Essential Kruger Safari

Begin your adventure in Johannesburg – Jo'burg or Jozi to those in the know – a dynamic city where history, culture and creativity meet. Around 6pm-7pm, say howzit to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big South African welcome by arranging dinner at the hotel restaurant. Want to explore Johannesburg further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Rise early for breakfast, as we leave the hotel at 8am, our course set for Hazyview, a small farming town just outside Kruger National Park – ideally placed for our safari adventures! The drive can take up to six hours, but we stop en route for lunch.

Later this afternoon, we enjoy our first game drive in Kruger, keeping an eye out for zebras, giraffes, waterbucks and even the majestic elephant. At this time, the weather cools and predators, such as lions and leopards, start to get more active. After, we return to our hotel for dinner.

After our first safari, you'll be itching to get back into Kruger. Well, you won't have to wait long! We leave the lodge about 5am-5. 30am, allowing us to spot the animals when they're more active in the early morning. With the help of our expert guide, we should spot plenty of safari icons wandering around the South African bushveld.

We enjoy breakfast and lunch in the park – the rest camps have plenty of options for you. After lunch, we head even deeper into the park in search of more animals. Return to the lodge around 4pm, providing a bit of time to freshen up, perhaps with a dip in the hotel pool, before dinner.

Our day is split into two. In the morning, we lace up our hiking boots for a sunrise bush walk. Accompanied by two knowledgeable, armed trackers, set off quietly to follow the game, learning about their movements and the significance of certain marks or sounds. You will also learn how to identify plants and birds. After, we return to the lodge for lunch and a relax, before heading back into the park for an afternoon game drive.

Though wildlife tends to rest in the midday heat, the advantage of an afternoon safari is guides have information about earlier sightings and where they took place, so sightings will be more frequent. Watering holes are a popular spot during this time, as many animals look to cool down and nothing is more pleasing than watching elephants play in a river or mud pool. The later the day gets, and the closer it gets to the park's closing time, the better the chances of sightings become, as the animals become more active as the heat dissipates. Return to the hotel in time for dinner.

Rise early this morning for one last chance to see the wonderful wildlife of Kruger National Park. Again, the leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and lions are most active at this time of the day. We safari for around three hours before our breakfast break; after, we probably head to a waterhole to watch the animals quench their thirst before taking on the heat of the day. Finishing at midday for lunch, enjoying the rest of the day to relax, perhaps around the pool or in the garden lounge with a glass of wine to hand.

Having immersed ourselves in the wonders of Kruger, it's time to bid farewell to the great national park. Today is instead dedicated to exploring the Panorama Route, a famously scenic drive in the Mpumalanga province. It starts with a tranquil boat cruise on the Blyde River, surrounded by the stunning Blyde River Canyon. Glide past towering cliffs, lush greenery, and unique rock formations, such as the Three Rondavels.

We then jump in the vehicle to visit some of the other natural wonders of the Panorama Route, including the striking Bourke's Luck Potholes and God's Window, which provides sweeping views of lush forests, waterfalls, and the lowveld below. We also head to Graskop Forest, where we ride the Viewing Lift, a 167ft (51m) ascent into the heart of the Afromontane forest. The glass walls provide excellent views over the Drakensberg Escarpment. At the top, you can take part in optional activities, such as a thrilling zipline experience or a cliff walkway.

The adventure ends in Hazyview today, and we begin our return journeys home. Alternatively, if you'd like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.