Welcome to your South African Wildlife Adventure:

May 2 - 12 2012

Your guides will arrange the daily activities according to weather, previous animal sightings, or other factors. This itinerary is representative of what your days will be like,but exact order and activities may vary.

 

Most days will have an early start with a game viewing activity including a break for morning tea, afterwards, returning for a full breakfast. The mid morning to mid afternnon is your time to join Laura for enriching yoga practice, or relax and enjoy the lodge. After a light, late lunch we depart for another game drive or activity. Dinner is served at 7pm each evening and served under the stars in our authentic boma.

May 2 : Depart for South Africa

May 3 : Arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa. Our driver will meet you and transport you into the bush to our lodge. The late afternoon is for you to get settled and familar with our private reserve. Dinner will be served under the stars and you will want to retire early in order to be restored for the adventures ahead.

 

 

Day 3 : The African animals are ready to impress

We rise early then depart on a morning game drive on a private reserve capturing the “golden hour” light . We may see predators finishing their night of hunting and catch the daytime animals as they start their day. A scenic spot or observation blind will be our spot for a morning tea and coffee break. We return to a full English breakfast.

The sunny and warm midday is the perfect time to relax and enjoy a class taught be instructor Laura DeFreitas.

We meet up again at afternoon tea for a light meal then depart for an afternoon game drive on a nearby private reserve. Our animal encounters keep us busy until sunset when we pull over to enjoy a cocktail or refreshment while watching the sky change color and listen to the lions roar at the start of their evening of hunting. It is getting dark now and we return to the lodge slowly using a spotlight to carefully watch for leopards, lions, and other nocturnal creatures that may be just emerging.

 

Day 4 : Kruger; Amazing and Beautiful

 

We need an early start today because we are heading out to Kruger National Park and arrive just as the gates open at sunrise. Many exciting encounters await us today. Our experienced drivers work with your guides to choose the most promising areas of the park given the weather and movement of the animals in the previous days. We will spend the whole day in the park and not return until the park closes at dusk. In the park are concession stands where you can purchase gifts and food items to supplement our packed lunch.

 

Day 5 : Relaxation, Conservation Awareness, and Close Encounters

Today we leave the lodge in the morning to take a relaxing  a cruise of the Blyde Canyon. The carved red rock formations are impressive but no less impressive are the hippopotamus and Nile crocodiles that coexist in this waterway.

 

 

 

In the afternoon we  visit the Moholoholo Wildlife rehabilitation center. They have many birds of prey to observe up close as well as big cats and other animal ambassadors.  The staff and the centre educate the visitors as to their role in wildlife conservation.

 

.

 

Day 6 : The Bush From an Elephant's Prospective

This morning you can choose to experience a safari on the back of an elephant. The elephants are a herd of rescued and orphaned elephants and their handlers will introduce you to each one and their story. Guests can touch and feel this incredible animal then mount their ride on a comfortable saddle and enjoy a relaxing and unique bushveld experience. You will have a unique chance to photograph plains game who are completely relaxed in the presence of the elephants.
           

Our evening will again be occupied by an evening game drive with a return after dark for our evening meal.

 

Day 7 :See Africa from way up high on a Canopy Tour

This morning will be your chance to experience the thrill of a zipline. You will decend through 10 stations from high up in the valley to the riverbed. This is the steepest drop on a zipline in Africa. This afternoon we will introduce you to some special people in the area who are working to conserve the wilderness and its wildlife.

 

 

Day 8 : Experiencing some African Culture

Today we will venture out to view some of the scenic Blyde Canyon area and shop for some local handmade crafts.

 

 

Day 9 : Focus on Conservation

Not far from our reserve is a family owned big 5 reserve where they have been running succesful lion, caracal, and cheetah breeding programs for decades.. We will participate in their game drives and learn about their programmes while getting some great shots of big cats and other big 5.

 

Day 10 : All Good Things Must End

 

May 11: All things must end, but not before a huge breakfast and some final photos. Your transportation will get you back to Johannesburg in plenty of time to catch your evening flight back.

May 12: Arrive back in the early morning