Day 1

Arrive Hoedspruit and overnight, Bushwillow Private Villa

You will be met on arrival at Hoedspruit Airport and transferred to Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate and your home-from-home for the next two nights - Bushwillow Private Villa.

You'll be checked into Bushwillow and all arrangements for the duration of your stay will be explained to you. Your stay at Bushwillow is on an exclusive-use basis, so this beautiful private villa will be yours, and yours alone for the duration of your stay. 

Make yourself at home, relax and soak up the beautiful atmosphere of this wonderful luxury villa, surrounded by the African wilderness. Take a dip in your private plunge pool or relax on the terrace with a refreshing drink, watching the comings and goings of the local wildlife.

A lovely three-course dinner will be prepared for you, either inside in the elegant dining area or outside on the terrace. 

About Bush Willow Private Villa

Offering the ultimate home-from-home safari experience in the heart of the Greater Kruger region, Bushwillow Private Villa on Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate sleeps a maximum of six people in three luxurious, air-conditioned en-suite bedrooms. 

The villa features the best in modern, open-plan living, with sumptuous organic décor and flowing spaces opening out onto a spectacular outdoor area with its own private plunge pool, fire pit and boma.

The entire villa is surrounded by the pristine African bush which is home to an amazing variety of wildlife from kudu, waterbuck, impala, bushbuck and nyala to giraffe, zebra and warthog. Leopard and hyena also occur on the estate, as do monkeys and porcupines.

You are able to explore the 700ha estate on foot, on bicycles (there are dedicated cycling trails) and on horseback. There are also game drive routes which allow for self-drive game viewing and exploration.

Day 2

At Bush Willow Private Villa

After an early breakfast you will be collected by your driver-guide for a full-day tour of the beautiful Panorama Route, kicking off with the short drive from Hoedspruit to the magnificent northern Drakensberg escarpment, traversing the Abel Erasmus pass and winding your way upwards through the spectacular peaks and valleys.

Once atop the escarpment you will follow its edge along the famed Panorama Route which takes in some of the most spectacular scenery South Africa has to offer. Your first stop will be at the Three Rondavels Lookout Point, overlooking the incredible Blyde River Canyon. 

Your guide will explain to you all about this amazing "green" canyon, which is the third largest in the world and point out the various geological formations of interest. You will be blown away by the amazing vistas from the various viewing points so make sure you have your cameras at the ready. 

There are curio stalls and toilet facilities at this viewing point. 

From here you will drive a short distance to your next point of  interest - Bourke's Luck Potholes, stopping for a tour of this fascinating geological formation created through water erosion at the point where the Blyde and Treur rivers meet. 

Spend time exploring the amazing rock formations and wondering at the potholes themselves before continuing with the tour.

Next up are stops at the breathtaking Lisbon and Berlin waterfalls, where you can marvel at the beauty of nature and incredible landscapes created by this rainfall rich environment. The tour also takes in amazing lookout points like God's Window along the way.

In the early afternoon you will arrive at the small town of Graskop close to the edge of the escarpment and visit the incredible Graskop Gorge Lift. This unique attraction transports you down a sheer cliff in a glass lift to the bottom of Graskop Gorge where you alight to explore the fascinating fauna and flora of the gorge floor.

Before you descend there's time for lunch in the wonderful restaurant with phenomenal views over the gorge and of the distance lowveld. 

Descending in the lift to the bottom of the gorge is a wonderful experience. Once down, a wooden walkway with interactive information points along the route takes you on a circuitous journey around the floor of this deep cleft in the edge of the escarpment, past a stunning waterfall, over a rope suspension bridge and into the heart of a hidden rainforest. 

Once you have finished exploring, go back up in the lift and explore what's above. From art and craft shops to curio stalls and an adventure centre offering gorge swings and ziplining, there's a lot to discover at Graskop Gorge Lift. 

We will depart late in the afternoon for the scenic journey back to Hoedspruit, arriving back at Bushwillow Private Villa in time for some relaxation before dinner is prepared and served out on the terrace.

Day 3

Full-day Kruger National Park

Today you'll experience the thrill of a full-day privately guided safari in an open game vehicle in the world-renowned Kruger National Park!

You'll be collected very early, well before dawn, for the 45-minute transfer to the Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park. After completing entrance procedures you'll begin your incredible adventure exploring one of the most game-rich areas of this legendary African game reserve. 

