7 Day Kruger's Finest Fly-In Safari

Upon arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, guests are met by an African Sky representative and assisted onto a scheduled flight to Skukuza in the Greater Kruger area. From here, a road transfer takes you into the legendary Mala Mala Game Reserve, one of South Africa’s largest and most established private Big Five reserves, sharing unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park. After check-in at Rattray’s on Mala Mala, there is time to settle into your elegant suite and enjoy the riverside setting before afternoon tea.

Later, you depart on your first open 4x4 safari. With an experienced ranger and tracker at the helm, you explore the reserve’s productive riverine corridors and open savanna, where lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino are frequently seen. Sundowners in the bush add a touch of romance to the outing before you return to camp for a gourmet dinner and your first night immersed in the sounds of the African wilderness.

These two full days at Mala Mala are devoted to unhurried exploration of this classic safari destination. Your daily rhythm typically begins before sunrise with coffee or tea and a light snack, followed by a game drive when predators and other wildlife are at their most active. The reserve’s combination of perennial river frontage and varied habitats makes it exceptionally productive for sightings of the Big Five, particularly leopard, which is encountered here more frequently than in many other regions of Africa.

After brunch, you may relax on your private deck, cool off in the pool, or simply watch animals come and go along the riverbank. An afternoon high tea precedes your second game drive of the day, which often transitions into a night drive using spotlights to search for elusive nocturnal species. Evenings are spent around the fire sharing stories with guides and fellow guests before a multi-course dinner and another comfortable night at Rattray’s on Mala Mala.

Following a final early morning game drive at Mala Mala and a hearty breakfast, it is time to bid farewell to this iconic reserve. You are transferred by road back to Skukuza Airport, where a short onward transfer takes you through the eastern reaches of Kruger National Park to Singita Lebombo, set on a dramatic clifftop above the N’wanetsi River in a vast private concession. On arrival, you are welcomed with a refreshing drink and given a brief orientation before being shown to your contemporary glass-fronted suite.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy the lodge’s elevated views, pool and tranquil relaxation areas before high tea and your first game drive in this exclusive section of Kruger. With relatively few vehicles and a large area of pristine wilderness, sightings feel intimate and unhurried. You return to the lodge after dark to enjoy a refined dinner showcasing fresh local ingredients, complemented by South African wines from Singita’s impressive cellar.

During your two full days at Singita Lebombo, you settle into a seamless safari routine that maximizes both wildlife viewing and relaxation. Morning and afternoon game drives with highly trained rangers and trackers explore different parts of the concession’s varied terrain, from rugged ridges and riverine thickets to open plains. This region is renowned for excellent lion and general predator sightings, along with large herds of elephant and buffalo, abundant plains game and rewarding birding along the N’wanetsi River.

When not out on drive, you may choose to join a guided nature walk, visit the well-equipped gym, book a spa treatment, or simply unwind on your private deck and watch animals coming to drink below. Optional activities such as community visits and photographic sessions can be arranged. Evenings bring beautifully plated multi-course dinners under the stars or in the elegant dining areas, followed by relaxed conversation around the fire and, on clear nights, memorable stargazing in the quiet of the Kruger wilderness.

Your final morning begins with one last game drive, offering a final opportunity to seek out species you may not yet have seen or to revisit favorite areas of the concession. After returning to the lodge, a relaxed breakfast is served, and there is time to pack and savor the final views over the river and Lebombo ridges before departure.

You are then transferred to a nearby airstrip or back to Skukuza Airport for a short flight to Johannesburg, where your Kruger’s Finest Fly-In Safari concludes. As you arrive back in the city, the peaceful rhythm of the bush, close-up wildlife encounters, and warm hospitality at both Rattray’s on Mala Mala and Singita Lebombo are sure to linger long after your journey ends.