Trip Info
-
open-sided 4x4 vehicle & minivan
-
2-20
-
To be provided for during the trip
-
Johannesburg
-
Game Drive
-
English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic
-
To be provided for during the trip
Overview
Enjoy the best of both worlds on this 4-night, 5-day Greater Kruger safari package. Spend your first two nights on a privately guided safari within Kruger National Park, staying in simple SANParks bungalows. Then transfer to a mid-range private safari lodge in one of the neighbouring reserves that form part of the Greater Kruger, where you’ll spend the last two nights immersed in a more exclusive game-viewing experience.
Highlights
- Mid-range tour: This mid-range tour uses lodges.
- Shared tour: On this shared tour, you will join a group of other travelers. Max 9 people per vehicle.
- Scheduled departures: This tour starts on fixed start dates only.
- Cannot be customized The contents of this tour cannot be changed.
- Not for single travelers: Single travelers cannot join this group tour and it requires a minimum of 2 people to run.
- Minimum age of 12 years: The minimum age for this tour is 12 years.
Itinerary
Departing early in the morning from Johannesburg's O R Tambo Airport or any of the surrounding airport hotels, we enjoy a scenic 5-hour drive to Hazyview, near the entrance of the Kruger National Park. It is also possible to fly (optional extra cost). Lunch is for your own account. Before entering the Kruger Park, we'll transfer to an open-sided safari vehicle. Game viewing begins as soon as we enter the gates. The afternoon is spent on a private safari drive, looking for wild animals. At the end of the afternoon, we will check in at our camp overlooking the Sabie River, where we spend the night. We normally use the standard bungalows in Skukuza Camp inside the Kruger Park for the first two nights, subject to availability. Each bungalow has two or three single beds, aircon, and a small private bathroom. It is possible to upgrade to 4-star accommodation (optional, for an extra cost). A delicious dinner is included, which may be enjoyed outside, under the stars (weather permitting).
Main Destination: Krukger National Park
Accomodation: Skukuza Rest Camp
Mid-range rest camp located inside Southern Kruger NP
Meals & Drinks:
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
Today is devoted to game viewing inside the Kruger National Park, from the comfort of an open safari vehicle. We do not follow a rigid schedule and do not limit the duration of our game drives. With no other guests on board, you have maximum flexibility. A typical day starts early with coffee or tea, before heading out at sunrise for our morning game drive. A hearty brunch (combined breakfast and lunch) is served around mid morning. You will have a highly experienced, English-speaking driver guide, who knows the bush well and understands what makes a safari special. Questions are welcomed, and there will be plenty of opportunity for photography. During game drives, we may stop to stretch our legs at a scenic view point or game viewing hide. The Kruger National Park has an abundance of wildlife all year round, and there is no bad time to visit Kruger. We return to camp at sunset for another delicious dinner.
Main Destination: Kruger National Park
Accommodation: Skukuza Rest Camp
Mid-range rest camp located inside Southern Kruger NP
Meals & Drinks:
Breakfast & dinner (Lunch not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
We rise with the sun for another early morning game drive in the Kruger Park, to search for any animals that may have eluded us thus far. After brunch, we will exit the park and make our way in an air-conditioned minivan to the Timbavati Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger Park. After two nights in Kruger with rather basic accommodations, we now upgrade to something a bit more luxurious for the next two nights.
This tour description and price is based on spending the next two nights at Kambaku River Sands, a wonderful mid-range camp in the Timbavati reserve. If Kambaku is not available for your dates, we will look for another similar mid-range lodge or camp in the same price range. We can either upgrade you to a slightly more expensive camp (optional, for an extra cost), or downgrade you (optional, lower cost) to a less expensive camp.
After checking in and enjoying lunch at the lodge, we go on an afternoon game drive in the beautiful Timbavati Game Reserve, with your new guide.
