B L D refers to meals provided - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 1 Johannesburg - Kruger Park - Skukuza Camp

Departing at 07.00hrs. You travel east for four hours to the capital of Mpumalanga province called 'Nelspruit'. At Nelspruit you have an opportunity to do your last minute shopping, to stock up the cooler box with some drinks, film, snacks, insect repellents etc. We continue driving for one hour to the game rich southern region of Kruger Park and enter the park at Crocodile Bridge at approx 13.00hrs.

We spend the afternoon game viewing following the Sabi River. The animals tend to move towards the Sabi River in the afternoon to quench their thirst from the sun's heat - you see herds of Impala or Waterbuck drinking at the waters edge. A herd of Elephant cross the river, splashing, play fighting once they arrive on the far side. Crocodiles are seen basking in the afternoon sun; mouths open regulating their body temperatures. A grunt from a Hippo is heard, we find them in a shallow section of the river sleeping with the biggest male keeping an eye on his territory and his females. This first game drive up the Sabi River sets up what's yet to come.

Arriving at 'Skukuza' camp just before the entrance gates close for the evening, you check in, move into your chalet to freshen up, ready for your first safari dinner. Your dinner is prepared, cooked and served outside under the stars. Traditional South African meals are prepared giving you a taste of our delicious, barbeque cuisine. D

Day 2 Kruger Park - Satara Camp

The day starts early with a wake up call at 05.30hrs. At 06.00hrs the camp gates open so we can start the day's game viewing or we join a National Parks Board morning 'Walking Safari'. For the game drive, we visit Lower Sabi camp at approx 10.00hrs when it's time to have some breakfast and, of course, have a stretch.

On the way your Safari Ranger finds a Leopard walking on the edge of the road, marking it's territory by scenting trees and bushes. He's a big male, powerful. We slowly follow him as he proudly walks along the edge of the road. Later you see a White Rhino using a rubbing post then wanders off. Impala always next to or crossing the road. Three Lionesses on the road laying close to each other and then moving off into the bush. Later a Hyena crossed the road making it's way back to its den.

After breakfast at 'Lower Sabi' camp we continue game viewing, stopping off at water holes, following river lines, checking dams for the rest of the morning and early afternoon. Your Safari Ranger spots you lots of wildlife - a herd of Buffalo at a water hole, Eagles in the afternoon sky, Giraffes grazing off the acacia trees with their necks stretched to the limit. Birds are spotted all the time. We stop off at Nkombi lookout and enjoy this stunning view, seeing more Rhino in the distance. Zebra and Wildebeest grazing the open grass areas keeping a watchful eye out for predators. You see more Elephant passing near by.

We visit 'Tshokwane' picnic spot at approx 13.00hrs when it is time to have a cup of tea, have a stretch and use the toilet facilities. We continue game viewing, stopping off at water holes, following the river lines and checking dams for the rest of the afternoon - you see loads of different wildlife.

We arrive at 'Satara' camp at 16.00hrs. You check in. You then have a chance to check the curio shop, stock up with drinks and freshen up ready for your night drive, which departs from camp at 18.00hrs. A National Parks Board ranger in an open sided truck conducts the night drive, which lasts for approx three hours. On your return from your night drive at 21.00hrs your dinner would of been prepared, cooked and ready to be served outside under the stars. B D

Day 3 Kruger Park - Sabi Sand Reserve

The area around Satara is good for Cheetah. Our second morning is spent driving around a few road loops around Satara. Your Safari Ranger spends some time searching for this splendid animal, stopping off at a few open plain areas, water holes etc.

For breakfast, we stop off at a picnic site at approx 10.00hrs. For the rest of the morning, we continue game viewing on a few more loops in the Satara region, focussing on the Timbavati River loop, then making our way to 'Orpen Gate' where we leave Kruger Park. This area is good for all sorts of game with Elephant and Buffalo being most common.

From 'Orpen Gate' we head south to a private reserve the Sabi Sand Game Reserve. We pass through rural villages, stopping to ask to take photos of native life and culture. We continue towards Sabi Sands. After entering this reserve, we then make our way to camp. You check in, move into your chalet to freshen up, ready for lunch at approx 14.30hrs. After lunch, you have time for leisure - siesta, a swim or some socializing. At 16.00hrs afternoon tea and coffee is served. Afterwards, we make our way to the open 4 X 4 Land Rovers and start your afternoon game drive.

Being you're first open vehicle game drive your given a 5-minute safety talk by your game ranger. The tracker sits on the front of the Land Rover in his special trackers seat, checking for fresh tracks and spotting the wildlife for us as we drive around. During the night drives your tracker uses a powerful spotlight, swinging left and right searching for the nocturnal animals.

