Kruger enthusiasts, overnight safari.
5 Day, 4 nights safari
(Code KB05)
1 Night Panorama Route & 3 Nights Kruger National Park
Leaving the high grasslands of Johannesburg, we drop down to the vast views of the escarpment on the edge of the Drakensberg mountains. We then drop down to the warm lowveld and the mighty Kruger National Park a huge area of 2 million hectares. Here we find a greater diversity of mammal species than any where on the planet. This is also considered to be a birding hotspot with over 600 species, some migratory others sedentary. Fantastic insects and reptiles can be found and the plant life is spectacular. The iconic Kruger is one of those must see places for anyone with even a passing interest in nature and its wildlife.
Day 1, Night 1
Johannesburg to Panorama Route
You will be met by your guide on arrival at the international airport in Johannesburg or at your place of residence in the city, after which we board the comfortable tour vehicle and depart from this bustling metropolis in an easterly direction as we head for the Mpumalanga (place of the rising sun) escarpment formed by the northern Drakensberg mountains. As we approach the escarpment, the scenery changes from the high grassland to more mountainous habitat with wide open vistas.
Here in the foothills of the Drakensberg we check into our overnight accommodation on what is locally known as the Panorama Route.
After a long day on the road, we freshen up before the evening meal and finally make our way to our accommodation for a good night’s rest.
Overnight Mountain lodge, lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast.
Day 2, Night 2
Panorama Route to Kruger National Park
After a peaceful night's rest, we will meet for breakfast before checking out. Will then head for the lowlands known as the lowveld (the bush country) below the Drakensberg mountains.
Initially, we travel through lush farmland with tropical fruits, citrus and nuts, which soon changes into game farms where the natural vegetation is protected with the wildlife is found on private game farms. As we approach the Kruger Park, we drive through bustling towns and villages filled with local people often in their traditional homesteads.
The Kruger Park is the oldest and largest of the 19 national parks in South Africa.
After we arrive at the park gate, we take a comfort break and check in before continuing our way through the park on our way to our overnight accommodation in one of the southern-based rest camps in the Kruger National Park. After entering, we immediately start our game viewing experience, travelling slowly through the park keeping our eye on the bush in an effort to find the incredible wealth of mammals, more than in any other wildlife refuge in the world, as well as the diversity of colourful birds in all their forms, shapes, colours and sizes. Reptiles and insects abound. You will be kept entertained throughout the journey. We take our lunch on the road either at one of the rest camps or before we enter the park. The southern areas of the Kruger park are renowned for their lion and other predator sightings.
On arrival, we check in at our accommodation before freshening up to depart on the afternoon game drive, enjoying the ambiance of the Park at one of the best times to be out game viewing as the day turns to dusk with the promise of a truly stunning sunset to end the day.
Returning to the rest camp, we have some time in our chalets before making our way to the restaurant for a delicious evening meal.
The bush at night is a completely different situation than it is in the day. The diurnal animals seek shelter and a place to sleep, while the nocturnal creatures awaken and become active. Here we listen for the metallic cling of the fruit bat, the low hoot of a giant eagle owl. The eerie whooping calls of the spotted Hyena or the saw-like rasping call of a male leopard marking its territory, or the grunt of a hippo splashing through the nearby river. All these calls and sounds contribute to the atmosphere of the African night while you sit out on your protected porch recalling the excitement of the day before making your way to bed and a peaceful night's rest.
Overnight Kruger rest camp, lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast.
Optional extra: game drives in open park's vehicles and walks at certain rest camps. Bookings essential.
Day 3, Night 3
Full Day Kruger National Park
Early to bed, early to rise is a good philosophy to live but to make the most of your time in the park, so with this in mind, we wake early before a refreshing cup of coffee tea and a rusk, which is an oven baked bread roll to fortify you for the morning.
This is the best time to catch the nocturnal animals coming to the end of their nightly vigil. Here we have the best chance of spotting the lions, leopards and the hyena before they shade up for the day or become comfortable in their dens and out of sight. It is also the time of day where the rising sun creates the golden light that makes photography such a pleasure. A time when the sun lies low on the horizon and bathes the savannas in a gentle light, the golden hour.
We continue through the morning viewing the abundant wildlife: zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, warthog and others. Birds of prey might be seen preening their feathers in an ancient dry tree, a prelude to them taking to the air as they search for prey in the grass and woodland savannas. A flock of vultures settle on the remains of a recent kill, while a herd of buffalo cross the road on their way to the water hole in the dry riverbed. The shrill trumpet of a young elephant calf, frustrated at its mom for not allowing it to drink, will shatter the stillness of the morning as the herd climbs the sandy bank after their morning ritual at the water’s edge.
There is no need to return to our rest camp and we are free to travel to distant sightings or spend quality time at a particular sighting or waterhole before stopping for a midmorning brunch at a new rest camp for you to explore.
After brunch, we continue on our safari (a Swahili word meaning - to travel) in this mighty wildlife kingdom.
We return to our rest camp towards evening to freshen up and relax while your Alan Tours guide lights the evening fire to braai (barbecue) the evening meal over the blistering coals of the hard wood fire. Cool drink in your hand and the surround sound of the African night as your entertainment. With the warmth of good food and a full day behind us, we make our way to bed for a peaceful sleep under African skies.
Overnight Kruger National Park, lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast
Day 4, Night 4
Full Day Kruger National Park
Once again, we wake early for refreshments before packing our gear into the 4x4 Land Cruiser as we head out into the African savannas in search of the fascinating wildlife and the adventure of exploring one of the world's great wildlife preserves. We might follow up on information gleaned from the night in the rest camp or return to a sighting we may have come across the previous day. We have the option of traveling on different routes and stopping for brunch at a different camp or returning to our overnight rest camp to relax for part of the day before setting out once again to find the elusive wildlife we might have missed. There is always something new and interesting to be found, as the bush is never the same.
We return to our rest camp in time to freshen up before the evening meal in the park restaurant and a peaceful night's rest in Africa.
Overnight Kruger National Park, lunch dinner, bed and breakfast.
Day 5
Kruger National Park to Johannesburg or alternative place of departure.
Early refreshments before heading out for the last early morning game drive.
We return in time for breakfast and check out at 10 am before departing through the park to exit and start our journey back to Johannesburg or drop you at a local airport for your forward journey. If we are travelling back to Johannesburg, we take lunch on the road before dropping you off at your place of residence or at the international airport in Johannesburg.
End of Alan Tours services
Rates :
2 persons on tour: R 32 000.00 per person sharing
3-4 persons on tour: R 20 800.00 per person sharing
5-6 persons on tour: R 17 500.00 per person sharing
Minimum 2 persons
Single supplement applies
Tour Includes:
- 5 day professional guided tour
- 4 night accommodation as per itinerary
- Daily entrance/conservation fees Kruger Park
- Entrance fees Panorama Route
- Community levy
- Toll fees
- Meals as per itinerary
- Bottled water in tour vehicle
Tour Excludes:
- Bar bills
- Personal
- shopping
- Gratuities
Optional extra: Night drive in the park’s game drive vehicle