Camping Safari - 6 Day Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival at Kruger National Park
After spending the night in Johannesburg or after an early arrival at OR Tambo Airport you make your way to the shuttle departure point at OR Tambo International Airport and board a comfortable air conditioned shuttle vehicle that then takes you on a 5-6 hours’ drive to Paul Kruger Gate. During the transfer you will have opportunity to buy provisions at one of the rest stops along the way. At Paul Kruger Gate you will change vehicles to an Open Safari Vehicle which gives you a 180 degrees panoramic view of the African savannah with a full experience of all smells and sounds, and a perfect vantage point to see over high grasses and bushes. We reach Skukuza Rest Camp after our first game drive just before the gate closes for the night. After check in you settle in to your Safari Tents – these are fixed structure tents with real beds but with tent walls and roofing and shared facilities. You can choose your own meal at the camp restaurant this evening in a romantic setting next to the river (not included). We have an early night to be ready for the full day Safari the next day.
Day 2
Morning Walk, Safari experience and bush braai
We get up at dawn to make the most of our Kruger Safari. You take part in one of the spectacular and informative morning walks that are offered by the national park in the early hours of the morning. Accompanied by two experienced, armed guards you will first drive out into the bush and then embark on a 2-3 hours walk in an area that is deemed safe and suitable by your guides. During this walk you experience the bush from a completely different perspective without the barrier of the safari vehicle. The animals react to you in a completely different way and you are being made aware of the signs and sounds of the bush as you learn about tracks, plants and insects and get another chance of seeing animals. Your guide will wait for you at the camp with the breakfast and we will depart on safari afterwards.
We spend the morning in search of all the iconic animal species including the Big 5 with a dedicated professional field guide, who will use expert knowledge of the area to interpret the natural environment for you in every detail. Your guide will frequent various waterholes and river systems as well as other Kruger hot spots to maximize your opportunity to see as much as possible and ensure the scenery on display is ever changing and picturesque. Later we stop at one of the rest camps for a lunch at the restaurant. In the evening we reach Satara Rest Camp where your guide pitches the dome tents and you have a dinner together at the camp’s restaurant (not included).
Day 3
Safari and Sunset Drive
In the morning we pack up our tents and leave Satara on another day of safari towards the North. We arrive at Letaba Rest Camp in the afternoon, where you will stay in Safari tents. Later in the afternoon you join the Sunset Drive - this is a game drive organized by Kruger National Park – special because only official park vehicles are allowed to be outside the camp gates after sunset and you have a unique opportunity to see both diurnal and nocturnal animals starting to be more active as the heat of the day subsides. As you return, your guide will have prepared a cooked dinner for you.
Day 4
Full day safari and overnight at observation post (hide)
We check out of our current camp and continue on our way towards the North on another full day safari with many exciting animal viewings and chagning landscape.
In the evening we reach Mopani Camp for check in. The observation post is a short drive from the main rest camp. Our guide gets the fire going and you settle in with the camp provided bedding, mosquito nets and cooking supplies. Your guide prepares a rustic braai for you and you gather around the camp fire for dinner and storytelling as the bush around you comes to live in the darkness of another African night. You spend the night in the observation post which is secured by a tall wooden fence, built above ground on stilts and with open windows secured by a mesh grid. Your rustic but comfortable beds are covered by mosquito nets. During the night you are most likely to hear animals of all kinds move around and vocalize in the dark as there is a water hole just next to the observation point (all from a safe viewing spot). At dusk you have the best chance of seeing animals frequent the water hole. This is possibly your greatest adventure yet and an experience you will never forget.
Day 5
Fully day safari and overnight at Letaba
From 6am the observation post is again open for day visitors so we leave after an early breakfast to have a shower at the main rest camp before we explore the area around Mopani on our game drive and slowly make our way back to Letaba Rest Camp in the evening.
Day 6
Last game drive and return to Johannesburg
After an early morning safari we make our way to Phalaborwa Gate and then on to Hoedspruit where your comfortable air conditioned shuttle vehicle awaits you for your transfer back to Johannesburg.