Kruger Sleep-Out Walking Adventure
Summary of this Adventure Travel
This Greater Kruger walking safari is ideal for the young adventure traveller in search of an immersive bush experience without the frills.
Sleep out under the stars in the rugged bush where wildlife roams freely. You will be roughing it, sleeping on camping mattresses right in untamed nature, getting up close to the elements. Embark on long walks in the Big Five Balule Game Reserve and other private reserves in the Greater Kruger Area, looking out for animals and birds. Spend a full day game viewing inside Kruger National Park, searching for the Big Five of Africa and a host of other wildlife in an open-sided safari vehicle.
This Kruger Sleep-Out Walking Adventure is for the intrepid, active budget traveller – the outdoor enthusiast who doesn’t mind getting dirty and leaving comfort behind for a few challenging, yet rewarding days.
Itinerary for this Tour
Day 1: Johannesburg to Greater Kruger Park – South Africa
On day one of this Kruger Bush Adventure you are collected from your pre-tour hotel or from the Johannesburg International Airport. Leaving Johannesburg, known as Egoli (the City of Gold), we drive east into the rugged Mpumalanga Province of South Africa.
We head to a private lodge inside the Balule Game Reserve of Greater Kruger National Park – South Africa’s premier game viewing destination. In the late afternoon we set off on an exhilarating sunset game drive in the Balule Private Game Reserve.
Our late afternoon game drive takes us in search of the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo), as well as the abundance of other wildlife and birds for which Balule is famous. Usually we catch our first beautiful African sunset out on his early evening game drive conducted in an open 4×4 Landcruiser. The game drive lasts into the night, when powerful spotlights are used to see nocturnal animals, including jackals, hyenas and lions.
The 4×4 drive ends at a remote open-air boma where we tuck into a South African style barbecue, called a braai. Our tasty dinner is cooked over an open fire in the heart of the wilderness and enjoyed out under the stars. After our traditional braai we settle down for a wild night of sleeping out in the bush, as close to nature as can be. The camping mattresses are set out around the campfire – open to the elements, under starry skies on clear nights. Listen for hyenas, lions and other animals in the untamed bush around you as you fall asleep, with an armed guard to keep you safe.
Day 2: Balule Game Reserve in Greater Kruger – South Africa
Day two starts with an early morning coffee and some rusks (dry tea biscuits), before we venture into the private reserve for a two-hour bush walk at sunrise. Then we have breakfast and drive to a secluded area in Balule, continuing to the Olifant’s River on foot. This three-hour game walk is a thrilling experience – moving through the bush on foot with the possibility of encountering large mammals, including the Big Five at any moment. Your qualified guide will be able to tell you more about the fauna and flora in this remote wilderness area as you walk through the bush.
Reaching Olifant’s River we switch to a 4×4 safari vehicle and drive to the scenic spot where we will be sleeping out tonight. Here we have lunch, followed by some free time for a nap.
Later we set off on a three-hour afternoon bush walk, tracking wildlife and getting a close-up look at the details of this wild ecosystem. Returning from our afternoon walk in Big Five country we have dinner out in the open and relax around the campfire. Tonight we sleep outside in the wild again, totally immersed in the African bush with all its sounds, sights and smells.
Day 3: Kruger National Park – South Africa
This morning we drive back to the private lodge in Balule for a delicious breakfast. Then we make our way into the world-famous Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s finest game parks.
We spend the entire day exploring Kruger Park in an open-sided safari vehicle, sighting an assortment of wildlife and birds in this vast wilderness area. Kruger is home to about 147 mammal species, including the Big Five of Africa – so keep your eyes open!
After our rewarding game drive in Kruger National we drive to an adventure camp in the Greater Kruger Area. We have dinner at the rustic camp and sleep out in the bush on camping mattresses as on the previous two nights.
Day 4: Greater Kruger to Johannesburg – South Africa
Last day roughing it in the untamed bush! Start day four with a one-hour game walk along the Klaserie River with an armed ranger.
Returning from your last exciting walk in the game-rich wilds of South Africa, we have a hearty breakfast at the camp. Then it is time to return to the big city, travelling along the Panorama Route where we see the Three Rondawels of Blyde River Canyon
We arrive back in Johannesburg at about 17h00, having experienced Greater Kruger up close and personal on this sleep-out bush adventure.
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