5-Day Self-Catering Kruger Safari

What to Expect

For a 5-day trip of a lifetime, Royal Safaris offers guests affordable trips to the stunning Kruger National Park. Home to some of the world’s most exceptional animals, including the Big 5, guests enjoying a 4-day Kruger Park safari will leave with more than a few happy memories. We make use of the best private accommodation on the outskirts of the Kruger (Marloth Park and White River), some of which is a mere 15-minute drive away from a gate. The 4-day Kruger safari will give you just the perfect amount of time to spend in this magnificent world-renowned wildlife reserve.

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Departure & Return Location

Please note: All transfers depart from the OR Tambo shuttle/bus terminal (Johannesburg) at 6:45 am daily

Included

Licensed and Professional Safari Guides

1 Late Afternoon / Sunset Safari

2 Full-day open vehicle safaris in the Kruger National Park. Starting at 5:30 am to 4 pm, covering a large area in the southern KNP which is famous for abundant wildlife.

1 Half-day morning safari in open vehicles, from 5:30 am to 11:15 am, followed by our unique Kruger Bush Braai, from 16:00 pm to 22:00 pm.

1 Half-day morning Kruger Champagne Bush Breakfast safari in open safari vehicle, from 5:30 am to 10:30 am.

Transfers to & from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport.

4 Nights’ Accommodation

5 Days’ Conservation levies & entry fees.

Mineral waters on all drives.

Excluded

Our self-catering safari options does not include any meals

All extra Lunches & Beverages

Items of personal nature

Gratuities

What To Bring

Camera

Sunscreen

Binoculars

Hat/Cap

Comfortable shoes

A warm jacket for the cold winter months

We require ID for South African citizens

A Passport for international travellers

Private transfers Johannesburg to Kruger (White River / Marloth Park)

Please note that there are also private transfers available between Johannesburg and Kruger one way, for up to 7 clients.

Clients enjoying Kruger Park Bush Breakfast

Cheetah spotted on Morning Safari Marloth Park

Giraffe spotted on Afternoon Safari Marloth Park

Royal Safari vehicle on Marloth Park Safaris

Cheetah seen on Morning Safari Marloth Park

Day 1 | Transfer & Afternoon Safari

For a selection of lodges and hotels near to the Skukuza Airport or OR Tambo International Airport, have a look at our selection below. Many of these lodges and hotels offer a free shuttle service to and from the airport bus terminal.

We make use of a trusted Shuttle Services, a transfer company that shuttles guests to and from the Kruger National Park from the bus terminal. The shuttle leaves at 6:45 am and we ask that guests be at the shuttle by 6:30 am. (Please don’t be late they have to depart in these specific time slots)

You arrive in Marloth Park, where you will be staying for the duration of your stay, at 12:00 pm to 13:00 pm. Met by one of our experienced safari guides, you will be transferred to your accommodation and have some time to relax and settle in before heading off on your first safari at 14:30 pm. This first safari is an afternoon/sunset tour. As the Sun warms the African bush throughout the morning and mid-day the animals seek shelter in the shade from the blistering sun and become inactive. As the afternoon approaches watering holes and dams will be the most popular site to visit and see animals. As the temperatures begin to cool in the late afternoon animals will start to move towards the water to hydrate.

With the sun setting over the African bush, the sun sets appear redder and redder as it gets closer to the horizon. This makes the perfect opportunity to enjoy a magnificent red sky African Sunset. This presents photographers with the most beautiful photos to be taken.

You will be accompanied by a highly qualified and well-experienced guide who will be able to educate and give you an insight on a variety of topics while searching for the famous “Big 5”! Our guides will do their best to make your Kruger National Park experience a memory that will not be forgotten.

Just before the park closes for the day, we journey back to the accommodation. At your accommodation you will have some personal time to relax and enjoy a filling dinner at the restaurant.

Day 2 | Full day open vehicle safari in the Kruger National Park

We will depart at the 05:00 (October – March) or 05:30 (April – September) and will return and drop off between 16:00 to 17:00.

Entering the Kruger national Park, we begin to explore the high biodiversity the park has to offer. With 53 fish Species, 118 reptile species, 151 mammal species, 507 bird species, 2000 plant species and over 50 000 insect species you can expect to see a whole range of sightings. You will be accompanied with a highly qualified and well experienced guide who will be able to educate and give you an insight on a variety of topics while searching for the famous “Big 5”!

