- Garden Route Self Drive Tour
- 10 Day Cape town to Port Elizabeth Tour
- 10 Day Port Elizabeth to Cape Town Tour
- 8 Day Addo / Port Elizabeth to George Tour
- 8 Day George to Addo / Port Elizabeth Tour
- Kruger Shuttle
- Daily Kruger Shuttle Transfer: Greater Hoedspruit area to Johannesburg
- Daily Kruger Shuttle Transfer: Johannesburg to greater Hoedspruit area
- Storms River, Garden Route Accommodation
- Game Drive & Walking Safaris
- Garden Route Guided Tours
- Balule Game Lodges
Member : Southern
Africa Tourism
Wildlife Walking Safaris
Safaris Details |
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| Departure Day: | Every Monday and Friday | ||||||||||||||||||
| Total Day: | 4 days | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup Location: | Hoedspruit | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup Time: | 12h30-13h30 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Drop-Off Location: | Hoedspruit | ||||||||||||||||||
| Drop-Off Time: | 11h00-12h00 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Group Composition: | 1-8 Persons | ||||||||||||||||||
| Price: | THE PRICES GIVEN BELOW RELATE TO FULL 3 OR 4-NIGHT SAFARIS AND ARE NOT PER NIGHT. GUARANTEED MONDAY & FRIDAY DEPARTURES FRIDAY-MONDAY SAFARI (4-days / 3-nights):
MONDAY-FRIDAY SAFARI (5-days / 4-nights):
PLEASE NOTE:
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Description
Concept
These safaris appeal to people with adventurous minds, keen on a learning experience. Every walk is a book on its own, with the emphasis on information relating to all the wonders of nature, big and small. A detailed itinerary is given below after the image gallery
Location
The safari operation is based in the Balule section of the Greater Kruger, home to the Big 5. There are no fences between the Kruger National Park and Balule Reserve and the big advantage of this exclusive wilderness area is its privacy - no sharing sightings or the camp with other tourists. You can either self-drive/fly-in to Hoedspruit, or book either one or both transfer legs between Johannesburg and Hoedspruit on the daily Ashtons Kruger Shutte.
Departures
The scheduled safaris run every Monday-Friday (5-day/4-night) and every Friday-Monday (4-day/3-night). We operate throughout the year and all departures are guaranteed but bookings need to be made in advance.
People
The minimum age for participants is 16 and, although there is no maximum age, the walks can last up to 6 hours and tracking might lead the trail through thick bush, riverbeds and gullies. Therefore an average fitness level is required, especially in the hotter summer months (Nov - March). A maximum of 8 people makes up a safari, no minimum.
Safari Camp
The unfenced camp is private and secluded and not open to day visitors. The camp can sleep up to 8 people in large (walk-in) twin-bedded safari tents under thatch and large stilted A-Frame chalets under thatch. All accommodation units are equipped with fans and electrical points, towels and linen, and have en-suite bathrooms with hot/cold showers and flush toilets. The camp has been carefully designed to integrate with the natural environment and is unfenced thereby enhancing the wilderness ambiance. Recreational amenities include a remote lounge, traditional dinner Boma and viewing deck, splash pool, and cosy bar.
Catering is an integral part of the walking safari and traditional meals are prepared on an open-fire in conversation with guests. Each safari is accompanied by experienced and armed Trail Rangers and each camp is serviced by a cook and camp attendants.
Activities
The combination of walks and drives in the open 4x4 safari vehicle are dependent on weather and animal movements and are conducted from camp in the early mornings, late afternoons and at night at the sole discretion of the Trail Ranger - as the name suggests, the focus of these safaris is on walking. Each safari is designed to experience the bush the way one should - on foot. Although in Big Five areas, there are no guarantees on sightings – what you see is what you get. We do however guarantee a real bush experience!
The Safaris Price Includes |
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Accommodation
2-person safari tents/chalets with en suite bathrooms
Bedding
Linen and towels
Guided bush walks
Daily morning and afternoon guided bush walks through Big 5 territory, led by qualified rangers & trackers
Local Transfers
Return road transfers between Hoedspruit and the safari camp on the first and last days
Meals
3 meals per day
The Safaris Price Excludes
All Beverages
Make use of the camp's well managed and well stocked bar
Conservation Levy
Conservation Levy of R100 per person, payable in cash at the camp
Gratuities
Tips and gratuities for camp staff
Personal Items
All items of a personal nature
Road Transfer HDS-JHB
Transfer on the last day between Hoedspruit and Johannesburg on the daily Ashtons Kruger Shuttle
Road Transfer JHB-HDS
Transfer on the first day between Johannesburg and Hoedspruit on the daily Ashtons Kruger Shuttle
Image Gallery
Please click on the image to view the enlarged image.
Day 1
Daily Itinerary 4 or 5 Day Kruger Walking Safari(Subject to change)
If you have booked the Ashtons Kruger Shuttle, you will be collected early on the day of departure from Johannesburg and transferred to the Greater Kruger National Park. The journey takes approximately 5.5 hours with 2 comfort stops along the way. Private Transfers from/to Johannesburg are also available for those whose timing or preferences are not met by the Kruger Shuttle. Alternatively you will be met at either Eastgate Airport or in Hoedspruit itself and transferred to the safari meeting point on the banks of the Olifants River.
You will get together with your rangers and will sign the indemnity forms. From here, you transfer to the bush camp in the Balule Nature Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park, making sure that you spend the maximum time out in the bush! Lunch will be served on arrival, followed by an afternoon introductory walk/drive combination, a night drive and dinner.
In the mornings we set off at first light after a snack breakfast of rusks and coffee or tea. Enjoying the cool morning air we may walk (weather permitting) directly from camp or else use a vehicle to get further out. Your ranger will decipher the tracks and signs left by the passing animals during the night. The thrill of walking, tracking and getting up close to one of the creatures of the bush is an unforgettable experience. On the walks there is a lot of emphasis on all the interesting things seen such as trees, plants, insects and birds. A big breakfast is prepared back in camp and then there is time to unwind and siesta during the heat of the day. After a light lunch is served it is time to head out again.
The afternoon activity is a walk/ drive combination, depending on weather conditions, looking for tracks and activity in other areas. After the walk we drive to a beautiful spot in the Reserve, where we’ll have sundowners while waiting for a stunning African Sunset. As the diurnal animals and birds anxiously get ready for bed, the stage and sounds change and a whole new world awakens. Back in camp a hearty supper and a warm campfire will be waiting for you. After a long day in the bush there is nothing more rewarding then to sneak off to bed and listen to the sounds of the night under a blanket of the overwhelming African stars!
On the last day you will still go out for one last walk/drive combination. Sniffing the typical scents of the bush you’ll realise how much you’ve learned already! After breakfast it’s time to pack up and pay the Conservation Fee and any extra drinks you’ve consumed in our camp. Then we reluctantly say our goodbyes and transfer you back to meet either the Ashtons Kruger Shuttle bound for Johannesburg or your own onward transfer arrangements from Hoedspruit.
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