If you want to experience all that the Kruger Park has to offer, our Best of Kruger safari is for you. We spend 5 days exploring South Africa's greatest game reserve, staying in 2 different camps and traversing different habitats and vegetation zones. This will give you opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife, not only on the game drives but also on foot, as a guided bush walk is included. The safari also includes a night drive on an open safari vehicle with spotlights, conducted by one of the Kruger Park's rangers.

Accommodation is normally in comfortable 2-bed bungalows with en-suite bathroom/shower and air-conditioning. Larger family units may also be available, upon request. The bungalows are cleaned and serviced daily with fresh linen and towels.

The safari can depart from Johannesburg on any day of the week as you request, subject to availability. Transfers are done in a luxury air-conditioned minibus, and game drives are conducted on a specially designed open safari vehicle, with an expert guide. All game drives and activities mentioned below are included in the tour price.

Day 1:
Departing from Johannesburg airport or surrounding hotels at around 08h30, we take the scenic route through Mpumalanga province to the entrance of the Kruger National Park. Here we transfer to an open safari vehicle, and game viewing begins as soon as we enter the gates. We should see a number of different antelope species and perhaps some of the big 5 already on our way to our first camp, where we arrive by sunset. After dinner in the camp restaurant, your guide may set up a powerful telescope and take you on a fascinating guided tour of the night sky (weather permitting). This is included free of charge on some of our safaris.

Day 2:
We rise before the sun and embark on a morning game drive in the Kruger National Park, in search of animals like giraffe, zebra, baboons and of course the big 5 - lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. These are known to be the 5 most dangerous animals to hunt, but we get to view them up close from the safety of our open safari vehicle. While looking for wildlife we visit waterholes, lookout points and beautiful picnic spots, stopping at regular intervals so you can stretch your legs and enjoy some refreshments. On some safaris, we visit the waterhole where the famous Battle at Kruger video was filmed. After a delicious breakfast at a picnic site in the bush, we return to the camp around lunchtime, where you can spend the hot midday hours relaxing at the pool, browsing through the curio shop or watching animals from the deck. Late afternoon, after an early dinner in the camp restaurant, we embark on a sunset/night drive on an open safari vehicle equipped with spotlights, looking for those elusive nocturnal animals like lions, leopard and hyena.

Day 3:
Today you can choose whether to sleep in, or join the guide on a short early morning game drive before returning to camp for a leisurely breakfast. After breakfast we pack up and head out on a full day game drive toward our next camp. The trip allows us to explore different areas of the Kruger Park, and takes us through a variety of different eco-zones, each with its own unique vegetation and associated wildlife species. Your expert guide will know what animals to look out for in each area and will be able to relay fascinating facts and stories about the bush around you. We arrive at our next camp by late afternoon, and after getting settled in your new bungalow we enjoy a relaxed evening around the fire, with dinner in the form of a traditional South African "braai" or barbecue, expertly prepared by your guide, a real feast under the stars (weather permitting).

Day 4:
This morning we explore the Kruger National Park on foot! Embark on a guided bush walk with an armed Kruger Park ranger, and experience the thrill of encountering Africa's wildlife on foot, with nothing between you and the animals. This activity is already included in your tour price but is not compulsory. For those who prefer to stay in a vehicle, the guide will take you out on a morning game drive instead. We return to camp to relax over lunchtime, perhaps taking time for a short siesta or a dip in the pool. Later in the afternoon, we head out again on another exciting game drive. As the sun starts to set and the day cools down, the animals tend to become more active again, making this a good time for game viewing. Dinner will be in the camp's buffet restaurant tonight.

Day 5:
This morning we pack up early and head out on a final early morning game drive in search of game that may have eluded us thus far. Breakfast is served at a picnic site along the way, and we exit the Kruger Park during late morning to begin our return journey back to Johannesburg, where we arrive by 17h00.

Included:
Comfortable bungalow accommodation with air-conditioning and private bathroom, breakfasts/brunch and dinners, refreshments (bottled water and soft drinks on all game drives), all open vehicle game drives and activities as described, including the bush walk and night drive, entrance fees and daily conservation fees, return transfers to Johannesburg airport or surrounding hotels.

Not included:
Flights, travel insurance, lunches, personal expenses, drinks, tips, optional extras.

Cost:
Priced from ZAR 9950 per person sharing.

To convert the rate to another currency, please visit www.oanda.com/currency/classic-converter.

How does this safari compare to other Kruger Park safaris one may find on the internet?
* We use an open safari vehicle (many other cheap safaris are conducted in closed vehicles, not open vehicles).
* The accommodation we use is inside the Kruger National Park (many cheap competing safaris are called Kruger safaris but are actually based at a cheap lodge outside the Kruger Park).
* We offer unlimited, flexible game drives. Typically our morning drive is 5 to 6 hours long, and our afternoon drive 3 hours. But if you want to stay out on game drive all day, you can.
* The biggest difference is the quality of the guides who lead our safaris. We use highly experienced, English speaking guides who are among the best guides on the region. The quality and experience of the guide makes a huge difference to the safari experience. (It is cheaper to use a young, entry level guide who is recently qualified and speaks poor English). I invite you to read some of our reviews on Tripadvisor.
* We avoid taking new people on board midway through a safari. (Many competitors do this in order to be flexible with the departure dates they can offer, but this affects the quality of the game drives and means the guide has to adjust his commentary and stops to accommodate the new people again).
* How does this safari compare to a safari at a private game lodge, for example in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve? We answer this on our FAQ page.
* As with all our safaris, there are NO HIDDEN FEES and NO CREDIT CARD SURCHARGE.

Departure dates:
Search below for a departure date that suits you and click on the link next to that date to send us an enquiry for that departure. If your dates are not flexible and you wish to request a departure on a specific date not mentioned below, please email us to request a custom departure.