Duration
6-Day
Kruger National Park, South Africa
This safari adventure includes three nights in the iconic Kruger National Park and two nights at an adjoining Big Five private luxury game lodge in the Timbavati, home of the "white lion". We'll plan your itinerary together. The safari includes all costs except personal expenses and premium liquor. Your guide, David Forbes, a professional photographer and filmmaker, will share his extensive knowledge of wildlife and photography. Join him for a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience! See reviews.
Plan snapshot
Duration
6-Day
Route
Johannesburg to Johannesburg (City)
Via Kruger NP, Timbavati NR
Country & park
South Africa / Kruger National Park
Style
Mid-range safari
Group size
1-12 travelers
Starts
Any day if available
Minimum age
13 years
Activities
game drives & evening/night game drives
Accommodation
Lower Sabie Rest Camp - Mid-range rest camp inside Southern Kruger NP – All Meals Included
Meals
All Meals Included; Breakfast & Lunch Included
Pickup
Airport transfer included
Booking
Request quote
Currency
ZAR
Rates
ZAR
Before booking
Quote flow
This mid-range tour uses tented camps.
This tour will be organized exclusively for you. However, wildlife viewing activities are run by the lodges/camps and will be shared with others.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
You can request changes to this tour.
Solo travelers can book this private tour.
The minimum age for this tour is 13 years.
Day 1
Mid-range rest camp inside Southern Kruger NP – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 2
Mid-range rest camp inside Central Kruger NP – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 3
Mid-range rest camp inside Northern Kruger NP – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 4-5
Luxury tented camp inside Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger) – All Meals Included
All Meals Included
Day 6
(No accommodation)
Breakfast & Lunch Included
Tour step
You'll be collected from the airport. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Day 1
Guests will be picked up early from their Johannesburg hotel around 05h00 to avoid traffic, travelling in a very comfortable closed 4x4 or equivalent on a major highway. We stop for a hearty breakfast on the way. We descend nearly 2,000 metres from Johannesburg down the escarpment to the Lowveld and the southern end of the Kruger National Park, a journey of about 6 to 7 hours, depending on conditions. We have lunch before entering the park. After Kruger entry formalities, we take a leisurely afternoon game drive up to Lower Sabie Camp, probably the loveliest of all the camps, where we view hippos and crocodiles in the river and birds fishing from the rocks. You can unpack and settle in. We meet again for a barbecue (braai) under giant trees or dinner in the restaurant overlooking the river. Early to bed because it's early to rise tomorrow! The early morning drive could easily turn up a solitary leopard after a night hunt, or lions looking for a place to rest in the heat of the day. Mid-range rest camp located inside Southern Kruger NP All meals included All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)
Day 2
You'll realise safaris have an entirely different kind of itinerary. Rise before dawn to catch predators on the prowl, have coffee and rusks on the drive, and then enjoy a late breakfast at about 09h00 to 10h00. After that, we continue to Satara Rest Camp, the land of the lions, but keeping an eye out for cheetah. This is a fairly long drive north, but there is plenty to see, including baboon, elephant, zebra, giraffe and many antelope. If we are lucky, we will see hyena or lion, and if we are very lucky, cheetah, leopard or wild dog. You have to keep your eyes peeled! At each sighting, we stop in a good photographic position. We eat a late lunch at Satara, check in, and go for a short sundowner game drive. We return before dusk. Enjoy a shower or some private rest time, or prepare for a group night drive with a game ranger. Lions are often spotted prowling the dark plains or fighting off rivals, and hyenas are usually seen. Return and fall asleep to the sound of lions roaring. Mid-range rest camp located inside Central Kruger NP All meals included All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)
Day 3
We leave at the crack of dawn with our baggage, coffee and rusks loaded. We break our game drive at the picturesque Olifants Camp for a sumptuous breakfast on the high restaurant deck, which provides unparalleled views of the Olifants River and gaze towards mysterious Mozambique. From there, we continue towards Letaba Rest Camp, approaching via the giant "upside-down tree", Von Weilligh's Baobab, and the secretive Matambeni Bird Hide. Letaba is famous for elephants. There is a fascinating Elephant Hall which explains aspects of elephant life and has portraits of the main "tuskers" as well as an elephant skeleton. We do this before we lunch, overlooking the flood plain of the Letaba River, teeming with game. After lunch, we check in and then go for a game drive winding along the Letaba River course. We return for sundowners at the restaurant, and then braai at your bungalow, listening to haunting hippo honks, the eerie whooping of hyenas, and, if you're lucky, the roar of lions. Mid-range rest camp located inside Northern Kruger NP All meals included All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)
Day 4
We leave Letaba at dawn and travel to the Ba-Phalaborwa gate, where we exit the park, then have breakfast nearby. We then travel to Hoedspruit on our way to the private game lodge, listed here as Bateleur Private Tented Camp, or an equivalent-type private lodge, depending on available accommodations. We arrive late morning, eat lunch, and have time to have a nap, swim, or relax. Between 15h00 and 16h00, we assemble for a snack and drink before departing on the game drive. The game drive is in an open 4x4 safari vehicle with a knowledgeable game ranger and a tracker in a special seat at the front of the vehicle so he can read the tracks and signs of the animals. This game drive stops for sunset drinks in the bush, then continues into the early evening, allowing you to see predators beginning their night hunts, as well as various other nocturnal creatures. There is usually some excitement before returning for a tasty meal around a fire, before a ranger escorts you to your tent. Luxury tented camp located inside Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger) All meals included All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)
Day 5
The ranger wakes you at about 05h00. It is usually a bit chilly on the open game drive in the 4x4, but blankets are provided (sometimes with hot water bottles), and the game viewing will keep you shutter-clicking. The rangers will show you smaller animals, birds and teach you about how the cycle of life works in the wild, from tiny termites to mighty elephants, and the role of trees and grass in this magical bushveld spectacle. We return to camp for a hearty breakfast. After that, you can have a lovely catch-up sleep mid-morning, relax, swim, or do bird watching until lunchtime, or you can opt for some photo-mentoring with David. You can also walk in the bush with a ranger (an optional extra). We reassemble for the afternoon game drive at about 15h00 to 16h00, depending on the season. We get close to the animals, allowing for marvellous photographs. The drive extends into the early evening again before we return to camp for another delicious meal near the fire, and then off to bed. Luxury tented camp located inside Timbavati NR (Greater Kruger) All meals included All drinks (Premium wines & liquors might be excluded)
Day 6
Sadly, this is the last day of your safari adventure. The game drive will give you a last opportunity to grab that iconic photo. After breakfast, you bid a fond farewell to the ranger and tracker (not forgetting to give them a good tip for the wonderful sights they have turned up for you). Then, they will take your luggage to our vehicle, and we will leave the lodge mid-morning for the journey back to Johannesburg. We should arrive before dusk. We will be sorry to see you go, but we hope to see you again on the next safari, to new destinations, or back to the ones you have come to love. There are many bugs that bite in Africa, but the worst bite of all is the Safari Bug! Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Non-alcoholic drinks
Tour step
Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost. You'll be dropped off at the airport.
