5-day Panorama Route And Kruger Safari Tour From Johannesburg

Day 1

Depart at 8.30am from Johannesburg on a scenic 4-hour drive towards Mpumalanga. Passing through the village of Dullstroom, make your way to the northern Drakensberg and onto the Panorama Route, nature's own amusement park. Admire one of the world’s biggest canyons, the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels, views at God's Window, the 30m freestanding quartzite buttress, Pinnacle Rock and the impressive Lisbon Falls. Enjoy lunch en route (own account).

Arrive in the town of Sabie and check into your lodge. Freshen up before enjoying a relaxing dinner at the lodge.

Day 2

After breakfast make your way to Elephant Whispers on the banks of the Sabie River. Elephant Whispers is an elephant interaction venue that offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to touch and connect with these intelligent titanic creatures.

A short drive later, you are welcomed by the villagers of the Kruger Cultural Village. Experience a multi-cultural African village with Swazi, Shangaan, Nedebele and Zulu traditions, dance and attire. Delight in a lunch of authentic African cuisine (own account).

We head to the Kruger National Park. Common animals you can expect to see on the first afternoon include impala, kudu, waterbuck, warthog, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, elephant, hippo, baboon, monkey and, hopefully, rhino, buffalo and possibly an elusive leopard or cheetah. Dinner will be prepared by your guide and may take the form of a traditional South African braai (barbecue), weather permitting. Alternatively, we may use the camp restaurant.

Days 3 and 4

We rise early so we can be on the road as the sun rises in an open game viewer. This is the best time of day for game viewing as the animals are at their most active, and we are on the lookout for nocturnal animals like spotted hyenas returning to their dens for the day. On our drives we may stop at waterholes, view points or picnic sites, where you can get out and stretch your legs, and enjoy some refreshments. There is no fixed schedule to keep, but usually we return to camp late morning, so you can spend the noon hours lazing around the pool or watching animals from the deck. Lunch is for your own account and you can purchase a light meal from the take away deli at the camp

In the afternoon we embark on another exciting game drive. We look for the Big 5 and all the other animals, birds and interesting plants we may find.

We return to camp around sunset and enjoy another delicious dinner around the fire or in the camp restaurant. As an optional extra, you can book a night drive with us in advance on one of the evenings. These are conducted on an open game viewing truck by one of the Kruger Park's rangers.

Day 5

Head out on a final early morning game drive. You may see wild dogs or other rare animals. After breakfast, it is time to pack up and start heading back toward the gate for the drive back to Johannesburg.