Your game ranger finds you all the general wildlife - Impala, Warthog, Giraffe and Waterbuck whilst making our way to a Lion Kill. During the morning a resident pride of 12 Lions (5 are cubs) had killed an adult Giraffe. We arrive and find all the Lions sleeping under a shady tree with Vultures filling the surrounding trees, waiting in anticipation. The Vultures had been arriving all day. The big dominant male Lion with blood on his face rises and walks over to the carcass for another helping. Starts to lick an area of the carcass and then continues to eat. Three lionesses join him but eat at different positions. Bones break, skin is pulled, meat is eaten.

You're only a few metres away from all of this action - incredible!

A little later as the sun goes down, we stop in the bush a little off from the Lion Kill, have a stretch and enjoy 'sun downers' (drinks). Feeling more relaxed after a call of nature, we continue with a night game drive. The tracker uses his high-powered spotlight. There are Hyena arriving in the area due to the Lion Kill, but our focus is to find a Leopard. We stop for a Night Jar, an amazing nocturnal bird. We see lots of smaller nocturnal animals - Spotted Genet, White Tailed Mongoose, Owls and more Hyenas.

We finally return back to camp for approx 20.00hrs. You are escorted to your chalet to freshen up, ready to return to the bar for drinks and then a full dinner is served, with further socializing done later around the campfire. We hear Hyenas constantly whooping in the direction of the Lion Kill. Later when you're in bed you hear Lions roaring. B L D

Day 4 Sabi Sand Reserve

The day starts early with a wake up call at 05.30hrs. At 06.00hrs tea and coffee is served. Afterwards we make our way to the open 4 x 4 Land Rovers and start your morning game drive. Your game ranger decides to check on the Lion Kill. We smell the carcass before we arrive; it's two days old now and starting to stink. The lions are still there with a few Hyenas dotted around. A black backed Jackal is seen on the perimeter. It's evident the Lions and Hyena had clashed in the night but the Lions still control the carcass.

We continue with the game drive seeing Elephant, a bachelor herd of big tuskers. More Buffalo approx 350 number moving in the direction of a waterhole. We drive through the herd and stop in the middle for photos to be taken. Later you see Waterbuck, Zebra, Warthog and more Impala.

We return to camp for breakfast. After breakfast another walking safari is provided. The rest of the day is at your own leisure, sleeping, swimming and socializing until lunch. At 16.00hrs afternoon tea and coffee is served.

During your afternoon game drive you see loads of different bird species and general game - Impala, Warthog, Baboons, Wildebeest and Zebra. A little later we stop for a stretch and 'sun downers'.

Feeling relaxed, we continue with a night game drive focussing on Leopard. This night we are lucky. We find a Leopard at a small waterhole. It's a female and she is very relaxed. We are able to approach close. After drinking she heads off back into the bush. We follow keeping the spotlight on her as much as possible. She's just so beautiful. Photos are taken. After a while we decide to leave her but suddenly she crouches into pounce mode. Moving the spotlight we can see a little Steenbok, a small antelope, in front of her. She springs, two bounces and she has the Steenbok. We lose her for a few seconds, as we have to re-position the Land Rover. We move in close. The Steenbok is killed. She's looking around, panting a little. Finally she picks up the Steenbok in her mouth and climes up the nearest Marula tree, positions the Steenbok in the tree so it will not fall. She starts to pluck the fur off and eats. We watch and take lots of photographs.

We return back to camp for dinner. The talk is of the Leopard Kill - fantastic. B L D

Day 5 Sabi Sand Reserve - Johannesburg

 

For your last game drive we pop to see the Leopard Kill. The carcass is half eaten but she is not to be seen. She'll be back to eat later in the day or during the night. We move off to the Lion Kill viewing general game as we drive through the bush. We arrive to find the Hyenas have pushed the Lions off the carcass. With the Lion pride having cubs they would probably have relinquished the carcass to the Hyenas earlier then normal. We take photos and then move off leaving the carcass to the Hyena's and Vultures. On the way back to camp we come across a White Rhino. He stares at us with his ears twitching, then proceeds to eat the lush grass.

 

We return to camp at approx 09.00hrs. Pack and load your suitcases, pay the bar bill and subsequently leave the reserve. On our homeward bound journey, you enjoy the 'Panoramic Route' through the Drakensberg Mountains. You stop for a pancake breakfast at a small town called 'Graskop'. Afterwards you visit famous places such as God's Window, Berlin Falls, Bourkes Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon, arriving back in Johannesburg at approx 17.00hrs - Another successful Big Five safari. B