Trip Info
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Open-sided 4x4 vehicle & minivan
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2-20
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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
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To be provided for during the trip
Overview
This six-day itinerary gives you the chance to explore both the Balule Private Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park in an exciting safari adventure. You’ll stay in comfort at Ku Sungula Safari Lodge, a luxury camp located within Kruger. A passionate guide will host your game drives in an open safari car, offering expert commentary on the wildlife and ecosystem you encounter.
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 13 years: The minimum age for this tour is 13 years.
Itinerary
Today the adventure begins! In the morning you take a flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival, the driver from the public shuttle bus service will be waiting for you at the OR Tambo Airport bus terminal. The pickup time is 07:45Am local time. The shuttle arrives around 13:20PM at the 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 we're doing today! Today's plan includes not one but two exhilarating 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 place 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 through 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 the next night. We have reserved a bungalow for you at one of the 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 sounds of birds chirping, and is that a zebra in the distance? It's your last morning in Kruger National Park, so you're up early again. Today, we return to 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 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 spectaculair 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)
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 public shuttle bus to Johannesburg Airport departs around 10:45 AM, and you will 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 Package Bush and Elephants Trip typically includes guided game drives, accommodation inside or near Kruger National Park, all park conservation fees, and meals depending on the package tier. Most packages also feature dedicated elephant-focused sightings, bush walks with trained rangers, and optional add-ons such as cultural village tours or sunset safaris. Transfers to and from the lodge may also be included depending on the provider.
The Kruger Package Bush and Elephants Trip usually runs for 2–4 days, with early-morning and late-afternoon game drives forming the core of the experience. Mornings often start before sunrise to maximize wildlife sightings, especially elephants. Midday is typically for rest, relaxing at the lodge, or enjoying amenities like pools and observation decks. Afternoons feature another game drive followed by dinner under the stars.
Yes, the Kruger Package Bush and Elephants Trip is family-friendly, although age restrictions may apply for bush walks. Game drives are generally safe for children, and many lodges offer family suites, kid-friendly meals, and junior ranger programs. Families can enjoy learning about elephant behaviour, animal tracking, and the general ecology of Kruger in an interactive way.
While the highlight of the Kruger Package Bush and Elephants Trip is focused time observing elephants in their natural environment, guests often encounter the Big Five—elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo—along with zebras, giraffes, hippos, and abundant birdlife. Your chances of spotting diverse wildlife are high thanks to experienced rangers familiar with wildlife movements and seasonal behaviours.
For the Kruger Package Bush and Elephants Trip, pack lightweight neutral-coloured clothing, comfortable walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a warm jacket for early mornings and evenings. Binoculars and a good camera are highly recommended for elephant sightings. Don’t forget personal medications, insect repellent, and a refillable water bottle. If visiting during the rainy season, a light raincoat is useful.
The Kruger Package Bush and Elephants Trip is considered very safe due to strict park regulations and professional guides trained in wildlife behaviour. Guests must follow safety briefings, remain inside vehicles during drives, and keep a respectful distance from elephants and other animals. Lodges typically have security staff and fenced or semi-fenced perimeters to ensure safety, especially at night.
