Trip Info
-
normal 4x4 vehicle, open-sided 4x4 vehicle & minivan
-
2-20
-
To be provided for during the trip
-
Johannesburg
-
game drives, walking safaris
-
English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic
-
To be provided for during the trip
Overview
This week-long safari package invites you to explore the Balule Private Nature Reserve as well as the Kruger National Park. You will spend your nights at the premium Ku Sungula Safari Lodge inside Kruger, enjoying comfort between adventures. A skilled, enthusiastic guide will join you on open-air safari drives, explaining bush ecology and helping you spot the park’s resident wildlife.
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.
- Not for solo travelers: Solo travelers cannot book this private tour.
- Minimum age of 12 years: The minimum age for this tour is 12 years.
Itinerary
Today the adventure begins! In the morning, you take a flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival, the driver from our partner public shuttle service will be waiting for you at the OR Tambo Airport bus terminal. The pickup time is 07:45 AM local time. The shuttle arrives arround 13:20PM at Olifants West Gate endpoint, where one of our guides will be waiting to take you to Ku Sungula Safari Lodge. After a warm welcome, you check in, and it's time for a delicious lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, our guide and tracker will take you on your first game drive, exciting! Keep your camera and binoculars ready because the game drives go off-road and take you as close as possible to the animals. Once back at the lodge, a delicious dinner awaits you.
Main Destination: Olifants West Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accommodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
Luxury lodge located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
You know you can't leave Africa without having seen elephants. So that's exactly what we're doing today! Today's plan includes not one but two exhilaratating game drives in the Olifants West Nature Reserve. This is the home of, as you may have guessed it, elephants. And so much more! As the early morning sun paints the horizon with hues of gold, we depart from the lodge to the Olifants River Valley within the reserve. Tucked away along the western border of Kruger National park, a piece of paradise awaits. Prepare to be spellbound by the breathtaking landscapes, the untouched wilderness, and the diverse array of wildlife that calls this place home. You'll peer carefully at the waterholes in hopes of spotting leopards. After the morning safari, breakfast back at the lodge will be a welcomed must. In the evening, we'll be returning to the reserve once more. Be extra quiet and experience the interactions of the animals, from the haunting howls of hyenas to the thunderous roars of lions.
Main Destination: Kruger National Park
Accomodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
Luxury lodge located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
All meals included
Recovered from your flight and first adventure, it's time for the real deal. You wake up early for a long day in Africa's most famous wildlife park; Kruger National park. Accompanied by our professional guide, you leave the lodge for a thrilling ride trough the beautiful landscapes. What rustles there in the tall grass? After breakfast at one of the picnic spots in the park, the jeep safari really begins. You go in search of the legendary Big Five: the buffalo, leopard, elephant, lion and rhino. But there is so much more to see. The park is rich in a huge variety of different types of birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and even trees. You'll be amazed! We'll have lunch and dinner at one of the Kruger Park camps where you'll be staying for this night. We have reserved a bungalow for you at one of the Kruger Rest Camps, right in the middle of the green oasis.
Main Destination: Kruger National Park
Accommodation: Satara Rest Camp
Mid-range rest camp located inside Central Kruger NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
You wake up to the sound of birds chirping, and is that a zebra in the distance? It's your last day in Kruger National Park, so you're up early again. Today, we return to the Ku Sungula Safari Lodge, but not before having a good breakfast in the camp and making a beautiful journey through the nature reserve. Perhaps you are in the right place at the right time and spot the rare black rhino! In the early afternoon, you arrive at the Ku Sungula Safari Lodge with a festive welcome: an extensive lunch. After that, there's time for a small break to recharge your batteries, including those of your camera. And that is necessary because in the afternoon, you go on another spectacular game drive until dusk. You return to the lodge in time for a tasty dinner.
Main Destination: Olifants West Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accommodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
Luxury lodge located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
While the bush is still asleep, you prepare for a morning safari. The guide and tracker first tell you all about the environment and animals. Armed with this information, you search for traces of wildlife during the game drive. During the ride, we stop for a short coffee break with a stunning sunrise as backdrop. After the morning game drive, you return to the lodge, where the smell of a delicious breakfast awaits you. Time for a break: do absolutely nothing, review the photo's you've taken, or call your family ('it's incredible here!'). And it continues to be just as relaxing in the afternoon, when we depart for the Olifants river boat trip. Here, you get up close to wildlife on the Olifants River boat trip. During the 3 hours trip enjoying the views, and observing the various wildlife on the green riverbanks. Crocodiles, hippos, elephants and waterbucks are frequent guests in this area. Back at the lodge, our chefs prepare a fantastic dinner for you in our boma.
