Come with us to the Big Daddy of all South African Safari Parks - 

so famous it's known by a powerful one-word name: KRUGER! 

We'll spend  6 nights in a 5-star luxury lodge in this world-famous flagship for African wildlife conservation. The park is five million acres of unrivalled wilderness, home to the Big Five, plus more species of large mammals than any other African game reserve. We'll have eight game drives to view the wild African animals in this amazing park. 

But that's just the beginning! 

For five nights on the way to Kruger, we'll travel the famous Panoramic Route, a scenic road that connects many natural and cultural attractions. Also rich in history, the Panorama Route was the site of South Africa's first gold rush, and of the Anglo-Boer military conflict.

We'll visit:

• Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center - a unique wildlife rehabilitation center that is home to many of South Africa’s abandoned, injured, and poisoned animals

• Blyde River Canyon -the third largest canyon in the world! Stand on the precipice to see the spectacular Bourkes Lucky Potholes and God's Window, a peaceful rainforest at the top. We'll take a boat ride for magnificent views of the famous Three Rondavels

• Graskop Gorge Viewing Lift - We'll descend 153 feet on the the first-of-its-kind experience in Africa.

• Mac Mac Falls - Its 210-foot-high double stream falls are beautiful, with water rainbows, white spray, and a deep, dramatic pool

• Jane Goodall's Chimp Eden, where rescued chimps  live out their lives in a risk-free environment provided with the care they need to recover from the trauma they have experienced.

• Full Day tour of the country of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), including Maguga Dam, Ngwenya Glass Factory and Swazi Candles, Mantenga Nature Reserve, Swazi Cultural Village, and the Matsamo Cultural Village.

There is a limit of 10 guests on this tour to give each guest a chance to best see the wildlife from the safari vehicles.

Stop dreaming; start packing!!

One of the oldest and most diverse parks in Africa, Kruger National Park is the epitome of the safari experience in Africa. 

South Africa's largest wildlife sanctuary, steeped in legend and history, the iconic Kruger is waiting for you to explore its vast landscapes and spectacular African wildlife.

Kruger is 7,523 square miles of land home to 147 species of mammal, 507 species of birds, and 336 species of tree across 16 distinct habitats with differing ecosystems, allowing you to explore unique combinations of flora.

We will be traveling in late August and this is one of the best times to go on safari in South Africa! Expect pleasant, sunny, and dry days with cooler evenings.  

This is the transition from winter to spring, and In Kruger National Park, average high daytime temperatures will be 79-81°F, and the overnight low temperatures will average 46-55°F. 

August is the middle of the dry season, so water sources for the animals are scarce.

The reduced rainfall thins out the vegetation, improving visibility for wildlife viewing. 

The thinning vegetation, combined with animals congregating around water sources, makes August a good time for game viewing. 

Remember: Africa is a third world country! You are not in Kansas anymore!

Roads are bumpy and dusty, WiFi is spotty, electricity may go off at odd times, and everything happens on Africa time (really S-L-O-W)!  

This escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking and requires an average level of physical fitness. 

• On game drives, we will spend much of our time driving over rough dirt roads in open air safari vehicles, which have high ground clearance and require some agility to get on and off. During game drives, you may come into proximity of wild animals whose actions can be unpredictable. Certain inherent risks are involved which should be considered at your own discretion.

• Many days we leave early in the morning. 

• There will be limited bathroom stops. 

• Meals may be delayed for unforeseen reasons. We'll try to have snacks available, but if you have blood sugar issues, please bring any snacks you know you may need. 

We find our guests are happiest when they can roll with delays and last-minute changes that may happen in the unpredictable world of African travel. 

The best things you can bring with you are flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor!

This 12-day, 11-night adventure is priced $4,599 per person double occupancy (not including airfare to and from South Africa). 

Single supplement is $600.

Your space will be secured when we receive a deposit of $500. Upon receipt, your deposit is nonrefundable.

PAYMENT PLAN

We have a payment plan which allows the entire cost of the trip to be paid in 12 equal monthly installments of about $330. (You are welcome to make larger payments at less frequent intervals if you choose.) 

The entire balance must be paid by three months before your departure (May 19, 2026).

Please plan to fly into and out of O.R. Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Because temperatures can change dramatically throughout the day,  the key to a comfortable safari outfit is layers. You should pack and wear layers to adjust to the wide range of temperatures you can experience on a typical day. While the morning can be freezing, by midday it can be hot. Layers will save you.