You'll be provided with breakfast packs which you can enjoy en-route. And we will pack cooler boxes with refreshments and a picnic lunch for you as well. Your guide will stop at a designated picnic spot for lunch where you can get off the vehicle and enjoy a rustic, al fresco lunch in the middle of the Kruger!

You will spend the day exploring the game drive routes around the Satara region, including the fabled S100, renowned for its big cat sightings and frequent elephant herds. 

You will return to Hoedspruit at around 5pm and enjoy an early dinner and drinks before turning in for the night at Bushwillow Private Villa.

Day 4

Nyani Cultural Village and transfer to Baobab Ridge, Klaserie Private Game Reserve

After a leisurely breakfast and check-out, you will be taken to Nyani Cultural Village where you will spend a few hours sampling the flavours of our local African culture!

Including a wonderful, interpretive demonstration of tribal dancing, drumming and music, you'll also get to tour the village and learn all about the traditions of the local Shangaan people. The visit is topped off by a traditional African lunch.

After lunch you will be collected for your transfer to the Klaserie Private Game Reserve and the beautiful Baobab Ridge safari lodge.

On arrival at Baobab Ridge you will be greeted by your hosts and following check-in formalities you'll be shown to your spacious and luxuriously appointed freestanding guest chalet, with views out over this stunning Big Five private game reserve.

Take time to relax and explore the lodge, taking in the stunning pool deck with views out over a waterhole and the incredible northern Drakensberg escarpment on the far horizon.

Afternoon tea is served at 15h00 on the main deck and is followed by the afternoon/evening game drive, during which you'll explore some of the amazing landscapes that make this part of the Greater Kruger National Park so special. 

The Klaserie is home to the Big Five - leopard, lion, elephant, rhino and buffalo - so watch out for some amazing wildlife along the way. It's also known for its painted wolf (African wild dog) sightings.

You'll stop en-route for that time-old African tradition - sundowners - getting off the open safari vehicle to stretch your legs and raise a glass to the setting sun. The last part of your game drive will be in the dark, with the guide using a spotlight to find interesting nocturnal species and possibly some predator action!

You'll return to the lodge in time for a wonderful three-course dinner in the boma (weather permitting) next to a roaring log fire. 

About Baobab Ridge

This wonderful four-star safari lodge focusses firmly on creating a relaxed, home-from-home atmosphere that allows you to unwind, feel at ease and become part of the Baobab Ridge family. You arrive as a stranger and leave as a lifelong friend!

Located on a low ridge overlooking the southern section of the Klaserie - part of the Greater Kruger National Park and open to this legendary neighbour with no fences in between, Baobab Ridge is named for the wonderful baobab trees that grow on the ridge and in the lodge gardens.

With just seven luxurious private, freestanding guest suites, Baobab Ridge sleeps just 16 people, making it perfect for groups of family and friends.  It's communal areas are designed for unwinding and relaxation, especially up on the gorgeous pool deck with its oversized loungers and plump, cozy couches.

The bar and lounge area are complemented by a small TV lounge upstairs and a spacious indoor dining room that's perfect when the weather's not favourable for al fresco, outdoor meals.

At night, the boma is the place to be, with a roaring log fire as the focal point. This is where dinners are served on a regular basis, under the canopy of stars that make up the African night sky.

Day 5 and 6

At Baobab Ridge

Choose from early morning game drives or perhaps a guided bush walk, or perhaps stay in bed late and pamper yourself with a massage which can be given in your room (booking essential). 

A marvellous bush brunch is served at around 10am on the main deck, after which the rest of the day is at leisure, giving you ample time for relaxation, swimming, sun-bathing and enjoying this gorgeous safari lodge.

At 15h00 it's time for afternoon tea and preparing for the afternoon/evening game drive. You never know what you are going to see on safari, so each game drive is different to the last, so the excitement keeps on coming!

Make the most of this amazing safari destination and drink in your wild surroundings. Baobab Ridge is extremely relaxed and prides itself on its laid-back, family atmosphere, so unwind in style and reboot body, mind and soul while having incredible wildlife experiences.

Day 7

Journey's end

There's time for one last game drive this morning before enjoying your final brunch. Then it's time to go and you'll be collected for your transfer to Hoedspruit Airport for your flight home. 

PLEASE CONTACT US FOR RATES AND Ts and Cs

This itinerary is available for both fly-in and self-drive options

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