Classic Safari Splendour

Classic Safari Splendour: Unveiling Kruger’s Treasures

Classic Safari Splendour is an 7 day itinerary that showcases the diversity and beauty of the Kruger region. You will visit the Panorama Route as well as spending 3 nights in the world famous Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. Offering some of South Africa’s best big five game viewing. A flight from Johannesburg takes you to the Kruger region on the first day. After all, this saves you the long drive on the first day. But if you want to save a little then it is possible to start the Classic Safari Splendour by driving from Johannesburg to Hazyview.

If you prefer not to do any driving, then we can also tailor this to include transfers and day tours for you. This allows you to just sit back and relax. The classic safari splendour itinerary takes in some beautiful areas and by starting in the Hazyview area. Which gives you time to relax after the long flight. It is also possible to enter the main Kruger Park from here. Especially, as the entrance gate is only 15 minutes from where you are staying and with a packed picnic breakfast, you can go and explore on your own a little too.

The Panorama Route is gorgeous and a true visual feast of views and canyons – a day well spent sight-seeing. The main highlights include God’s Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon. Furthermore, there are also seasonal waterfalls that are beautiful to visit.

Your 2 nights in the Sabi Sands (Kruger) includes game drives as well as the oppportunity to do morning bush walks with your ranger. This is a great way to get out and really experience the African bush. You learn about the smaller things often missed from the vehicle. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax, enjoy the tranquil bush surrounds or catch up on some sleep. You can also do some animal spotting at the waterhole or enjoy quality time with your loved ones.

The classic safari splendour can also be done in reverse and you can then easily take a direct flight from the Kruger region to Cape Town for a longer holiday in South Africa.

Your Itinerary

Day 1-3 - Hazyview - Panorama Route

Arrival in Johannesburg early morning, taking a connecting flight to the Kruger region where you will collect your hire car take the short 40 minutes to Hazyview where you will be based at Rissington Inn for the next 3 nights on a B&B basis. This gives you 2 full days to explore the area – spend one day exploring the Panorama Route and the next day you can visit for a day or the morning in the main Kruger National Park – or just relax at the lodge which is a little haven for birds and even has some of its own resident wildlife.

Accommodation

Day 4-6 - Kruger: Timbavati Private Nature Reserve

Today the holiday gets a little ‘wilder’ as you head to the northern Kruger region, staying in the Timbavati private nature reserve for the next 3 nights. Your stay includes a total of 6 game drives starting from one afternoon drive on arrival and then a morning and afternoon/evening game drive the following day plus a last one on the morning of departure. Umlani Bush Camp offers an authentic, but comfortable home away from home experience in a great game viewing location.

Accommodation

Day 7 - Sabie

After your morning game drive and breakfast, its time to head off to the Sabie region for your last night. You can take a lazy drive through some pretty scenery, via the Abel Erasmus Pass and the Robbers Pass via Pilgrims Rest. And if you time it right, there could even be time to stop in Graskop for one of their famous pancakes before heading to Sabi Town House where you will spend your last night on a B&B basis.

Accommodation

Day 8 - Back to Johannesburg

Today it is time to enjoy your last breakfast before taking to the road for the long journey home. The drive to Johannesburg is an easy one, on a good highway and will take around 3 – 4 hours, so you will have some time in the morning to do some last bits of shopping or just have a lazy morning before taking to the road (if you prefer it is also possible to fly back).

Arrival by the late afternoon in Johannesburg to meet your evening flight back to London, well rested and full of great holiday adventure stories!

Cape Town

Cape Town is as much about the surrounding areas as the city itself. Recommended visit time is 5 days to be able to comfortably fit in all the main sights from Cape Point, Table Mountain, V&A Waterfront and Robben Island. More More

Winelands

Only a 'hop and skip' from Cape Town, the Winelands offers an excellent combination of indulgence, history and visual pleasure! Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are the popular towns, each offering its own unique charm and you are spoilt for choice of excellent restaurants and wine farms to visit. More

Hermanus

Only 2½ hours from Cape Town you will find the 'whale capital' of Hermanus that offers some of South Africa's best 'land based' whale watching. The town offers some super Blue Flag swimming beaches and a beautiful mountain setting. More

Garden Route

Stretching from Swellendam to Tsitsikamma, the Garden Route offers visitors a diverse experience ranging from rolling landscapes, semi-desert arid region of Oudtshoorn to the lush forests of the Knysna and Plettenberg Bay areas. Lovely white beaches in the Mossel Bay, Wilderness and Plettenberg Bay completes this destination as an excellent choice for all ages. More

Eastern Cape Safaris

Situated in the eastern part of South Africa, the Eastern Cape is fast becoming South Africa's hottest holiday destination. The region is malaria free, offers a host of top class "Big Five" game destinations, with the added advantage that travelling closer to the coast, you can also enjoy the "Big Six", namely whales, the silent giants of the sea. More

Durban

Durban is the gateway to the warm beaches of Natal as well as the Drakensberg and game regions of Hluhluwe. There is an international airport with numerous daily flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg. More

Hluhluwe & Battlefields

This area offers such a diversity - from the excellent big five game viewing of the Hluhluwe area with a good selection of big five reserves, heading inland you reach the Battlefields where raconteurs take you back to a by-gone era of the Zulu Wars. Nearby you have access to kilometres of isolated beaches and warm Indian Ocean waters. More

Drakensberg

The vast expanse of the Drakensberg is a must for any person who enjoys tranquil surroundings and hiking. Easily accessible from both Johannesburg and Durban and complimentary to any longer holiday in South Africa. Excellent hiking for all fitness levels. More

Kruger

The Kruger area offers a diversity of experiences from some of South Africa's best big five game viewing to the spectacular Panorama Route. This is a must visit destination in its own right. More

Mozambique

Becoming one of Africa's hottest destinations with its tropical beaches, warm waters and palm trees. Most connections between lodges within Mozambique are achieved by scheduled and charter flights as well as boat transfers, as road networks are not as developed. A great way to end off any African holiday by spending a few days relaxing on the beach and indulging in tropical spoils.
More

Madikwe & Waterberg

The ‘big five’ game regions of Madikwe Game Reserve and the Waterberg Game Reserve are increasing in popularity and giving Kruger some healthy competition. These areas are malaria free, located within a 3–4 hour drive from Johannesburg and also offer a great safari experience. More

Classic Safari Splendour