Current as of: August 2, 2025 - 07:14
Essential Kruger Safari Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Guided Group
- Destination: South Africa
- Programmes: Wildlife
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Activity Level:
2 out of 7 - Easy & Moderate
- 7 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: WHZ
Trip Overview
Maximise your wildlife encounters in South Africa’s most iconic safari destination: Kruger National Park
Ranked among the best wildlife-watching destinations on the planet, Kruger National Park hosts nearly 150 different mammals, including the famous five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalos. Any trip would be special, but this finely tuned itinerary is all about making the most of your time in the bushveld and maximising your animal sightings. Expect multiple game drives when the animals are most active, plus expert insight from your guides that you just wouldn’t get from a guidebook.
At a Glance
- Accommodation: 1 Classic night (hotel), 5 Superior nights (Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel)
- Group normally 4 to 16, plus local leader. Minimum age: 16
Highlights
- Enjoy multiple game drives with a team who knows all the animals’ favourite spots
- Get closer to nature on a morning bush walk with two expert trackers
- Spend a full day exploring the natural wonders of the scenic Panorama Route
- Cruise down the Blyde River for more thrilling animal encounters
- Unwind at a contemporary boutique hotel with a swimming pool
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate) with a Wildlife Rating of Five. Visit our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife ratings. For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Journeys: There are some long journeys on this trip – up to six hours between Johannesburg and Kruger. The game drives also take place on bumpy surfaces.
Flexibility: This itinerary is designed to be flexible, allowing us the chance to maximise animal sightings. Your tour leader, therefore, may change days around to enhance your experience.
Legal note: All group members joining this tour are asked to sign an indemnity form at the start of the trip. This indemnity form is a requirement of the South African Tourism Service Association, of which our local supplier is a member. As a client of Exodus Travels Ltd, your rights under the Package Travel Regulations (1992) are unaffected, and Exodus remains liable for the actions of our sub-contractors.
Water safety: This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Johannesburg
- End City: Hazyview
Land Only Itinerary
Adventure begins in Johannesburg • Welcome dinner
Begin your adventure in Johannesburg – Jo’burg or Jozi to those in the know – a dynamic city where history, culture and creativity meet.
Around 6pm-7pm, say howzit to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
Your tour leader then ensures a big South African welcome by arranging dinner at the hotel restaurant.
Want to explore Johannesburg further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Accommodation: Garden Court Sandton City (or similar)
To Hazyview • Search for giraffes, elephants and apex predators on our first game drive
Rise early for breakfast, as we leave the hotel at 8am, our course set for Hazyview, a small farming town just outside Kruger National Park – ideally placed for our safari adventures! The drive can take up to six hours, but we stop en route for lunch.
Later this afternoon, we enjoy our first game drive in Kruger, keeping an eye out for zebras, giraffes, waterbucks and even the majestic elephant. At this time, the weather cools and predators, such as lions and leopards, start to get more active.
After, we return to our hotel for dinner.
Accommodation: Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Full-day safari in Kruger National Park
After our first safari, you’ll be itching to get back into Kruger. Well, you won’t have to wait long! We leave the lodge about 5am-5.30am, allowing us to spot the animals when they’re more active in the early morning.
With the help of our expert guide, we should spot plenty of safari icons wandering around the South African bushveld. We enjoy breakfast and lunch in the park – the rest camps have plenty of options for you.
After lunch, we head even deeper into the park in search of more animals.
Return to the lodge around 4pm, providing a bit of time to freshen up, perhaps with a dip in the hotel pool, before dinner.
Accommodation: Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Morning bush walk with expert trackers • Afternoon game drive
Our day is split into two. In the morning, we lace up our hiking boots for a sunrise bush walk. Accompanied by two knowledgeable, armed trackers, set off quietly to follow the game, learning about their movements and the significance of certain marks or sounds. You will also learn how to identify plants and birds.
After, we return to the lodge for lunch and a relax, before heading back into the park for an afternoon game drive. Though wildlife tends to rest in the midday heat, the advantage of an
afternoon safari is guides have information about earlier sightings and where they took place, so sightings will be more frequent.
Watering holes are a popular spot during this time, as many animals look to cool down and nothing is more pleasing than watching elephants play in a river or mud pool. The later the day gets, and the closer it gets to the park’s closing time, the better the chances of sightings become, as the animals become more active as the heat dissipates.
