Duration
5-Day
Kruger National Park, South Africa
This 5--day package provides an adventurous safari experience in the Balule Private Nature Reserve and Kruger National Park. You will enjoy a stay at the luxury Ku Sungula Safari Lodge, situated within the Kruger National Park. During your visit, a knowledgeable guide will navigate the open safari vehicle, sharing his expertise about the local wildlife and the surrounding bush.
Plan snapshot
Duration
5-Day
Route
Johannesburg to Johannesburg
Via Balule NR, Kruger NP
Country & park
South Africa / Kruger National Park
Style
Safari
Group size
1-12 travelers
Starts
Any day if available
Minimum age
8 years
Activities
game drives, evening/night game drives & walking safaris (with an armed guide)
Accommodation
Ku Sungula Safari Lodge - Luxury lodge inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals
Day 1: Lunch & Dinner Included; Day 2-4: All Meals Included; Breakfast Included
Pickup
Airport transfer included
Booking
Request quote
Currency
ZAR
Rates
ZAR
Before booking
Quote flow
This luxury tour uses lodges.
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 cannot book this private tour.
The minimum age for this tour is 8 years.
Day 1-4
Luxury lodge inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger)
Day 1: Lunch & Dinner Included; Day 2-4: All Meals Included
Day 5
(No accommodation)
Breakfast Included
Tour step
You'll be collected from the airport. Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Day 1
Today, your adventure begins! Upon your arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, a driver from our partner, Swift Kruger Shuttles, will be waiting for you at the bus terminal. The pickup time is 7:45am local time. The shuttle will take approximately six hours to reach the Olifants West Gate, where one of our guides will be ready to escort you to Ku Sungula Safari Lodge. After a warm welcome, you will check in and enjoy a delicious lunch followed by some relaxation time. In the afternoon, our guide and tracker will take you on your first exciting game drive! Be sure to have your camera and binoculars ready as the game drives go off-road to bring you as close as possible to the animals. Once you return to the lodge, a delightful dinner will be waiting for you. Luxury lodge located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger) Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 2
The park is calling, or perhaps it is the adventure that beckons! Either way, today is the day for a real experience. After resting from your flight and your first adventure, you wake up early to visit the stunning Olifants West Nature Reserve. After enjoying coffee, you leave the lodge and drive straight into the wilderness. What could be rustling in the tall grass? You will likely encounter the legendary Big Five during your thrilling drive through the beautiful landscapes. Watch for buffaloes, leopards, elephants, lions and rhinos. But there is so much more to discover! The park boasts a diverse array of birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and even trees. You will be amazed! After the morning safari, you return to the lodge for a delicious breakfast. In the afternoon, you set off on another spectacular game drive that extends into the evening twilight. Enjoy the wind in your hair as you drive, take in the breathtaking views, and appreciate the beauty that South Africa has to offer. Luxury lodge located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger) All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 3
You wake up to the sound of birds chirping. Wait, is that a zebra in the distance? A new day has dawned at the Olifants West Nature Reserve, and you are up early, ready for another morning safari. Alongside your guide, you head towards the sunrise, hopeful that you might spot the special white rhino. The guide shares fascinating insights about the park, including its remarkable geology. Did you know that some rocks here are over 3 billion years old, making them the oldest in the world? After your morning adventure, you return to the lodge, where the aroma of a delicious breakfast welcomes you. After lunch, it is time for the second game drive of the day. Refreshed and recharged, you are eager to discover new species and areas of the reserve. Watching the mesmerizing sunset over the reserve, you enjoy snacks and drinks. When the drive comes to an end, you return to the lodge, filled with memories of another incredible day. Luxury lodge located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger) All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 4
You know you cannot leave Africa without seeing elephants, and that is exactly what we are looking for today! Our plan includes not one but two exhilarating game drives in the Olifants West Nature Reserve, home to elephants and much more. As the early morning sun paints the horizon in hues of gold, we will depart from the lodge to the Olifants River Valley within the reserve. Tucked away along the western border of Kruger National Park, this piece of paradise awaits us. Get ready to be spellbound by the breathtaking landscapes, untouched wilderness, and diverse array of wildlife that inhabit this area. Be sure to keep quiet so you can fully experience the interactions between the animals, from the haunting calls of hyenas to the thunderous roars of lions. You will have a great chance to spot big cats during this time. With adrenaline still coursing through your veins, you will return to the lodge for dinner. What an incredible day! Luxury lodge located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger) All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
Day 5
Wake up early to greet the new day with a bush walk. In the morning, you will go on a final safari on foot, accompanied by an experienced and armed guide. During the walk, the guide will share their knowledge as you take in the scent of crushed wild grass while navigating through the bushes. You will learn about tracking, animal behavior, and the ecosystem of the bush. Experience the aroma and flavor of wild herbs, discover traditional customs, and explore the smaller wonders of the bush. After the morning safari, a hearty breakfast will await you at the lodge. Then, it is time to say goodbye. The shuttle bus to OR Tambo International Airport departs around 9:40am, and you can expect to arrive in Johannesburg between 5:00pm and 6:00pm. From there, your connecting flight home will leave, and you will land the next day with a suitcase full of wonderful memories. Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
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)
Drinking water (On all days)
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
Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Offered by
Ku Sungula Safari Lodge is a small scale lodge in Greater Kruger Park South Africa (Olifants West Private Nature Reserve Balule) in the middle of the Big 5 area, open with Kruger National Park. Feel part of the Ku Sungula Family and let us host your perfect safari adventure! Your stay with us is an unique, personalized adventure that offers you detailed insight into the complex and fascinating ecosystem of the South African bush.
