Panorama Route and Kruger Safari Experience
Spend 5 days on a self-drive tour to Kruger and experience the majesty of an African safari at affordable prices. Exchange trunk greetings with an elephant, see the Big 5 on game drives in their ‘home-town’ and take in the breath-taking sceneries of the Panorama Route.
Drive through a range of spectacular landscapes, impressive waterfalls and large canyons. Explore the sights of God’s Window, Bourkes’s Luck Potholes, Pilgrims Rest and the Blyde River Canyon at your own pace.
After a few days at leisure exploring the Panorama Route it is time to hand over the wheel to an expert safari guide. Sit back, relax and embark on guided game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles. Keep an eye open for Africa’s Big 5 - lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard.
Panorama Route and Kruger Safari Highlights
- Experience it all by combining self-drive and guided safari experiences
- Excellent road networks and well signposted
- Explore the breath-taking landscapes of the Panorama Route at your own pace
- Visit scenic viewpoints such as God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and Blyde River Canyon
- Spend 3 days on safari at a classic safari lodge at a private game reserve
- Meet and exchange trunk greetings with an African elephant
- See free-roaming Big 5 wildlife on game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles
- Number of days and type of accommodation are easily customisable to suit your needs
- Easily extendable with a few extra days in Cape Town or exploring the Garden Route
Day 1: Exchange trunk greetings with an elephant
Upon arrival at either Johannesburg or Nelspruit and collecting your rental car at the airport, you will make your way to Hazyview. Depending on your point of departure, you will pass many beautiful places to stop and freshen up. As hard as it is to tear yourself away, you shouldn’t get lost in the view too long.
Settle in at your accommodation for the night before embarking on a memorable elephant interaction followed by sundowner drinks. Don’t forget your camera to capture that amazing moment when you exchange trunk greetings with an African elephant! Explore the rough contours of their wrinkled skin and stroke the velvety skin under their ears and enjoy the breeze from the cool air when the elephant gently flaps their ears.
Day 2: Explore the Panorama Route
Breakfast! One of the most important meals of the morning, especially when you’re on the road. Enjoy a scenic drive from Hazyview to the beautiful Blyde River Canyon. Be sure to stop at Graskop and to take a break for Harrie’s Pancakes.
There are many experiences to be had in the Blyde region. Take in the view from God’s Window and visit the ethereal Bourke’s Luck Potholes before spending the night at the comfortable Blyde River Canyon Lodge along the Panoramic Route.
Day 3-4: On safari in Kruger
After breakfast, you will drive to a private game reserve that shares an unfenced border with the greater Kruger National Park. You will spend 2 nights at a Kruger Safari Lodge overlooking the Crocodile River and a waterhole that attracts various animals. The rivers in Balule are inhabited by herds of hippos and basks of crocodiles, so don’t go skinny-dipping unless you absolutely have to.
Balule Private Game Reserve is situated in the subtropical lowveld, a region that features various ecozones/biomes and subsequently hosts a variety of plant and animal species. The Balule Private Game Reserve boasts over 220 different kinds of birds, several species of plains game, such as the Zebra and Giraffe, as well as predatory species, like lions, leopards and cheetah.
Enjoy open vehicle game drives, accompanied by professional safari guides and tracker before coming home for a delicious buffet dinner and an intimate coffee around the campfire.
Day 5: Say goodbye to the African bush
Included
- 5 days’ car rental for a mid-size automatic vehicle with unlimited mileage, GPS hire and premium insurance cover
- 1 nights' accommodation at a country estate on the banks of the Sabie River
- 1 nights' accommodation at a lodge situated along the scenic Panorama Route
- 2 nights’ accommodation at a classic safari lodge in a private game reserve
- Breakfast included from day 2 to day 5
- Lunch and dinner included on day 3 and 4
- Elephant interaction where you get to meet, feed and exchange trunk greets with an elephant
- Game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicle under the guidance of qualified and trained safari guides
Not Included
- Fuel, toll fees and additional driver fee
- Park fees and meals not mentioned above
- Drinks, optional activities and all other extras to be settled direct