Return to the hotel in time for dinner.
Accommodation: Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Morning game drive • Afternoon at leisure
Rise early this morning for one last chance to see the wonderful wildlife of Kruger National Park. Again, the leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and lions are most active at this time of the day.
We safari for around three hours before our breakfast break; after, we probably head to a waterhole to watch the animals quench their thirst before taking on the heat of the day.
Finishing at midday for lunch, enjoying the rest of the day to relax, perhaps around the pool or in the garden lounge with a glass of wine to hand.
Accommodation: Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Full day exploring the wonders of the Panorama Route
Having immersed ourselves in the wonders of Kruger, it’s time to bid farewell to the great national park. Today is instead dedicated to exploring the Panorama Route, a famously scenic drive in the Mpumalanga province.
It starts with a tranquil boat cruise on the Blyde River, surrounded by the stunning Blyde River Canyon. Glide past towering cliffs, lush greenery, and unique rock formations, such as the Three Rondavels. We then jump in the vehicle to visit some of the other natural wonders of the Panorama Route, including the striking Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window, which provides sweeping views of lush forests, waterfalls, and the lowveld below.
We also head to Graskop Forest, where we ride the Viewing Lift, a 167ft (51m) ascent into the heart of the Afromontane forest. The glass walls provide excellent views over the Drakensberg Escarpment. At the top, you can take part in optional activities, such as a thrilling zipline experience or a cliff walkway.
Accommodation: Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Adventure ends in Hazyview
The adventure ends in Hazyview today, and we begin our return journeys home. Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.
Ascents, descents and distances: All ascents, descents and distances listed in the daily itinerary have been measured by our local partners or tour leaders, in many cases with satellite-based mapping software. However, different GPS measuring devices can give differing results, particularly on winding paths or in mountainous terrain. Measurements stated throughout these Trips Notes are given to help you understand the types of terrain and distances you will encounter. Timings stated will vary depending on the pace of your group.
Accommodation
Hotels in Jo’burg and Hazyview
For most of this adventure, we stay in a boutique hotel in Hazyview, just outside Kruger, providing easy access to the national park, while the first night is spent at a hotel in Jo’burg.
To help you find your ideal adventure, each trip is given a Comfort Level rating, which indicates the overall standard of accommodation. For more on our ratings, see our Comfort Level guidelines.
Hazyview: Perry’s Bridge Hollow Boutique Hotel (nights 2-6)
Perry’s Bridge Hollow offers the dual benefit of easy access to Kruger and a stylish, well-equipped place to relax and gather as a group when we’re not on safari. You stay in one of just 31 deluxe rooms, which come with indoor and outdoor showers, air-conditioning, a Nespresso machine for coffee, and a private patio.
Elsewhere, there’s a swimming pool area with loungers, swinging hammocks and private gazebos, a garden lounge with cushy seating and shade, plus four restaurants, catering to a range of tastes.
Worth knowing
- Tailor your trip: Extend your adventure by securing extra hotel nights before or after the main itinerary. Speak to your sales representative to book.
- Private rooms: Like most tour operators, we room solo passengers together. If you’d prefer to have a private room, it’s normally possible to do this for a supplement. Speak to your sales representative to book.
Single supplement from USD 412
Food & Drink
For meals not included, dinners cost on average 350-500 South African rand (US$20‐US$30) per person and lunches 150-250 South African rand (US$8-US$13).
We need at least two weeks’ notice to deal with special dietary requirements (eg vegetarian or allergies.) For this reason, if you did not indicate these on your booking form please advise your sales representative as soon as possible.
The water provided on this trip is safe and clean drinking water, normally from boreholes. It is not bottled water, however. If you would rather have bottled water then this will be at your expense, though we would encourage you to make use of the safe drinking water provided as this helps diminish plastic consumption.
Transport
For game drives, we use an open 4×4 safari vehicle.
Weather & Seasonality
For this adventure, we travel during the warm, dry winter (May to September). This is the best time for wildlife watching as visibility improves when the trees lose their leaves and the game congregate around the available water. The mornings are typically cool (10C/50F to 14C/57F), reaching between 26C (79F) and 29C (84F) by the afternoon.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Garden Court Sandton City, Corner of West and, Maude St, Sandown, Sandton, 2196
Phone: +27 11 269 7000
Recommended arrival time: Before 6pm at the start hotel to catch the welcome briefing and dinner
Airport: O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 45 minutes’ drive from the airport. We provide one group transfer from the airport to the hotel, which you can join at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
Catching your return flight
There’s one group transfer to O.R. Tambo International Airport, which you can join at no extra cost. Please speak to your sales representative for the time of the transfer. If the group transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative.
