Kruger Limpopo
5
Day Itinerary •
South Africa
Five days in Kruger and Limpopo gives you the full extraordinary depth of the finest safari destination in Africa, from the remarkable central Kruger Big Five dawn drives and the extraordinary private reserve leopard sightings to the fine northern Kruger fever tree country with the rarest birds in the park, the remarkable Pafuri picnic on the Zimbabwe border and the extraordinary UNESCO Mapungubwe Kingdom of Gold. This extended route covers Kruger and Limpopo completely. Central Kruger game drives on Day 1, private reserve off-road safari on Day 2, Panorama Route and Blyde Canyon on Day 3, extraordinary northern Kruger fever trees and Pafuri on Day 4, and the remarkable Mapungubwe UNESCO gold kingdom and baobab country on Day 5.
Best Time To Visit
May to September for finest game viewing throughout
Getting There
Fly into Skukuza (SZK) or Hoedspruit (HDS)
Getting Around
Self-drive in Kruger, hire car for Limpopo
Budget Per Day
Approx 1,500 to 8,000 ZAR per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, long driving days in northern section
DAY 1
CENTRAL KRUGER
MORNING
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK DAWN GAME DRIVE
The most extraordinary game drive in Africa, the remarkable Kruger National Park dawn drive departing at first light when the extraordinary Big Five and the remarkable predators are most active. The fine Kruger National Park is the largest national park in South Africa at nearly 20,000 square kilometres and the finest self-drive safari destination in the world, where the remarkable lion prides, the outstanding elephant herds of 17,000 animals, the fine leopards, the extraordinary buffalo and the remarkable rhino roam in the finest savanna ecosystem in Africa.
MIDDAY
CENTRAL KRUGER WATERHOLES AND BIG FIVE VIEWING
The extraordinary afternoon game viewing around the remarkable waterholes of the central Kruger between Satara and Olifants rest camps, the finest game viewing concentration in the park where the outstanding elephant herds come to drink throughout the day and the remarkable lion and leopard sightings around the extraordinary Timbavati and Nwanetsi rivers are the finest in the park. The fine Satara camp surroundings have the highest lion density in Kruger.
AFTERNOON
SUNSET GAME DRIVE AND NIGHT SAFARI
The extraordinary Kruger National Park sunset and night drive, the finest wildlife experience after dark in South Africa, when the remarkable nocturnal species emerge including the extraordinary leopard hunting along the fine riverine trees, the outstanding aardvark and the remarkable serval cat. The fine spotlight from the game drive vehicle reveals the extraordinary diversity of nocturnal Kruger wildlife unavailable on the daytime self-drive routes. Guided night drive approx 450 ZAR.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Kruger National Park self-drive rule of staying in your vehicle except at designated rest camps is the finest wildlife encounter philosophy in Africa. The remarkable Stevenson-Hamilton and Orpen hides in the central Kruger, where visitors sit at ground level at fine water holes and game approaches to within extraordinary metres of the vehicle-free hide, are the finest hidden fixed-point wildlife experiences in the park.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Kruger rest camp Substantial breakfast before the extraordinary dawn game drive. Fine biltong and remarkable rusk with coffee before departure. | Lunch: Rest camp restaurant or bush Simple provisions at the remarkable rest camp. Extraordinary sandwiches and fine South African pap at the camp. | Dinner: Rest camp braai Outstanding traditional South African braai at the extraordinary rest camp. Fine boerewors sausage and remarkable lamb chops.
DAY 2
PRIVATE RESERVE
MORNING
GREATER KRUGER PRIVATE RESERVE SAFARI
The extraordinary Greater Kruger private reserves adjoining the western boundary of the national park, including the remarkable Sabi Sand Game Reserve, the fine Timbavati and the outstanding Balule, where the extraordinary private lodge game drives with expert rangers and the remarkable off-road vehicle access give the finest Big Five encounters in South Africa. The fine Sabi Sand is the finest leopard-viewing reserve in the world with remarkable sightings on almost every drive. Private lodge rates include all drives.
MIDDAY
BUSH WALK WITH ARMED RANGER
The extraordinary guided bush walk in the Greater Kruger, the finest wildlife experience in South Africa, where the remarkable armed ranger leads a small group through the extraordinary African bush on foot, interpreting the fine tracks, the outstanding dung beetles, the remarkable termite mounds and the extraordinary ecology of the Lowveld at walking pace. The remarkable chance of encountering buffalo or elephant on foot in the extraordinary Kruger ecosystem is the finest adrenaline experience in South African wildlife.
