7 Day Greater Kruger & Zululand Safari

Guests are met and welcomed on arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport, or any other location of their choice in Pretoria or Johannesburg, for the start of their South Africa safari. From here they are transferred to a charter flight bound for the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park. Sabi Sand offers the inimitable wildlife and wilderness of the world-renowned Kruger National Park with all the creature comforts expected of an intimate luxury lodge – and more. After settling in at Dulini River Lodge, guests typically enjoy a late-afternoon open 4x4 safari, when predators begin to stir and the golden light is perfect for photography.

Dulini River Lodge is set along the Sand River in the western sector of Sabi Sand, with suites overlooking a riverine corridor that draws a constant procession of wildlife. Game drives here benefit from off-road permissions in a private reserve that is famous for big cat sightings, particularly leopard. With a dedicated ranger-tracker team interpreting tracks, calls, and behavior, your first evening in the Greater Kruger quickly immerses you in one of Africa’s most celebrated Big Five landscapes.

As day breaks over the savanna, guests embark on a morning game drive in this world-renowned corner of wilderness. Cooler morning temperatures stimulate activity among predators, making conditions ideal for game viewing. Throughout your stay in the reserve, two game drives are conducted on a daily basis, each enriched by the knowledge and insight of a ranger and tracker who know these concessions intimately. Between drives, guests can relax at the lodge, watch wildlife visiting the river, or enjoy lodge facilities.

Sabi Sand is widely regarded as one of Africa’s premier areas for viewing the Big Five at close range, as well as a high density of general game and rich birdlife. The combination of open vehicles, excellent guiding, and animals habituated to vehicles maximizes photographic opportunities. Evening drives continue after sunset with the aid of a spotlight, revealing nocturnal species such as civet, genet, and often lion or leopard on the move, rounding out a classic Greater Kruger safari day.

The ever-changing moods of this land will capture your soul as another full day is devoted to exploring the wilderness from the back of open 4x4 vehicles, or on foot during an optional bush walk. The lesser-known inhabitants – from dung beetles to beautifully patterned reptiles and smaller antelope – contribute as much to the ecosystem as the headline species, and your guides will help you appreciate how everything connects. Time at leisure between drives can be spent by the pool, on your private deck, or enjoying the lodge’s warm hospitality and cuisine.

Dulini River Lodge’s riverside setting means you often see elephants, antelope, and other animals coming to drink while you relax, adding an effortless game-viewing element to time in camp.The Sabi Sand’s unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park allows wildlife to move freely across a huge conservation landscape, supporting healthy predator populations and frequent sightings of lion, leopard, and wild dog. As the sun sets on your final evening here, you’ll have a deeper understanding of why Greater Kruger is considered one of Africa’s great safari strongholds.

A last morning game drive in Sabi Sand is followed by breakfast, after which guests are transferred to a local airstrip for a charter flight to Phinda Private Game Reserve, set in the northeastern region of KwaZulu-Natal known as Zululand. The reserve lies close to iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects rich wetlands, dunes, and Indian Ocean coastline.On arrival, guests transfer to Phinda Forest Lodge and have time to freshen up before a late-afternoon safari in this distinctively different reserve.

Phinda is renowned for its remarkable diversity of landscapes, encompassing seven distinct habitats that range from rare sand forest and woodland to grassland, wetlands, and palm-dotted bush. Phinda Forest Lodge itself is tucked into an ancient sand forest, with glass-walled suites that seem to float among the trees. Game drives from the lodge offer the chance to see the Big Five, cheetah, and a variety of plains game, while the unique environment showcases forest specialists not commonly seen elsewhere on safari.

The day is devoted to two open 4x4 safaris and, conditions permitting, a guided bush walk. Phinda’s 17,000-plus hectares (and broader conservancy) encompass a mosaic of habitats that support excellent densities of wildlife, including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and both black and white rhino. Morning drives often focus on tracking predators or rhino when temperatures are still cool, while afternoons may explore open grasslands or wetlands where antelope, giraffe, and hippo are commonly seen.

Phinda is particularly celebrated for cheetah and black rhino sightings, making it an outstanding complement to your time in Greater Kruger. The guiding teams are highly trained and often incorporate interesting behavioral observations, birding, and smaller creatures into each drive. Optional activities, offered at additional cost, may include specialist photographic or conservation-focused experiences, giving guests a deeper, more participatory encounter with Zululand’s wildlife and conservation story.

The elusive nyala, regarded by many as one of Africa’s most beautiful antelope, is commonly seen on game drives and even around Phinda Forest Lodge itself, where they move quietly through the sand forest. Red duiker, another shy forest antelope, may be glimpsed dashing between thickets, and birdlife is prolific, with forest specialists adding color and song to the experience. Morning and afternoon drives continue to explore different corners of the reserve, maximizing your chances of ticking off remaining members of the Big Five.

Because Phinda combines forest, woodland, open plains, and wetland habitats, no two drives feel the same. Your ranger may focus on tracking rhino one day and seek out cheetah on open grasslands the next, with opportunities to encounter elephants moving between water sources or lions resting in the shade. Back at Forest Lodge, the glass-walled suites and tranquil forest setting create a soothing contrast to the excitement of game drives, rounding out a rich, varied safari in Zululand.

A final morning game drive in this distinctive wilderness is followed by breakfast at Phinda Forest Lodge. After check-out, guests are transferred to a local airstrip for a charter flight back to Johannesburg. On arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport, you are met and assisted with onward travel, whether that means a transfer to your hotel in Johannesburg or Pretoria, or check-in for an international departure flight.

As your Greater Kruger and Zululand safari concludes, you will have experienced two of South Africa’s finest private reserves – Sabi Sand and Phinda – each offering superb guiding, intimate lodges, and outstanding wildlife encounters in contrasting habitats. The combination of Big Five viewing, rare sand forest environments, and smooth fly-in logistics makes this itinerary an ideal choice for travelers seeking a luxurious yet varied South African safari.