Park fees (For non-residents)
All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
A professional driver/guide
All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
All Taxes/VAT
Roundtrip airport transfer
Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
International flights (From/to home)
Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
Offered by
Ukhozi Tours provides private safaris and tours designed by you. Your guide David Forbes is a well-travelled and highly informed film director and photographer. His personalised tours include photo safaris to national parks and/or private lodges, art and cultural tours, visits to the Ndebele people to marvel at mural art and beadwork, scenic tours to World Heritage sites and political history tours spiced with his own experiences. Ukhozi means Eagle in Zulu, so come soar with us.
Office In
South Africa
Size
1-5 employees (Founded in 2017)
Member Of
SATSA & FGASA
Tour Types
Specialized photographic safaris (Mid-range & luxury)
Destinations
South Africa
Traveler feedback
Overall
5.0/5Communication
5.0/5Accuracy
5.0/5Value
5.0/5Safety clarity
5.0/5Cultural value
5.0/5David was a fabulous tour guide. He was very thorough in figuring out what we wanted our vacation to be, and delivered exactly what we asked. His knowledge of South Africa's history was fascinating. Highly recommend if you'd like someone who can cater to your specific needs rather than being trapped with a big tour group.
Heather · United States
My wife & I recently went on an 7 day, 6 night trip to Kruger and surrounds with David from Ukhozi Tours. We drove the panoramic route, stayed 3 nights in different camps in Kruger and had 2 nights in the Timbavati private reserve. It was a fantastic trip, well organised with a mix of scenery, safari and valuable photographic tips from David who is a professional photography and film maker. David has a great sense of humour and our trip was full of fun and laughs and marvellous game viewing. I felt the mix between the public camps in Kruger and the private reserve was just superb. I'd highly recommend David and Ukhozi Tours for your safari/photography trip.
Robert Mackway-Jones · New Zealand
Right from having the First contact with my Guide David, everything went very smooth. It really was easy to communicate and i got fast replies. Thanks to His flexibility we were able to find a time for the Safari spontaneously. Before the Safari He also was recommending places to visit around Cape town and Johannesburg wich came in very handy when planning my time in south africa in General. During the Safari, where we saw all of the big 5, David was very adaptable to my wishes and flexible to Personal preferences. He has a Lot of knowledge of South africa and it was interesting to hear about all These Things. In Our time in the Kruger National Park we visited places He knew Well wich were almost everytime a guarantee to have some great sightings of animals. During the Game Drives we Had incredible Encounters with elefants families, Lions fighting and hunting, intimate Moments with baboons and their children, Tracking footprints of rhinos until finding them in the wild and many many more unforgettable experiences. In conclusion i can say, that i was overwhelmed by the Beauty of Nature and the Feeling of Being with these beautiful animals and having the priveledge of Sharing their Habitat. Their Grace is Something i will forever carry in my Heart. Thank You David, my friend, for making all of that possible! :)
Thomas · Germany
I had an extra day in Johannesburg before going on safari in Botswana and Zimbabwe and decided to contact David based on his reviews on Safaribookings. I also contacted a competitor and David got back to me much quicker with several options for a day of birdwatching in Johannesburg. I was very pleased with his quick response time and the various options he provided. He came to pick me up at my hotel and we drove in his very comfortable van to Marievale birding reserve, where we were able to enjoy a number of different hides in the reserve. We were there on a weekday so there were very few other visitors. After a lovely lunch we then went to the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden, where we were able to walk around the beautiful garden and see a number of different species of birds. David was very interesting to talk to about South Africa politics as well, and we spent a really nice day together. I would highly recommend him and although we did not do one of his more historical or cultural tours I am confident that those are excellent as well.In addition, I felt that David's tour was very fairly priced compared to others in the area.
Margo · United States
Practical answers
Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
This tour is offered in South African Rand (ZAR).
This tour accepts children who are 13 years and older.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
You can request changes to this tour.
Lower Sabie Rest Camp - Mid-range rest camp inside Southern Kruger NP – All Meals Included. Meals: All Meals Included
This tour starts and ends in Johannesburg
A transfer from and back to the airport is included
Operator policy
This tour is offered by Ukhozi Tours, not SafariBookings.
This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of Ukhozi Tours.
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