We constantly strive to improve our award winning safari packages each year, in line with our belief that safaris should provide a perfect balance between big five game viewing and a chance to gain a better understanding of wildlife conservation.
Our suggested 14 day itinerary allows time to cover all the elements that we feel should be included in an African safari, but it is also intended to give you ideas and inspiration for what is possible when you travel with us.
Day 1
Your safari at Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) were you will be met on arrival by a member of our team and transferred to Rukiya Safari Camp just 25 mins away. Hoedspruit's Eastgate Airport has three daytime flights arriving each day from Johannesburg, that are scheduled to assist international visitors to easily connect with Hoedspruit.
Rukiya is a luxury tented camp within the Wild Rivers Reserve nestling along the banks of the Blyde River among age old tress, a truly stunning location. Later in the day, you’ll take a you'll take a game drive within the reserve, enjoying a sundowner as the sun sets and returning to the lodge for dinner.
Day 2
Your morning game drive, which will take you through the Wild Rivers Reserve and into the adjacent Balule Reserve (part of the Greater Kruger Park) where you will be able to enjoy your first big five game drive. Breakfast will be served 'alfresco' in the bush.
On return to Rukiya there will be time to rest and relax before lunch, perhaps take a dip in the pool, sit by the river, or simply enjoy the views from your private deck. On your first full day on safari, we will include our unique bush senses experience. Some of our senses are dulled by modern living, but this simple and fun exercise quickly hones one’s bush senses, ideal preparation for any safari. Your late afternoon game drive will return to the lodge for dinner and an opportunity to relive the events of the day with your fellow guests.
Day 3
An early morning game drive will again visit the adjacent Balule Reserve, breakfast will be served in the bush before return to Rukiya. Today you will have the chance to try your hand at camera trapping. You’ll be given a motion activated camera trap to put at a place of your choosing on the reserve, with the aim of capturing images of the resident Leopards. Over the remainder of your safari your camera will photograph any animal that walks by day or night. We’ll leave the camera in the bush and see what animal pics you capture at the end of your safari. We also encourage our guests to download our Leopard research App and become a citizen scientist by using the App while on game drive to help monitor Leopard movement, enabling you to rightfully become part of our Ingwe team should you wish.
Day 4 & 5
A morning game drive, followed by a leisurely breakfast then transfer to the luxurious Raptors Retreat in the Greater Kruger Park arriving in time for lunch.
An afternoon game drive within the reserve returns to your lodge in time for dinner.
The following morning you’ll have an opportunity to enjoy a game within the big five Balule Reserve, returning to your lodge for a late breakfast. Midday at leisure perhaps snoozing in the heat of the day, or enjoying a dip in the pool, or watching animals passing by. Your afternoon game drive will often continue after dark returning to the lodge for dinner.
Day 6
A final early morning bush walk followed by breakfast. You will then transfer to the near-by Thornybush Game Reserve, famed for its exceptional game viewing and a favoured location for movie stars and the rich and famous, providing a lovely sedate bush atmosphere, with personal and friendly service. Even on bush roads it takes only 45 mins to transfer to Thornybush so you will have plenty of time to settle in and relax before afternoon high tea and game drive. Again returning to your lodge for dinner.
Day 7 & 8
No two days are ever the same on safari. Your next days in the Thornybush Game Reserve starts with an early morning game drive, returning to your lodge in time for a late breakfast/brunch. After which guests may have the option of taking an accompanied big five bush walk. An opportunity to trail in the Thornybush Game Reserve is an experience that will never be forgotten. The trail will return for a well-deserved rest during the heat of the day, where there will be time to relax and enjoying watching animals passing by. The afternoon game drive will start after high tea and will cover previously unseen areas of the reserve, followed by dinner often taken around the fire in an outside boma.
Day 9
After a morning bush walk or game drive and leisurely breakfast you will transfer to Nzumba safari lodge in the near by Klaserie Game Reserve which is also part of the Greater Kruger Park. On arrival there will be time to settle in before an evening game drive, returning to the lodge after the sun has set. nZumba is also a key location for our leopard research program, offering an extra insight into the resident leopard population.
Day 10 & 11
An early morning wake-up and an invigorating cup of fresh coffee, will start your first full day in the Klaserie Reserve, followed by an escorted bush walk before returning to the lodge for breakfast. You will have plenty of time for a well-deserved rest during the heat of the day, where there will be time to relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of the African bush. After lunch your afternoon game drive will cover previously unseen areas of the reserve, again returning after dark in time for dinner.
The next day will again start with an early morning game drive. After lunch there will be an afternoon game drive before dinner. As there are no boundary fences between the Klaserie and Kruger National Park, the bush dynamics are constantly changing which means every walk or drive may offer new and exciting events. As we always say snooze and you loose.
Day 12
On your last morning in Klaserie, your game drive aims to visit those parts of the concession that we haven’t had time to reach previously, offering an opportunity to get those final photographs, before returning to the lodge for breakfast. Then transfer back to Rukiya Safari Camp. Guests often remark that returning to Rukiya “feels like going home” and makes an ideal end to your safari.
Day 13
An early morning game drive will take you through the Wild Rivers Reserve and into the adjacent Balule Reserve (part of the Greater Kruger Park), breakfast will be served in the bush before return to Rukiya. There will be time to rest and relax and enjoy lunch, followed by an late afternoon game drive when you will recover your camera trap. Then together we will review your camera trap pictures, hoping to find leopards, and many more animals that have been roaming the reserve day and night in your absence.
All photographs will be added to the Ingwe Leopard Research data base and form part of our research as well as being available for you to copy and take home.
Day 14
A final morning bush walk in the Wild Rivers Reserve followed by brunch. Then you will then transfer to Hoedspruit Airport (25 mins) which marks the end of your safari.