Best colors to wear on safari  

The basic rule on dressing for safari is to go neutral. Ideal colors to wear on safari are greens, browns, olives and khakis. Other neutral colors are fine too. When trying to spot wildlife you’ll have the best chance if you blend in as much as possible with your surroundings. 

Unless you are seriously tracking wildlife on foot, which we are not, the color of your clothing is really NOT that important.  

Navigating dirt roads in an open-top vehicle means that you'll get covered in dust. You should avoid wearing· white and very pale clothes that show the dust and dirt, and is hard to get out!

Also avoid bright colors, which can attract insects.

Here is a suggested packing list: 

1-2 pair chinos or other light pants 

1 pair jeans 

1 pair shorts or capris 

4-5 tee shirts 

1-2 long sleeve tee shirt 

1 fleece jacket 

1 light puffer jacket or down vest

1 warm hat 

1 pair sturdy sneakers/hiking shoes 

1 pair sandals, like Tevas 

Underwear and socks-6 to 8 of each

Sunglasses

Sunscreen (SPF 30-50), mosquito repellant, small flashlight

Optional: bathing suit

Every traveler entering South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana is required to show a passport valid for at least 6 months. 

South Africa requires travelers to have two completely blank visa pages in their passports upon every arrival in South Africa. You will be denied entry and forced to return to your point of origin if you do not have two blank visa pages.

The US State Department advises making at least one photocopy of the information and photo page of your passport. You should carry this in a separate place from the original. In this way you can make it easier to replace your passport if you lose it during your time in South Africa.

All travelers should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination.  These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio, and your yearly flu shot.

Most travelers get these vaccines  because there is a risk of these diseases in South Africa:

• Hepatits A: CDC recommends this vaccine because you can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in South Africa, regardless of where you are eating or staying.

• Typhoid: You can get typhoid through contaminated food or water in South Africa. CDC recommends this vaccine for most travelers. 

Some Travelers: Ask your doctor what vaccines you need based on where you are going, how long you are staying, and what you will be doing,.

• Hepatitis B: You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures.

• Yellow Fever: THERE IS NO YELLOW FEVER PRESENT IN THE AREAS WE VISIT!

Immunization is only required if you are traveling from a country with risk of YF virus transmission. 

Although the main wildlife area in Kruger National Park lies in a moderate-risk malaria zone, we will be visiting when the risk of transmission is getting lower. (Risk is highest in the wet summer months of October to April.)

Mosquito Avoidance

Any time you are in a malaria zone, you should take measures to protect yourself. Malaria transmission occurs primarily between dusk and dawn, so you can reduce contact with mosquitoes by remaining in enclosed rooms during evening and nighttime hours, wearing clothes that cover most of your body, and applying mosquito repellent.

Antimalarial Medication

In addition, the CDC recommends that you talk to your doctor about taking prescription medicine to prevent malaria while you are traveling. Depending on the medicine you take, you may need to start taking this medicine several days before your trip, as well as during and after. No antimalarial drug is 100% protective; so you must also practice mosquito avoidance and personal protective measures. 

In the event that you need to cancel your trip, these fees will be applied:

• Between 150-101 days before your arrival date, $375.

• Between 100-61 days before your arrival date, $1,075 (25% of the entire tour price.).

• Between 60 and 46 days before your arrival date, $2,150 (50% of the entire tour price.)

• Between 45 and 31 days before your arrival date, $3,225 (75% of the entire tour price.)

• Between 30 and 1 days before your arrival date, 100% of the entire tour price.

All accommodations provide shampoo and body wash, but not conditioner. Most provide hair dryers.

Currency

The rand (ZAR) is the official currency of South Africa. As of May 2024, $1 USD equaled 18.48 South African Rand. You can either buy Rand at home and bring it with you, or get it from an ATM when you arrive in Africa. It is difficult to convert US dollars to Rand when you are in South Africa, so we don’t recommend this option.

Adapters

In South Africa the power plugs and sockets are of type D, M and N, so you will need an adapter for electrical appliances from the United States. The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.

WiFi

Free WiFi service is available in the rooms and common areas at all of our accommodations. In some places, it is better than others. If you need to be sure to have WiFi at all times, you can rent a mobile hot spot at the airport upon arrival in Johannesburg starting at about $30.

Laundry

Laundry service is available at Cradle Moon Lodge and Buckler's Lodge. It is inexpensive. Average costs are: 

T shirts, blouses, or shorts: $1

Jeans, trousers or dresses: $1.75

Socks and underwear: 75 cents

The price you have paid for your tour includes: 11 nights accommodation;.all meals; all tours escorted by a private guide; entrance fees to all sights in the itinerary; all transportation, with free water provided on board; and all airport transfers.

