South African Safari Adventure

Day 2 Johannesburg - Greater Mabula Game Reserve

On arrival in Johannesburg you will meet your local guide and transfer to your luxury safari lodge in the Greater Mabula Game Reserve. Set in the Waterburg Biosphere, amidst the towering Waterberg Mountains of Limpopo Province, this area serves as a water reservoir for the region. Renowned for its rugged beauty, the landscape is characterised by low-lying mountain ranges and escarpments, as well as a network of streams, rivers and lakes. It is the home of South Africa’s first-ever savannah biosphere reserve and is also home to many other nature reserves which provide a protected habitat for an array of wildlife. On arrival you will be introduced to the lodge staff who will then look after you for the duration of your stay. Enjoy a welcome drink with your travelling companions and, if time permits, there may be the opportunity to take your first afternoon game drive before a welcome dinner this evening Meals included: D

Day 3 Greater Mabula Game Reserve

This morning we will rise early and enjoy tea, coffee and South African rusks before departing on our first morning game drive, when the 12,000 hectares Greater Mabula Game Reserve is bathed in glorious morning sunlight. The varied habitats on the Reserve provide ideal conditions for an astounding selection of large mammals including the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Other wildlife includes the nocturnal brown hyena, jackal, cheetah and a variety of smaller, less often seen predators. The savannah plains further sustain iconic species such as zebra, wildebeest, impala, red hartebeest, eland, gemsbok, warthog and giraffe. Each game drive is conducted in open luxury Land Cruisers and provides a unique opportunity to observe wildlife in their natural habitat and learn more about their behaviour, and role in the eco-system. The Waterberg environment is seasonal, and the landscape changes dramatically both after and prior, to rain. The deep green thickets and lush grasslands, replenished by summer rains, dramatically transform the bushveld into the greys, yellows and browns at the onset of autumn and winter. You will return to camp for breakfast and then spend the day relaxing at the lodge. Lunch and high tea will be served daily, before the afternoon game drive.  Meals included: B,L,D

Day 4 Greater Mabula Game Reserve

Today enjoy a morning and afternoon game drive, perhaps observing a large herd of impala and zebra feeding on the plains, or witnessing a herd of elephants, traipsing across the open grasslands or crashing through thick bush to feed off the trees. You may stop along one of the dams to search for hippopotamuses and crocodiles, seemingly floating just below the water surface, or search for one of Africa’s most elegant spotted big cats; the cheetah. In the late afternoon, after watching the game, enjoy a delightful sundowner in the bush with your travelling companions as the sun sets. Meals included: B,L,D

Day 5 Greater Mabula Game Reserve

On one morning during your stay you will enjoy a guided safari walk through the African bush. Few experiences are as thrilling as to meet nature up close by walking through the bush on foot. The intimacy of coming across smaller animals and the fascinating introduction to many plant and tree species provides the perfect opportunity to gain a deeper insight into less familiar animal species. Learn more about the Waterberg’s biodiversity and stop to watch and listen to the countless species of birds. Guides are specifically qualified to undertake walking safaris and are well equipped to ensure the safety of our guests.  Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your lodge perhaps by the pool or indulging in a treatment at the lodge's spa (payable locally). Later enjoy an afternoon game drive before dinner. Meals included: B,L,D

Day 6 Greater Mabula Game Reserve

This morning you will visit the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project, a non-profit conservation project aiming to change perceptions – and the fortunes – of this iconic but endangered species. Enjoy a game drive with sundowner this afternoon. Meals included: B,L,D

Days 7 & 8 Greater Mabula Game Reserve

As well as your two daily game drives there are a variety of optional activities available including cheetah tracking and horseback safaris. Lodge staff can assist you if you wish to try any of these. On one evening during your stay (weather permitting) dinner will be a South African braai served in the open air, around a roaring fire for a truly authentic African experience. Other dinners will be served in the elegant dining room or by the poolside. On another evening with a particularly clear night you will enjoy a session of star-gazing with a local expert under the vast African sky. Meals included: B,L,D

Day 9 Greater Mabula Game Reserve - Johannesburg

Today you will be collected by your local guide and transferred to Johannesburg for your flight back to the UK, arriving on day 10. Meals included: B

Day 10 UK

Arrive in the UK today.