Offices In
South Africa, Netherlands
Size
10-20 employees (Founded in 2015)
Tour Types
Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
Destinations
South Africa
Traveler feedback
Overall
5.0/5Communication
5.0/5Accuracy
5.0/5Value
5.0/5Safety clarity
5.0/5Cultural value
5.0/5Wow! All I can say is it was perfect! Planning a dream safari is overwhelming! We researched safaribookings.com and got multiple quotes before ultimately choosing one from Anne at Ku Sungula. So glad we did! We were sold on the intimate private lodge setting and ideal location within greater Kruger. Anne helped us find just the right itinerary (5 day bush and lion) and arranged all the logistics in advance so we could have a stress free time. Safari exceeded all our expectations. From the moment we were greeted upon arrival until departure everyone treated us so well! The people, facility, service, food and of course the game drives were all excellent! My only regret is not booking a longer stay! (I literally cried when we had to leave and they gave us our special going away treat!). We had a lot to celebrate as a family this year and couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend time together. Thank you for the wonderful memories! Can’t wait to come back!
Joe · United States
Our stay at Ku Sungula Lodge was more than amazing! Thanks to Anne for organising our trip and very responsive in all our communications from the very beginning which really put our mind at ease. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with such warmth and genuine hospitality by the front of house team and the owner, Yolanda and manager Moses. From our guides, Sam, John, DJ and Confident, to the amazing FOH team, esp. Trinity, Thim and the amazing chef Li and our housekeeper - every single person we met made us feel right at home. The game drives were unforgettable. We never felt unsafe while traveling in the open vehicles with our guides. We were lucky enough to see an incredible variety of animals, all of the big 5 and more (except for the male lion - which added another reason for us to come back for 'em bad boys). Thanks to our experienced and passionate guides, we didn’t just see them — we truly learned about them, their behaviors, and the bush they call home. It was both thrilling and deeply enriching. The bush walk gave us another dimension that the game drives could not cover and was a super fun and educational experience that we could never forget (esp the 'special seed' spitting contest lol). The food was another highlight! Every meal was a delight, thanks to the talented chef Li who crafted delicious dishes with so much care and love. Dining under the stars after a day of adventure made it all feel even more special. Our room was always spotless, thanks to the wonderful housekeeping team. A special thank you to the housekeeper who kept everything neat and tidy throughout our stay — we truly appreciated your care and attention to detail. The staff were also incredibly accommodating and quick to help with any small changes or requests we had, always with a smile. We’re so grateful for the entire team — each and every one of you played a part in making this trip so memorable. Ku Sungula Lodge is a place we’ll always hold close to our hearts, and we can’t wait to return one day.
Amy N. · Australia
Staying at Ku Sungula Safari Lodge was an experience beyond anything I could have imagined—it was pure magic from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warm smiles and a refreshing drink. What truly sets this lodge apart is the staff. The guides were not only incredibly knowledgeable but also passionate about the land and its wildlife. Each game drive was a thrilling adventure, packed with sightings of the Big Five and narrated with stories and facts that brought the bush to life. If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime escape that stirs your soul, reconnects you with nature, and wraps you in world-class luxury, Ku Sungula Safari Lodge is it. I left with memories I’ll cherish forever—and a deep desire to return.
Michael · United States
We booked a stay at Ku Sungula safari lodge last minute and couldn't have been happier with our stay! To start, Anne was fantastic with our last minute booking - making it so easy! From the moment we arrived at the Hoedspruit airport and were collected by DJ, we knew we had made the right choice for a safari lodge! Once at the property, all of the staff were amazing, friendly and professional! The property and our rondavel guest house was awesome - complete with outdoor shower (que the elephant passing by!) and adjacent private outdoor living area. The food was great and plentiful! WiFi available and good! The star of the experience was the game drives we did morning and late afternoon/evening! With Confidence (Coffee) driving and DJ spotting/tracking we had a fantastic time! They were a great team, allowing ample time for photos and asking the guests what they wanted to see or attempt to see on each drive. The open top/open side Toyota Land Cruisers were comfortable able to go anywhere! Blankets and/or ponchos were provided as needed. We were able to get up close and personal with lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes, a leopard, rhinos and hippos - just to mention the big ones! Coffee also was great about pointing out smaller critters and birds as well as sharing information about the different trees & bushes and how they are used by the local tribal people - she was a wealth of information! DJ was a fantastic tracker/spotter and I know we were able to see more because of his expertise! Many of the game vehicles from the various lodges in the area talk to each other on the radio to share locations/sightings - what we noticed is that we were almost always first at an animal location - because these guys are the best! Anyway, I wholeheartedly recommend the Ku Sungula safari lodge! This is an amazing team of guest oriented people - you will have a fantastic experience! Brent Eagle, Colorado, USA Stayed April 21-24 (4 days/3 nights), 2025
Brent · 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 8 years and older.
If availability permits, this tour can start on any day.
You can request changes to this tour.
Ku Sungula Safari Lodge - Luxury lodge inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger). Meals: Day 1: Lunch & Dinner Included; Day 2-4: 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 Ku Sungula Safari Lodge, 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.
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