Please note: All departure flights must be booked for after 7pm in case of any delays on the transfers from Hazyview.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Johannesburg
Location end: Hazyview
What To Take
Essential Equipment
- Neutral-coloured clothes for safari
- Long-sleeved clothing and long trousers (pants) to wear when the sun goes down to protect skin from mosquito bites
- Some warmer clothes, windproof jacket and warm fleece for winter
- Comfortable shoes for walking
- Sunhat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Wet wipes or hand sanitiser gel
- Camera
- Swimwear
Water included: Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.
Optional Equipment
- Good pair of binoculars
Practical Information
Visa
South Africa
Travellers from the UK, US and most (though not all) EU states normally do not need a visa to enter South Africa. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/south-africa
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SouthAfrica.html
Please note, all travellers to South Africa who require a visa need at least two consecutive blank pages in their passport (ie a left- and right-hand page) to enable an entry visa to be issued.
Additionally, any child under 18 travelling to South Africa needs to be in possession of an unabridged birth certificate with the names of both parents. If a child under 18 is only travelling with one parent, they will also have to have an affidavit, no less than three months old, from the absent parent confirming the child can travel with the other parent; a court order granting full legal guardianship of the child; or a death certificate of the deceased parent.
Vaccinations and Health
South Africa
There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Malaria prophylaxis is essential if travelling in the greater Kruger area; seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic about which tablets to take. The rest of South Africa, including the Garden Route, has a low risk of malaria.
Dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is also a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we recommend taking the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Malaria prophylaxis is essential on this trip, and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take.
Bilharzia is known to occur in some of the lakes or rivers visited on this itinerary, we therefore advise all to take advice from your guide or leader locally before venturing for a swim.
Local Time
South Africa's time zone: Africa/Johannesburg (UTC +02:00)
Electricity
South Africa's electricity: Plug types M (three round pins), N (three round pins) and C (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Money
South Africa's currency: South African rand (ZAR)
ATM Availability
There are ATMS at the arrival airport, gas stations en route, and near the hotel.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
We suggest you allow about 180 rand (US$10) per day for incidentals.
Tipping
Our local staff are paid fairly for their work; however, tipping is part of the culture in South Africa.
For suggestions on how much to tip, we recommend:
- Guides: 180 rand (US$10) per person per day
- Drivers: 100 rand (US$5.60) per person per day
- Rangers: 180 rand (US$10) per person per day
- Hotel staff: 80 rand (US$4.50) per person per day
Please tip in local currency.
Sustainability and Impact
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony though practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
Important Information
Optional activities and excursions
If you would like to join an optional activity or excursion outside those listed in the itinerary, your leader may be able to assist with selecting a provider. However, Exodus has not assessed the safety standards of activities or excursions that are not listed in the Trip Notes. All optional activities or excursions are undertaken at your own risk.
Important Information
Your Safe Participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
How to Book
Speak to our friendly team of experts to plan your adventure:
- Check availability: our website shows real-time availability or contact our team by phone, email or live chat.
- Hold a space: You can provisionally hold a space to give you time to finalise your travel plans.
- Confirm your booking: Payment of a deposit will complete your booking and secure your place on the trip.
After booking
You will receive a confirmation document and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements. Our dedicated Customer Operations team will help you with any pre-travel questions or arrangements and can easily add extensions or extra accommodation to your booking. Final Joining Instructions will usually be sent out two to three weeks prior to departure.
Adding transfers to your booking
If you have arranged your own flights and would like to add transfers to your booking, please provide your arrival and departure details to our Customer Operations team around four to six weeks before departure.
- Where free transfers are included, they are available for any flight but can only be added to your booking once we have received your flight schedule.
- Where group arrival and departure transfers are available, these operate at fixed times. You will need to arrive in time to meet the scheduled transfer. If the timings don’t align with your travel plans, our team can arrange private transfers once they receive your flight schedule.
Trip Note validity
Trip notes may be updated after booking; if any updates significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary you will be advised in writing. A link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes will be sent out with your Final Joining Instructions before departure.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes, and occasionally it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