Your accommodation will prepare a pre-packed breakfast, and we’ll stop during the morning to eat. After breakfast, we continue the Kruger safari in search of animals. At lunchtime, we stop again, but instead of eating a packed lunch, we order a meal from a menu at Skukuza Cattle Baron Restaurant.

Late in the afternoon, when the safari is over, we head back to the accommodation and have some time to relax before dinner. After dinner, it’s another early night before an early start.

Day 3 | Full day open vehicle safari in the Kruger National Park (Can be swopped for another activity, please ask our office when making a booking)

We will depart at the 05:00 (October – March) or 05:30 (April – September) and will return and drop off between 16:00 to 17:00.

Late in the afternoon, when the safari is over, we head back to the accommodation and have some time to relax before dinner. After dinner, it’s another early night before an early start.

Day 4 | Half-day morning safari, followed by our unique Kruger Bush Braai

Half-day morning safari in open vehicles, from 5:30 am to 11:15 am, followed by our unique Kruger Bush Braai, from 16:00 pm to 22:00 pm.

On this morning, we are up early once more, and we set off before the sun has risen. In the company of the same ranger as on the last 2 days, we head off to a different area of the Kruger National Park in the hope of spotting any animals we might have missed before.

We will visit various water holes, lookout points, rivers, and have our pre-packed breakfast at a local picnic venue. After that, we will visit bird hides and look for the mighty Big 5 again.

As with the days before, we stop for a packed breakfast, at the rest camp of the guides choosing. At about 11:15, we leave the Kruger and go back to the Hotel / Lodge to enjoy a swim and some downtime before we head out for the Kruger National Park Bush Braai.

We will depart from Marloth Park at 15:30 and Crocodile Bridge 16:00. We will return and drop off between 22:00 to 22:30.

Entering the park, you will embark on an Afternoon Sunset Safari that will take you to the EXCLUSIVE Bush Braai Site. Here guests will enjoy a welcoming drink around the fire and experience the African sunset. Enjoy a Bush Dinner under the African skies with nature the backdrop and the sounds of Kruger in the background. After dinner guests will depart with the guide on a Night drive and make their way back to Crocodile Bridge to exit the park.

Bush Dinner Menu

3 Meats One red meat and one white meat plus one boerewors
Pap and Sheba
Two hot veg
3 Salads (Greek salad standard with 2 other)
Dessert (A traditional SA dessert)
Drinks (will include 4 beverages of which the choices are: red/white wine, soft drinks, water, beers and ciders.

Day 5 | Morning Safari & Transfer back to Johannesburg

We will depart at the 05:00am (October – March) or 05:30 (April – September) and will leave the park at around 11:15 am. This is the last day of our 4-day Kruger Park safari. Along with your luggage, we depart for the park with pre-pack breakfasts on board. This morning safari is about 4-5 hours long and we go to the best areas of the park in the hopes of catching a last-minute glimpse of other animals.

We leave the park at 11:15 am, transferring you to the shuttle meeting point. Here you will meet up with the Shuttle Service. They depart at 12:00 pm and will take you back to the shuttle bay at OR Tambo International Airport. From here you can depart to your chosen city hotel.

Important Information

A small single supplement is charged for single travellers.
All rates are quoted in South African Rand (ZAR)
Transfer costs and SANParks conservation fees are included in the rates.
Rates are subject to change due to 3^rd party suppliers.
Transfers and Safaris are not private tours, unless booked on a private basis.
Some lodges have a child policy that does not allow children under the age of 12. It is advised to book a holiday house for families with young children. This can be booked with us.
Guests that are flying out of OR Tambo International Airport are advised not to book any flights departing earlier than 19h00 (domestic) or 21h00 (international).
Royal Safaris does not accept any liability for guests missing their flight due to missing the shuttle departure times.
Please note there is a luggage restriction of 20kg and a small carry-on bag per guest.
Royal Safaris makes use of lodges and hotels just on the outskirts of the Kruger, in Marloth Park or White River. The accommodation we use is only about 15 – 45 minutes away from the closest Kruger gate.
While we don’t take children under the age of 8 on our shared safaris, we more than happily accommodate them on our private safaris.
Guests arriving to Johannesburg are advised to arrive a day earlier in order to avoid missing their shuttle.
The Bush Breakfast and Bush Braai activities are subject to availability. When these activities are not available, alternative safari activities will replace them.