Explore Kruger National Park
National Geographic Journeys
A safari tops many bucket lists, check it off yours. This Explore Kruger National Park tour will have you staying in ideally situated South African hotels and lodges. Take early morning, afternoon and evening game drives. View beautiful sunsets, search for the Big 5, make memories and new friends on this epic vacation.
Begin your adventure with a traditional South African braai. Here you'll enjoy grilled meats, and perhaps curried bean salad or carrots and pineapple will be on the menu. As you journey along gorgeous Panorama Route, you'll have stops at Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes. Marvel at the lush valley from God's Window vantage point. Embark on a full day jeep 4X4 safari in Kruger National Park and keep your camera handy for sightings of elephants, lions, giraffes, and perhaps elusive leopards. In Karongwe Private Game Reserve, join a researcher from the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Cheetah Metapopulation Project to go out looking for and learning about conservation efforts for these stealthy cats and other carnivores. In the evenings enjoy the incredible sounds emerging from the bush. Gain a new respect for the protectors of the wildlife here, learn about the struggles faced by the various species living here, capture images that may surprise even you and fall in love with South Africa.
7 Days • fr. $2,999
Tour Highlights & Offers
Tour Includes
- JOURNEYS HIGHLIGHT MOMENT: Carnivore Conservation Experience, Karongwe Private Game Reserve
- YOUR FOODIE MOMENT: Traditional South Africa Braai (Barbecue), Johannesburg
- SCENIC DRIVE Panorama Route
- WILDLIFE SAFARI DRIVES Kruger National Park and private nature reserve
- MEET researchers from Endangered Wildlife Trust's Carnivore Conservation Programme
- TRACK elephants, lions, and cheetahs
- JOIN a researcher from the Cheetah Metapopulation Project for safari
- WITNESS spectacular African sunset
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Air-conditioned touring vehicle, open safari vehicle, walking
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides/rangers
- AGE REQUIREMENT: 12+: All travelers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Not Included
- Tips for personal services and to tour directors and drivers are not included in tour cost and left to your discretion.
- All items of a personal nature (room service, beverages, telephone charges, laundry, special food requests, etc.) and meals not specified on the tour itinerary are not included and must be paid by the client.
- All rates exclude airfare unless expressly noted.
Meal Inclusions
- 6 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 6 Dinners
- IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ: Allow USD$95-$125 for meals not included
Hotel Details
- Malikana Guesthouse in Johannesburg, South Africa (2 nights)
- Muluwa Lodge in White River, South Africa (2 nights)
- Karongwe Private Game Reserve-Lodge in Karongwe Reserve, South Africa (2 nights)
Day 1
JOHANNESBURG Location Information Description
Johannesburg, South Africa
Arrive at any time and transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a traditional South African braai (barbecue) for dinner tonight. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure. The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour.
Dinner
Malikana Guesthouse
Day 2
JOHANNESBURG/GREATER KRUGER AREA Location Information Description
Johannesburg, South Africa
Set out towards Kruger National Park via the magnificent Panorama Route, one of the world’s most picturesque drives. Make stops at the dramatic Blyde River Canyon and Bourke's Luck Potholes, and take in panoramic views of the forest-covered valley from the God's Window viewpoint.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Location Information Description
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Continue to your tented camp near Kruger National Park and savor a delicious South African dinner in a boma.
Breakfast, Dinner
Muluwa Lodge
Day 3
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Location Information Description
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Rise early and climb aboard an open jeep for a full-day safari in Kruger National Park—home to an extraordinary array of large mammals. Spot elephants, lions, giraffes, and perhaps elusive leopards as you explore this breathtaking wilderness of savanna and scrubland. At over 19,000 sq km (7,500 sq mi), South Africa’s Kruger National Park is one of the largest and most impressive animal reserves in the world. With 147 species, Kruger has more species of large mammals than any other park on the continent.
Return to your lodge in the evening, where you can take some time to relax on the deck and enjoy the nocturnal sounds of the bush.
Breakfast, Dinner
Muluwa Lodge
Day 4
GREATER KRUGER AREA/KARONGWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE Location Information Description
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Travel to the Karongwe Private Game Reserve, a pristine wildlife sanctuary located in the Greater Kruger area. Meet with a researcher from the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Cheetah Metapopulation Project—a program funded in part by National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative—and learn about efforts to protect the region’s cheetahs and other carnivores. The researcher then joins you for a wildlife-viewing excursion through the reserve.
For the next two days, enjoy ranger-led morning and evening wildlife safari drives in an open safari vehicle in Karongwe Nature Reserve, searching for Africa's famed Big Five. With over 9,000 hectares (22,240 acres) of supreme African bushveld, Karongwe Private Game Reserve is home to many creatures, and your safari drives provide several opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Karongwe Private Game Reserve - Lodges
Day 5
KARONGWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE Location Information Description
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Spend the day exploring Karongwe on morning and afternoon safaris with your local guides. Search for Africa's famed "big five" as we drive through the shrublands of the bushveld. Back at camp, relax on deck or take a walk around the grounds. Wake up before the sun (around 5am) and sip your morning coffee before heading out on a morning wildlife safari drive. Return to the lodge for brunch and some leisure time.
Converse on the deck, walk the grounds and gardens, and enjoy high tea. Following tea, it's time for a late afternoon safari drive. After spotting tons of wildlife, it’s time to return to camp and freshen up before dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Karongwe Private Game Reserve - Lodges
Day 6
KARONGWE PRIVATE GAME RESERVE/JOHANNESBURG Location Information Description
Johannesburg, South Africa
Embark on one last safari this morning, keeping a lookout for Karongwe’s iconic inhabitants. Then head back to the city, where you’ll enjoy dinner in your local guest house.
