Safari means ‘journey’ – this journey is your passage into the soul of Africa’s greatest wildlife area Rating: Luxury accommodation/5-star service/exceptional value/once in a lifetime experience.
“Circle of Life” - A safari experience like no other…
Groups are limited to 8 guests sharing (4-8 pax sharing will constitute an exclusive party) (couples or single pax can join a group of 4-8 people)
Duration: 6 nights/7 days
Rating: Luxury accommodation/5-star service/exceptional value/once in a lifetime experience.
Rate: R14 999 per person sharing
Guiding and operator status: Fully qualified, fully insured and fully accredited.
Safari means ‘journey’ – this journey is your passage into the soul of Africa’s greatest wildlife area. This journey is a transition where new sights, sounds and smells all merge into experiences en route.
It is a personal and memorable experience of being in the African bush…
It is important for me to highlight that the Kruger, like all natural ecosystems, has evolved for billions of years. Through this evolution it has adapted, changed and forged out relationships and interactions to produce what we will be spending five days looking at.
The cultural and historical aspects of the Kruger are so much a part of how this great wildlife area evolved that I have included significant archaeological, geological and cultural segments that add value to our Kruger safari experience with what I call the 'circle of life'.
Day one: Arrival Guests on our safari need not worry about anything that happens after they land in South Africa. We see to it that you are personally collected from the airport – and from that moment onwards – our guests are treated to 5-star treatment and comforts.
You are collected from Johannesburg International airport and transferred to our preferred guest house. Your day is spent relaxing.
Overnight at guest house(This is the complimentary day and night)
Day Two Looking back 4.1 million years ago
Sterkfontein is one of the world's most productive and important palaeo-anthropological sites. It is the place where Dr Robert Broom found the fist adult ape-man in 1936.
This ancient cave system has over the years revealed a sequence of deposits with fossils dating back from about 3.5 to 1.5 million years, a period of time which spans the early development of the family of man -- the hominids. In addition to almost 500 skull, jaw, teeth and skeletal fossils of these early hominids, there are many thousands of other animal fossils, over 300 fragments of fossils wood, and over 9,000 stone tools that include some of the earliest manifestations of human culture on earth.
Some of the youngest deposits in the cave also contain fossils and tools from the period just prior to the emergence of modern humans, the period ca. 100.000 to 250,000 years ago, most widespread of which are the dolomites of the Transvaal Supergroup. Dolomite, as well as limestone, is slightly soluble in acidic groundwater (groundwater that contains carbon dioxide in solution) and readily forms caves and sinkholes
I collect you from 5th Avenue at about 7am (after breakfast) and we head west out of Johannesburg to the 'World heritage site -- the Cradle of Humankind at Sterkfontein caves. These are the caves were Mrs Pless and 'littlefoot' were excavated, and recently a 4.1 million year old humanoid piece was found.
The area is significant because it is the gives fantastic insight to life in Africa before modern man, and one gets a real sense of what it must have been like living with sabre-toothed cats, etc. We will also be driving through areas that include the oldest geology in the world on our way down to the Kruger, and this gives me an opportunity to show you some of the geological formations that have changed our continent into what it is today. We go down to the actual site, deep into the caves filled with awe-inspiring stalactites and stalagmites.
A cultural look at the people of Africa After the Cradle of Humankind we move on to get a clearer indication of how these 'very early' hominoids developed into and formed the people of South Africa. A truly wonderful experience of 'seeing South Africa's truly amazing cultural heritage, which is significant because our trip to the lowveld is steeped in South African culture.
We arrive at Lesedi Cultural village at around 11H30 - In time to be personally escorted through Ndebele, Zulu, Xhosa and Pedi cultures and to meet some of the people. We also have a traditional lunch at the village.
The Monati (lunch) cultural experience is a two and a half-hour program starting at 11:30am. A traditional welcome by the multicultural inhabitants of Lesedi starts the experience. Into the Ndebele theatre for an audio-visual presentation depicting the colourful lifestyles of the different tribes. Then onto a guided tour through the four 'Umuzis' (homesteads) followed by an exciting tribal dance display, before participating in the 'Pan African Feast' incorporating ethnic dishes from South, East and North Africa.
We return to 5th Avenue guest- house for an evening ‘braai’ – a traditional South African barbecue – a fitting way to prepare for our safari in the morning.
Day Three – our safari begins An early departure into the province of Mpumalanga.
Where the Crocodile River rises and the Mpumalanga Drakensburg mountains mellow into the Scottish Highland landscape. This area was not always as peaceful as it looks for this was where battles raged between the Boers and the British during the Anglo-Boer War.
