Kruger National Park Safari Holidays Kruger Park Safari South Africa

Walk with Lion Cubs: Panorama Route + Kruger Park
KRB7H

7 NIGHTS
FROM $2,409
International flights quoted separately
If you would like to touch a lion cub or walk with orphaned animals in the wild, this fascinating holiday combines a visit to the Kruger National Park with your own private driver/guide, with a visit to a wonderful Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Complete your holiday relaxing on the Panorama Route, where you can interact with elephants or soar in a Hot Air Balloon.
HIGHLIGHTS
Walk with Lions Kruger Park Tshukudu Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre Touch Lion Cubs South Africa
• Tshukudu Lion Lodge • Wildlife Rehabilitaion Centre • Walk with Lion Cubs • Private Game Reserve
• Timbavati • Endangered Species • Cheetah & Wild Dog • Kruger National Park
• Chimpanzees • Jane Goodall Institute
Day 1
You will be met at Johannesburg Airport by your Kruger National Park host, who will introduce you to the beauty of South Africa on your 4-hour drive through the farmlands of the Eastern Transvaal to Mpumalanga and the scenic Panorama Route.
  
Check into your hotel in the beautiful Lowveld.
Day 2
This morning your host will share with you the splendour of the Drakensberg Panorama Route as you drive through the green Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world. View Mac Mac Falls and Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and enjoy the panoramic views from God’s Window.
  
In the afternoon we enter the world famous Kruger National Park. Game viewing opportunities should present themselves almost immediately in this vast 2-million hectare game sanctuary the size of Wales. Hopefully we will see several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest and maybe even giraffe before we reach your rest camp.
  
The Kruger National Park has seven rest camps, each situated in a different section of the park with its own unique flora and fauna - Skukuza, Letaba, Olifants, Lower Sabie, Pretoriuskop, Satara and Berg-en-Dal. Accommodation is in simple but comfortable thatched game park bungalows, with your guide having an allowance to purchase breakfast and dinner at the camp restaurant. After checking in, settle in and relax in the atmosphere that only the African bushveld can provide!
Day 3
Today is devoted to game viewing in the Kruger National Park. As you will have the services of a private driver/guide, you will have the flexibility of discussing preferred routings and travelling times with him each day. However we recommend setting off early each morning as the camp gates open (05h30 to 06h00 depending on the season), to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day.
   
Explore the famous Kruger National Park, which offer magnificent game viewing opportunities and the highest concentration of lion in the whole of Africa. Hope to see several of the Big Five today - Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and Rhino - as well as many other species before returning to camp for breakfast, or buy provisions at camp and cook breakfast at a picnic spot.
 
The rest of the morning is free to relax by the camp swimming pool and enjoy bird watching, before setting out again at the time of your choice (usually the late afternoon) for another game drive. One game drive per day will be in an open-top game viewing vehicle operated by the Kruger National Park (normally late afternoon/evening), with all other game drives taken with your host in his air-conditioned vehicle, as this is more comfortable in the heat of the day. With nearly 150 different species of mammals and over 100 species of reptiles in the Kruger National Park, you can hope to see cheetah, giraffe, hippo, kudu, crocodiles, sable antelope, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons, wild dogs and many other interesting animals. With over 500 different bird species including eagles, kingfishers, vultures and storks, outstanding bird watching is also guaranteed.
  
After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.
  
Children < 12 are not allowed on open top game drives, but may enjoy unlimited game drives in your host’s vehicle
Day 4
After some early morning game viewing with your guide, depart from Kruger National Park and transfer 2-hours to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre famous for its work in breeding cheetah, wild dogs and other endangered species.
 
Continue to your Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and enjoy a late afternoon game drive in an open-top vehicle, accompanied by a lodge ranger. Game viewing opportunities should present themselves almost immediately in this Private Game Reserve. Hopefully you will see several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest and maybe even giraffe - as well as several of the Big Five - before dining under the stars!
Day 5
Rise before dawn today for a very special experience - your opportunuity to interact with lion cubs or other young animals on a very special morning walk at this wonderful wildlife rehabilitation sanctuary, whose owners have devoted themselves to re-introducing orphaned animals to the wild.
 
Later enjoy a thrilling open top game drive with your lodge ranger in this Private Game Reserve, which offers magnificent game viewing including all the Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino - as well as over 270 different birds species.  
 
The rest of the morning is free to relax by the lodge swimming pool and enjoy bird watching, before setting out again in the late afternoon for another game drive. You can hope to see giraffe, hippo, kudu, crocodiles, sable antelope, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons and many other interesting animals, before enjoying a beautiful African sunset and dining under the stars.
 
Please note: as only one lodge offers this experience, advance booking is essential.
Day 6
After some early morning game viewing, transfer 2-hours to the scenic Panorama Route.
 
Check into your hotel in this beautiful region.
Day 7
At leisure to relax on the beautiful Panorama Route.
 
Take an optional day tour to explore the green Blyde River Canyon, the third largest in the world, or participate in one of the local activities such as an Elephant Safari or an exciting pre-dawn Hot Air Balloon ride. Other optional activities in the region include horse riding, fly fishing and championship golf - or simply relax by the swimming pool and enjoy the wonderful bird life.
 
Day 8
Transfer to Mpumalanga Airport for your flight home.