The magic of Africa 16 days

Arrive at Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport. You will be met with a meet and greet from the airport arrivals hall if you come by aero plane. Your first night here in South Africa will be in a Guest Lodge near the airport. The next morning you will depart from here for your safari journey to the untouched wilderness of South Africa.

Well rested after the flight or a long drive and you are ready. You will be picked up by one of us at the Aero Guest Lodge in Kempton Park. Today you will really leave the western world. After an hour of driving everything changes. The hustle and bustle, the masses and the activities will be far behind you.

After breakfast we leave and you will head towards the wild north of South Africa. The destination today is the Marakele National Park, also known as the water mountains. Deep in the Limpopo province, this beautiful and relatively unknown Big 5 game park is hidden. This game park will be your first introduction to the Big 5 in its natural environment.

Marakele is mainly known for the pink mountains that tower over everything and the largest vulture colony in the world that is located there. Very beautiful and very interesting. Limpopo is a very beautiful and large province.

The image that many people have of Africa with savannahs, bush roughness full of wildlife is largely based on this province. It is therefore absolutely not a boring trip. Beautiful landscapes pass by and you increasingly realize that you are really going deep into Africa.

Today you will be on a Big 5 Safari in an open safari vehicle in Marakele National Park. Together with a local ranger from the park you will go in search of the big 5 and explore this unexpectedly beautiful area.

But before the safari with the local ranger we will first visit the park with you. We will explore the park with you and go up the Kransberg. With a little bit of luck you will see the vulture colony on top of the Kransberg.

It is wonderful to stay in this quiet and not known to the masses wildlife reserve. Undisturbed and very beautiful wildlife park. Enjoyment at its best. Particularly beautiful views high up on the mountains.

Very special to experience. And within a few hours! NO TIME, NO MIND, ONLY NOW! You enter the gate and in no time you are a different person. Guaranteed!

The travel distance from Marakele to Mapungubwe is considerable. That is why we split it up into two shorter days. Very relaxed and plenty of time to enjoy Limpopo.

The Waterbergs pass by and the daily life of the South Africans. Anything but boring and very worthwhile.

Today's journey ends in (near) Polokwane, the former Pietersburg and the capital of the Limpopo province. You will sleep in a guesthouse that was once set up by missionaries. Very well-traveled and very interesting people.

Today you will go to the desolate border area of ​​South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Only separated by the mighty Limpopo River.

This is what you come for!!! Mapungubwe National Park is an experience in itself. This is the most pristine and desolate part of South Africa.

This is also Big 5 territory. Rugged, pristine and undisturbed Africa. Mapungubwe is our favorite place in South Africa. It is not without reason that our lodges are here. It all has something magical and enchanting.

That is why one of the first ancient African kingdoms was established here. More than a thousand years ago, the Kingdom of Mapungubwe was lost, but the atmosphere of ancient Africa can still be felt very clearly here.

The scent of the bush is like a perfume that lingers and of an unprecedented beauty.

We will explore the park and among other things visit the site of the old lost kingdom of Mapungubwe. We will also going to visit the mighty limpopo river that more or less divides the park with the parks in Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Great chance to see very large herds of elephants. The views of this primeval African environment are a feast for the eyes. Completely Out of Africa.

If you feel like it, you can visit the Mapungubwe museum. If you have the time, don't miss it. Very interesting to discover the ancient history of Africa at the time when we as Europeans were still in the dark middle ages. At that time, trade was already conducted here with the east and parts of Asia.

The awakening of the untouched nature in Africa is the most beautiful experience there is. Get up as early as possible and see the sun rise and the day animals wake up while the nocturnal animals go to sleep.

This region is the most beautiful area of ​​South Africa. Wild and rugged. Today you will visit the part that borders Botswana. Exuberant wildlife and ancient trees in an ancient landscape. Ever seen a Nyala tree? You will not believe your eyes. If you find the giant Baobabs spectacular then you will go completely crazy here.

Africa as Africa should be!

At the northernmost border of South Africa you will find Musina. Musina is the last place before the border crossing to Zimbabwe. It is therefore a melting pot of nationalities, customs and activities. This is how you have always imagined life in Africa. Busy, noisy, chaotic, unregulated and yet it is very special to experience.

After the visit to Musina where you will not know where to look or hear, we will go a little deeper into the rural area and you can see and experience how African people really live today. This day will be etched in your memory and it will certainly remain so forever.

You leave Mapungubwe early and you go via the northern border of South Africa with Zimbabwe to the far north of the Kruger Park. The so-called Pafuri area. We enter the Kruger Park at Pafuri Gate, the most northern gate of the Kruger Park.

The Pafuri area is the region of the Kruger Park where you can still find animals that are almost no longer present elsewhere. Such as Sable Antelopes, Tsetsebee and the largest concentration of different birds in the Kruger Park. This is also Baobab country. Many old large Baobabs that adorn the landscape.

You stay in a rest camp of the Kruger Park. That is the final destination of today. Shingwedzi Restcamp world famous from the book "all things wild and wunderful" by Kobi Kruger. If you feel like it, you can book an evening or night safari here in the camp at the reception.

In the morning we will drive with you along the Shingwedzi River towards the (natural) border with Mozambique. There is always a lot of wildlife to be found along the river.

We will visit a hide and visit various waterholes. We have seen the most amazing sightings here. There is always a surprise. In the afternoon you can relax in the Camp or book an extra open car safari at the reception if you feel like it. (at your own expense)

Big 5. Today we go for the Big 5 and even more Big 5. We are Safari and Kruger Park specialists and today you will notice why. The distance is not that big today and we take our time. The final destination today is Letaba Restcamp on the Letaba River.

You leave the Kruger Park at Phalaborwa Gate and have had a great day of travel through the Kruger Park. All facets of the South African savannah pass by. Very beautiful ride and very worthwhile. A full safari day in itself. We also show you our favorite places in the Kruger Park.

You are on your way to the Blyde River Canyon today and you will see the mountains of the Northern Drakensberg slowly looming before you. The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world where we will make several stops. And you will see, among other things, the three rondavels, Burke's Luck potholes, Gods Window and the Lisbon Falls.

Somewhere in the afternoon we will arrive in Graskop where you can eat pancakes if you want in the most famous pancake house in the world (Harry's Pancakes) After Graskop we descend again to the lowveld and go to the overnight stay in Hoedspruit.

During the return journey you will see a glimpse of the life of the African people of today. We drive through one of the largest homelands in South Africa

Very early in the morning you will be picked up and go on safari in the Kruger Park with a local ranger in an open safari vehicle. In search of the Big 5 (once again for a nice ending). In other words, the perfect ending to this 16-day Magic of Africa tour.

This day is the last day before your tour ends. If you would like to do something. See something, today is the opportunity to do so. Your guide will be happy to help you on your way. The possibilities are endless. What do you think of a boat trip on Lake Swadini? Fancy an extra safari? Or just visit Hoedspruit?

A lot is possible. (At your own expense)

The last day has arrived and you leave Hoedspruit and the savannah and we head back to Johannesburg airport. From the lowveld back to the Highveld and the high plateau of Johannesburg. Where you will arrive between 4 and 5 in the afternoon.