Main Destination: Timbavati Private Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accomodation: Kambaku River Sands
Mid-range lodge located inside Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger)
+Meals & Drinks:
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
The daily lodge routine will be explained upon arrival. A typical day at a private safari lodge starts with an early wake up call, followed by coffee and tea on the deck, before heading out on a morning game drive in an open 4x4 safari vehicle (shared with other guests). One advantage at a private reserve like the Timbavati is that the vehicles are allowed to go off-road to get closer to the animals. In the morning, we may stop somewhere at a scenic spot in the bush for refreshments, before making our way back to camp for a well-earned breakfast.
Sometimes, a guided bush walk may be offered after breakfast, to explore the smaller wonders of the wild on foot (subject to weather and availability of a suitably qualified guide).
Spend the midday hours lazing around the pool or enjoying a siesta. Lunch is served in the early afternoon, and later we head out on another afternoon game drive, which continues after sundowners as a night drive. Enjoy a wonderful dinner on return to the lodge.
Main Destination: Timbavati Private Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accommodation: Kambaku River Sands
Mid-range lodge located inside Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
After your final early morning game drive and another delicious breakfast, it is time to check out and depart. A transfer vehicle will collect you and take you to the nearby Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) where you can board your onward flight to Johannesburg or Cape Town (flight not included - please do not book an early flight out of Hoedspruit).
Alternatively, it is possible for us to arrange a 6-hour road transfer from your lodge in the Timbavati back to Johannesburg, should you prefer that (this is optional, at an extra cost).
Please note, while this 5-day tour is based on using Kambaku River Sands in the Timbavati Game Reserve for the last two nights, limited availability or guest preferences may mean that we recommend a different lodge for you for the last two nights. This will be done in discussion with you. A different lodge will usually result in a different overall price, as each lodge is priced differently. This tour can be customised to meet your budget and requirements.
Main Destination: Hoedspruit Airport (Hoedspruit)
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Cost Includes
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water (On all days)
Cost Excludes
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$15.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
FAQs
The Kruger Park and Private Lodge Combo Safari includes a mix of world-class game viewing in the iconic Kruger National Park and exclusive luxury at a private safari lodge. Guests enjoy open-vehicle game drives in both the national park and the private reserve, guided bush walks, and the opportunity to spot Africa’s Big Five along with many other wildlife species. Accommodation is split between comfortable lodgings inside or near Kruger Park and a high-end private lodge, offering a balance of adventure and relaxation. Meals, park entry fees, and the services of experienced rangers and trackers are also typically included.
The Kruger Park and Private Lodge Combo Safari stands out because it offers the best of both worlds—access to the vast, unfenced wilderness of Kruger National Park and the exclusivity of a private reserve. In Kruger Park, you can cover wide areas and see a great diversity of wildlife, while in the private lodge you enjoy smaller, more intimate drives with off-road access for closer wildlife encounters. The private lodge also often provides elevated comfort, gourmet dining, and personalized service that you may not get on a purely public park safari.
The Kruger Park and Private Lodge Combo Safari can be enjoyed year-round, but the dry winter months from May to September are often considered the best time for wildlife viewing. During this season, vegetation is sparser, making animals easier to spot, and they tend to gather at water sources. However, the summer months from October to April bring lush green scenery, migratory birds, and newborn animals, which can be equally rewarding for nature lovers and photographers.
The Kruger Park and Private Lodge Combo Safari is typically offered as a 4- to 7-day package, allowing enough time to explore both the national park and the private reserve. A shorter trip may focus more on either the Kruger Park or the lodge experience, while longer itineraries provide a deeper immersion into the wildlife and landscapes, with additional activities such as cultural visits, night drives, and bush walks.
Yes, the Kruger Park and Private Lodge Combo Safari can be tailored for families, with many lodges offering family-friendly accommodations, flexible meal times, and activities suited for children. While certain game drives may have age restrictions for safety reasons, some lodges provide child-specific safari programs, guided nature walks, and educational wildlife activities. This makes the combo safari a great option for families seeking both adventure and comfort in a secure and welcoming environment.
