Safari in South Africa & Cape Town

Today, you will depart from your selected airport, with connecting flights along the way.

Upon arrival in Johannesburg, South Africa, you will be met by our local partner, who will drive you to the four-star Kruger Gate hotel. The hotel is located by the Sabie River and offers colourful panoramic views of Kruger National Park.

Depending on what time you arrive, you can spend the afternoon enjoying the spectacular views from the large communal terrace or the viewing tower – or relaxing by the pool.

The morning will be yours to enjoy. Have a lie-in, take your time over breakfast, and settle in after your tour before your first safari experiences begin. If you are already eager to experience the African bush, you can book an optional game drive this morning.

Otherwise, your first game drive of the tour awaits this afternoon. You will enter Kruger National Park in a four-wheel-drive safari vehicle, giving you the perfect opportunity to experience the rich wildlife for which the park is famous.

Kruger National Park has a history dating back more than 100 years. The area was established as a game reserve in 1898 and became a national park in 1926. Covering around 20,000 square kilometres, Kruger is now South Africa’s largest national park. The park stretches approximately 350 kilometres from north to south and up to 65 kilometres from east to west, leaving vast areas to explore.

Kruger is home to an impressive number of animal species – around 146 species of mammals, 520 species of birds, and 120 species of reptiles. Elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, and zebras all live here, along with countless antelopes and smaller animals. This means you never quite know what might appear around the next bend.

The landscape ranges from open grasslands and rocky areas to lakes and streams, and as the afternoon progresses, many animals head towards the water to drink. You may be lucky enough to see elephants cooling off in the water, while your guide keeps an eye out for both the larger and more elusive animals. A good safari tip is to watch the antelopes – where there is prey, predators may be nearby. With a bit of luck, you may also spot a leopard, one of Kruger’s more elusive residents.

After the game drive, you will return to the hotel, where dinner awaits. Perhaps it is only then that you will have time to fully take in the day’s many impressions.

Today, you’ll experience the National Park from a completely different perspective – on foot. Early in the morning, you’ll be driven from the hotel to an area of Kruger National Park, where a guided bushwalk awaits.

As soon as you leave the vehicle, the experience changes. You’ll move through the bush with all your senses engaged, and suddenly the small details become just as fascinating as the larger animals.

Your ranger is trained to walk through the wilderness and will teach you how to read the landscape around you. You’ll learn to listen for sounds, follow animal tracks, and look out for signs of what has passed through the area. Perhaps you’ll find a fresh footprint in the ground or notice that a branch has been broken in an unusual way. On a bushwalk, it’s not only the larger animals that tell the story of life in the bush.

You may also be lucky enough to spot some of Kruger’s larger animals. You might see giraffes and zebras in the distance, and it’s fascinating to observe how differently they react when you’re on foot rather than sitting in a safari vehicle.

Bushwalks are not permitted for children under the age of 12.

Remember to read our practical information about the clothing requirements for a bushwalk.

You’ll be back at the hotel by late morning, and the rest of the day will be yours to enjoy. Relax by the pool, treat yourself to a massage in the hotel spa, or book an optional excursion if you’d like to experience even more.

Today, you’ll spend a full day on safari in Kruger National Park. You’ll set off from the lodge early, as the early morning is a wonderful time to be out on safari. Many animals are active before the heat of the day really sets in, while around midday they seek shade and rest.

Because of the early start, the lodge will provide you with a packed breakfast to enjoy along the way at a suitable spot. For lunch, you’ll stop at one of the park’s authorised areas, where you’ll find both a café and a small shop, before continuing your safari.

Did you know that Kruger National Park was actually named after Paul Kruger, who was president of the South African Republic in the late 19th century? Under his leadership, the area between the Sabie and Crocodile rivers was designated a protected game reserve in 1898 – the forerunner of what would later become Kruger National Park.

For the rest of the day, the focus is on experiencing the park from the safari vehicle. You never quite know what’s waiting around the next bend. Perhaps you’ll come across a herd of elephants, spot zebras and giraffes on the open plains, or catch sight of one of the shyer predators. Your guide stays in regular contact with other guides in the area, allowing you to help one another spot the animals.

At the end of the day, you’ll return to the lodge after many hours in the bush – hopefully with a camera full of wonderful photographs and a head full of new safari experiences.

Today, you’ll enjoy a full-day tour along the Panorama Route through the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains. The reddish cliffs stand in striking contrast to the green vegetation covering the mountains, and along the way, you’ll encounter some of South Africa’s most spectacular views.

One of the day’s highlights is Blyde River Canyon. Reaching depths of up to 700 metres and stretching for 60 kilometres, the canyon is considered the third-largest in the world. Along the canyon’s edge, you’ll stop at some of the most impressive viewpoints, including God’s Window, where the landscape opens out towards the lush lowlands, and the Three Rondavels. These three distinctive rock formations take their name from their rounded shapes, which resemble traditional rondavels – the round huts that were once common in many villages across southern Africa.

Around lunchtime, you’ll stop in one of the small towns along the Panorama Route. Here, you can buy lunch and have some time to stretch your legs before continuing through the mountain landscape.

The Panorama Route is also known for its many waterfalls, and during the day you’ll visit one of them. It could be Berlin Falls, where the water plunges around 150 metres into a lake, or Lisbon Falls, where the Blyde River splits in two before cascading 92 metres over an almost vertical cliff and joining together again in a single stream. There are many other waterfalls along the route, so your guide will decide which one you visit on the day.

Another spectacular stop of the day is Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Over thousands of years, water and sand have eroded the rock here, creating deep, cylindrical holes in the distinctive rock formations. You’ll get up close to this natural phenomenon via walkways that cross the unusual potholes – a fascinating example of how water can slowly shape even solid rock.

You’ll return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

The day will be yours to spend as you wish.

You’ll be collected from the lodge and driven to the airport, where you’ll board your flight to Cape Town.

In the arrivals hall, you’ll meet a driver who’ll take you to your hotel, where you’ll stay for the next few nights.

The hotel is centrally located, close to a wide range of attractions. It’s the perfect base from which to explore Cape Town and the many fascinating areas in and around the city.

The rest of the day will be at your leisure.

The next days will be yours to spend as you wish.

Cape Town is a fantastic city! Beautifully situated at the foot of the famous Table Mountain, it is easy to spend several days simply wandering around, taking in the city, enjoying the waterfront, and discovering its many historic sights and buildings, as well as its museums and excellent restaurants.

It is also highly recommended that you venture a little further afield. A guided day tour to the Cape of Good Hope is a wonderful experience. Along the way, you will stop at Boulders Beach, where you can see the adorable little penguins. The views from Chapman’s Peak Drive are also guaranteed to take your breath away.

A trip to the top of Table Mountain is practically a must when visiting Cape Town. Take the cable car up and enjoy the spectacular views over the city and out across the water. You can almost be certain of spotting one or two rock hyraxes up here, too.

The wine region around Cape Town is world-famous. On a day tour, you will visit Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek – and, of course, sample some of the golden drops.

Don’t forget Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. Former prisoners lead tours of the island, and it is certainly well worth a visit.

Below, you can see a selection of possible optional excursions. We recommend booking your excursions in advance to secure your place. Some of the excursions are particularly popular, and spots can be in high demand.

Today, it’s time to say goodbye to South Africa. You’ll be collected from your hotel and driven to the airport, where you’ll fly to your selected airport with connecting flights along the way.

You’ll land at your selected airport after an exciting and memorable tour.