitness certificate from a doctor in order to take part on the guided bush walk.

Panorama Route:

Going back via the scenic Panorama Route with its view points and waterfalls is not offered as a standard option on this safari, because of the time involved. It would mean no game drive on the final morning, but taking a packed breakfast and going straight to the exit gate, then a rushed 10 hour drive via the scenic Panorama Route back to Johannesburg. You would arrive very late in the evening and would only get to see some of the views. We prefer to make the most of our safari time in Kruger and enjoy a final game drive on the last morning. If you would like to see the Panorama Route, we suggest spending an additional night so you don’t have to cut short your safari. We can easily add this on upon request if time and budget allows.

Children:

Children are welcome on this safari, and if any of the children are under eight years of age, we will need to arrange a private departure for your group, with no other guests on board. A private departure costs a bit more. Children under twelve years old pay 60% of the adult rate. Children twelve years and over at the time of travel will pay full price.

Single supplement:

A single supplement of 25% applies. Kindly note that we need to have a minimum of two people in order to guarantee a departure.

Itinerary:

Departing from Johannesburg early in the morning we drive along a scenic route to the entrance of the Kruger National Park. Here we transfer to a specially designed open safari vehicle. Game viewing begins as soon as we enter the gates, and we look for giraffe, zebra and various antelope species on our way to the camp, where we arrive by sunset. Dinner will either be prepared by your guide or our dedicated chef, or may be enjoyed in the camp restaurant. Fall asleep to the sound of hippos snorting or lions roaring in the distance.