Dullstroom is the only place in South Africa where elm and beech trees grow. The Verlorenvallei nature reserve is the only reserve in South Africa where all three crane species (blue crane, wattled crane and crowned crane) live along with many other bird species. The Dullstroom area is home to over 50 species of ground orchid and many other fascinating plants.
Lunch is served en-route.
Mpumalanga is the province in South Africa where the world famous Kruger National Park is situated. Mpumalanga is the Zulu and Swazi word for “the place where the sun rises” and it is exactly that. The sun has risen over many legends (and evidence) of the earliest inhabitants of southern Africa, the small, mystical San (Bushman), as well as the Ndebele, Pedi, Swazi and Shangaan people, all who have settled in this province.
The geological formations -- great sedimentary pillars of quartzite rock -- hold all the secrets of the passage of time. Granite extrusions and 'koppies' (small hills of granite boulders) have been home to African wildlife and African culture for over 3 000 million years. Some of the oldest rocks in this area include green stone (over 3 500 million years old) are still displayed in all their glory as the keepers of our secrets.
The world we show you is a world of ancient mystery where Nature, in the wider sense, is infinitely more complex than mankind has to yet fully appreciate. This world, where the actions of man have tended to repeat themselves over and over again through the centuries until they become well documented and predictable, is also a world of new discoveries and no final answers. But it will remain a place of learning that will stay in your heart forever.
On this safari your group will learn to discover what has always been part of man, sadly hidden from many of us, but re-gained in the knowledge that all of us are part, and have always been a part, of this history, this ecology and of this place.
The Kruger Park is the size of the country Wales. Extending to 3 000km of tracks and beautiful lodges/camps nestled in close proximity to the bush and wildlife – this is what will turn your group's experience into a memory never to be forgotten.
Day Four – Day Seven There is absolutely nothing on earth quite as exhilarating as sitting around an open fire, listening to the sounds of an African night, sipping your favourite beverage while your taste buds savour the aroma of food cooking in the fresh air.
It is hardly surprising that our excursions into the world-famous Kruger Park have become a favourite for so many visitors to South Africa.
More than anything else our safari is an easy, private and relaxing experience of African wildlife. The adventure, the sights and sounds, the ecology and of course, chasing down the big 5, are combined with luxurious accommodation and view-filled nights in stunning locations.
On our safari the bush is always on your doorstep. Nocturnal visitors like hyena and civet cats sniff around at night. The whooping location call of hyena and the roar of lions, an irritated hippo splashing back into a nearby water-hole and the anxious snort of an impala all combine to make your stay in the bush a memorable one.
Early morning ‘tracking’ drives, interpretation of spoor left on the sand tracks and eager anticipation in chasing down the big 5 make great drives. Your guide is trained to uncover the magic of the bush. Very little slips past unnoticed. By the second morning your senses are tuned in – and you’re listening and watching for movement, shapes and sounds as though you’d been there all your life.
Every aspect of your safari is carefully planned. Preparation makes life easy in the bush – small details and bush tricks learned over many years of experience and knowledge separate us from our competition.
Our safaris are tailor-made, private and very special encounters in the Kruger Park – an experience that you will treasure for many, many years.
Our safaris combine your needs with the best of the bush – whether it be adventure activities like walking or night drives, sitting around an open fire in social debate, or relaxing under the shade of a tree watching the birds as they get about their business. – We will serve it up in the best possible way.
All inclusive of meals, refreshments, accommodation, vehicles, transfers, guiding, conservation fees, game drives, walks and ecological and cultural interpretation.
Excluding: International flights, Visas (if required), Items of a personal nature and not mentioned above
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This trip: Circle of Life - Culture and Wildlife Safari
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
I want to take this opportunity to express my wonder and complete satisfaction with this safari operators.
I recently completed their "Circle of Life" curriculum which included a visit to the Cradle of Humankind and a thorough introduction to Kruger National Park.
I was so impressed by the depth of knowledge and ease of communication of my guide, Neil, and his colleague Doug. They were both so personable, knowledgeable and attentive that I feel like I have gained two special friends for life. I was awed by their passion for the park. They have an astounding interest in all aspects of the Kruger.
Not only did I get to see numerous animals but learned alot about the interaction of all the species, including mankind. Neil showed me how to track, how to recognize constellations and how to listen and hear the symphony of sounds that South Africa offers.
I can recommend their adventure without reservation - and, speaking of reservations - I wish I could book another trip with them this very moment! Please convey my heartfelt thanks and very best wishes to them. Thank you!
