Kruger and Panorama route 8 days

Kruger and Panorama route 8 days

 

Kruger & the Panorama Route 7 nights self drive

Cost:
R3845 per person in a dorm bed
R4230 per person sharing a double room / rondwel or bungalow
R4680 per person sharing an en-suite double room in a guest house , rondawel or bungalow

The Kruger National Park is world famous but few people know how much there is to do & experience in the surrounding Lowveld, Panorama & Escarpment. Here we have laid out a route that promises dramatic scenery , heart stopping adrenalin activities and power relaxation eg. trout fishing & game viewing.
There is so much to do that we have listed all the activities for you to make a choice of what interests you. We are making use of standard Kruger National Park accommodation in the park which is mostly en-suite bungalows and safari tents & mostly include cooking utensils & refridgeration , we endeavour to book accommodation at Olifants & Lower Sabie camps, which both have a restaurant in the camp, please appreciate that we might have to book at alternative camps should these camps be full. July & Easter school holidays are generally difficult to book at short notice.

Highlights:
Trout fishing, archery, clay pigeon shooting, hot air ballooning, Blyde River canyon , God’s Window , Three Rondawels, abseiling, tubing , Bourke’s Luck, Pilgrim’s Rest, Kapama Cheetah rehabilitation center, rhino, elephant, impala, yellow billed hornbills, lion, leopard, cheetah, warthog, lilac breasted rollers,hyaena , Kruger Parks chalets,

Day 1 - Johannesburg to Dullstroom , 209 km
Pick up your rental car from O R Tambo airport, Johannesburg & head east to the Mpumalanga Drakensberg , generally known as the Escarpment to a small fly-fishing town called Dullstroom to overnight at the Trout Lodge in cottages on this farm, nestled between the mountains & the pine trees in the Trout Triangle.
Optional activities : Trout fishing , [from R30 pp & R30 for rod hire], clay pigeon shooting at a near by farm [R180 pp], or archery [R75 pp] or horse riding [R150]

Day 2 – Dullstroom to Sabie , 114 km
After breakfast, take the R540 via Lydenburg and Long Tom Pass, made famous by it’s strategic prominence in the Second Anglo- Boer war of 1899 – 1902, and on to Sabie, in the heart of the agroforestry area, 450 square kilometres of pine & gum trees but this terrain makes for superb adventure activities , abseiling down the Sabie Falls [R150]or tubing [R245]down the Sabie River, caving [R150] , kloofing (canyoning) [R220], mountain biking [R180] or horse riding. Overnight at Sabie Backpackers or the Artist Café & Guest House.

Day 3 – Panorama day drive , 236 km
The perfect way to start the day would be a sunrise hot air balloon flight down the Sabie River Valley followed by Cape sparkling wine in celebration of another successful balloon flight & then join the pilot for breakfast at a country lodge. Optional at R2200 per person & should be pre-booked as they take a maximum of eight people per flight.
After breakfast head out on the Panorama day drive

The Lowveld Escarpment is created where the inner Southern African plateau with a mean altitude of 1200m, abruptly plunges down to the Lowveld with shear drops of up to 1000m. The Panorama Route to the Blyde River Canyon offers awe-inspiring views of forest-clad cliffs, canyons and plains as far as the eye can see.

Places of interest include Mac Mac Falls, God’s Window , Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondawels and on the way back you can stop in at Pilgrim’s Rest, a living museum dedicated to the frenzy of the goldrush days. Scott’s Café, Restaurant & Gallery serves pancakes with delicious fillings, open till 18h00. Overnight at Sabie Backpackers or the Artist Café & Guest House.

Day 4 – Sabie to Timbavati , 150 km
Head for Hazyview, then follow the R40 up to Klaserie, then turn right & head towards Orpen gate, you will find the Timbavati Safari Lodge on the left about 10km before the Orpen Gate, they have a swimming pool that you can relax in before heading out on a evening game drive with the Kruger National Park ranger from Orpen Gate . Enjoy dinner served under the acacia trees at Timbavati Safari Lodge.