Your tour does not include the cost of beverages other than water, and gratuities.

You will also need money for drinks and souvenirs. Alcoholic beverages are less expensive in South Africa than they are in the USA.

Tipping is customary in South Africa. It is not compulsory; tipping is entirely at your discretion. Ten percent is customary in restaurants. 

Before the trip we'll provide suggestions for appropriate tip amounts.

Traveling in Third World countries is often challenging, and sometimes changes in the itinerary are unavoidable. 

If changes are needed, Bucket List Travel will always make our best efforts to provide alternatives that are equal to or better than what was originally planned.

There will be no refunds given for parts of the tour you choose not to use.

You will be picked up at the OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, and taken to Cradle Moon Lodge, where we will be staying for two nights.

Our epic African Adventure begins in the morning! 

We'll wake up this morning at the beautiful Cradle Moon Lodge near Johannesburg, where zebras, monkeys, giraffes and antelopes walk freely around the guest huts.

You'll have an option to spend the day relaxing at the lodge, hiking, biking, swimming in the pool, going in a game drive, or just resting in this beautiful spot.

If you prefer, you can join us in a visit to our favorite human-tolerant elephants, Three, Marty and Hannah. (If you have traveled with us to South Africa, you have already met our beloved pachyderms at Glen Afric Lodge!)

While we walk with these elephants, you'll have a chance to touch and interact with the matriarch, Three.

we'll have a mini-safari where you will encounter different antelopes, giraffes, warthogs, and many other animals. We also visit the Glen Afric predator enclosures where you get to see lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas.

We'll return to Cradle Moon Lodge for dinner, and turn in early in anticipation of our great adventure that begins early tomorrow morning.

Overnight: Cradle Moon Lodge

We'll leave Cradle Moon Lodge bright and early, and start out on the Panoramic Route toward Blyde River Canyon.    

This scenic byway through South Africa's Mpumalanga Province features some of the most beautiful scenery in South Africa. It is known for its many natural attractions and its historical significance.

We'll go through Long Tom Pass, a high-altitude road through the Drakensberg Mountains and the highest tarred road in the country.

We'll enjoy a stop at the quaint little town of Dullstroom on top of the escarpment, and enjoy breakfast at the world-famous Harrie's Pancakes. 

Then we'll head for the charming Blyde River Wilderness Lodge, where we'll stay for the next 3 nights. 

Overnight: Blyde River Wilderness Lodge

After breakfast, we'll head to the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Center, situated in the shadow of the majestic Drakensberg mountains.

This unique facility is home to many of South Africa’s abandoned, injured, and poisoned wild animals who cannot be re-wilded. Its permanent residents serve as ambassadors for their respective species in the center's public education programs. Through them, people can come to understand the threats and problems our wildlife is facing.

Moholoholo has a long-standing and successful serval breeding project, and more than 160 of these cats have successfully been reintroduced to areas where they had become extinct. Center staff is also  actively involved in research on the movement and behavior of leopards, and monitors several species of vultures daily at a “vulture restaurant."

After lunch, we'll glide through the canyon on a Blyde River boat cruise. From the water level, we'll admire the breathtaking views of the canyon, and look up at the famous Three Rondavels from the base of these towering mountains.

Overnight: Blyde River Wilderness Lodge 

After breakfast this morning, we'll get an early start on the famous Panorama route and enjoy its highlights. We'll make stops at:

Blyde River Canyon Viewpoint:: Stand on the precipice of the third largest canyon in the world - the view will take your breath away!

Bourkes Lucky Potholes: These spectacular natural potholes were carved  into the underlying riverbed over millions of years by the swirling of water, sand and pebbles at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde rivers. They were named after prospector Tom Bourke who discovered alluvial gold in the area in the late 1880s. 

God's Window:  So-called because the view from here is so breathtaking that it could only have been created by a higher power. The landscapes, cliffs, and expansive vistas contribute to its reputation as one of South Africa's most picturesque vantage points,

Graskop Goerge Lift: The viewing lift, a first-of-its-kind experience in Africa, invites you to descend 153 feet into the heart of the ancient Afromontane Forest in a glass-fronted elevator. You'll enjoy stunning vistas of the Drakensberg Escarpment as you gently glide down the cliff face, and embrace fresh air and lush greenery as you enter the vibrant forest below.

Overnight: Blyde River Wilderness Lodge 

This morning after breakfast, we'll start out for our ultimate destination: Kruger National Park. We'll make two stops along the way,

Mac Mac Falls: Step out over the ridge onto a viewing platform to admire the two double streams of water tumbling 210 feet, throwing off white spray and rainbows, and tumbling into a deep, dramatic pool. It was named in the  1870s after the Scottish immigrants who came here to pan for gold. The falls are just as beautiful and unspoilt today as they were back then. 

Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Eden Sanctuary:

Chimp Eden was established in 2006, and is the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary in South Africa. The sanctuary rescues chimps that have survived the bush meat trade, been orphaned, traded in the illegal pet market, or rescued from being traumatized for human entertainment. The chimpanzees spend their days in in groups in semi-wild enclosures, and show normal social interaction and behavioral patterns. They are the lucky ones, living out their lives in a risk-free environment and being provided with the care and love they need to recover from their trauma. Chimp Eden is proud to be part of the Jane Goodall Institute, which is a global leader in the effort to conserve and preserve endangered species and habitats, chimps in particular. It continues Dr. Goodall's pioneering research on chimpanzee behaviour, which transformed scientific perceptions of the relationship between humans and animals.  

After visiting the chimps, we'll continue to Kruger National Park. We'll check into the luxurious Buckler's Africa Lodge Kruger Park, where we will spend the next six nights. 

We've made it to our ultimate destination: Kruger National Park!

Today we will enjoy two game drives in this iconic park:

A morning sunrise game drive, from 5-11 a.m.; and 

An afternoon game drive, 3-6 p.m.

Overnight: Buckler’s Africa Lodge Kruger Park

Second verse, same as the first!

Today we will enjoy two game drives:

A morning sunrise game drive, from 5-11 a.m.; and 

An afternoon game drive, 3-6 p.m.

Overnight: Buckler’s Africa Lodge Kruger Park

Grab your passports!

We're headed for a full day tour of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), one of the smallest countries in Africa. 

This tour will include different activities: 

Maguga Dam: This amazing dam was built in the most preserved volcanic area in the world.

Ngwenya Glass Factory: Founded in in 1979, this glassblowing factory was set up as a Swedish Aid Project.  The Swedes imported all the machinery and equipment, built the original factory, and employed and trained Swazi’s in the age-old art of glassblowing. The products, which include a range of tableware, drinking glasses, vases, jugs and ornamental African animals, are all handmade from 100% recycled glass, mostly soft drink bottles, gathered from all over the country. In 1989 Ngwenya Glass launched the Kingdom of Swaziland’s/Eswatini’s most successful wildlife conservation fund by donating a  percentage of profits from its worldwide sales to the Ngwenya Rhino & Elephant Fund and Mkhaya Game Reserve, a refuge for endangered species in the Swaziland/Eswatini lowveld.  

Swazi Candles in Malkerns: This unique store is full of talented crafters, artists and artisans, as well as a bustling market and souvenir shops. 

The Sambane Tea Garden: We'll have lunch here, enjoying excellent meals, cakes and daily specials in a beautiful shady garden setting.

Matsamo Cultural Village: We'll see the traditional Swazi way of living here at the cultural village. We'll enjoy rhythmic dancing performances (including the famous Rain Dance) to age-old folk songs, with music played on authentic African instruments.

Overnight: Buckler's Africa Lodge Kruger Park

Today we will enjoy two game drives:

A morning sunrise game drive, from 5-11 a.m.; and 

An afternoon game drive, 3-6 p.m.

Overnight: Buckler’s Africa Lodge Kruger Park

After a breakfast fit for a king, we set off in the morning for a unique visit with Tswale, a very special bull elephant.

In one of the early chapters of his life, Tswale was rescued from being killed in a culling operation in Limpopo. While being rescued, he met his human – Amos, who worked as a volunteer. Tswale now lives with Amos, and is as free and happy as an elephant can be. He is no longer required to perform tricks or endure being ridden, and gets to  enjoy being an elephant in the wild. He can never be released into the wild with other elephants because of his history with humans, and now Tswale CHOOSES to interact with people. Having spent most of his life around humans, we are irrevocably part of his tribe, and the honor is entirely ours! This magnificent animal delights in these human encounters, and serve es as an important resource to teach us about this remarkable species.

After this incredible experience, we head back to the lodge where you will have time to rest or enjoy a spa treatment. 

This evening, we'll enjoy a festive farewell dinner at our favorite local restaurant, Jabula, where the food is amazing and the bush babies visit diners in the open-air rooftop dining room .

Overnight: Buckler's Africa Lodge Kruger Park

After a hearty breakfast we will depart back to Johannesburg where you will be dropped off at the airport for your flight back home.

You have truly experienced Africa and Mother Nature and her creatures, and it will touch your soul for eternity.