Experience once-in-a-lifetime privately guided safaris in stunning locations with inspirational wildlife viewing in the world-famous Kruger National Park in South Africa. Regular Big 5 sightings
This package includes: All return road transport from KMIA (Nelspruit international airport) All entrance fees, conservation fees and accommodation All meals/refreshments as outlined in the itinerary 2 game drives per day A night drive All guiding in private open-sided game viewing vehicle Professional, qualified and accredited guides
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Big 5 sightings of elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and African buffalo are just as rewarding as all the aspects of being in the African bush in amongst the 148 mammal species, over 500 birds, 350 tree species and a huge diversity of landscapes and eco-zones. It’s our ability to interpret this amazing diversity of wildlife, of cultural and historical influences, as well as unravel the ecological secrets and mysteries that make Africa so special that makes us leaders in private guiding in the Kruger National Park.
Your itinerary Your safari starts from KMIA – (Nelspruit International Airport) an international airport close to the Southern Kruger and easily accessible from Johannesburg, Durban or Cape Town.
You are collected and transferred to your first lodge (rest camp) in the Kruger NP. This is where you meet your guide, and depending on your time of arrival - he will settle you in to your accommodation, show you and orientate you around the lodge facilities, and then onto our private open-sided safari game viewing vehicle for your first memorable game drive, and introduction to the world-famous Kruger.
Your nights are spent in pre-selected lodges in the Southern and Central Kruger in order to maximise your chances of spotting the big 5, and also to provide you with an itinerary that never the leaves the Kruger NP until your departure.
Kruger nights are wonderful - the southern skies play host to the nocturnal calls of hyenas, jackals, baboons and lion all while you enjoy once-in-a-lifetime moments in the African bush.
Two game drives every day - no schedule for the length or diversity of the game drives except your needs, and what the bush delivers.
On one your nights with us we organise a nocturnal drive (night drive) with spotlights – in order to get out in the dark which presents wonderful opportunities to look at the glorious star-filled skies, and some of the more secretive animals like wild cats, porcupines, owls, African civet and other nocturnal animals.
OPTION 1 You can choose to join a small group on a fully serviced (we provide all the cooking, entertaining and hospitality services ourselves) ZAR2500 per day per person sharing Minimum 6 days (5 nights) - discounts apply on additional nights Maximum eight people - discounts apply for enquiries of more than 4 people
We will provide our own full service - all meals (courtesy of our chef) all refreshments, South African wines, and softdrinks included.
Accommodation on your safari Your accommodation units are private, one, or two bedroomed (two single beds in each bedroom) en-suite serviced bungalows under beautifully thatched roofs with a fridge, air-conditioning/ceiling fan and an outside area to sit and enjoy the sights and sounds around you.
OPTION 2 Join a small group safari where your meals are taken in the lodge restaurant ZAR2150 per person sharing per day Minimum 6 days (5 nights) - discounts apply on additional nights Maximun eight people - discounts apply for enquiries of more than 4 people
Accommodation on your safari We choose the best available accommodation options for your safari, depending on the number of days you wish to spend in the Kruger NP, we will select either one, two or three lodges (rest camps) in the south or central Kruger – These lodges (rest camps) all have facilities for you to dine in the restaurants, purchase your own light meals from the convenience store, or self cater if you decide that you want to.
The Kruger National Park is truly one of the great African wildlife experiences left on the African continent. Simply boarding a tour bus on a quick stopover cannot provide visitors the opportunity to experience the true diversity, size and history of this magnificent natural area.
For many people a visit to the Kruger Park will represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience African wildlife in action and it for this reason that I started our company.
Our mission is to provide you with an experience you will remember for the rest of your life, and not simply a sightseeing excursion. It is my way of sharing my own experience and knowledge –and giving back to the place I call home.
Whether we are watching a lioness hunting, a troop of baboons playing or some of the smaller nocturnal animals on the prowl, the experience and excitement is only truly meaningful if it can be interpreted from a base of knowledge.
These safaris are reflections of our own many years of opportunity and experiences in the Kruger – and we're sure you’ll be completely satisfied with the overwhelming amount of fun, relaxation, knowledge and ‘close up’ wildlife experiences you’ll take back home with you.
Our itineraries are totally customisable, and accomodate small groups up to a maximum of 8 people. Our time in the bush is about being very close to African wildlife but in complete luxury.
Our safaris into the Kruger are combined with adventure walks, night drives in open vehicles, nocturnal walks around the lodge and other activities - all depending on our guests.
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As with any internet sourced holiday experience there is always a degree of hesitation about the final choice. Will it live up to expectation? Will it be value for money? Will it ... all travelers know the myriad of questions associated with these decision making processes.
The operator gets our vote for being all that we had hoped for and more. Neil and Tina in the pre-departure phase could not have been more helpful. Their communications were prompt, friendly and detailed and they gave a lot of time to ensuring that our unique queries were also answered in full. They also suggested an add on walking tour with another company, in the Timbavati region of the Greater Kruger that provided another dimension to our holiday.
On meeting Niel and Gordon at the start of the safari it was obvious that we were going to experience a level of knowledge about the bush as well as hospitality that exceeded our expectations. Neil's extensive knowledge of savanna ecosystems and his specialised knowledge of the Kruger National Park in particular, provided us with levels of insights that would not have been gained through a self drive / travel book tour around the Kruger. Traveling with Niel is much much more that seeing African wildlife; it is about about environmental sustainability, bird and animal behaviour, and an immersion into a world that he loves and delight in sharing with a passion.
