5 Day Kruger Park & Private Lodge Safari

Guests are met on arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg before traveling east by road towards South Africa’s Lowveld. The route typically passes through the Mpumalanga Highveld and the town of Nelspruit (Mbombela), a major gateway to the Kruger region, before continuing to the Paul Kruger Gate. The drive offers a gradual transition from urban areas and farmlands to bush-clad hills and, finally, the savanna landscapes that characterize Kruger National Park.

Upon entering Kruger National Park, one of South Africa’s largest and most important conservation areas and home to the Big Five, your safari effectively begins, with wildlife often spotted within minutes of passing through the gate. From Kruger Gate the journey continues to Skukuza, the park’s main rest camp and administrative headquarters, where you are assisted with check-in. There is time to settle in and relax before heading out on a late afternoon game drive in the area surrounding Skukuza, when many animals become more active as the day cools.

Today’s game drives are conducted in the southern section of Kruger National Park, an area noted for its wooded savanna and reliable water sources from the Sabie and Sand rivers. These rivers support a particularly rich concentration of wildlife, including large herds of plains game and high densities of predators such as lion and leopard. The varied habitats around Skukuza, from riverine thickets to open grasslands, offer excellent opportunities for both big game viewing and birdwatching throughout the day.

Morning and afternoon drives are typically planned to coincide with the cooler hours, when animals are more active and sightings are at their best. Your guide will focus on areas known for frequent lion and leopard encounters while also seeking out elephants, buffalo, hippos, giraffes, and a wide range of antelope species. Between drives, you can relax at Skukuza Rest Camp, where the river views and camp surroundings often provide additional wildlife encounters without needing to leave the camp.

After a final morning game drive in Kruger with your private African Sky guide, they complete the transfer by road into the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger ecosystem. Your guide assists with check-in at Arathusa Safari Lodge before concluding their guiding service as you prepare for your first open 4x4 safari with the resident lodge team.

On arrival at Arathusa Safari Lodge, located in the northern Sabi Sand and overlooking a productive waterhole, you are assisted with check-in before enjoying some time at leisure. The lodge setting allows you to watch animals and birdlife from the comfort of camp between activities. Later in the afternoon you depart on your first open 4x4 safari drive in the private reserve, with a ranger and tracker team using off-road access where appropriate to provide closer, carefully managed wildlife encounters and to maximize your chances of memorable sightings.

A full day is devoted to exploring the Sabi Sand on morning and afternoon game drives, with an optional bush walk available depending on lodge scheduling and conditions. The reserve is especially famous for its frequent leopard sightings and for offering some of the best big cat viewing in the Greater Kruger area. Because vehicles operate on private land with limited numbers, guides can spend more time following tracks and animal movements, providing in-depth sightings and interpretation.

Your safari activities are led by an experienced ranger and tracker team who work together to locate wildlife and share insights into animal behavior, tracks and the broader ecosystem. Between drives, you can relax at the lodge, enjoy views over the waterhole or make use of the lodge facilities. The combination of open 4x4 safaris, possible guided walks and the intimate private-reserve setting delivers a complement to your earlier days in Kruger, rounding out a varied and immersive safari experience.

On your final morning at Arathusa Safari Lodge, there is usually time for one last game drive in the Sabi Sand, providing a final chance to seek out any wildlife that may have eluded you so far. Early-morning drives often deliver atmospheric sightings, with soft light, cooler temperatures and the possibility of predators still active from the night’s hunting. Returning to the lodge, you enjoy a hearty breakfast and can reflect on your experiences in both Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sand.

After breakfast, you are transferred by road from Arathusa to Hoedspruit Airport, one of the main air gateways serving the Greater Kruger region. From Hoedspruit, you board a scheduled flight to Johannesburg, a route served by several airlines and designed to provide a convenient connection back to the city. On arrival in Johannesburg, your Kruger Park & Private Lodge Safari comes to an end and you continue with your onward travel arrangements.