11-Day Big 5 Experience Guided Budget Camping Tour

• A transfer from the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrive in Pretoria and drive to Marakele NP

You will have the opportunity to buy your favourite snacks for lunch. You will camp in the Bontle Rest Camp. It is no coincidence that bontle means "beautiful” in Setswana. This pleasant rest camp has unobstructed views of the unspoiled bush and mountain. You will prepare your own food on an open fire under the stars, locally called a “braai”.

The Marakele National Park in the heart of the Waterberg Mountains, as its Tswana name suggests, has become a "place of sanctuary" for an impressive variety of wildlife due to its location in the transitional zone between the dry Western and moister Eastern regions of South Africa.

Please note: Refer to our company profile for a summary of the benefits of driving your own vehicle. A quotation for the rental of your vehicle will be provided separately.

Main Destination:

Marakele National Park (Waterberg Biosphere Reserve)

Best Time To Visit May to September (Dry season)

High Season Never (The park is little visited)

Best Weather Apr-May and Sep-Oct (Mild weather and little rain)

Wildlife in Marakele NP

GiraffeCommon

White RhinoCommon

ZebraCommon

WildebeestCommon

ElephantOccasional

Wild DogOccasional

Show more

HippoOccasional

Black RhinoRare

LionRare

LeopardRare

CheetahRare

BuffaloVery Rare

HyenaRare

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Marakele NP (Waterberg Biosphere Reserve)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore Marakele NP

You will start your day by joining a professional guide for a sunrise drive in an open game-drive vehicle. After a light self-prepared breakfast, you will explore the park and drive up the mountain pass to the Lenong lookout point for an incredible view near the Cape vulture colony. Take along your favourite snacks for the day.

You will prepare your own food on an open fire under the stars, locally called a “braai” or you can use the kitchenette.

You will drive your own vehicle when you drive up the mountain pass.

Main Destination:

Marakele National Park (Waterberg Biosphere Reserve)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Marakele NP (Waterberg Biosphere Reserve)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Marakele NP to Mapungubwe NP

After a light self-prepared breakfast, you depart for Mapungubwe National Park where you will camp.

The camping area is located in the Western section of the park next to the Limpopo River. Do not be surprised if you have a visit from an elephant in the camp. It is 11km from the main gate, in the spectacular sandstone hills. In the Eastern Section, guests can enjoy the Treetop Hide and the Confluence View Site & Picnic Area.

You will drive your own vehicle.

By now, you will be well rehearsed in preparing food in the spirit of the “bygone pioneers”.

Main Destination:

Mapungubwe National Park

Best Time To Visit May to September (Winter)

High Season Never (The park never gets busy)

Best Weather March to May (Fresh after rains, mild temperatures)

Wildlife in Mapungubwe NP

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

ZebraCommon

WildebeestCommon

HippoOccasional

White RhinoRare

Show more

LionVery Rare

LeopardRare

CheetahVery Rare

HyenaRare

Wild DogVery Rare

Black RhinoNone

BuffaloNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Mapungubwe NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore Mapungubwe NP

After a self-prepared breakfast, you join a guided Heritage Tour. As part of the tour, you will visit the elite graveyard at the top of Mapungubwe Hill, view a natural amphitheatre and the entire spectrum of the region, and traverse the territory once walked upon by the ancestral Mapungubwe people - now roamed by 4 of the Big 5. The Museum Tour is at the centre which is home to the famous Golden Rhino. Take along your favorite snacks for the day as there will be no formal stops for lunch.

The park is well known for the famous baobab trees growing in the region. All baobabs are deciduous trees ranging in height from 5 to 20m. The baobab tree is a strange-looking tree that grows in low-lying areas in Africa and Australia. They can grow to enormous sizes and carbon dating indicates that they may live to be 3,000 years old.

You will drive your own vehicle.

By now you will be well rehearsed in preparing food in the spirit of the “bygone pioneers”.

Main Destination:

Mapungubwe National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Mapungubwe NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Mapungubwe NP to Kruger NP

After a sunrise drive and self-prepared breakfast, you proceed to Punda Maria Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park via Crook's Corner and a fever tree forest.

Where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fuse with historical and archaeological sights - this is real Africa. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks among the best in Africa.

Punda Maria lies in the northernmost part of the Kruger National Park. The camp is situated in the Sandveld region which is often described as the botanical garden of the Kruger National Park. There are numerous plant species which occur that are unique to the area. Game species most likely to be sighted include impala, zebra, buffalo, elephant, eland and sable and the area is a bird paradise.

Tonight you have the choice of preparing your own food or spoiling yourself by visiting the on-site restaurant.

