Safari in South Africa & Victoria Falls

Today, you’ll depart from your selectedairport, 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 4-star Kruger Gate hotel. The hotel is located on the Sabie River and offers colourful panoramic views of Kruger National Park.

Depending on when you arrive, you can spend the afternoon enjoying the fantastic views from the large communal terrace or the lookout tower – or relaxing by the pool.

The morning will be at your leisure. Have a lie-in, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and relax after your tour. If you are already ready to experience the African bush, you can instead add a game drive this first 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, ready to experience the wildlife at close quarters.

Kruger National Park has a long history. The area was established as a game reserve as early as 1898 and was granted National Park status in 1926. Today, covering around 20,000 km², Kruger is South Africa’s largest national park. The park stretches approximately 350 km from north to south and up to 65 km from east to west – leaving plenty of room for both animals and safari experiences.

And there is plenty to look out for. Kruger is home to around 146 species of mammal, approximately 520 bird species, and 120 species of reptile. Among the larger animals are around 11,000 elephants, 2,000 lions, 1,000 leopards, and tens of thousands of buffalo and zebra. There are also more than 150,000 antelope. In fact, there are so many different animals in the park that you can experience something new around every corner.

The landscape varies from open grasslands and rocky areas to lakes and waterways. As the afternoon progresses, many animals head towards the water to drink, and you may be lucky enough to see elephants cooling off in it. Your guide will keep an eye out for both large and small animals, while also knowing an important safari tip: where there are antelope, predators may be nearby. With a bit of luck, you may also spot a leopard – one of Kruger’s most elusive animals.

Back at the hotel, dinner awaits after a day filled with new impressions.

A game drive gives you the chance to experience Kruger’s wildlife from a safari vehicle, but today, you’ll discover the National Park from a completely different perspective – on foot. Once you leave the vehicle, the experience changes. You make your way through the bush with all your senses alert, and suddenly the small details become just as fascinating as the larger animals.

Early in the morning, you’ll be driven from the hotel to an area of Kruger National Park, where a guided bushwalk awaits.

Your ranger is trained to move through the wild on foot 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 plant has been nibbled. On a bushwalk, it isn’t just 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. Giraffes and zebras may be visible in the distance, and it’s fascinating to see how differently they react when you’re on foot rather than sitting in a safari vehicle. That’s why you must always follow your ranger’s instructions and keep a safe distance from the animals.

Bushwalks are not permitted for children under 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 add an optional excursion if you’d like to experience even more.

Full-day safari in Kruger National Park.

Wild animals are generally most active early in the morning and again later in the afternoon. That’s why you’ll set off from the lodge early, giving you the best chance of seeing as many animals as possible before they retreat to the shade to rest during the hottest part of the day. Because of the early start, the lodge will provide you with a breakfast pack, which you can enjoy at a suitable place and time. For lunch, you’ll stop in one of the authorised areas, where you’ll find both a café and a small shop.

You’ll be back at the lodge by the end of the day – hopefully with your camera full of fantastic shots!

Today, you’ll follow the Panorama Route through the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains, where dramatic cliffs, green mountainsides, and deep gorges create some of South Africa’s most impressive landscapes.

One of the highlights of the day is Blyde River Canyon. Up to 700 metres deep and 60 kilometres long, the canyon is considered the third-largest in the world. From the viewpoints along its rim, you’ll gain an impressive insight into the immense forces that have shaped the landscape over millions of years.

Along the way, you’ll experience attractions including God’s Window, where the view across the green lowlands is an experience in itself, the Three Rondavels, and the distinctive Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Over thousands of years, water and sand have eroded the rocks here, creating deep, cylindrical potholes. Walkways take you right up to this natural phenomenon and lead across the characteristic formations.

The Three Rondavels take their name from the three striking rock formations whose rounded shapes resemble traditional rondavels – the round huts that have been common in many parts of southern Africa.

The Panorama Route is also famous for its many waterfalls. Depending on the day’s route and conditions, you may experience Berlin Falls, where the water plunges around 150 metres into a lake, or Lisbon Falls, where the Blyde River divides before cascading 92 metres over the rocks. Your guide will choose which waterfall you visit on the day.

Along the way, you’ll stop in one of the small towns along the route. Here, you can buy lunch and perhaps find a souvenir to remind you of your day travelling through the dramatic landscape of the Drakensberg Mountains.

The day will be yours to spend as you please.

You’ll be picked up at the lodge and driven to Nelspruit Airport, where you’ll catch your flight to Victoria Falls.

In the arrivals hall, you’ll be met by a driver who will take you to your lodge. You’ll spend several nights here, giving you plenty of time to explore the fantastic surroundings.

Often, you’ll catch your first glimpse of the mighty Victoria Falls from the air. Spray rises several hundred metres above the falls, and you’ll immediately understand why the locals call them “Mosi-oa-Tunya” – the smoke that thunders. It really does look like smoke, but the rainbows dancing in the sunlight reassure you that it is, in fact, water.

Up close, the falls are almost otherworldly. More than 1,000 cubic metres of water per second cascade approximately 100 metres down into the basalt gorges of Batoka Gorge. The falls are 1.7 kilometres wide and form the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Standing in the spray created by these immense natural forces, which are at work every day, all year round, and around the clock, is both exhilarating and awe-inspiring.

Your days at Victoria Falls will be free for you to spend as you wish. However, we strongly recommend booking a couple of excursions in advance. The area is packed with attractions, history, culture, delicious food, exciting activities, and adrenaline-fuelled experiences. Places are often in high demand, so we recommend securing your spot ahead of time.

In our opinion, a helicopter flight over the falls is one of the finest experiences. It’s only from the air that you can see the falls in their entirety. We also highly recommend a visit to the Elephant Café – it’s an experience you’ll never forget, and the food is simply enchanting! A sunset cruise on the Zambezi River will stay vividly in your memory, while a train journey on The Royal Livingstone Express will transport you back to the colonial era. The choice is yours – but below you’ll find our suggestions for excursions.

Today, it’s time to say goodbye to wonderful Africa. You’ll be collected and driven to the airport, where you’ll fly home with connecting flights along the way.

You’ll land at your selected airport after an exciting and adventure-filled tour.