KPT12J: Kruger Park + Mauritius

Day 1

Arrive Johannesburg Airport and meet your Kruger Park safari host, who will introduce you to the beauty of the Eastern Transvaal on your scenic 3-hour drive to Hazyview. Check in to your luxury guesthouse for dinner and overnight.

[Or 45-minute transfer from Mpumalanga Airport]

Day 2

This morning your host will share with you the splendour of the Drakensberg Panorama Route as you drive through Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world.

View Mac Mac Falls, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the panoramic views from God’s Window. If time permits, we also make a brief stop at the historic mining village of Pilgrim’s Rest.

Continue to Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, where you have the unique opportunity of viewing wild lion, leopard, cheetah, eagles and vultures at close quarters. Animals found injured, poisoned or orphaned are given a second chance and released back into the wilds.

Check in to your luxury guesthouse for dinner and overnight.

Day 3

Today 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 to Wales. Hopefully we will see several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest and maybe even giraffe before we reach camp.

The Kruger Park offers a choice of seven 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 each camp having a restaurant and a small shop.

Check in, settle-in and relax in your outdoor bushveld surroundings before enjoying dinner (exact camp subject to availability at time of booking).

Days 4 and 5

As you will have the services of a private driver/guide throughout your safari, 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 vast Kruger Plains, which offer magnificent game viewing opportunities and the highest concentration of lion in the whole of Africa. Hopefully we will see at least one of the Big Five today - Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and Rhino, before returning to camp for breakfast.

The rest of the morning can be spent relaxing at camp, reading or 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 Park (either early morning, late afternoon or evening), with all other game drives taken with your host in an air-conditioned minibus, 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 Park, we hope to see giraffe, kudu, sable antelope, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons, wild dogs and many other interesting animals.

In the evening, enjoy the balmy weather and pristine stars of the Southern Sky and Milky Way, as you have never seen them before – including the spectacular Southern Cross.

[Note: Children <12 are not allowed on open top game drives. However they may enjoy unlimited game drives in your host’s vehicle]

Day 6

This morning we return to Johannesburg Airport, stopping at a Cultural Village and self-help project to give you the opportunity of supporting the local community by purchasing one of their handmade products.

[Or fly from Mpumalanga Airport]

Check in to your airport hotel for overnight. Conveniently situated only a few minutes from Johannesburg International Airport, your hotel is part of a casino and entertainment complex and has several restaurants on site.

Day 7

Today take the free hotel shuttle bus to the airport for your 4-hour international flight to Mauritius.

You will be met at Mauritius Airport and transferred to your luxury resort, a drive of just over 1-hour. Check in, settle in and relax in your beautiful Indian Ocean Island – surrounded by turquoise waters and coral reefs. Later dine in style at your resort restaurant tonight.

Day 8

Relax and unwind on the white sandy beaches of Mauritius, as you treat yourself to fine food and wonderful entertainment!

Enjoy lazy days swimming and snorkelling in the warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. Or relax on the beach or beside the swimming pool, whilst enjoying the many facilities of your luxury resort hotel.

Activities at or near your resort are plentiful and include:

• Canoeing
• Water skiing
• Wind surfing
• Sailing
• Beach volley ball
• Floodlit tennis courts
• Football
• Table tennis
• Water polo
• Gym
• Spa

Day 9

Today you will be collected from your hotel around 09h00 for a private tour of the highlights of North and West Mauritius.

Start the day in the bustling capital town of Port-Louis, with the opportunity for duty free shopping at Miraj which offers hand woven oriental silk rugs and carpets, fashion accessories and jewellery, rare marble and bronze gifts, liquor and perfume. Alternatively shop at the Caudan Waterfront craft market that offers cheap designer clothing, spices, souvenirs and basketry – and glimpse a fascinating cross-section of Mauritian life at the Central Market. Also visit Blue Penny Museum for an appreciation of the local history and art of Mauritius.

Around midday continue to the bustling town of Grand Baie, where you will be escorted on an Undersea Walk offering the unique opportunity of viewing tropical fish and coral whilst walking in an aerated divers helmet on the seabed amongst the sea life of the reef. Your accompanied walk lasts 20-minutes some 3-metres below the surface – with no swimming skills required. You may wear your glasses or contact lenses, as your head will not get wet. Alternatively for a supplement you may dive 30 metres in the air-conditioned Blue Safari submarine to view the wreck of the “Star Hope” and the sea creatures it harbours, as well as the multi-coloured fish of the reef.

End your day relaxing amongst the beautiful water lilies, palms and exotic spices of Pamplemousses Botanical Gardens before returning to your hotel around 17h00.

Days 10 to 11

At leisure to relax and enjoy the many facilities your luxury Mauritius beach resort.

Full day Catamaran cruises are very popular, as well as Dolphin-watching boat trips and Glass-bottom boats to view tropical fish and coral reefs.

Mauritius offers wonderful Scuba Diving, with fully equipped dive centres offering a variety of PADI courses. If have never tried before, these clear calm waters offer an ideal location in which to learn to scuba.

Deep Sea Fishing for giant marlin or Reef Fishing for giant trevally offer thrilling activities!   Golf and Horse Riding are nearby, as well as the opportunity to Hire a Bicycle to explore the island at your own pace.

With its warm tropical weather all year-round, magnificent hotels and wonderful hospitality, Mauritius offers a vibrant Indian Ocean Island experience.

Day 12

This morning you will be collected from your hotel around 09h00 for a private tour of the highlights of South and East Mauritius.

From the centre of Curepipe drive up to the rim of Trou-aux-Cerfs, an extinct volcanic crater whose floor is now heavily wooded, and enjoy magnificent views over the whole island.

Continue to the southeast of the island and visit the traditional village of Mahebourg, before enjoying the short sea crossing to Ile-aux-Aigrettes Wildlife Sanctuary, home to the rare pink pigeon and other rare species of bird, as well as many endemic coastal plants that can't be found anywhere else in the world.

On your return to the mainland explore Domaine du Chasseur, a magnificent park occupying over 2,000 acres and the habitat for a variety of wildlife including deer, monkeys, wild boar and much more - all set against lush vegetation of ebony, eucalyptus, palm trees and wild orchid, before returning to your hotel at around 17h00.

Day 13

Return transfer to Mauritius Airport for your flight home.