4 day Kruger walking safari Route Details

Detailed Itinerary
On the day of departure you will be collected from your hotel in Johannesburg at first light and transferred to the reserve gate. The journey takes approximately 5 hours with stops along the way. You will meet your ranger at a lovely bush pub at the edge of the reserves, where you will sign the indemnity forms and have lunch together. After lunch, we transfer you into open safari vehicles to one of our bush camps in Klaserie or Timbavati Private Nature Reserve (part of the Kruger), making sure that you spend the maximum time out in the bush!

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 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 lunch is served it is time to head out again.

The afternoon activity is a walk/ drive combination, 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. This is when we connect the spotlight and night drive back to camp, looking for the nocturnal creatures that are so rarely seen during the day. 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 day of departure you will still go out for one last walk. 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 go back to the bush pub, where you will pay the Conservation Fee and the drinks you've consumed in our camps. Then we say our goodbyes and transfer you back to the city.

Where does the safari take place?
The safari operates only in the Greater Kruger, which are the Private Reserves adjoining the Kruger National Park on its western borders. There are no fences between the Kruger and the Reserves, hence the name Greater Kruger National Park. The big advantage of these Reserves is their privacy, so no sharing sightings or camps with other tourists. Once you're out there it's just you, your ranger and chef and the rest of your party of 8.

The Camps: The Bush Camps are either tented or thatched and all situated on rivers. They are private 8 bedded camps with either two-bedded rooms or large walk-in tents with beds, linen, duvets, pillows etc. provided. The ablution facilities are separate with hot showers and flush toilets. Each trail goes to two different camps in different reserves.

The Walks: Every walk is a book on its own, with the emphasis on information on all the wonders of nature, big and small. The walks aren't strenuous but can last up to 4 hours every time, depending on tracks or sightings met on the way. Average fitness is therefore required. To increase photographic opportunities and game sightings, the walks are also combined with game drives in an open safari vehicle. Each trail changes over to another camp in a different  Reserve, including a 2,5 hour game drive through the Greater Kruger National Park. Walks and drives are conducted in the early mornings, late afternoons and at night, avoiding the African heat and moving along with the animals. Although in Big Five areas, there are no guarantees on animal sightings. We do however guarantee a real bush experience!

Renate and I recently did this trip for sun Safaris. Here is our report:

14 September 2007: Following a delicious breakfast we headed off on the road to Josmacs Bush Pub situated in the Greater Kruger where we were met by Ingrid Safaris and were introduced to the group of guests that will be joining us. A bush lunch was enjoyed and we then climbed into an open top Land Cruiser and headed off into the bush where we would begin the 4 Day Walking Safari. We arrived at  "Tusker Bush Camp" where we unpacked and settled in. A few minutes later we headed out on a game drive. A few metres away from camp we came across a group of elephants feeding where we managed to get some great photos. We also were sadly informed that a bull elephant had to be shot due to a broken leg that had not healed. So we drove to the decomposing carcass in the hope to see some action, and all we saw was vultures. After our sun downer we headed back to camp for Dinner. Lanterns throughout the camp lit our way as there is no electricity, but only solar panels. A delicious Supper was enjoyed. We then all sat around the camp fire socialising and getting to know one-another. We then all headed off into our individual tents where we fell asleep in the dead silence.

15 September 2007: Awoke at the crack of dawn, enjoyed a light breakfast and headed out on a 4 hour walk. We learned many interesting facts along the way. After a four hour walk, we arrived back at camp where we enjoyed a hearty breakfast. After breakfast it was Siesta, also known as leisure time. After relaxing for 4 hours, we gathered for lunch and then headed out on a game drive. We stopped after an hour drive and we all got out and began following lion tracks. With butterflies in my tummy, I was praying so hard! After walking for an hour we thankfully never came across any. We then got back to the vehicle and drove a little along the way where we stopped and enjoyed a sundowner. We then drove in the night with the tracker in front shining a spot light looking for wild animals. Needless to say we came across more elephants, and many species of Buck, as well as a porcupine, and many serval cats. We got back to camp where dinner was waiting. We then all sat around the camp fire and learned about the wild life from our very informative ranger Conrad. We then heard a mighty roar, which sounded pretty close so; all excited we hopped into the 4x4 and headed off in search of the lion. After a few minutes drive, we came across a lonely male lion just strolling alongside the road. After a few snap shots the engine was switched off and there we sat in the dark. Then we heard him roar, a real amazing, yet scary feeling at the same time. We then headed back to camp where we were informed that the lion might be visiting our camp and that we must stay in our tents.

So we got back and with everyone totally bushed, we headed off to sleep.

16 September 2007: Awoken by the sound of Roaring lions and hyenas early in the morning, and the active baboons in the tree above our tent, I could not get back to sleep. So I lay awake waiting for our wake up call. Eventually the time came and we received our wake up call. During breakfast we were informed that that same lion was just 80 meters away from camp when we heard him. We all were amazed. We then headed off into the reserve on the game vehicle where we stopped at a water hole and headed off on foot. After an enjoyable walk we came across a Giraffe and some wildebeest in the distance, which we just could not get close to as they sprinted the minute we moved closer. Soon after that we headed back to the vehicle and drove around where we spotted more buck, warthogs and many species of birds. Arrived back at camp and enjoyed breakfast. By this time the temperature must have been well over 35 degrees, so for Siesta, we tried to lie down, but just could not. It was too hot to read or to even think. After an ice cold refreshing shower, I sat with a few other guests while talking and enjoying the scenery. After lunch we headed out on the vehicle and while on the lookout for Rhino, we came across 3 lionesses. We followed them until we were informed that they were probably going to stalk the young giraffe we had previously seen. So we pulled to the side of the road keeping in view with the giraffes, and we watched as the 3 lionesses strategically positioned themselves to catch this giraffe. Unfortunately the giraffes had spotted the lions, so they ran off. We then decided to head back to camp. On our way back we had a quick glimpse of a leopard, but soon disappeared into the bush. We stuck around in the hope that he would return but did not. So we headed back to camp. By now the wind had come up tremendously whereby we had to have dinner in the kitchen. We sat and chatted for a long time, until eventually the tiredness got the better of all of us. So we headed back to our tents to sleep. The wind was howling and it felt as if our tent was going to blow away.

17 September 2007: After having survived the scary night, and again waking up to lions roaring and hyenas calling, I went through to get some tea, and heard that the lion had been right outside the ranger's tent earlier that morning. There were tracks proving it. We all headed out in the vehicle for one last game drive. Not even a kilometre away we came across a pangolin. We were amazed as this was unusual as they are nocturnal. So we all got out and had a good look at it. It then rolled into a tight ball. It was great seeing it. When we got back, we all sat down at the dinner table to enjoy breakfast. Knowing it was our last meal together, we really took our time. We packed up and headed back to Josmacs where we said our good-byes. 

It was such an awesome experience; it's not every day you get the opportunity to wake up to the sounds of lions roaring! We will surely miss the fantastic staff and the amazing experiences we had.

A big thank you must go to Ingrid for arranging a fantastic walking safari, Conrad, for his excellent guiding skills and the Kitchen staff for the delicious cuisine. In addition, thanks to Inge at Shibula for arranging our site inspection.

For more details on this walking safaris, contact: Sun Safaris