Day 5 – Timbavati to Olifants camp, Kruger Park ,
After breakfast head back to Orpen Gate & into the Kruger National Park, established in 1898, it occupies 1 948 528 hectares and is home to many mammals, birds , trees, fish, reptiles & amphibians. From Orpen Gate to Olifants camp is approximately 102 km but this will take about 5 hours because the maximum speed limit is 50 kph on tar roads & 40 kph on gravel roads & then you’re gonna stop when you see wild animals, so you need to start out by 10am. The Olifants camp is situated a top a hill which towers several hundred feet over the Olifants river. Views from the lookout platforms allow one to see the river below, just as a soaring eagle would survey it, as it hunts from the skies.

Here you stay in bungalows 2, 3 or 4 bed units, equipped with ablutions (most with showers, but some with baths) and all units with air-conditioning. Olifants Camp is definitely the most beautiful camp in the Kruger National Park, with a view overlooking the Olifants River. Olifants has also just been awarded the camp of the year for the second consecutive year! Staying at Olifants will definitely give you the best of the Park. The 80 seater Ndlovu (elephant) Restaurant is situated to the right of the view point and our dedicated chefs prepare traditional South African cuisine in black cast iron pots from the buffet. There is always plenty to choose from, but remember to leave space for our freshly baked desserts and fresh fruits and salads.

Day 6 – Olifants camp, Kruger Park
Activities available : Morning, Sunset and Night Drives ; Morning and Day Walks ; Guided Bush Walks and Drives (in the company of trained field guides) ; Bush Breakfast and Braai (Barbecue). Includes drive to venue. Confirm when booking. ; Picnic Sites in Kruger National Park ;
Mountain Bike Trails (New product - Morning, Afternoon and Full day)
The procedure for MTB Trails is very similar to the guided bush walks. There is place for a maximum of 6 participants per trail. Two qualified and armed field guides will lead the trails. Olifants Camp will supply the mountain bikes. Backpacks, water bottles, bicycle helmets and snacks will also be provided. A full bush interpretation will be done on the trail (interesting nature signs and wild life sightings).
Astronomy (Stargazing)- Presentations of the southern hemisphere skies and African star lore, followed by night sky viewing through a large telescope, are combined with sunset and night game drives from Olifants Rest Camp to a remote site on the river bank where the telescope is set up for the evening.
There are different prices for each activity but range between R150 – R300.
……. And go on your own game drives …..overnight at Olifants bungalows for another night .

Day 7 – Olifants camp to Lower Sabie camp via Skukuza, Kruger Park , 200km
Head south past Satara camp and on to Skukuza for lunch , you have at least five hours and plenty of opportunity to see animals in & around the Sabie & Sand rivers loop . You can take in a swim after lunch to freshen up before heading south , stopping to view

Lower Sabie graces the banks of the Sabie River, one of the few perennial rivers to flow through the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Visitors cannot but feel soothed by the view towards the river and the Lebombo mountains beyond, across expansive green lawns, shaded from the relentless African sun by majestic sycamore fig, marula and Natal mahogany trees. Watching the endless procession of animals coming to drink at the Sabie River establishes a sense of one's own place in the eternal cycle.

In this rest camp, the bounty and plenitude of nature are very evident, eloquently symbolised by the most conspicuous of its numerous trees, the mighty sycamore fig, which provides generously for the livelihood of many birds and insects. Not only do these giants produce fruit at least twice a year, but different trees produce fruit at different times, extending the gifts of life over many months.
Here there are also sunrise, sunset & evening game drives with Kruger rangers and also morning & day walks, which should give you the opportunity to experience the African bush that is home to thousands of fascinating wild animals .

Day 8 – Lower Sabie camp to Johannesburg, 500km
Enjoy breakfast next to the Sabie River after or before your last mornings game drive & soak up the warmth of the bush that is filled with unfamiliar smells & sounds of birds & larger animals, going about their business. The road from Crocodile Bridge to Nelspruit & on to Johannesburg is in good condition with double lanes & toll roads a lot of the way. Return your rental car to the depot in Johannesburg or continue on your next route.

Included:
Seven nights accommodation & meals as specified in the above itinerary .
Group B ( Nissan Almera or similar vehicle ) with unlimited kilometres and super cover collision damage /theft waiver (nil excess) & personal accident insurance .

Excluded:
Optional activities but we encourage you to pre-book many of these activities so as to guarantee the activity taking place & ensuring there is available place for you.