Main Destination: Balule Private Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accomodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
Luxury lodge located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
All meals included
Today, the impressive Panorama Route is on the agenda. Beautiful natural wonders, waterfalls and breathtakingly beautiful vistas live up to the name of this route. We visit as many viewpoints and sensational landscapes in the area of the Panorama Route as possible. There is much to see, so we have lunch on the way. When the day is done, you return to the lodge, where you enjoy an appetizing evening meal lovingly prepared by our chefs.
The Panorama Route runs along one of the largest forested areas in the northeastern province of Mpumalanga and centers around the Blyde River Canyon, the third-largest canyon in the world. The route begins at the foot of the Long Tom Pass, descends to the Lowveld Plains, and ends near the border with the Limpopo province. Along the route, you'll come across multiple waterfalls and a few unique natural phenomena, such as the Bourke's Luck Potholes rock formations, the grass-covered mountains of the three rondavels, and the God's Window lookout point.
Main Destination: Panorama Route (Highlight)
Accommodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
Luxury lodge located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Early rise! Greet the new day with a bush walk, in the morning, you will take a final safari on foot, accompanied by an experienced and armed guide. During the bush walk, the guide will share their knowledge while your nose fills with the scent of crushed wild grass as you make your way through the bushes. You will learn about tracking, animal behavior, and the ecosystem of the bush. Smell and taste the wild herbs, learn traditional customs, and explore the smaller wonders of the bush.
After the morning safari, an extensive breakfast will be waiting for you at the lodge. Then it's really time to say goodbye. The shuttle bus to Johannesburg airport departs around 10:45Am, and you arrive in Johannesburg between 17:00-18:00 PM. From there, the connecting flight home departs, and you will land the next day with a suitcase full of beautiful memories.
Main Destination: Johannesburg Airport (Johannesburg)
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 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$10.00 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 Safari Experience Bush and Buffalos stands out because it immerses you in one of Africa’s largest and most diverse ecosystems. You get close encounters with buffalo herds, Big Five sightings, vast bush landscapes, and guided game drives led by expert rangers who understand animal behavior and the park’s unique ecology. Unlike smaller reserves, Kruger offers expansive terrain, a wide variety of habitats, and an authentic, wild safari atmosphere.
During the Kruger Safari Experience Bush and Buffalos, you’ll likely encounter the iconic Big Five—buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant, and rhino—along with giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, and countless antelope species. Buffalo sightings are particularly memorable as large herds move through the bush, often creating dramatic scenes at watering holes. The park is also home to over 500 bird species for bird lovers.
Yes, the Kruger Safari Experience Bush and Buffalos is family-friendly, offering safe, guided game drives designed to educate and entertain guests of all ages. Many lodges provide child-friendly activities, junior ranger programs, and flexible safari schedules. However, some accommodations have age restrictions for open-vehicle game drives, so it’s wise to check before booking.
The Kruger Safari Experience Bush and Buffalos can be enjoyed year-round, but the dry winter season (May–October) is ideal for wildlife viewing. During this period, animals gather around water sources, vegetation is thinner, and temperatures are cooler, making buffalo and predator sightings more frequent. The summer (November–March) offers lush landscapes, baby animals, and excellent birdwatching, though with hotter temperatures and occasional rain.
For the Kruger Safari Experience Bush and Buffalos, pack lightweight neutral-coloured clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a warm layer for early morning drives. Binoculars and a good camera are essential for capturing buffalo herds and other wildlife. Bringing a reusable water bottle and personal medications is also recommended. Most lodges offer laundry services, so you don’t need to overpack.
The Kruger Safari Experience Bush and Buffalos is very safe when you follow ranger instructions and lodge guidelines. Guests remain in secure vehicles during game drives, and professional guides are trained to handle wildlife encounters responsibly. Within lodges and camps, safety measures such as monitored pathways, night escorts, and restricted access areas ensure a secure experience. As long as you respect the rules, your safari will be both thrilling and safe.
