Kruger and Zululand Safari - 9 Days (Code S30)

The Kruger and Zululand Safari combines three of South Africa's finest safari areas. It is an overland South Africa safari, which departs from and returns to Johannesburg. The areas which are visited include: Ithala, Hluhluwe and the Kruger National Park.

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 in the Kruger National Park an unforgettable experience.

South Africa Safari Itinerary

Guests are met and welcomed on arrival at Johannesburg International airport, from where the safari makes its way east, passing through the towns of Witbank and Piet Retief en-route to Ithala Game Reserve. The reserve boasts spectacular scenery and the topography of the area varies from 450m to 1450m above sea level. Rock formations found in the reserve are amongst the world's oldest and create an impressive display. The late afternoon is spent relaxing, enjoying an African sunset over this wilderness area.
Overnight: Ntshondwe
Meals: Dinner

The day is devoted to two game drives. Ithala's unique topography, ranging from windswept hills to densely wooded valleys, make each of your game drive experiences unique. The reserve is approximately 29 000 ha in extent and is home to four of the ‘Big 5’, lion being the exception. The absence of these predators offers guests the opportunity to view the various mammal species in a more relaxed environment, than would normally be found. The great number of giraffe found in the area, is especially notable.
Overnight: Ntshondwe
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

An early morning game drive and breakfast is followed by a short journey to the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. This reserve has the distinction of being South Africa's oldest and has played a central role in the conservation of the White Rhino, when they were on the brink of extinction. The afternoon is devoted to an interpretive safari, where highlights might include sightings of both the Black and White Rhino. Species which are common in this reserve include Buffalo, Nyala, Red Duiker, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Kudu, Bushbuck and Zebra.
Overnight: Hilltop
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

A morning visit is made to the St. Lucia Wetland Park, which has recently been declared a world heritage site. A boat trip on the lake, which is 40km wide with an average depth of less than 1m, brings guests into contact with this complex eco-system, which has no less than 350 species of bird and a population in excess of 700 hippos. The safari then makes its way back to Hluhluwe, where a late afternoon game drive is conducted, after some time spent relaxing.
Overnight: Hilltop
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Guests leave Zululand and cross the border into the tiny mountain kingdom of Swaziland, en-route to the overnight destination which lies in the Ezulwini ‘Heaven’ Valley. The afternoon is spent at leisure.
Overnight: Reilly's Rock
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

From Ezulwini the road takes us north through scenic mountainous countryside, where we enter South Africa at Jeppe’s Reef and from there further north to the Kruger National Park. The park is named after the president of the old Transvaal Republic - Paul Kruger, who proclaimed the Sabi Reserve in 1897. This reserve was the forerunner to the Kruger National Park, as it is known today. Approximately two million hectares in extent, the park is internationally renowned as one of the world's foremost conservation areas. The late afternoon is devoted to a first game drive in search of Africa's legendary ‘Big 5’ in an area where many other mammal and bird species, grace the African savannah and give meaning to the words ‘Spirit of Africa’.
Overnight: Lower Sabie
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

The dense vegetation which characterizes the area between Lower Sabie and Skukuza, is the focus of an early morning game drive, searching for the species of mammals which make this environment their home. Skukuza is reached for a late breakfast, after which some time is devoted to visiting the local museum depicting the history of the Kruger National Park and where the remarkable tale of one of Kruger's first rangers fight to the death with a lion, is told. The safari then returns to Lower Sabie via a different route viewing game en-route. The late afternoon is spent relaxing on the banks of the Sabi River, enjoying sundowners and watching animals as they come to the water's edge for a drink.
Overnight: Lower Sabie
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

The ever-changing moods of this land will capture your soul, as the day is once again devoted to exploring this wilderness area in the company of your African Sky Safaris & Tours guide. The lesser creatures of the land, though not as well known, contribute as much to the eco-system as any other. Great delight may often be experienced witnessing these creatures, as they go about their daily routines. Life and the delicate balance that exists in nature is protected in this area, which is a treasure over which we should be wise custodians.
Overnight: Lower Sabie
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

A last morning game drive in Kruger is followed by a journey to Johannesburg, where we end a South African safari experience, which will surely be painted in memory forever.
Overnight: None
Meals: Breakfast