Trip Info
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open-sided 4x4 vehicle & minivan
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To be provided for during the trip
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Johannesburg
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game drives, evening/night game drives & walking safaris
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English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic
Overview
This tour allows adventurers to explore the African bushveld on foot, guided by armed and experienced trail rangers. It includes highlights of the Mpumalanga region, featuring a picturesque Panorama Route day excursion, and concludes with unforgettable Kruger National Park safaris while staying in the luxurious Shalati Train suspended above the Sabie River.
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.
- Can start any day: If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
- 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 14 years: The minimum age for this tour is 14 years.
Itinerary
Guests will depart from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and be transferred via a scheduled shuttle service to Hoedspruit. Private transfers can be arranged at an additional cost.
Upon arrival in Hoedspruit, you will be collected by a guide and transported to your accommodation at Africa on Foot where you will have the opportunity to encounter the Big Five on your first guided sunset safari on an open safari vehicle.
Your safaris will be in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, a wildlife-rich region in the heart of the Greater Kruger. The Klaserie shares unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park.
The bar, boma and dining area provide a relaxed area for guests to swap stories about their day in a friendly, comfortable and “real” safari camp, offering good food and a warm African atmosphere.
Main Destination: Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accommodation: Africa on Foot Camp
Mid-range lodge located inside Klaserie NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Morning walking safaris start at 06h00 and take roughly 3 hours. The walks are not strenuous and take place on flat ground. You will learn how to track wildlife, read the signs of the bush and learn about the various plant species. Walks are always weather-dependent. If it proves too risky then rangers will take guests out on a game drive instead.
During the day, guests can relax at their choice of 2 splash pools - one sits adjacent to the treehouse on the perimeter of the camp, and the other is inside the camp. Both pools are a major drawcard for elephants, so don’t be surprised if you spot a few giants during peak safari season!
The afternoon sunset safari takes place in open 4x4 vehicles, allowing unhindered views and perfect for photographic and video opportunities. The safari commences at 16h00. We return to the camp at around 19h00 in time for a boma dinner around the campfire.
Main Destination: Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accommodation: Africa on Foot Camp
Mid-range lodge located inside Klaserie NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
We take one last bush walk in the Klaserie Game Reserve taking in the sights, sounds and smell of the Africa bush before enjoying a hearty breakfast back at camp.
After breakfast, we head for Hazyview where we can enjoy the afternoon at leisure. You can also opt to experience the thrill of Mpumalanga’s longest aerial cable trail, a 1.2km trail that takes about 2.5 hours to complete, comprising of 8 ziplines and 10 platforms.
Alternatively, we can explore the Graskop Gorge. Whilst the lift, which travels 51m down the cliff face of the Graskop Gorge, was a feat of engineering skill to construct, it is the Afromontane forest below that is at the heart of this development. The trail has several interpretation exhibits and includes information about the forest, its biodiversity, water conservation, birds and insects. The interpretation trail takes about an hour to complete and has several stairs and steep inclines.
Main Destination: Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accommodation: Bambuu Lakeside Lodge
Mid-range lodge located near Hazyview (Town)
Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
Drinks not included
The Panorama Route offers a kaleidoscope of breathtaking scenery, natural beauty and African diversity. We visit well-known sites on this tour in an air-conditioned vehicle with a qualified guide who has good knowledge of the area. Spectacular views of the Blyde River Canyon and over the endless Lowveld beyond will not disappoint. We take you along the edge of the escarpment to look-out points offering magnificent views including God’s Window, Wonderview and the Three Rondawels. Along the route, we visit the famous Bourke’s Luck Potholes – deep cylindrical cavities formed by thousands of years of water erosion at the confluence of the Blyde and Treur Rivers.
At lunchtime, we will stop in Graskop to enjoy lunch at a restaurant, and, if time permits, browse the many curio stalls and shops in this little village. South of Graskop where the Sabie River rises, there are many beautiful waterfalls that we will visit whilst making our way back to Hazyview.
Main Destination: Panorama Route (Highlight)
Accommodation: Bambuu Lakeside Lodge
Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Panorama Route (Highlight)
Meals & Drinks:
Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
Drinks not included
Have a relaxed start to the day with a leisurely breakfast on the deck overlooking the Bambuu Lodge Lake. Our staff can advise you of activities available should you wish to occupy your free time before heading out.
