DAY 1: Meet your group the evening before the trip begins at the Emerad Guest House close to Johannesburg International Airport. Participants can take the free shuttle from the airport to the Emerald Guest House and meet group leader in the hotel lobby upon arrival. Room reservations and cost will be covered by Wilderness Inquiry, meals prior to DAY 1 will be on your own.
DAY 2: Get acclimated to the area and drive from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park. Typically we enter the park the south, at the Malelane Gate and spend the first night at Berg-en-Dal rest camp. This is about a 6-7 hour drive. At the Park entrance, stop at the bridge over the Crocodile River and have your first close look at wild Africa.
DAY 3: Take your own safari drive in the park looking for animals and birds. Berg-en-Dal has a nature trail on its perimeter with lots of large animals on the other side of the fence. There is even a swimming pool for lounging around. Wildlife to seek: Rhino, Leopard, Klipspringer, Scarlet-chested Sunbird and Cape Buffalo.
DAYS 4 - 5: Travel to Skukuza camp. This is the main camp within Kruger National Park. It is situated on the banks of a small river teeming with hippos and crocodiles. This camp has a charming restaurant and a native crafts shop. Wildlife to seek: Elephant, Lion, Hippopotamus, Nile Crocodile, and Martial Eagle.
DAYS 6 - 7: Travel to Shingwedzi, which lies in the central part of the park. You will drive one of the most rewarding and scenic drives in the Park, following the Shingwedzi River. Waterbuck, nyala, kudu and elephant are often seen along this route, and the bird life is prolific. Wildlife to seek: Giant Eagle Owl, Elephant, Spotted Hyena, and the Secretary Bird.
DAYS 8 - 9: Move to Satara, an excellent game viewing area, where the bush is relatively open and the animals are plentiful and diverse. The camp is well wooded and the bird-life is varied. This is a good camp for taking a bush walk or a guided game drive. Wildlife to seek: Warthog, Lion, Giraffe, Blue Wildebeest, Marabou Stork, Goliath Heron and Zebra.
DAYS 10: Head to Lower Sabie, a small, delightful camp situated in the southeastern corner of Kruger National Park. This camp is located on the banks of a river, where the snorts of hippos will keep you awake all night. Visit a secluded game blind to sit quietly and view rare species of birds and animals. Wildlife to seek: White Rhino, Giraffe, Spotted Hyena, Kudu, and Hoopoe Bird.
DAYS 11-12: Begin the return to JNB. Put up tents in a secluded private camp and have a final dinner in an exceptional local restaurant. In the morning to return to Johannesburg International Airport. If time permits, take a tour of Joburg and Soweto, with a visit to the childhood home of Nelson Mandela. |
