5 Day Budget Greater Kruger Lodge Safari to Klaserie

August 22, 2018August 22, 2018admin

Summary of this Budget Safari Package

This is a great opportunity to take the family on a budget-friendly, exciting safari in the pristine Klaserie Private Game Reserve, bordering world-famous Kruger National Park.

Conceived by local farmers as a way to protect the natural landscape, Klaserie was proclaimed a game reserve in 1972. Passionate about conservation the owners have created a haven for wildlife and kept the human footprint to a minimum by limiting the number of guest bush camps in the reserve. This decision benefits guests as the 60 000 hectare reserve is free of crowds of tourists so guests are likely to only come across wildlife when out on a game drive. Our camp has a right to a 6 000 hectare traverse and with animals roaming freely between the unfenced Kruger National Park, Timbavati and Klaserie the area teems with wildlife, including the Big 5 of Africa. Game drives are in open safari vehicles, perfect for outstanding viewing and photography and due to the wildlife becoming habituated to the safari vehicles our guide will make sure you have up close and personal experiences.

The four family chalets and four double chalets in the camp are constructed from brick and thatch, cosy and warm in winter, but hidden amongst shade trees, so cool in summer. They all have en-suite facilities and a private deck, or you may choose to mingle with other guests on the viewing deck next to the sparkling pool and watch the wildlife as it gathers at the waterhole. The candlelit evenings are spent in the boma around the campfire, under the star-studded skies of Africa.

Take a break from the madding crowds and spend some quality, family time in the African wilderness.

Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Johannesburg to Klaserie Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger

We leave the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg behind and transfer to the gates of our bush camp in Klaserie Private Game Reserve. There we are met with a ranger and transferred in open safari vehicles to the camp, spotting wildlife as we drive. We arrive in time for lunch so after freshening up we join our fellow guests in the dining room, overlooking the waterhole, for a welcome meal. Then there is some free time to explore the camp, take a dip in the sparkling pool or relax before we head out on our first sunset wildlife viewing drive.

The unfenced boundaries between Klaserie, Kruger National Park and Timbavati allows the wildlife to migrate through this vast area in search of the best grazing, hunting opportunities and water. Our safari vehicles allow for off-road driving so no opportunity for up-close contact with wildlife is missed. We stop to watch a dramatic African sunset before winding our way back to the camp and a welcome dinner. We gather in the boma for pre-dinner drinks and then tuck into a hearty meal around the campfire whilst reliving the exciting sightings of the day.

Lunch & Dinner

Day 2-4: Klaserie Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger

We follow the same routine for the next 3 days, but each day will hold very different experiences. The animals are up and about early and are most active at this time of day so guests rise early to have the best viewing opportunities. After coffee or tea and confectionaries, we board our open safari vehicle, camera and binoculars to hand, for a two to three hour game drive. Our camp has the privilege of the rights to 6 000 hectares of traverse which allows for a genuine safari experience, as we roam this area devoid of crowds of tourists. Sightings of the Big 5 are virtually guaranteed, as the reserve teems with these beautiful creatures and many more, as well as prolific birdlife. Wildlife commonly sighted in Klaserie includes giraffe, wildebeest, hyena, zebra, hippo, warthog, mongoose, vervet monkey and various antelope species, such as waterbuck, steenbok, impala and kudu. After a couple of hours, we wend our way back to camp and breakfast.

After breakfast, guests have the opportunity to head out on an adrenalin pumping 45 minute bush walk escorted by an armed ranger and a Shangaan tracker, both well trained in dealing with animals in the wild. There is no better way to get close to nature, hearing the calls of the animals in the stillness and smelling the aromas of nature. The experienced ranger shares his wealth of knowledge teaching guests about the surrounding environment, how to track, the meaning behind fresh dung, the complexities of termite mounds and the flora. He will point out the smaller creatures that may be missed but are important to this ecosystem. And there is always the imminent possibility of coming across a much larger creature.

Back at camp, it’s time to relax, take a nap, cool off in the shimmering pool, chat to other guests on the viewing deck watching life pass by or chill on your private deck. Lunch is served in the early afternoon before we head out on the sunset wildlife viewing drive. Once the sun has set night falls quickly in the bush, so as we drive back to camp keep an eye out for nocturnal creatures. Once again we gather in the boma to enjoy drinks, a hearty dinner and to recount our thrilling experiences of the day under the starry African skies free of light pollution.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Klaserie Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger to Johannesburg

Sadly this is our last day in this pristine wilderness and we set out on our final early morning game drive – our last opportunity to add to our sightings list. Back at camp, we tuck into breakfast, then prepare for our departure. There is time to relax as we wait for our transfer back to Johannesburg and hustle and bustle. This memorable, budget-friendly, family safari will be a never forgotten experience.

Expect to arrive back in Johannesburg between 17h00 and 18h00.

Breakfast

About Klaserie Private Nature Reserve

Born out of the desire to protect the natural landscape, Klaserie was proclaimed a nature reserve in 1972. It is thanks to three owners of farmland along the Klaseries River who had the vision to recognise the importance of conservation that this privately owned, pristine reserve is available to limited numbers of guests today. From the outset, the elected board was passionate about conservation and today, the reserve is involved in a number of wildlife projects including the Ground Hornbill Project, Rhino Protection, the “Tembo” project currently studying buffalo and The Elephant Project.

Sharing unfenced borders with the Kruger National Park and Timbavati, the 60 000 hectare Klaserie Reserve is home to the Big 5, lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant, as well a variety of other wildlife including giraffe, zebra, warthog, spotted hyaena, baboon, hippo, impala and kudu. These three reserves, fed by the Klaserie River, offer immense wilderness areas through which the wildlife migrates. There are few tourists in Klaserie, as the philosophy has always been to minimise the human footprint to safeguard the natural landscape and the wildlife and to this end, there is a limited number of bush camps. This creed ensures an exclusive, authentic safari experience.

Klaserie offers a unique safari adventure, free from the stresses of modern living and far away from the crowds of tourists.

About the Safari Camp

Our safari camp is located in the prestigious Klaserie Private Game Reserve, in the Greater Kruger Park and with an allocation of 6000 traversing rights guests are treated to varied landscapes and an excellent chance of spotting the Big 5.

Nestled amongst shade trees, the brick and thatch lodges are cool in summer, but cosy and warm in winter. Each lodge is comfortably appointed with en-suite bathrooms and a shaded private deck. The camp has four family chalets and 4 double chalets ensuring an intimate, crowd free environment. The communal areas include a comfortable lounge, an open thatched dining room overlooking the waterhole where breakfast and lunch are served, whilst dinner is enjoyed around the campfire in the boma. At night the camp is lit with kerosene flares creating a real safari ambience. The communal deck overlooking the waterhole is a perfect spot to relax and watch the wildlife gather to quench their thirst and the swimming pool invites guests to cool off in its clear blue sparkling water.

Transport

Guests are transported from Johannesburg or Pretoria n luxury, air-conditioned vehicles.

Collection and drop-off will be at either the OR Tambo Bus Terminal Building or the Sasol Fuel Station in Persequor Park (Pretoria). Transport to and from these two pre-appointed locations is not included in the tour price.

Shuttle departures are as follows:

Collection times on the first day: