National Park Safari - 15 Days (Code S29)

The National Park Safari is an overland South Africa safari, which departs from and returns to Johannesburg. The areas which are visited include Kruger National Park, Ithala, Hluhluwe, the Addo Elephant Park and Pilanesberg.

The Safari is led by an experienced African Sky Guide, whose unique insight into the behavior and habits of the various species and the habitat in general, is sure to make this safari an unforgettable experience.

South Africa Safari Itinerary

Guests are met and welcomed at O.R. Tambo International airport, from where we travel east, crossing the eastern escarpment en-route to the world-renowned Kruger National Park. The Kruger National Park is South Africa's premier wildlife destination. The park stretches 350 km from north to south and on average is about 60 km wide from east to west, and is home to a great diversity of different mammal, plant and bird species.

Guests spend three nights in the Kruger National Park. A morning and afternoon game drive is conducted daily by your experienced safari guide. His or her insights into the habits and behavior of the various species, is sure to increase the frequency of animal and bird sightings and will add greatly to your understanding of this South African wilderness area.
Overnight: Berg-end-dal
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

An early breakfast is followed by a journey to Ithala, set in the hills of northern Zululand. The magnificent Ithala Game Reserve is a game viewer's paradise. It includes the heights of the Ngotshe Mountains and the valleys of the Pongola River - a height difference of approximately 1 000 meters. Some of the oldest rock formations on earth are found here, dating back some 3 000 million years. A stone age tool, spear-heads and evidence of iron smelting and gold mining, have been found in the region. The vegetation of this hilly area is mainly grass and bushveld (thornveld) and the area hosts about seventy five mammal species.

Guests spend three nights at Ithala with breakfast and dinner included daily. Two interpretative game drives are conducted daily by your guide.
Overnight: Nthsondwe
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

A last morning game drive in Ithala is followed by a short journey to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park. The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is the oldest conservation area in Africa and one of the largest game parks in South Africa. It is located in Kwa-Zulu Natal The vegetation consists mainly of indigenous bush and thorny Zululand bushveld. The ‘Big 5’ as well as the elusive cheetah and wild dog, are found at Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. This new, combined park includes a corridor that was previously owned by the state and due to no development having taken place there, has evolved into having the densest concentration of wildlife in the area.

Guests spend three nights in Hluhluwe with a morning and afternoon game drive conducted each day. The highlight of the Hluhluwe game drives would be the opportunity of viewing the black and white rhinos, of which there are great concentrations to be found in this park. Hluhluwe played an important role in the rejuvenation of these animals, when their numbers dwindled close to the brink of extinction.
Overnight: Hilltop
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

An early breakfast is followed by a transfer to Durban International airport for a flight to Port Elizabeth and from there a drive to Addo. The region's vegetation varies from tropical to temperate flora types. Heathers and Proteas, Cycads, Spekboom Trees (Portulucaria afra), Yellowwood Trees, Witstinkhout Trees and Aloes are typical of this region. Sweet-Thorn, Wild Olive, Karee species, Sneezewood, Guarri, Milky Rope, Tree Fucia and many varieties of succulents, vines and creepers are to be found in abundance. This area is the transitional region between the Mediterranean winter rainfall and the subtropical summer rainfall region.

Guests spend three nights in Addo with two game drives conducted daily. The Addo elephants are smaller than the African elephants of central Africa and they are however not a sub-species, as was once was believed. Of the Addo elephants only the bulls have tusks, and these are fairly short. Other animals such as Cape Buffalo, Black Rhinoceros, Eland, Red Hartebeest, Reebok, Zebra, Bushbuck, Duiker, Kudu, Jackal, Caracal, Mongoose, Vervet Monkey and Blue Buck are also found in the park. One hundred and eighty five bird species have been recorded. Birds such as the Knysna Turaco and various eagles, are worth mentioning.
Overnight: Addo Main Camp
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Breakfast is followed by a transfer to Port Elizabeth airport for a flight to Johannesburg, where guests will be met by their guide. The safari makes its way via the scenic Hartebeestpoort Dam, to the Pilanesberg National Park. The park is characterized by broken hills, which range from sparsely vegetated areas to thickly wooded water courses. The plains game species which are likely to be seen include Zebra, Kudu, Waterbuck, Eland, Blue Wildebeest, Red Hartebeest Kudu and Impala, to name but a few. A highlight would certainly be a sighting of one of the ‘Big 5’ in close proximity to the vehicle or the graceful cheetah, which also occur in the area.

Guests spend two nights in the Pilanesberg National Park. Two game drives are conducted daily in this ‘Big 5’ Reserve.
Overnight: Bakubung
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

A last morning game drive is followed by breakfast, after which guests are transferred to O.R. Tambo International airport in Johannesburg, for a flight back to their country of origin and this after a memorable and comprehensive South African National Park Safari.
Overnight: None
Meals: Breakfast