Breakfast, Dinner
Malikana Guesthouse
Day 7
JOHANNESBURG Location Information Description
Johannesburg, South Africa
Depart at any time.
Breakfast
Important information:
Important Information
- ALL guests must carefully verify the existing identification requirements for their particular travel situation DIRECTLY WITH THEIR LOCAL CONSULATES OR EMBASSIES or with a visa service, as these requirements may change. Guests without proper documentation may be denied entry and will not be entitled to a refund.
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- You agree that you are responsible for the full amount of any loss or expense incurred by the Tour Operator that is a direct result of your failure to secure or be in possession of proper travel documentation. The Tour Operator does not provide advice on travel documents and makes no representations or warrantees as to the accuracy or completeness of any information provided on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, or special equipment and you agree that the Tour Operator is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this information.
Cancellation Policy
- Once a booking is cancelled the cancellation fees, if any, will be determined with reference to the date on which notice of cancellation is received by the Tour Operator and are expressed as a percentage of the total price paid for the cancelled Tour, product or service (excluding any insurance products).
- Cancellation received 60 days or more before departure of first product or service in relevant booking: Lifetime Deposit will be held by the Tour Operator in accordance with these Terms, the remainder of the payments made to the Tour Operator in respect of the cancelled product will be refunded.
- Cancellation received 30-59 days before departure of first product or service in relevant booking: Lifetime Deposit will be held by the Tour Operator in accordance with these Terms, an amount equal to 50% of the remainder of the payments made to the Tour Operator in respect of the cancelled Tour will be refunded.
- Cancellation less than 30 days before departure of first product or service in relevant booking: Lifetime Deposit will be held by the Tour Operator in accordance with these Terms, and no further refund will be payable.
- EXPEDITION TOURS: Cancellation 90 days or more before first departure on relevant booking: Lifetime Deposit will be held by the Tour Operator in accordance with these Terms and the remainder of the payments to the Tour Operator for the cancelled Tour will be refunded.
- Cancellation 60-89 days before first departure on relevant booking: Lifetime Deposit will be held by the Tour Operator in accordance with these Terms and an amount equal to 50% of the remainder of the payments made to the Tour Operation for the cancelled Tour will be refunded.
- Cancellation less than 60 days before first departure on relevant booking: Lifetime Deposit will be held by the Tour Operator in accordance with these Terms and no further refund will be payable.
- TAILOR MADE TOURS: Cancellation 90 days or more before first departure on relevant booking: 30% deposit will be held by the Tour Operator in accordance with these Terms and the remainder of the payments to the Tour Operator for the cancelled Tour will be refunded.
- Cancellation 60-89 days before first departure on relevant booking: An amount equal to 50% of the Tour price of the cancelled Tour will be refunded.
- Cancellation less than 60 days before first departure on relevant booking: No refund will be payable.
- CANCELLATION OF PRE AND POST CRUISE ACCOMMODATIONS, ADD-ON PACKAGES, KAYAKING AND THEME PARKS: Cancellation 60 days or more before first departure on relevant booking: All payments made to the Tour Operator will be refunded. Cancellation less than 60 days before first departure on relevant booking: no refund is payable.
- AIRFARE: Total price does not include any Instant Purchase Air or Instant Purchase Air service fees, which are non-refundable after 24 hours from purchase. Intra-vacation air is non-refundable after final payment.
- In many instances, airline revision or change fees can be up to $300, but in some instances may be up to 100% of the ticket price. Cancellation penalties will be quoted at time of cancellation.
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- ALL CANCELLATIONS must be received in writing prior to tour departure. The cancellation policy will apply according to the date that the cancellation notification is received. The MINIMUM cancellation penalty is the deposit amount.
- TRIP INSURANCE: The purchase of trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
Terms and Conditions
- FAMILY TOURS: In order to book a Tour designated as a “Family Tour” by the Tour Operator, you must be travelling as part of a “Family Unit”. A “Family Unit” is a group of two or more persons travelling and booking together, where at least one person is a minor in the care of at least one of the accompanying adults. One minor may accompany one or more adults for the purposes of being considered a Family Unit. The Tour Operator reserves the right to cancel the booking of anyone travelling or planning to travel on a Family Tour who, in the Tour Operator’s sole discretion, do not properly constitute a Family Unit in accordance with this section or otherwise does not meet the Tour Operator’s requirements for participation in a Family Tour.
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- You acknowledge that the nature of adventure travel requires flexibility and acknowledge that you will permit reasonable alterations to products, services or itineraries by the Tour Operator. The route, schedules, accommodations, activities, amenities and mode of transportation are subject to change without notice due to unforeseeable circumstances or events outside the control of the Tour Operator (including but not limited to Force Majeure, illness, mechanical breakdown, flight cancellations, strikes, political events and entry or border difficulties). No reimbursements, discounts or refunds will be issued for services that are missed or unused after departure due to no fault of the Tour Operator, including your removal from a Tour because of your negligence or breach of these Terms.
- The Tour Operator may modify your itinerary where reasonably required in its sole discretion. If the Tour Operator makes a change affecting at least one in three full days of the itinerary or which materially affects the character of a product or service in its entirety (a “Material Change”), the Tour Operator will provide notice to you as soon as reasonably possible, provided that there is sufficient time to do so before departure. If a Material Change is made more than 14 days before departure, you may choose to do the following:
- i) accept the Material Change and proceed with the amended product or service; ii) book another product or service of equal or greater value, if available (you will be responsible for paying any difference in price); or iii) book another product or service of lesser value, if available (with a refund payable to you for the difference in price); or iv) cancel the amended product or service and receive a full refund for the land-only portion of the applicable product or service (a refund is not available for other products or services booked which are not subject to a Material Change). You must notify the Tour Operator of your choice within 7 days of receiving notice or you will be deemed to accept the amended itinerary.
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