ELEPHANT HERD
7-Day Kruger, Panorama Route and Private Game Reserve
*The package tours are strictly subject to availability
This tour offers the opportunity for safari-goers to experience the African bushveld on foot with armed trail guides. It encompasses some of the best of the Mpumalanga region with the scenic Panorama Route day tour, culminating with safaris in the Kruger National Park whilst in the luxurious Shalati Train over the Sabie River in the park.
Route
South Africa
(Day 1) – Start – Johannesburg
Day 1 – 3 – Klaserie Private Nature Reserve
Day 4 – Kruger National Park
Day 5 – 7 – Hazyview
Day 7 – End – Johannesburg
Tour Features
Activities & Transportation
Accommodation & Meals
| Day | Accommodation | Meals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 2 | Africa on Foot Camp Mid-range lodge inside Klaserie NR (Greater Kruger) |
Day 1: Dinner Included
Day 2: All Meals Included |
| 3 – 4 | Bambuu Lakeside Lodge Mid-range lodge near Hazyview (Town) |
Breakfast Included |
| 5 – 6 | Kruger Shalati – The Train on the Bridge Luxury lodge inside Southern Kruger National Park |
Day 5: Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 6: All Meals Included |
| 7 | End of tour (No Accommodation) |
Breakfast Included |
Arrival
Accommodation prior to the tour start date can be arranged at an additional cost.
Day 1
Arrival day – Road transfer
Guests will depart from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and be transferred via a scheduled shuttle service to Hoedspruit. Private transfers can be arranged at an additional cost.
Upon arrival in Hoedspruit, you will be collected by a guide and transported to your accommodation at Africa on Foot where you will have the opportunity to encounter the Big Five on your first guided sunset safari on an open safari vehicle.
Your safaris will be in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, a wildlife-rich region in the heart of the Greater Kruger. The Klaserie shares unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park.
The bar, boma and dining area provide a relaxed area for guests to swap stories about their day in a friendly, comfortable and “real” safari camp, offering good food and a warm African atmosphere.
Accommodation:
Day 2
Africa on Foot
Morning walking safaris start at 06h00 and take roughly 3 hours. The walks are not strenuous and take place on flat ground. You will learn how to track wildlife, read the signs of the bush and learn about the various plant species. Walks are always weather-dependent. If it proves too risky then rangers will take guests out on a game drive instead.
During the day, guests can relax at their choice of 2 splash pools – one sits adjacent to the treehouse on the perimeter of the camp, and the other is inside the camp. Both pools are a major drawcard for elephants, so don’t be surprised if you spot a few giants during peak safari season!
The afternoon sunset safari takes place in open 4×4 vehicles, allowing unhindered views and perfect for photographic and video opportunities. The safari commences at 16h00. We return to the camp at around 19h00 in time for a boma dinner around the campfire.
Accommodation:
Day 3
Sunrise bush walk – Hazyview activities
We take one last bush walk in the Klaserie Game Reserve taking in the sights, sounds and smell of the Africa bush before enjoying a hearty breakfast back at camp.
After breakfast, we head for Hazyview where we can enjoy the afternoon at leisure. You can also opt to experience the thrill of Mpumalanga’s longest aerial cable trail, a 1.2km trail that takes about 2.5 hours to complete, comprising of 8 ziplines and 10 platforms.
Alternatively, we can explore the Graskop Gorge. Whilst the lift, which travels 51m down the cliff face of the Graskop Gorge, was a feat of engineering skill to construct, it is the Afromontane forest below that is at the heart of this development. The trail has several interpretation exhibits and includes information about the forest, its biodiversity, water conservation, birds and insects. The interpretation trail takes about an hour to complete and has several stairs and steep inclines.
Accommodation:
Day 4
Panorama Route tour
The Panorama Route offers a kaleidoscope of breathtaking scenery, natural beauty and African diversity. We visit well-known sites on this tour in an air-conditioned vehicle with a qualified guide who has good knowledge of the area. Spectacular views of the Blyde River Canyon and over the endless Lowveld beyond will not disappoint. We take you along the edge of the escarpment to look-out points offering magnificent views including God’s Window, Wonderview and the Three Rondawels. Along the route, we visit the famous Bourke’s Luck Potholes – deep cylindrical cavities formed by thousands of years of water erosion at the confluence of the Blyde and Treur Rivers.
At lunchtime, we will stop in Graskop to enjoy lunch at a restaurant, and, if time permits, browse the many curio stalls and shops in this little village. South of Graskop where the Sabie River rises, there are many beautiful waterfalls that we will visit whilst making our way back to Hazyview.
Accommodation:
Meals & Beverages:
Day 5
Kruger National Park
Have a relaxed start to the day with a leisurely breakfast on the deck overlooking the Bambuu Lodge Lake. Our staff can advise you of activities available should you wish to occupy your free time before heading out.
We then move on to experience the Kruger Park from one of the luxurious Train Carriage suites which will provide a deeply visceral experience, tailored for immersive comfort on the historic bridge. Here, the very first visitors to the park had a pioneering stay within the carriages following a night of feasting, performance and tales from times long gone. Kruger Shalati offers opulent accommodation with an elevated perspective high above the riverbank.
Your afternoon will be rounded off with a 3-hour sunset safari into the Kruger National Park.
Accommodation:
Meals & Beverages:
Day 6
Kruger National Park
Have an early start for your 3-hour morning safari, leading up to a scrumptious breakfast back on the train.
A Kruger National Park safari features on top of many people’s bucket list of things to do. Game viewing from open safari vehicles in the Kruger National Park has to be one of the ultimate safari experiences in Africa.
You can relax while relying on the skills of your highly experienced and skilled guide to ensure a truly authentic safari experience. An early start allows for sufficient time to appreciate an overview of this iconic destination. The guides are dedicated to and passionate about the bush and all it has to offer, from the more than 500 bird species, 147 mammal species, 110 reptile species as well as the numerous bugs and insects.
Enjoy a day of leisure followed by a late afternoon sunset safari to culminate the day, before heading back to the train for the evening festivities and dinner.
Accommodation:
Meals & Beverages:
Day 7
Sunrise safari & Transfer to the airport
This is your final early morning start as we ready ourselves for the final sunrise safari on the open safari vehicles in the hope of finding any animal species that may have eluded us during your stay.
After the safari, we head back to the train for a hearty breakfast in preparation for the day’s travels to your next destination.
Your guide will meet you at the Train Station for the road transfer to the pickup point in Hazyview to meet the mini-bus shuttle to OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg.
Accommodation:
Meals & Beverages:
End of tour
Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
You’ll be dropped off at the airport.
Important to Know
Rates Per Person
| Single – 1 room | 2+ people – Sharing rooms |
|---|---|
| n/a* | Price on Request |
*n/a = not available. This tour is unavailable for single travelers.
Included
Excluded
All Air Fares
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour, if required
Gratuities (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or Kruger National Park fees
Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)