4 Day Budget Greater Kruger Lodge Safari to Klaserie

August 22, 2018August 22, 2018admin

Summary of this Budget Safari Package

Go wildlife viewing in the exclusive Klaserie Private Game Reserve on this family friendly, 4 Day Budget African Safari.

Klaserie’s 6000 hectares of traverse offers great opportunities for seeing the abundant wildlife, including the Big 5 located here, as the animals roam freely from the unfenced boundaries of the Kruger National Park and TImbavati. This unspoilt reserve is managed by a board that is passionate about conservation and is committed to protecting this vast wilderness from the human footprint. To this end, there is a limited number of bush camps in Klaserie so it is unlikely that guests will run into other guests whilst enjoying wildlife viewing game drives and bush walks.

The intimate bush camp, set amongst shade trees, can host only a small number of guests in the brick and thatch chalets with en-suite facilities and a private deck. There is a communal viewing deck where guests may gather to watch the wildlife at the watering hole and an inviting swimming pool to take a cooling dip. Breakfast and lunch are served in the dining room that overlooks the waterhole, whilst dinner is served in the boma, around the campfire making for an authentic safari experience.

This exciting safari adventure will ensure memories that will last a lifetime.

Itinerary for this Tour

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

Boarding our shuttle transfer we say good-bye to bustling Johannesburg and head north-east into the African bush. Our transfer bus leaves us at the camp gates where we are met by a ranger and transported through Klaserie to our home in the bush, spotting wildlife as we go. We settle into our comfortable chalets, then gather in the dining room, overlooking the waterhole, for lunch. After lunch, there is time to relax, maybe have a swim before we embark on a sunset wildlife viewing drive in the late afternoon.

Our safari vehicles are perfectly designed for the best views of the animals and great photo opportunities. Guided by our ranger and Shangaan tracker we set out on our search for the Big 5 and the many other species which roam through this massive 6000-hectare traverse right. There are no boundary fences between Kruger National Park, Timbavati and Klaserie so the wildlife is abundant here, constantly searching for the best grazing and waterholes.

As the sun sets we head back to camp keeping an eye out for nocturnal creatures. We gather with our fellow travellers for pre-dinner drinks and dinner in the boma around the campfire and our first night in the African bush.

Lunch & DInner

Day 2 & 3: Klaserie Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger Park

The next two days follow a pattern of early morning wake up calls, tempered with coffee or tea and confectionaries. We hop into our safari vehicles and head out as the sun rises and the wildlife starts to congregate at the waterholes to quench their early morning thirst. The Klaserie River runs through this 60 000 hectare reserve providing much-needed sustenance for the wildlife. Klaserie’s landscape is really wonderful with bushwillow woodland as far as the eye can see and the gurgling sound of the Klaserie River in the background being the only sound in this tranquil paradise occasionally interrupted by a call of the wild. This pristine reserve is zealously protected from the human footprint, with limited numbers of guests, so it is unlikely that you will come across any other guests whilst enjoying the peace and serenity on your wildlife viewing drive.

Aside from the Big 5 found here other species include giraffe, zebra, warthog, spotted hyaena, baboon, hippo, impala, kudu, waterbuck, wildebeest. In addition, you may see wild dog, cheetah, bat-eared fox, honey badger, porcupine, aardvark, civet, caracal and serval. There’s even the possibility of spotting the famous, rare white lion of Timbavati. The birdlife is prolific with over 300 species identified – bliss for twitchers. The animals have become accustomed to the safari vehicles in the reserve so it is possible to get as close as 10 metres to the action, which is really thrilling. After 2 or 3 hours of wildlife viewing, we return to camp exhilarated but hungry, so we welcome the prepared breakfast.

After breakfast guests have the choice of relaxing by the pool, taking a nap or embarking on a thrilling 45 minute bush walk with an experienced, armed ranger and tracker. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn the secrets of the bush from a knowledgeable ranger, who is able to explain the mysteries of the spoor, the flora and point out the smaller creatures that add to this bush ecosystem, is not to be missed. With the heart-stopping possibility of coming face to face with one of the larger animals always imminent.

After lunch and some relaxation, we set out on a sunset game drive in the private reserve of Greater Kruger. The ranger and tracker are passionate about the bush and always do their best to impart its beauty and its creatures to their guests for the very best experience. Sunsets in the bush are awesome and as night falls we make our way back to camp tired but thrilled by a spectacular day. Dinner and the campfire are waiting under the starry skies, free of light pollution and in this magical setting, we share our highlights of the day with our fellow guests, occasionally interrupted by the calls of the wild.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Klaserie Private Game Reserve, Greater Kruger Park to Johannesburg

Today we take a final wildlife viewing drive in Greater Kruger before breakfast. After breakfast, there is time to relax as we wait for the arrival of our transfer vehicle to take us back to the city and reality. This family-friendly, value for money, authentic bush safari will leave us with memories to last a lifetime and no doubt a wish to return to enthralling Africa.

Breakfast

About Klaserie Game Reserve in Greater Kruger Park

The idea of Klaserie Private Nature Reserve was born in 1969 when three farmers discussed combining their privately owned farmland along the Klaseries River to create a nature reserve to protect the natural landscape. The idea bore fruit in 1972 when a group of farmers had committed, a board had been elected, a game warden employed and Klaserie Private Nature Reserve was officially proclaimed. From the outset, the 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.

With no fences between Klaserie, Kruger National Park and Timbavati Reserve wildlife roam freely between these Big 5 parks. Spanning 60 000 hectares on either side of the Klaserie River, Klaserie is home to an abundance of wildlife including the Big 5 – lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard, whilst other regular sightings include giraffe, zebra, warthog, spotted hyaena, baboon, hippo, impala and kudu. The board’s philosophy has always been to keep the reserve pristine by minimising the human footprint, so the number of bush camps in Klaserie is limited which means fewer tourists, so guests can enjoy an exclusive safari experience away from the more crowded national parks. We explore this pristine wilderness on wildlife viewing drives and exciting bush walks with an experienced ranger and tracker.

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 area, 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 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: