Classic Kruger Safari: Three Camps in One Week

Zebras crossing river in Kruger National Park, South Africa

What to expect on this itinerary

The Kruger ecosystem stretches evocatively across northeastern South Africa, offering a complete suite of safari experiences. This classic itinerary blends the activities and reserves, offering a rounded experience in the fabled Kruger landscape. Luxury and charm in Sabi Sands, inspiring scale in the main Kruger park, then intimacy and thrills in Mala Mala. It's complemented by some of Africa's finest safari accommodations; picture treehouse villas and private pools with sweeping views of the landscape.

Countries Visited

South Africa

Places Visited

Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands Game Reserve, Mala Mala Private Game Reserve

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Sabi Sands – Luxury Safari Welcomes

Touch down in Sabi Sands and you can smell the animals. It's certainly an intriguing smell. A lingering waft of the wild, an enticing breeze of clean air that confirms you're hundreds of miles from the world of cities and pollution. It only takes a few minutes before the animals confirm their attendance. Two white rhinos slowly wander past; elegance personified as their horns point skyward in defiance. An elephant bashes his rump against an acacia, and then a whole herd seems to copy. Zebras watch you pass before an alerted female initiates a short gallop across the savannah. Buffalo, springbok, giraffe, eland, baboons; it's easy to tick more than ten off the list just on the journey from the airstrip to the lodge.

Sabi Sands provides the quintessential first-time experience, the landscape's two permanent rivers attracting huge wildlife numbers to a comparatively compact area. Everyone arrives on a safari with feverish anticipation, expecting to find all the four-legged characters from the documentaries. One game drive in Sabi Sands, and you'll have encountered a large majority of the popular favorites. Head out in the afternoon, winding along the Sabie River, following the rhythmic cycle of life. And when you return to the lodge, the encounters continue, a great cast of animals drinking from the river below. Diversity and ease make Sabi Sands so special, ensuring you're quickly immersed in all the fabled wonders of an African safari. Close your eyes at night and you can hear the herds munching nearby.

What's Included:

Transfer
Activity
Accommodation
Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast
Day 2

Sabi Sands – Classic Game Drives Through the Savanna

Day 3

Sabi Sands – Walking Through the Wild in Kruger

Day 4

Kruger National Park – Exploring the Gargantuan Scale of Kruger

Day 5

Kruger National Park – More Evocative Impressions

Day 6

Mala Mala – Enhancing the Intimacy at an Exclusive Private Reserve

Day 7

Mala Mala – Getting Closer than Ever at Mala Mala

Day 8

Johannesburg – Final Game Drive and Departure

Trip Highlights

  • Settle into the untrammeled luxury of Africa's finest safari camps and lodges, with beautiful accommodation overlooking the wild game of Kruger
  • Spot the big five and much much more, the Kruger home to an astonishing profusion and diversity of wildlife; including lion prides, leopards, elephants, and the world's largest rhino population
  • Spend three nights in the Sabi Sands, a compact and abundant private reserve sharing unfenced boundaries with Kruger National Park
  • Enjoy two days discovering the monumental scale of Kruger, with long game drives through remote stretches of the iconic bushland
  • Complete the itinerary with three days of safari in Mala Mala Private Reserve, where you travel off road and enjoy a heightened intimacy with all the animals
  • Admire the wildlife from different angles by taking a walking safari in Sabi Sands and a nighttime drive in Mala Mala
  • Discover that the safari never stops, with vast herds and delightful species roaming past your camp throughout the evening and night

Starting Price

$10,800 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 1123 reviews

Carolyn T.
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe Trip Review: Wildlife, Local Cuisine, 13-Day Trip

Wow, I ran out of superlatives–fantastic, awesome, amazing. Everything was well organized and the recommended accommodations were all top-notch. The guides were so expert in their field. Every activity was well worth the time. Every meal was delicious.

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Anil M.
South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana Tour Review: 10 Nights

Our first trip to southern Africa was amazing, exceeding all expectations. We saw everything we came to see, and more. The game rides were well structured and safe, the visuals were unbelievable, and taking a side trip to Victoria Falls was a great idea. The accommodations were quite luxurious, despite being considered mid-range. There was always someone there to greet us and guide us at every travel point.

Zicasso's tour operator tailored our itinerary to our wishes and was wonderful to work with. Things couldn’t have gone better.

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Grace J.
South Africa Travel Review: Safaris, 1 Week

We had an awesome trip. Zicasso's travel expert was amazing. She accomplished everything.

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Nancy H.
South Africa, Zimbabwe Tour Review: Cape Town, Franschhoek, Wine Tasting, Elephant Experience, River Cruise, Wildlife, Nature, Scenery, 13 Nights

Zicasso's trip planner arranged the most fabulous trip for my family. She knew exactly what I wanted and delivered a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa! She always answered my questions promptly. She chose memorable experiences for us, our lodgings were top-notch, and she "kept in touch, behind the scenes," to ensure all elements were going smoothly. I would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone planning a trip to Africa!

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LESLIE W.
Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique Trip Review: Gorilla Trek, Bush Camps, 3 Weeks

It was very well planned. Zicasso's travel specialist was responsive and flexible in the planning process and throughout the final details.

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Catherine R.
South Africa, Zimbabwe Vacation Review: Safari, 11 Nights

The trip was amazing. Zicasso's trip expert did an awesome job planning the trip. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and exceeded all of our expectations. The “in-country” travel was seamless. Our accommodations and tours were all top-notch. I can‘t thank her enough for planning this awesome experience.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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