Wildlife Encounters

5.0/5 – 23 Reviews

$1,843 pp (USD)
This tour is offered in ZAR. Show rate in ZAR

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Age at the end of the tour
*This tour does not accept children under 10.
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Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

  • You'll be collected from the airport.
  • Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1

Transfer by road from Johannesburg to the Kruger into Big 5 country - Lunch and game drive

Transfer by road from Johannesburg to the Kruger into Big 5 country - Lunch and game drive

Transfer by road to the Greater Kruger for 6 hours to Balule Game Reserve gate. (( there is also the option to fly to Hoedspruit ) You then drive with an open safari vehicle to Milima Big 5 Safari Lodge with its iconic waterhole and sparkling swimming pool with a view. Accommodation is in 2-roomed chalets, all set in a well-established fenced garden under an impressive rocky outcrop. The chalets have two private ensuite bedrooms with a central lounge area. There is a tea and coffee station and a mini bar fridge.

A late lunch is served before the 3-hour afternoon game drive sets off into the 8,500-ha concession of Balule - Greater Kruger. The enthusiastic guides will ignite a keen interest in the African bush and its wildlife. A drinks stop is called to watch the sunset whereafter we return to the camp by the beam of a spotlight for a 3-course dinner under the stars or in the tented dining pavilion.

Main Destination:
Balule Private Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Best Time To Visit May to September (Dry season)
High Season October to March (Not overly crowded)
Best Weather Apr-May and Sep-Oct (Mild and little rain)

Wildlife in Balule NR

ElephantCommon
GiraffeCommon
BuffaloCommon
ZebraCommon
HippoCommon
Show more
HyenaCommon
White RhinoOccasional
Black RhinoOccasional
LionOccasional
Accommodation:
Milima Safari Lodge
  • Luxury tented camp located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2

Sunrise safari and safari at dusk for wildlife, birding and breathtaking landscapes

Sunrise safari and safari at dusk for wildlife, birding and breathtaking landscapes

Guests to meet up in the dining pavilion for the moring safari. That is after a cup of coffee on the patio of your private chalet. You then set off in the open safari vehicle with the talented guide in search of memorable encounters with wildlife in pristine surroundings. The morning and afternoon game drives are 3 hours each and span the sunrise and sunset when animals are most active. In between game drives, the waterhole in front of the camp provides excellent game viewing from the comfort of the pool terrace or the veranda of a safari tent.

The rooms are air-conditioned and the gardens are shady and cool. The central swimming pool has a vantage point over the valley and the waterhole. Meals are served in varied locations, depending on weather and needs. Dinner in the boma is unique in the reeded open-air enclosure with a campfire. The spotlit waterhole is close by to facilitate nighttime viewing while the electric fence provides protection from wildlife.

Main Destination:
Greater Kruger
Accommodation:
Milima Safari Lodge
  • Luxury tented camp located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 3

Morning safari and meal before leaving for nDzuti bushcamp

Morning safari and meal before leaving for nDzuti bushcamp

After the morning game drive, head northeast for nDzuti Bush Camp, about an hour's drive through the reserve. The accommodation is more basic and daring with open-air bathrooms alongside mini Meru-style tents in an unfenced camp. The tents have real beds with fine linen, bedside tables and lamps, charging stations and electric plug points. They are erected on a solid surface facing out onto a waterhole.

Lunch is served in the shady garden under a baobab tree. There is a splash pool and a raised thatched lounge area. The afternoon game drive might head down to a section of the Olifants River where massive trees line the wide river and elephants abound. Return for dinner in the boma with hurricane lanterns and an inviting campfire.

Sleeping under canvas in an unfenced camp is an exciting experience as is a hot shower under the stars in a private outdoor en-suite bathroom.

Main Destination:
Balule Private Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accommodation:
nDzuti Bush Camp
  • Mid-range tented camp located inside Balule NR (Greater Kruger)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 4

Last morning drive on Maseke Balule before a road transfer to Klaserie Game Reserve's Tuskers Camp

Last morning drive on Maseke Balule before a road transfer to Klaserie Game Reserve's Tuskers Camp

After the morning game drive and a hearty breakfast, embark on an easy 1-hour road transfer to the Klaserie Private Game Reserve and a short drive through the reserve to Tuskers Safari Camp perched on high ground. It overlooks an open plain and the Ntisiri River's sandy course far below. The open plains are often frequented by herds of zebra, buffalo and even small family groups of white rhino—accommodation in large suites under thatch with separate entrances, en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning. Enjoy lunch out on the deck at the pool and then relax until game drive time.

The Klaserie Reserve borders Balule and the Kruger National Park with no fences in this Greater Kruger Park. The area has a commendable population and diversity of wildlife making it a perfect add-on for this safari. Depending on availability, this tour could be operated in reverse. The guides are local experts, having grown up in the area, and are keen to share their knowledge of the African bush with guests.

Main Destination:
Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accommodation:
Tuskers Bush Camp
  • Mid-range tented camp located inside Kwatale Conservancy
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 5

A full uninterrupted day in Klaserie Private Game Reserve with morning and afternoon drives

A full uninterrupted day in Klaserie Private Game Reserve with morning and afternoon drives

This last full day in the Kruger bush brings a gratifying morning and evening game drive and perhaps a short bumble off the vehicle with your guide interpreting the signs and tracks. The air-conditioned rooms are welcomingly cool for a midday nap, otherwise, the pool offers a ringside seat over the open plains and pan.

Birding around the camp is also productive with aloes that attract sunbirds and the raptors that soar over the plains. Dinner can be in the "lapa" beside the fire and might be a traditional "potjie" or a "braai" barbeque. Dietary requirements can be catered for.

Main Destination:
Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (Greater Kruger)
Accommodation:
Tuskers Bush Camp
  • Mid-range tented camp located inside Kwatale Conservancy
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 6

Klaserie Game Reserve morning game drive and breakfast before meeting the shuttle to Johannesburg

Klaserie Game Reserve morning game drive and breakfast before meeting the shuttle to Johannesburg

Enjoy a last game drive in the open safari vehicle with tried and trusted guides, making memories and enjoying encounters with wildlife. You then return to the camp for a shower and a full breakfast before leaving to meet up with the shuttle to transfer you to Johannesburg. This is a private shuttle for a group of 4.

Main Destination:
Johannesburg (City)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinks not included

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

  • Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • You'll be dropped off at the airport.

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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Wildlife Encounters, not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • This group tour requires a minimum of 4 people to run.
  • 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 Wildlife Encounters.