Take in the awe-inspiring Panorama sites and indulge in a private game lodge. View the “Big 5” learn about local culture at a cultural village, view ancient Bushman paintings and enjoy an elephant interaction with Africa’s gentle giants.
This morning you will be collected from your Johannesburg hotel and head East towards Mpumalanga. A landscape dominated by mountains, forests and sub-tropical lowveld makes Mpumalanga one of the most cherished and sought after areas in South Africa.
Passing through the village of Dullstroom you will make your way to the Northern Drakensberg and onto the Panorama Route, nature’s own amusement park.
Here you will stop to admire one of the world’s biggest canyons, the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels, views at God’s Window, the 30m freestanding quartzite buttress, Pinnacle Rock and the impressive Lisbon Falls.
Enjoy lunch en route (own account). Arrive in the town of Sabie and check into your lodge, surrounded by mountains and forests. Freshen up before enjoying a relaxing dinner at the lodge.
Lone Creek River Lodge or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast
Today you will visit the Kruger National Park after interacting with Elephants and visiting a local cultural village.
After breakfast, make your way to Elephant Whispers on the banks of the Sabie River. Elephant Whispers is an elephant interaction venue that offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to connect with these intelligent titanic creatures.
The elephants vary in age, from 9 to 26 years and were rescued by Elephants for Africa Forever (EFAF) from planned culling operations.
A short drive later, you are welcomed by the villagers of the Shangana Cultural Village. Experience the Shangaan traditions and attire, meeting the village’s Chief and Sangoma. Lunch en route (own account).
Head onto the grand attraction, the Kruger National Park. The park is one of the largest and most successful conservation areas in the world. Enjoy a guided afternoon closed vehicle game drive, pursuing the “Big 5” and other rare and endangered species.
End the day at your hotel where you can freshen up before dinner. Let the bushveld sounds and smells indulge you while enjoying a boma styled dinner by firelight (weather permitting).
Protea Hotel Kruger Gate or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast
After breakfast, journey through the magnificent expanses of the Kruger National Park.
The Kruger National Park balances flat bushveld with rolling savanna, protecting a spectacular and world re-known diversity of fauna and flora.
Your route will take you to Skukuzu, exiting through Malelane Gate on towards Mthethomusha Game Reserve, on the southern border of the Kruger National Park, where you can enjoy lunch (own account). Set against the pristine Malelane Mountains, with the “Big 5” wandering its 8,000 ha land, is the Mthetomusha Game Reserve.
A place where ancient paths were once trekked by the first people of Africa, the San Bushmen. Enjoy a late afternoon open vehicle game drive with a professional guide who will have you traversing through the reserve searching for friends and foe in the wild and viewing an exhibition of more than 200 San rock paintings discovered on the property.
Return from the bush, freshen up and relax with pre-dinner drinks (own account). Enjoy a dinner of mixed Pan-African cuisine.
Bongani Mountain Lodge or similar – dinner, bed and breakfast, including two game viewing activities
Before savouring breakfast you will have another opportunity to spot and photograph the game on an open vehicle morning game drive. Departing Mthetomusha Game Reserve we travel to Kaapsehoop, a mountain village with a storybook charm.
Enjoy the lovely views of the De Kaap Valley Mountains while having lunch (own account) at the reserve. Staying off the beaten track we continue our journey onto Kaapsehoop.
The population of wild horses that roam the surrounding forest and often trot into the town to graze in the locals’ gardens has been part of Kaapsehoop for over 100 years.
The town began as a miner’s camp in 1882, then changed to a thriving forestry village, but grew very little in size. The population of horses outnumbers the human inhabitants.
A scenic drive through Mpumalanga sees us back in Johannesburg, ending the tour at your hotel or at OR Tambo International Airport in the late afternoon.
