South AfricaBig Five
Kruger Big Five Safari - 5 Days
5 Days / 4 Nights
South Africa
Private Groups
$1,800per person
Overview
Experience South Africa's iconic Kruger National Park on this classic Big Five safari. Kruger is one of Africa's greatest wildlife sanctuaries, home to exceptional populations of lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalos. This safari combines game drives in Kruger with stays at comfortable lodges on the park's borders. Perfect for first-time safari-goers, the park offers excellent infrastructure, diverse wildlife, and the flexibility of self-drive and guided options.
This carefully crafted safari offers the perfect balance of game drives, authentic bush experiences, and luxurious comfort. Stay in exclusive tented camps positioned in prime wildlife areas, ensuring you're always at the center of the action.
Destinations on this Safari
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Day by Day
Depart Johannesburg early morning and drive east towards the Greater Kruger region. Optional scenic detour along the famous Panorama Route featuring the world's third-largest canyon at Blyde River, the dramatic viewpoint at God's Window overlooking the escarpment, and the curious potholes at Bourke's Luck carved by millennia of swirling water. Descend through the tunnel into the lowveld, the classic African bush of baobabs, fever trees, and thornveld. Arrive at your safari lodge on the border of Kruger National Park. After settling in, enjoy your first afternoon game drive as the golden light paints the savannah. Search for elephants, giraffes, zebras, and the predators emerging for their evening hunts.
Experience a full day in Kruger National Park, South Africa's flagship wildlife reserve spanning nearly 2 million hectares. Enter through one of the historic gates at dawn when predators are most active following nocturnal hunts. Kruger's road network allows access to diverse habitats - follow the rivers where elephants drink and hippos wallow, traverse the granite koppies where lions survey their territories, and explore the woodland where leopards drape in marula trees. Kruger supports the world's largest rhino population (both black and white species), over 12,000 elephants, 1,700 lions, and astounding biodiversity. Picnic lunch at a rest camp before continuing afternoon exploration. Return to your lodge as the sun sets.
Today explore different sections of Kruger to maximize wildlife variety. The southern region around Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge is renowned for high densities of general game and predators. The central region around Satara offers open savannah favored by lions and cheetahs. Your guide will choose based on recent sightings and your Big Five checklist. Morning game drive focuses on tracking any species not yet seen. Return for lunch and relaxation during the heat of the day - perhaps a swim or siesta. Optional night drive available (additional cost) - an exhilarating experience with spotlights revealing nocturnal hunters like leopards, hyenas, and owls. The African bush transforms after dark with different sounds and creatures.
Experience the African bush on foot with an armed ranger and tracker. Walking safari reveals a completely different world - suddenly you're part of the ecosystem, reading tracks in the sand, examining dung for dietary clues, identifying bird calls, and understanding how predators and prey coexist. You'll learn to read the bush like your guides do, noticing details invisible from a vehicle. Walking also brings you closer to smaller wonders: dung beetles rolling their precious cargo, colorful lilac-breasted rollers, and the intricate architecture of termite mounds. After returning for brunch, enjoy leisure time before a final afternoon game drive. Sundowner drinks in a scenic bush location watching the African sun set - a perfect farewell to the wild.
Rise early for one last game drive, perhaps finally spotting that elusive leopard or capturing perfect photographs in the soft morning light. The bush reveals different treasures each time - every safari moment is unique. Return to the lodge for a leisurely breakfast, sharing safari stories with fellow travelers. Check out and begin the drive back to Johannesburg. Optional stops at roadside curio markets offer authentic African crafts, carvings, and textiles at good prices. Arrive in Johannesburg mid-afternoon with time for connecting flights or overnight. Your Kruger safari concludes but the memories - elephant herds at sunset, lions on a kill, the vastness of the African bush - will last forever.
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