AFTERNOON
SUNSET AND NIGHT DRIVE IN PRIVATE RESERVE
The extraordinary private reserve night drive with the outstanding spotlight and the finest ranger commentary, giving the remarkable leopard, civet, bushbaby and the extraordinary African wild dog sightings unavailable in the national park after sunset. The fine bush dinner in the extraordinary boma under the African sky with the remarkable sounds of the Lowveld wildlife is the finest outdoor dining experience in South Africa.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Manyeleti Game Reserve adjoining the Kruger and Sabi Sand, the least known of the Greater Kruger private reserves and the finest value-for-money Big Five safari destination in South Africa, is one of the most remarkable hidden wildlife areas in the country with the outstanding predator sightings at a fraction of the Sabi Sand prices. The remarkable Honeyguide Tented Camp in Manyeleti is the finest affordable private reserve experience near Kruger.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Private lodge Outstanding luxury safari breakfast. Extraordinary African bush setting with remarkable birdlife. | Lunch: Lodge or bush lunch Fine light lunch at the extraordinary private lodge or remarkable packed bush lunch on the extended morning drive. | Dinner: Private lodge boma dinner The finest outdoor African dining experience. Extraordinary boma fire, fine South African wine and remarkable five courses.
DAY 3
PANORAMA ROUTE
MORNING
BLYDE RIVER CANYON AND THREE RONDAVELS
The most extraordinary canyon in Africa and one of the finest in the world, the remarkable Blyde River Canyon in Limpopo, a remarkable 26km gorge dropping 800 metres through extraordinary red syenite cliffs. The fine Three Rondavels viewpoint, where the remarkable circular rock towers rise from the extraordinary canyon floor like traditional African huts, is the finest single viewpoint in South Africa outside Table Mountain. The outstanding Bourke's Luck Potholes at the canyon entrance are the finest geological feature. 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
GOD'S WINDOW ESCARPMENT VIEWPOINT
The extraordinary God's Window viewpoint on the Drakensberg Escarpment above Graskop, the finest single elevated view in South Africa, where the remarkable 1,000-metre cliff edge of the Escarpment gives the most extraordinary view over the extraordinary Lowveld stretching to Mozambique on clear days. The fine forest walk from the parking area to the viewpoint through the remarkable Escarpment mistbelt forest is the finest short walk in Limpopo. 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
GRASKOP GORGE LIFT AND DEPARTURE
The extraordinary Graskop Gorge and the remarkable glass lift descending 51 metres into the fine gorge below the town, giving the most extraordinary close-range view of the Graskop Gorge waterfall and the outstanding subtropical forest below the Escarpment. The fine Harrie's Pancakes in Graskop is the most beloved roadside restaurant on the Panorama Route.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Lisbon Falls and Berlin Falls hidden in the remarkable Escarpment forest near Graskop, two of the finest waterfalls in Mpumalanga, are accessible from the fine Panorama Route but overlooked by most visitors who focus on the Blyde Canyon. The remarkable Lisbon Falls at 90 metres and the extraordinary Berlin Falls at 80 metres in their fine forested gorge settings are the finest hidden waterfalls on the Panorama Route.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Graskop or Hazyview hotel Good breakfast before the Blyde River Canyon drive. | Lunch: Blyde River Canyon area Simple outstanding lunch near the extraordinary Three Rondavels viewpoint. | Dinner: Hazyview or Nelspruit Outstanding South African dinner in Hazyview. Fine grilled warthog and remarkable Limpopo wine before departure.
DAY 4
NORTHERN KRUGER
MORNING
NORTHERN KRUGER LIMPOPO FEVER TREE COUNTRY
The extraordinary northern Kruger between Letaba and Punda Maria, the finest and most overlooked section of the park, where the remarkable fever tree forests, the extraordinary Limpopo River floodplains and the fine Pafuri area near Zimbabwe give the most extraordinary wilderness character in the entire park. The outstanding Baobab trees reaching 2,000 years old and the remarkable concentration of rare species including the extraordinary Pel's fishing owl and the fine Limpopo bushveld birds make the north the finest birdwatching in Kruger.
MIDDAY
PAFURI PICNIC SITE AND LIMPOPO RIVER
The extraordinary Pafuri picnic site in the remote north of Kruger, the finest picnic location in any national park in Africa, where the remarkable ancient fever tree forest along the Luvuvhu River and the extraordinary bird activity including the fine Narina trogon, the remarkable African broadbill and the outstanding Bohm's bee-eater create the finest single birdwatching point in the entire Kruger National Park. The remarkable Limpopo River visible from the picnic site marks the Zimbabwe border.
