| Starts | Johannesburg, South Africa |
|---|---|
| Ends | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Region | Africa |
| Duration | 6 days |
| Tour Operator | Peregrine |
Itinerary
Day 1 - Starting: Johannesburg & Finishing: Johannesburg
Welcome to South Africa. This Independent Experience begins in Johannesburg, where on arrival you’ll be met by a Peregrine representative and transferred to your hotel (approximately 45 minutes). You’ll have the rest of the day to settle in and spend at your leisure. Get some rest tonight, as there’s an early start and a long day of travel tomorrow. Notes: You may hear of the opportunity to see or interact with Lion Cubs within the Guernsey Private Nature Reserve. We recommend that Peregrine travellers bypass this activity, as it is contrary to Peregrine’s Responsible Travel guidelines. Professional wildlife conservation organisations, including Born Free and the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA), advise that habituating lions to humans can shorten their life and may result in lion-human conflict issues. While there is some merit in the argument that the money that you pay for the activity goes towards lion research, we feel that the negative impacts on the lions' rehabilitation far outweigh this.
Day 2 - Starting: Kruger National Park & Finishing: Kruger National Park
Your Kruger adventure begins between 5:30am and 6:00am this morning. Leaving Johannesburg, ‘The City of Gold’, behind you will head for Greater Kruger National Park, arriving just in time for lunch. Your accommodation for the evening will be an intimate lodge tucked into the Greater Kruger, facing a waterhole with a breath-taking view of the bush and the Drakensberg Mountains. The lodge also offers a cosy bar, perfect for chatting with the other guests over a drink or two. There is also a crystal-clear swimming pool for a refreshing post-safari swim. One thing that makes the lodge stand out is the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff, who are committed to making your stay memorable. In the afternoon you'll be taken to a neighbouring game reserve for your first open 4x4 vehicle game drive by spotlight. This is a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of the elusive animals that operate after dark. Notes: Today’s total driving time is approximately 8-9 hours, including stops. Your transfer from Johannesburg to Greater Kruger National Park will be a shared transfer and you will likely be joined by other passengers, including those from our sister brand Intrepid. Your afternoon game drive within the Private Game Reserve may also be shared with other lodge guests.
Day 3 - Starting: Greater Kruger National Park & Finishing: Greater Kruger National Park
You will wake early today and head into the park itself. Upon entry you’ll find yourself in prime game viewing territory, perched to catch a glimpse of the ‘Big Five’. Enjoy breakfast at one of the picnic spots within in the park, fuelling you for the full day of game viewing ahead. You will continue through the park, stopping off at various points and waterholes to observe the incredible animals go about their daily life. One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including significant populations of all the members of the ‘Big Five’ – lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhino. The endangered African wild dog, herbivores like hippo, zebra, giraffe and numerous different types of antelope also enjoy the park’s rich mosaic of habitats, including savanna, mixed acacia woodland, rocky hills and mopane woodland. You will return to the lodge in the late afternoon, where you can enjoy an evening of relaxation. Notes: Your game drive within Kruger National Park will be a shared game drive. You will be accompanied by other guests from the lodge.
Day 4 - Starting: Blyde River Canyon & Finishing: Blyde River Canyon
You will head to the Drakensberg Escarpment today. Travelling along the Panorama Route, you will experience some of the most glorious scenery in South Africa. The route in Mpumalanga province is one of the world’s great driving roads, home to mountain peaks, huge canyons and fertile valleys, rivers and massive caves. The views are spectacular throughout, with each corner turned bringing a new breath-taking vista, but a few of the sights stand out. God’s Window is an amazing viewpoint at the southern end of the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, with vistas of lushly verdant cliffs plunging hundreds of metres down into the valley. The canyon is the third largest in the world and also the greenest, with the bright-green subtropical plant life said to be reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, hence the viewpoint’s nickname. Bourke’s Luck Potholes are incredible natural sculptures shaped by water and time. The Treur River cascades down to join the Blyde River and, thanks to underwater obstacles that creates high-powered vortexes, stunning cylindrical potholes have been eroded in the beautifully coloured rock. After a full day of exploration, you will return to the lodge to relax by the fire. Notes: Your Panorama tour will be a shared tour. You will be accompanied by other guests of the lodge. Total driving time today is approximately 8 hours.
Day 5 - Starting: Greater Kruger National Park & Finishing: Greater Kruger National Park
Today is your final day at the lodge, so you will have a free day to enjoy it. If you’re interested in something other than soaking up the atmosphere at the lodge, then today is a great opportunity to return to the park on a day trip for more wildlife spotting, seeking out any of the Big Five that you might not yet have seen. Tonight you will enjoy an outdoor dinner on the deck at the lodge. The deck overlooks the pool and small watering hole which often attracts giraffe and zebra.
Day 6 - Starting: Greater Kruger National Park - Johannesburg & Finishing: Greater Kruger National Park - Johannesburg
It is another early start today for a guided bush walk in the area, where you’ll learn some interesting details about the natural world, including identification of trees, spoors (the tracks or scent of an animal) and birds. You’ll transfer back to Johannesburg after your morning safari walk. There's plenty of time to stop and explore along the way. Take in amazing views at the viewpoint over the awesome Blyde River Canyon and see the pointed peaks of the Three Rondavels. Upon arrival back in Johannesburg, you will be dropped at your nominated hotel or directly to the airport for any onward travel. If you are planning to depart Johannesburg today for an international destination, please ensure that your flight is later than 10pm. Notes: Your transfer from Greater Kruger National Park to Johannesburg will be a shared, as will as your morning game walk. Total driving time today is approximately 8 hours.
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