Main Destination:

Northern Kruger National Park

Best Time To Visit May to September (Dry season)

High Season December to January and July to August

Best Weather Apr-May and Sep-Oct (Mild and little rain)

Wildlife in Kruger NP

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

BuffaloCommon

ZebraAbundant

WildebeestCommon

HippoCommon

Show more

HyenaCommon

White RhinoOccasional

LionOccasional

Black RhinoVery Rare

LeopardRare

CheetahRare

Wild DogVery Rare

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Northern Kruger NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore the area around Punda Maria

The northern section of the Kruger NP is an area of unique biodiversity. It's one of the few places where fever tree forests grow alongside forests of giant baobabs. Today you explore the area around Punda Maria on your own. Be on the lookout for animals behind bushes and around corners. Who knows, maybe you see more than the big 5 today.

The camp is situated in the Sandveld region, often described as the botanical garden of the Kruger National Park. There are numerous plant species which occur that are unique to the area. Game species most likely to be sighted include impala, zebra, buffalo, elephant, eland and sable and the area is a bird paradise.

Late afternoon you join a sunset game drive with a professional field guide in and open game viewing vehicle. It is a perfect time for game viewing. As the evening approaches all the nocturnal animals become active, and you can experience a truly amazing African sunset.

Main Destination:

Northern Kruger National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Northern Kruger NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Punda Maria to Phalaborwa Gate

After breakfast at the Punda Maria Rest Camp, you proceed to Phalaborwa Gate. You will visit the Mopani Rest Camp where you can buy lunch at the restaurant. Tonight will be a special treat. The Sable Sleepover Hide, situated approximately 10km from the Phalaborwa Gate, is a unique accommodation facility where guests can feel part of nature.

A bird hide by day, it transforms into a basic overnight dwelling by night, where a select few can experience the Kruger National Park nightlife firsthand. The hide overlooks the Sable Dam where an abundance of animals gather to drink. Hear the lion roar and the hippo grunt meters away from where you are sleeping and know this is a true African experience. Toilets with water are available but no shower/bath facilities. There is also no electricity at the hide.

You can either buy already prepared food in Phalaborwa for tonight or you can prepare your own food on an open fire at the hide.

Main Destination:

Central Kruger National Park

Accommodation:

Sable Dam Hide

• Budget bush camp located inside Northern Kruger NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Phalaborwa Gate to Satara Rest Camp

You depart early for the Satara Rest Camp. You will visit the Olifants Rest Camp where you can buy yourself breakfast at the restaurant.

Satara is a busy camp, and not without reason. It is situated in an excellent game-viewing area, with the bush relatively open and the animals plentiful and diverse. The bungalow you will stay in is fully equipped.

The camp itself has a rustic charm, with the bulk of the accommodation set out in a series of circles. Satara is well-wooded and the birdlife is prolific. At night, the clink of fruit bats is fused with the chirping of cicadas and crickets. The calls of owls and nightjars add to the symphony that is punctuated intermittently by the whoop of hyenas, the screech of jackals and the roars of lions.

Tonight you have the choice of preparing your own food or spoiling yourself by visiting the on-site restaurant.

Main Destination:

Central Kruger National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Central Kruger NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Satara to Berg-en-Dal

After joining a sunrise drive and having breakfast (prepared by yourself or at the restaurant), you depart for Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp.

Berg-en-Dal is situated on the bank of the Matjulu Spruit with a view of softly undulating hills to the east.

On the northern and southern sides dry riverbeds and a dam border the camp. There are large trees along the streams and dry riverbeds. Special care has been taken to preserve the natural vegetation in the camp. Berg-en-Dal is also the only camp set in a rugged mountain environment.

Tonight you have the choice of preparing your own food or spoiling yourself by visiting the on-site restaurant.

Main Destination:

Southern Kruger National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Southern Kruger NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore the Berg-en-Dal area

Join a guided morning walk. Experienced (and armed) guides share their knowledge of the fauna and flora to explain natural wonders. The walks are relaxed and don’t take longer than a few hours, so no over-exhaustion will take place.

Two armed field guides accompany you on the walk to ensure your safety, they will focus on the things that you will usually not be able to see from a vehicle. By being out on foot you cover an area more intensely and you can experience nature using all of your senses. If there is any large game in the area you are more than likely able to encounter them and have an exhilarating experience of approaching them on foot.

Late afternoon you join a sunset game drive with a professional field guide in and open game viewing vehicle. It is a perfect time for game viewing. As the evening approaches all the nocturnal animals become active, and you can experience a truly amazing African sunset.

Main Destination:

Southern Kruger National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Southern Kruger NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Berg-en-Dal to your next destination

You will continue your journey to your next destination on your own, whenever you feel ready to leave. We hope that you will cherish the unforgettable memories you have made during your time with us and that you will have plenty of beautiful photos to share with your loved ones and friends.

Main Destination:

Pretoria (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.