The small size of the group means that their safaris are also about personal individualised touches and 'butler-like' service. Excellent home cooked meals shared with Neil and Gordon also gave us an opportunity to find out a lot more about modern South Africa through their eyes. Our accommodation, in permanent camps in the Kruger Park, enabled many a conversation with ( mostly South African) fellow travellers. Our meal time chats will be fondly remembered.
Our game drives and morning walk have given us a huge insight into one small part of Africa. At all times Neil was extremely safety conscious, though this did not mean that some very up close encounters with the animals of his world did not happen. Our safari allowed us to see, learn and recognise that being part of bush life on a daily basis is about cycles of life and death yet above all survival. Any safari is definitely about luck and being at the right place at the right time (we waited 10 days to see a lion yet chanced upon a leopard climbing a tree to devour its kill). It is also about an ever present anticipation about what might be around the next corner. With this safari another dimension was added to that mix - Neil's skill in the bush, his affinity with it and his knowledge of its complexities.
2
Client:
Liz - from Australia
Trip:
This trip: Classic Kruger National Park Safari
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
Our Kruger Safari was a truly memorable experience and exceeded our expectation with the number of animal sightings and knowledge gained.
We encountered a couple unusual happenings, one with a small group of Impala and another with some Baboons, which added to our experience.
We found in Neil, a person with a vast knowledge of the Kruger, not only in the animal and bird life, but the environment as well.
The service provided was excellent and would not hesitate in recommending this operator.
3
Client:
Bev Whitley - from United Kingdom
Trip:
This trip: Classic Kruger National Park Safari
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
I cannot possibly say enough about Neil & Doug to really portray what an amazing time we had with them.
Neil spent a lot of time, even before we had committed to go with them, developing the perfect safari itinerary for us, based on his knowledge and our preferences. On the trip, they could not have done more. Every tiny detail was thought of, and we were thoroughly pampered from the minute we woke to the time we went to bed.
Most importantly though, Neil's knowledge of everything that is Kruger was astounding, and he shares ths knowledge with such enthusiasm that it's contagious. The safari experience felt so unique, as rather than rushing round ticking off animals against a checklist, we spent many hours just sitting watching and observing the behaviour of the animals - we were never in a rush. And we saw just about every creature we could ever think of.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone that was even thinking about a safari.
4
Client:
Linda and Angela - from Sweden
Trip:
This trip: Classic Kruger National Park Safari
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
The safari with Neil and Doug was perfect from the beginning 'til the end.
We were only two people and that's quite something that they specialise the safari just for you. Thank you so much, we'll recommend you to all our near and dear ones and others when chance given.
5
Client:
Catherine - from United States
Trip:
This trip: Classic Kruger National Park Safari
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
Our safari was 1st class from the moment we were met by Doug at the airport until Neil safely returned us a week later.
We were treated to a cosy night at the 5th Ave. Guesthouse before meeting up with Neil in the Kruger by lunch Saturday. Roadside elephant ettiquette, grounded hornbills and a couple of impala later we settle into our lodge. Lions basking in the early rays of dawn; rhino, buffalo and graceful giraffe by morning tea. Elephants bathing in the afternoon heat, zebras prancing, lilac-breasted rollers and a tree full of vultures. After a brief encounter with a leopard, we milk the purple African sunset all the way back to our lodge, to be greeted by Mr Doug, a pink G'N'T and a gourmet dinner
....... Just another day on our Safari. Already planning our next Adventure"
6
Client:
Richard E. Triemer, - from United States
Trip:
This trip: Classic Kruger National Park Safari
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
The safari operator provided all we had hoped for and more.
From the very first moment we were treated as special guests. The transport and accommodations were all first class, but what made the trip really special was the knowledge and expertise of Neil, our guide and leader. His knowledge of animal behavior and his interest in transmitting that knowledge to us was marvelous and made seeing each of the individual species extra special.
I also cannot end without thanking Doug, our chef, for providing marvelous cuisine in the bush. I can recommend this operator without reservation, and if we do get the chance to return to Africa, we will certainly use their services again.
Thanks for a great safari!
7
Client:
Mike and Irene Snelling - from United Kingdom
Trip:
This trip: Classic Kruger National Park Safari
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
We thoroughly enjoyed our safari.We were looked after very well from the moment we arrived in Johannesburg.
The accommodation and food were very good throughout our trip. Kruger was beautiful and impressive and we would very much have liked to stay longer. Neil and Doug were very good company and organised everything very well.
Shimuwini was a beautiful place and very atmospheric (with the background of Hippo grunts and the male lion roaring and the Spotted Hyena calling near the camp each night).Talamati was also a great place to stay.There was a profusion of animals, birds, butterflies and even fish and reptiles and Neil made sure we were able to enjoy them in comfort.
8
Client:
Ingun Laupet - from Norway
Trip:
This trip: Classic Kruger National Park Safari
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
We had a great time in the Kruger!
They had booked us into excellent accomodation, and when our plans had to be changed due to heavy rainfall, flooded camps and closed roads, Neil found great replacement accomodations. When it came to animals and wildlife we saw more than we expected, and Neil's knowledge of animal behaviour and the bush in general made it an unforgettable experience.
We had an adventure-filled high luxury holiday, unmatched in the life of these two backpackers. :)
9
Client:
Michele John - from Australia
Trip:
This trip: Classic Kruger National Park Safari
Rating:
rating 10/10
Comment:
When I think of Safaris in South Africa I think of this one. I wont be able to try another operator for fear it cant live up to my expectations having just completed the 'Classic' 5 day Kruger National Park Safari.
From the knowledge and commitment of the Tour operator, to the excellent accommodation sites chosen, the fantastic Chef created meals to the wonderful itinerary planned ..... the 'Big 5' were only one part of a truly enjoyable and memorable experience!"
