3 nights Johannesburg | 3 nights Victoria Falls | 1 night Hazyview | 2 nights Klaserie | 3 nights Sabi Sand
My family enjoyed all our African experiences because Pembury Tours had taken care of every detail! I had reached out to a number of African tour operators advising them of this being my family’s first experience to Africa – wanting educational highlights and safari. I’m a detail person so when Heidi Bedford responded to my request with questions for me and not a pre-set itinerary as other operators did, I knew Heidi would provide me with a wonderful experience. And she did! Heidi promptly and happily responded to all my emails:) She put together a well-paced itinerary, including hotels and safari lodges, that were perfect for us! Upon arrival, every member in my family received a lovely cross bag with the detailed itinerary with extra pages of useful information on side trips and animals and maps. The two safaris we experienced were different and more than I had hoped for! I had a most exhilarating African experience and at the same time, the most relaxing because Heidi and Pembury Tours had taken care of every detail. Thank you, Heidi 🙂
Upon arrival in Johannesburg you are met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in the heart of Sandton, an upmarket suburb of Johannesburg. You check in for your two night stay. Tomorrow you will be met and taken on a Johannesburg & Soweto Tour.
Transfer time: Johannesburg Airport to hotel – approx. 45 minutes
Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city and is the financial and commercial capital of Africa. It is in this fast-paced metropolis that the country’s radical political and social transformation is most evident – this is the “Rainbow Nation” at work.
This morning you are met at your hotel by our representative and transferred to OR Tambo Airport; Johannesburg. You will connect to your flight to Victoria Falls Airport. Upon arrival at Victoria Falls Airport you are met and transferred to your hotel.
Transfer time: Hotel to OR Tambo Airport – approx. 45 minutes
Flight time: OR Tambo to Victoria Falls Airport – approx. 1¾ hours
Transfer time: Victoria Falls airport to Hotel – approx. 25 minutes.
Besides being one of the seven natural wonders of the world and a World Heritage Site, Victoria Falls is the unchallenged adventure capital of Africa with more than 50 activities available.
At 1708m wide, Victoria Falls is the most expansive curtain of water in the world and drops more than 100m into the sheer Zambezi Gorge. Straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, these Falls and the Zambezi River are the central points in an area of spectacular scenic beauty: from the Falls themselves to the broad, picturesque course of the Zambezi River upstream, the rain forest adjacent and the stark jagged gorge downstream, the power and timelessness of nature’s forces are evident throughout.
The Falls’ local name, Mosi-Oa-Tunya – “the Smoke that Thunders” – more accurately defines the essence of the place: the rising, shining spray that can be seen 30km away. This vapour has the effect of adding moisture in the form of humidity to the air in the “splash zone”, so that a unique, small rainforest ecosystem clings to the edge of the Falls, providing a toehold for no less than 70 shrub and 150 herbaceous species, as well as trees such as pod and Natal mahogany, ebony, Cape and strangler fig and Transvaal red milkwood. There are two National Parks in the vicinity: the Zambezi National Park in Zimbabwe and the Mosi-oa-Tunya Zoological Park in Zambia, which means that herds of big game such as elephant and buffalo, as well as smaller species and even predators such as lion persist in the area.
Day 4: Suggested: View the Falls
Day 5: Suggested: Adventure activities at Victoria Falls
Day 5: Included: Sunset Boat trip on the Zambezi River
Day 6: Suggested: Chobe Day Trip
This morning there is time to view the Falls before been met and transferred to Victoria Falls Airport where you will board a flight to Nelspruit via Johannesburg. Upon arrival in Nelspruit you are met and transferred to your lodge in Hazyview in the Mpumalanga Lowveld. You check in for your one night stay.
Transfer time: Hotel to Victoria Falls Airport – approx. 20 minutes
Flying time: Victoria Falls to Nelspruit via Johannesburg – approx. 2½ hours
Transfer time: Nelspruit Airport to lodge – approx. 45 minutes
This morning after breakfast you check out of your lodge. You are met and transferred Northwards to Klaserie Game Reserve, forming part of the Greater Kruger National Park. You have time to settle into your lodge before embarking on your afternoon game drive.
Transfer time: Hazyview to Klaserie – approx. 3 hours.
Forming part of the Greater Kruger National Park, the 60,000 hectare Klaserie Game Reserve shares unfenced borders with Kruger which means that wildlife is able to cross freely between Klaserie and the rest of the Greater Kruger National Park. The Klaserie is home to an abundance of wildlife, including lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. In addition to the Big Five, animals that are regularly sighted include giraffe, zebra, warthog, spotted hyaena, baboon, hippo, impala, kudu, vervet monkey, waterbuck, wildebeest, bushbaby, mongoose, duiker, steenbok, klipspringer, genet and bats. You might also see wild dog, cheetah, roan antelope, bat-eared fox, honey badger, porcupine, aardvark, aardwolf, civet, caracal and serval. Birds that are regularly seen are vultures, owls, bee-eaters, rollers, eagles, bustards, hornbills, starlings and shrikes. Safaris are led by experienced rangers coupled with local Shangaan trackers. Bush walks are one of the hallmarks of a safari in Klaserie.
This morning after your morning game drive and breakfast you check out of your lodge. You will be met by our representative and transferred Southwards to your lodge in Sabi Sand Game Reserve, also forming part of the Greater Kruger Park. There is time to settle into your lodge before embarking on your afternoon game drive.
Transfer time: Klaserie Lodge to Sabi Sand Lodge – approx. 2¾ hours
Forming part of the Greater Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sand Reserve has no fences and the wildlife is able to cross freely between the Sabi Sands and the rest of the Greater Kruger National Park. The safari experience in the Sabi Sand is highly personalised because game drive vehicles have exclusive traversing rights in their area. The Sabi Sand Reserve is a remarkable natural sanctuary known for its exceptionally high concentration of animal and bird life. Close contact encounters are guaranteed as the animals are not threatened by the presence of vehicles thanks to sound conservation management policies. Safaris are led by experienced rangers coupled with local Shangaan trackers. With exceptional sightings of leopard (usually the most elusive of cats), lion, rhino, elephant and buffalo during game drives – visitors are never lacking in exciting photographic content.
You will head out on dawn and late afternoon game drives in the company of dedicated and highly knowledgeable rangers and trackers. The fact that the Sabi Sand is a private Kruger reserve means that guests can enjoy activities not normally permitted in the Kruger Park itself. Your ranger will go off road for close-up views of special sightings and once darkness falls, you’ll be treated to thrilling spot-lit night drives in search of rare nocturnal creatures and big cats on the move. Guided nature walks complete the spectrum of safari activities.
After your morning game drive, you bid farewell to this African wonderland as you are met by our representative and transferred to the Nelspruit Airport where you will connect to your flight to Johannesburg.
Transfer time: Sabi Sand Lodge to Nelspruit Airport – approx. 2 hours.
