Trip Info
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minivan, normal 4x4 vehicle & air transfer
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2-20
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To be provided for during the trip
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Nelspruit
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game drives, evening/night game drives & walking safaris
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game drives, evening/night game drives & walking safaris
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To be provided for during the trip
Overview
This 6-night Big Five safari itinerary offers the ultimate dual-destination adventure. Begin at Kirkman’s Kamp, a beautifully preserved lodge surrounded by unspoiled nature in the iconic Sabi Sands, then continue to Greater Kruger and the scenic Phinda Mountain Lodge, which overlooks vast stretches of protected wildlife territory in KwaZulu-Natal. Suitable for anyone—from individuals and couples to families, groups, and honeymooners.
Highlights
- Luxury tour This luxury tour uses lodges.
- Private tour: This tour will be organized exclusively for you. However, wildlife viewing activities are run by the lodges/camps and will be shared with others.
- Can start any day: If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
- Can be customized: You can request changes to this tour.
- Suitable for solo travelers: Solo travelers can book this private tour.
- Minimum age of 10 years: The minimum age for this tour is 10 years.
Itinerary
An African Safari Guru representative will always be at hand to meet and greet our clients on arrival at Skukuza Airport Kruger before being transferred by road to Kirkmans Kamp.
From the warm welcome you receive upon arrival, you'll find yourself high on a ridge of the world-famous Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, overlooking the magnificent Sand River at Kirkmans Kamp. It's a lodge with a rich history and a safari experience where one steps back in time, into the classical ambience of an original 1920s homestead. It has 12 guest cottages sharing antique-styled beds seamlessly blending with modern comforts and private verandas. Guests enjoy tea on the rolling lawn, while breakfast and lunch are served on the shady and picturesque verandas. Dinner is a mouth-watering Pan-African menu enjoyed in a boma or on the lawns.
Choose from a variety of exciting activities such as twice-daily game drives, interpretive bush walks, birding or photographic safaris, or even a game of croquet or tennis.
Main Destination: Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accomodation: &Beyond Kirkman's Kamp
Luxury+ lodge located inside Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)
All meals included
Early in the morning, rise to the sounds of Africa here in the heart of the world-renowned Sabi Sands Game Reserve. Here you will experience some of the best opportunities when it comes to wildlife game viewing especially the elusive leopard that is frequently seen in this part of the Greater Kruger National Park. There is just something for everyone to believe this amazing and pristine wilderness enables safari goers.
During mid-morning after breakfast, enjoy a bush walk with an experienced and qualified track and trails guide or simply lift your feet up and enjoy the serenity of your journey at Kirkmans Kamp which overlooks the seasonal Sand River.
Lunch is served on the covered deck or green lawns.
Finish the day off with late-afternoon game drives and return by nightfall to freshen up and enjoy a Pan African dinner under the African night skies (weather dependant).
Main Destination: Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accommodation: &Beyond Kirkman's Kamp
Luxury+ lodge located inside Sabi Sands (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)
A safari at Kirkmans Kamp never ends without having to do a morning game drive on the day of departure capturing those last magical moments before connecting to Phinda Mountain Lodge.
Let the Kirkmans Rangers and Shangaan trackers enlighten you with the incredible Big Five Sabi Sands Game Reserve before returning back to the lodge for breakfast.
Bid farewell and depart from Kirkmans Kamp by road to Skukuza Airport for your light aircraft transfer to Phinda Game Reserve.
Upon arrival at Phinda Game Reserve, you'll be met by a representative and shuttled through the bush to Mountain Lodge and welcomed with a refreshing drink and a team full of smiles.
It's time to get excited with Phinda Adventures such as specialist walking and tracking safaris, a sleepout under the stars, and other optional participative conservation experiences such as rhino notching, elephant collaring or pangolin tagging should you wish.
Dinner is served under the African night skies.
Main Destination: Phinda Private Game Reserve (KZN Parks)
Accomodation: &Beyond Phinda Mountain lodge
Luxury lodge located inside Phinda GR (KZN Parks)
All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)
All meals included
Early in the morning, rise up in the heart of this iconic Phinda Private Game Reserve encompasses an impressive protected wildlife land in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Showcasing one of the continent’s finest game-viewing experiences, the reserve is home to Africa’s Big Five, where cheetahs are also frequently seen as well as 436 bird species.
