South Africa is undoubtedly one of the most culturally and geographically diverse places on earth. Join our five-day tour and see its remarkably untamed wilderness and astonishing range of wildlife roaming freely through Kruger National Park, a massive unfenced game reserve. Get an insight of the Panorama Route and get amazed by the Blyde River Canyon.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Kruger National Park: The largest game reserve in South Africa, home to a variety of different species of wild animals, including the Big Five: elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo.
Blyde River Canyon: One of the most spectacular canyons in the world with beautiful mountainous backdrops and panoramic views of the Mpumalanga province.
Graskop: At an altitude of 1,400 m above sea level lies this small scenic mining town on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment. It is the ideal starting point from which to explore Mpumalanga’s highlights, such as Kruger National Park, Pilgrims Rest and the Blyde River Canyon.
Day 1: ARRIVAL JOHANNESBURG – HAZYVIEW (390km – 4hrs)
In the early morning (between 06:30-07:00 am) your Spanish speaking driver-guide will meet you either at Johannesburg Airport or at one of the airport hotels (5 km radius); pre-night in Johannesburg Airport is available as an optional extra, upon an additional cost. From there you drive to your accommodation. After your arrival, check-in and enjoy a light lunch (own expense) before departing on the first safari to Kruger National Park. Depart Johannesburg and enter the Mpumalanga Province. Fantastic sceneries, legends of various tribes, a huge diversity of flora and the fascinating world of animals make Mpumalanga to one of the main destinations for travellers. Not only Kruger National Park, but many more nature and game reserves offer homes and protection to an abundance of animals. Many coal mines are operating in the Witbank area. This region is home to the Ndebele people, well known for their artistic talents. They are well known for their colourful dresses, their beadwork and their beaded hoops. Their houses are decorated with geometrical patterns. Past Belfast and Lydenburg to the Long Tom Pass. It got its name from the Long Tom cannons used during the Anglo-Boer war. The original pass was a treacherous one with steep gradients hairpin bends and hair raising drops. It was originally the route followed by pioneer wagon drivers transporting goods from Mozambique to Lydenburg. The road leads into the village Sabie, found during the gold rush that swept through this area around 1880.
Overnight in Hazyview.
Day 2: HAZYVIEW – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – HAZYVIEW
Discover the wonderful wildlife of the Kruger National Park on this guided, full-day tour. In the early morning, meet with your ranger who will give you an introduction to the Kruger National Park. You drive in an open 4x4 vehicle and see animals on the way that are just waking up and those that end a night with hunting. If you're lucky, you'll encounter the Big 5 throughout the day. After your breakfast stop in one of the camps, the journey continues on various routes through the bush. Enjoy your lunch (own expense, clients can purchase at the Rest Camp inside the Park) in the shade before slowly returning to the departure point and enjoying the wonderful nature and its diverse inhabitants on the way. The Kruger National Park extends over almost 2 million hectares and borders on Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The ideal time for game viewing is in our winter (May to September) when the climate is mild and the landscape is dry and bare. With the first rains in November, nature comes to life again. This is also the time when most animals give birth to their young. The Kruger National Park offers an animal world that is one of the most diverse and impressive in Africa. In addition to the "Big Five", you can also observe giraffes, zebras, antelopes, warthogs and many species of birds on game drives.
Overnight in Hazyview.
Day 3: HAZYVIEW – PANORAMA ROUTE – HAZYVIEW
Breakfast will be served at the lodge, thereafter you will make your way to the Panorama Route. The Panorama Route includes a variety of scenery such as spectacular canyons, rugged mountains, misty waterfalls and tranquil lakes. Pilgrim’s Rest is the place where Gold was first discovered in 1837. Pilgrim’s Rest, a national monument that has maintained its historic appearance, captures the spirit of the era and gives a unique insight into the gold rush days. Many of the authentic buildings can be visited ranging from the modest house of a gold digger to the stately mansion of the director of the Transvaal Gold Mining Estate Ltd. The route passes Ohrigstad and leads into the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and Blyde River Canyon. The 26-kilometre long valley is one of the most important natural wonders of South Africa. Viewpoints, spanning several hundred meters down into the Canyon, are situated all along the Panoramic Route. North of the route lies the Three Rondavels, the Blyde River Canyon’s most striking feature. Huge rocks resemble mushrooms growing out of the mountain and are similar in appearance to traditional African round huts, namely Rondavels. Bourke’s Luck Potholes are a complex of smooth, cylindrical potholes and natural rock sculptures that have been hollowed out by water erosion through the Blyde River over millions of years. South of the route another spectacular viewpoint is named God’s Window. The seemingly endless views over-dense forests, the lush and fertile Lowveld and the Blyde River Canyon are magnificent.
Overnight in Hazyview.
Day 4: HAZYVIEW – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – HAZYVIEW
Early morning wake up call. You will depart on another safari to Kruger National Park. Discover the astonishing variety in wildlife at Kruger National Park on a guided game drive in an open 4x4 vehicle. The tour starts early in the morning with meeting the ranger and an introduction into Kruger National Park. Whilst driving to one of the camps, you will drive past many animals, some just waking up others finishing a busy night with tracking and hunting. With some luck, the Big 5 will make their appearance in the course of the day. After a breakfast stop, you continue your journey through the bush on various routes. Enjoy lunch (own expense) in the shade before driving back to your meeting point enjoying the wonderful nature and encounter inhabitants of the bush.
Overnight in Hazyview.
Day 5: HAZYVIEW – DEPART JOHANNESBURG (390km – 4hrs)
In the early morning, you go on a game drive one last time. Upon your return to the hotel at around 11:30 am, you will be transferred back to Johannesburg. The tour ends either at O.R. Tambo International Airport or at an airport hotel of your choice (5 km radius). Arrival in Johannesburg is between 5 pm and 6 pm. Please do not book domestic flights with a departure time before 7:00 pm or international flights with a departure time before 8:00 pm. It is recommended to stay overnight in Johannesburg, the extra night is available as an optional extra, upon an additional cost. If an extra night is booked the departure transfer to the airport is not included, also available as an optional extra, upon an additional cost.
Comfortable clothing is the most suitable for traveling to South Africa. For the game drives, couple of neutral-toned items will be useful, and a good pair of walking shoes is also advisable. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat, and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.