AFTERNOON
MAHONIE LOOP AND RARE WILDLIFE
The extraordinary Mahonie Loop near Punda Maria in the northern Kruger, the finest loop road for rare wildlife in the park, where the remarkable Lichtenstein's hartebeest, the fine tsessebe and the extraordinary roan and sable antelope are the finest wildlife sightings unavailable in the central and southern park sections. The remarkable Dzombo Hill viewpoint on the loop gives the finest elevated view of the northern Kruger landscape.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Luvuvhu River at Pafuri in the extreme north of Kruger, where the remarkable dense riverine forest harbours the finest bird diversity in the entire park including the extraordinary Pel's fishing owl, the fine thick-billed cuckoo and the remarkable racket-tailed roller, is the finest single birdwatching river in South Africa. The outstanding Pafuri Wilderness Trail is the finest multi-day walking safari in the Kruger.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Northern Kruger rest camp Good breakfast before the early departure north to Pafuri. | Lunch: Pafuri picnic site Extraordinary bush picnic at the finest picnic site in Africa. Fine provisions from the rest camp shop. | Dinner: Punda Maria rest camp Outstanding traditional South African braai at the remarkable northern Kruger rest camp.
DAY 5
LIMPOPO
MORNING
MAPUNGUBWE NATIONAL PARK UNESCO
The extraordinary Mapungubwe National Park in the extreme north of Limpopo at the confluence of the remarkable Limpopo and Shashe rivers where South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe meet, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the fine Kingdom of Mapungubwe flourished between 900 and 1300 CE as the most sophisticated society in southern Africa. The outstanding gold rhinoceros figurine discovered here is the finest pre-colonial artefact in South Africa. Entry approx 232 ZAR. 2 hours drive
MIDDAY
BAOBAB COUNTRY DRIVE AND MUSINA
The extraordinary baobab country north of Polokwane in Limpopo, the finest concentration of ancient baobab trees in South Africa, where the remarkable Sagole Big Tree near Tshipise at over 2,000 years old is the largest living baobab in South Africa and the most extraordinary single tree in the country. The fine hot springs at Tshipise and the remarkable Sagole baobab grove create the finest combined heritage and natural experience in northern Limpopo. 2.5 hours drive
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO JOHANNESBURG OR KRUGER
The extraordinary return drive south through the remarkable Limpopo bushveld, passing the fine Mokopane and the outstanding Waterberg mountains, the finest upland wilderness in Limpopo, before the remarkable descent to the Highveld and the fine Johannesburg return. The extraordinary Waterberg UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is the finest malaria-free game viewing area in South Africa for those connecting through Johannesburg.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Lisbon Falls and Berlin Falls hidden in the remarkable Escarpment forest near Graskop, two of the finest waterfalls in Mpumalanga, are accessible from the fine Panorama Route but overlooked by most visitors who focus on the Blyde Canyon. The remarkable Lisbon Falls at 90 metres and the extraordinary Berlin Falls at 80 metres in their fine forested gorge settings are the finest hidden waterfalls on the Panorama Route.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Mapungubwe lodge Good breakfast before the UNESCO site visit. | Lunch: Musina or Tshipise Simple good lunch in the extraordinary baobab country. | Dinner: Johannesburg or fly home Fine farewell South African dinner at a Joburg restaurant before the return flight.
Where To Stay
Central and Northern Kruger SANParks rest camps. Satara, Letaba, Punda Maria. Approx 1,500 to 4,000 ZAR. Private Reserve Sabi Sand or Timbavati lodge. All-inclusive. Approx 5,000 to 30,000 ZAR. Mapungubwe Mapungubwe Camp SANParks. Approx 1,800 to 3,500 ZAR per night.
Top Tips
1. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all Kruger Lowveld. Consult a travel health clinic before departure.
2. Book Kruger rest camps months ahead. School holidays and July fill completely.
3. The northern Kruger is 4 hours from the central camps. Allow a full day for Pafuri.
4. Mapungubwe UNESCO site is the finest pre-colonial heritage in South Africa. Book entry ahead.
5. Never exit your vehicle in Kruger except at designated rest camps and viewpoints.
6. The private reserves have off-road vehicle access and night drives unavailable in Kruger National Park.
Total Budget
1,082 to 31,632 ZAR/day