Let Phindas Rangers and Zulu trackers enlighten you through a morning game drive experiencing the incredibly beautiful landscapes and wildlife haven before returning back to the lodge for a well-deserved hearty breakfast. The rest of the day is spent at your own leisure.
Lunch is served on the deck overlooking the incredibly beautiful landscape.
Time to get excited with Phinda Adventures such as specialist walking and tracking safaris, a sleepout under the stars, and other optional participative conservation experiences such rhino notching, elephant collaring or pangolin tagging should you wish.
Dinner is served under the African night skies.
Main Destination: Phinda Private Game Reserve (KZN Parks)
Accommodation: &Beyond Phinda Mountain lodge
Luxury lodge located inside Phinda GR (KZN Parks)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)
A safari never ends without having to do a morning game drive on the day of departure capturing those last photographic moments. Let the Phindas Rangers and Zulu trackers enlighten you with the spectacular wildlife viewing before returning back to the lodge for breakfast.
Checkout, while your driver will be waiting at the lodge main area to meet and greet before departing homebound OR continuing onward with your journey through Southern Africa.
Add-on: Visit the iconic Cape Town viewing the amazing attractions on offer with the award-winning Cape Winelands on the doorstep tasting and pairing. OR perhaps connect to the awe-inspiring Vic-Falls, a 'Natural Wonder of the World' in Zambia and then hop over to Hwange National Park and experience the diversity of a wild safari experience in a different African country to relax at the tropical Mozambique beach lodge. There is something for everyone so journey with an African soul.
Main Destination: Phinda Private Game Reserve (KZN Parks)
Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Includes/Excludes
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 flights during the tour
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Cost Excludes
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$20.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
FAQs
Big5 Sabi Sand Greater Kruger & Phinda Reserve is renowned for its exceptional wildlife density, high-quality guiding, and diverse ecosystems. Sabi Sand is especially famous for its leopard sightings, while Phinda is known for its unique habitats—from sand forests to wetlands—that support rare species like cheetahs and black rhinos. Together, these reserves offer unmatched Big Five viewing, luxurious lodges, and intimate safari experiences with off-road driving rights for close-up encounters.
Yes. Big5 Sabi Sand Greater Kruger & Phinda Reserve offers many family-friendly lodges that provide child-specific programs, junior ranger activities, and flexible safari schedules. Some lodges have age restrictions for game drives, but many offer alternative activities like nature walks, kiddie safaris, and tailored learning experiences. The safety standards, trained staff, and private villas make these reserves ideal for multigenerational travel.
The dry season (May to October) is the peak time to visit Big5 Sabi Sand Greater Kruger & Phinda Reserve because animals gather around water sources, vegetation thins out, and visibility improves. However, the wet season (November to March) offers lush landscapes, migratory birds, newborn animals, and fewer crowds. Both seasons deliver excellent Big Five sightings, though photographic opportunities differ based on weather and light conditions.
Big5 Sabi Sand Greater Kruger & Phinda Reserve stand out due to their exclusivity, low vehicle density, and conservation-driven tourism model. Sabi Sand shares an unfenced border with the Greater Kruger, allowing wildlife to roam freely, while Phinda’s private reserve focuses on habitat restoration and endangered species reintroduction. Off-road tracking, expert guides, and intimate lodge settings create a more immersive experience compared to larger, busier national parks.
Big5 Sabi Sand Greater Kruger & Phinda Reserve offer a wide range of lodging options, from ultra-luxurious private villas with plunge pools to classic tented camps and stylish safari lodges. Guests can choose between romantic retreats, family-designed suites, or exclusive-use homes. These accommodations typically include all meals, guided game drives, nature walks, and optional cultural or conservation activities.
Yes, combining Big5 Sabi Sand Greater Kruger & Phinda Reserve in one itinerary is very practical and increasingly popular. Travelers can connect via scheduled flights, private charters, or road transfers depending on budget and preference. Many safari tour operators create seamless multi-reserve itineraries that showcase the contrasting ecosystems and wildlife highlights of both regions—leopards and Big Five in Sabi Sand and diverse biomes and rare species in Phinda—making the trip incredibly well-rounded and memorable.
