Day 1: Johannesburg to the Tented Camp in the Motlala Conservancy – South Africa

This thrilling 5-Day Kruger Camping Safari in South Africa begins with a morning transfer from OR Tambo International Airport. We journey through the captivating landscapes of Mpumalanga’s Highveld and Lowveld, arriving at our tented camp around 14:00.

After a brief refreshment break, we dive into the excitement of an afternoon sunset game drive in an open safari vehicle within the Blue Canyon Conservancy and Moditlo Nature Reserve. With its diverse terrain, from bushveld plains to riverine areas, Moditlo forms part of the Blue Canyon Conservancy and provides excellent game-viewing opportunities including the renowned Big 5 – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes, as well as a variety of other wildlife such as cheetahs, hyenas, and giraffes.

As night falls, we enjoy sundowners in the wilderness before returning to camp to relax and gather around the boma fire for a delightful evening, sharing tales of our day’s adventures on safari in South Africa.

• Meal included: Dinner
• Activity included: Game Drive in Blue Canyon Conservancy and Modlito Private Game Reserve
• Accommodation included: Tented Safari Camp in Motlala Conservancy

Day 2: Kruger National Park Safari – South Africa

The second day of our Budget Kruger Camping Safari is a full-day adventure in open 4×4 safari vehicles exploring the renowned Kruger National Park of South Africa.

We have two possible itinerary options depending on animal activity: an early morning rise at about 5:30 with a bush breakfast en route and an earlier return, or a relaxed start with breakfast at the camp, setting off later and returning later. Departure times will be communicated the night before to maximise our chances of encountering wildlife.

Our Kruger safari in South Africa will last approximately 7 to 8 hours, exploring the Orpen-Satara area, known for its excellent lion sightings. Our expert guide will navigate us through the vast expanse of this national park, utilising their expertise to locate wildlife and birds. They’ll enrich our experience with captivating knowledge and valuable insights about the Kruger bush and its inhabitants. Following our adventure, we’ll return to our tented camp for a leisurely afternoon and another delightful campfire dinner under the stars.

• Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
• Activity included: Full-day Kruger Safari
• Accommodation included: Tented Camp in Motlala Conservancy

Day 3: Panorama Route – South Africa

Today our Budget Kruger Camping Safari sees us rising early for a delightful change of scenery with a full-day Panorama Route tour.

The Panorama Route is an iconic picturesque roadway in South Africa linking various cultural and natural attractions. It is situated in Mpumalanga province and revolves around the awe-inspiring Blyde River Canyon, ranked as the world’s third-largest and largest green canyon. Beginning at the Long Tom Pass base near Lydenburg, it descends naturally from the Great Escarpment to the Lowveld, concluding near the Echo Caves at the border of Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces. This breathtaking route showcases numerous waterfalls, expansive forested areas, and iconic landmarks like Berlin Falls, God’s Window, The Pinnacle and 3 Rondawels.

We begin our full-day Panorama Route tour with either an early bush breakfast en route and an earlier return, or we enjoy breakfast at camp before departing and returning later. We have ample time for relaxation after our full-day Panorama Route adventure when we return to our tented camp for another fireside dinner and socialising under the stars.

• Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
• Activity included: Full-Day Panorama Route Tour
• Accommodation included: Tented Camp in Motlala Conservancy

Day 4: Kruger National Park Safari – South Africa

Today, our budget camping safari in South Africa takes us on a second full-day safari in Kruger National Park, conducted in open 4×4 safari vehicles.

Once again we have two possible itinerary options depending on animal activity: an early morning rise at about 5:30 with a bush breakfast en route and an earlier return, or a relaxed start with breakfast at the camp, setting off later and returning later. Departure times will be communicated the night before to maximise our chances of encountering wildlife.

Our Kruger safari in South Africa will last approximately 7 to 8 hours, as our expert guide navigates us through the vast expanse of this national park. Utilising their expertise to locate wildlife and birds while exploring the Orpen-Satara area, known for its excellent lion sightings, they’ll enrich our experience with captivating knowledge and valuable insights about the Kruger bush and its inhabitants.

Following our adventure, we’ll return to our safari camp for a leisurely afternoon and another delightful campfire dinner sharing stories of our Kruger safari adventures under the stars.

• Meals included: Breakfast & Dinner
• Activity included: Full-day Kruger National Park Safari
• Accommodation included: Tented Camp in Motlala Conservancy

Day 5: Motlala Conservancy to Johannesburg – South Africa

Our 5-day Kruger Camping Safari ends after breakfast at our tented camp in the Motlala Conservancy this morning when we bid one another farewell and embark on our return drive to OR Tambo International Airport. We arrive in Johannesburg, around 17:00 or 18:00.

While there are no included activities today, there are optional extra activities that you can pre-book to enjoy on the last day of your 5-day Kruger Camping Safari in South Africa.

Optional Safari Activities

You can pre-book one of the following optional extra activities:

• A short bush walk in the Motlala Conservancy before breakfast
• 3-hour sunrise game drive in Blue Canyon Conservancy
• Panorama Route Highlights Morning Tour on day 5 (pre-booking required)

Optional extra activities must be pre-booked at an additional cost and will be confirmed on request.

About the Tented Camp in the Motlala Conservancy

This Budget Kruger Safari stays at a fully-equipped tented camp in the Motlala Conservancy near Kruger National Park. The Motlala Conservancy is relatively lesser known despite its status as a ‘Big Four’ reserve. The safari camp offers an affordable glamping (luxury camping) experience with solar-powered tents, each featuring comfortable beds, fresh linens, towels and other essentials. There are shared ablutions and a delightful communal area for relaxing, dining and socialising. Additional amenities for you to enjoy include a swimming pool, restaurant and bar. This tented camp in the Motlala Conservancy allows you to indulge in the convenience of having all the essential comforts at your fingertips while fully immersing you in the tranquil bush on your safari in South Africa.

About the Blue Canyon Conservancy and Moditlo Private Game Reserve

The Blue Canyon Conservancy, located near the famed Greater Kruger National Park is an expanse of protected land teeming with an impressive variety of plant and wildlife species. The Moditlo Nature Reserve encompasses 3,200 hectares within the Blue Canyon Conservancy, totalling 12,000 hectares.

Situated at the base of the iconic Drakensberg mountains and located just 12 kilometres from Hoedspruit in the Limpopo province, it resides in the Valley of the Olifants, a mere 30 kilometres from Kruger National Park, it is dotted with lakes, and boasts a diverse array of wildlife. While it is part of the Greater Kruger biosphere, it shares boundaries with Kapama Game Reserve to the east and the Drakensberg Mountains to the west, yet it is distinct from the Greater Kruger National Park. Known for hosting the iconic Big 5 – Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos, and Buffaloes – Moditlo Private Game Reserve within the Blue Canyon Conservancy also shelters other captivating wildlife such as cheetahs, giraffes, hyenas as well as rare wild dogs and brown hyenas.