We then move on to experience the Kruger Park from one of the luxurious Train Carriage suites which will provide a deeply visceral experience, tailored for immersive comfort on the historic bridge. Here, the very first visitors to the park had a pioneering stay within the carriages following a night of feasting, performance and tales from times long gone. Kruger Shalati offers opulent accommodation with an elevated perspective high above the riverbank.
Your afternoon will be rounded off with a 3-hour sunset safari into the Kruger National Park.
Main Destination: Kruger National Park
Accomodation: Kruger Shalati - The Train on the Bridge
Luxury lodge located inside Southern Kruger NP
Meals & Drinks:
Drinks not included
Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
Have an early start for your 3-hour morning safari, leading up to a scrumptious breakfast back on the train.
A Kruger National Park safari features on top of many people’s bucket list of things to do. Game viewing from open safari vehicles in the Kruger National Park has to be one of the ultimate safari experiences in Africa.
You can relax while relying on the skills of your highly experienced and skilled guide to ensure a truly authentic safari experience. An early start allows for sufficient time to appreciate an overview of this iconic destination. The guides are dedicated to and passionate about the bush and all it has to offer, from the more than 500 bird species, 147 mammal species, 110 reptile species as well as the numerous bugs and insects.
Enjoy a day of leisure followed by a late afternoon sunset safari to culminate the day, before heading back to the train for the evening festivities and dinner.
Main Destination: Kruger National Park
Accommodation: Kruger Shalati - The Train on the Bridge
Luxury lodge located inside Southern Kruger NP
Meals & Drinks:
All meals included
All drinks (Except for spirits/liquor)
This is your final early morning start as we ready ourselves for the final sunrise safari on the open safari vehicles in the hope of finding any animal species that may have eluded us during your stay.
After the safari, we head back to the train for a hearty breakfast in preparation for the day's travels to your next destination.
Your guide will meet you at the Train Station for the road transfer to the pickup point in Hazyview to meet the mini-bus shuttle to OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg
Main Destination: Kruger National Park
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)
- 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$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 most common and convenient way to combine Kruger, the Panorama Route and a Private Game Reserve is to start with the scenic drive along the Panorama Route, continue into Kruger National Park for a self-drive or guided safari, and then end with a luxury stay in a Private Game Reserve on Kruger’s western boundary. This order flows naturally because the Panorama Route lies on the way from Johannesburg to Kruger, and most Private Game Reserves offer exclusive, high-end game drives as a memorable finale.
Kruger offers vast landscapes where animals roam freely, and sightings depend on luck, patience and exploration. The Panorama Route itself is not for wildlife viewing but instead renowned for dramatic viewpoints like God’s Window and Blyde River Canyon. By contrast, a Private Game Reserve provides the most intimate wildlife encounters, with off-road tracking, highly trained guides, fewer vehicles at sightings and better chances of spotting the Big Five up close.
A balanced itinerary for Kruger, the Panorama Route and a Private Game Reserve is typically 5–8 days. Travellers often spend one full day exploring the Panorama Route, two to three days on safari inside Kruger National Park, and another two to three days in a Private Game Reserve to enjoy guided activities and a more exclusive bush experience.
Kruger, the Panorama Route and a Private Game Reserve each offer distinct accommodation styles. Kruger has national park rest camps with simple chalets, rondavels and self-catering units. The Panorama Route features guesthouses, lodges and boutique hotels near towns like Graskop and Hazyview. Private Game Reserves provide luxury safari lodges with all-inclusive meals, game drives, bush walks, and premium comforts such as pools, spas and personalised service.
In Kruger, the Panorama Route and a Private Game Reserve, you can enjoy a mix of adventure, sightseeing and wildlife experiences. Kruger offers game drives, self-drives and guided walks. The Panorama Route is ideal for canyon viewpoints, waterfalls, hiking and photography. In a Private Game Reserve, you can experience twice-daily game drives, night safaris, bush dinners and walking safaris led by expert rangers.
The dry winter months (May to September) are generally the best time to visit Kruger, the Panorama Route and a Private Game Reserve. Wildlife viewing in Kruger and the reserves is excellent due to thinner vegetation and animals gathering at water sources. The Panorama Route also offers clear skies and far-reaching views during this period, making it ideal for sightseeing and photography.
