Kruger National Park, Sabi Sands & Panorama Route

7 - D a y G u i d e d T o u r 2 3 - 2 9 J u n e 2 0 2 1 7-Day Guided Tour

Route: Johannesburg – Panorama Route – – Sabi Sands Game Reserve (Greater Kruger) – Johannesburg

Return Route: Johannesburg to Greater Kruger

Introduction:

You can look forward to an intimate experience on our Kruger National Park & Panorama Route small group tour. No oversized buses or massive groups of individuals. Just your friendly, knowledgeable Fleet Foot Safaris tour guide and a small group of like-minded guests.

Please also note that all Covid-19 regulations and rules for transport and accommodations will be adhered to by Fleet Foot Safaris.

The onus is on each guest to adhere to strict Covid-19 health and safety regulations from a personal point. Please ensure you pack your masks and sanitizers.

Our contact detail (WhatsApp or call): Office: 072 736 6707 1

ITINERARY

23 June 2021: Today is the start of your exciting, small-group tour of the Panorama Route and to Kruger National Park. After your flight to Johannesburg (return local flights from Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth or George included), your Fleet Foot Safaris guide will meet you early morning at the arrival’s hall at O.R Tambo International Airport with a name board. Once everyone is together, your guide will do a meet and greet before departing. Today we will see a section of the Panorama Route and overnight in . A three-course dinner will be enjoyed at our accommodation this evening. (Drinks for your own account). We will stop at Millie’s for quick lunch (for your own account). ***Please remember your face mask and be prepared for standard Covid-19 screening and hand sanitizing before entering the vehicle as well as on entering the Lodge premises. Panorama Route 23 – 25 June: Hazyview – Chestnut Country Lodge (or similar) 380 km, ±6 hours

Hazyview:

The small town of Hazyview gets its name from the shimmering haze that floats above the ground on hot summer days. It is well-known for its banana plantations and is said to have one of the best climates in the world for growing bananas. Its close proximity to the Kruger and Panorama Route makes it a popular base from which to explore the area. One of the country's top drives, the Panorama Route explores the highlands, or the north-eastern section of the Great Escarpment of the . In these rugged mountains, the plateau comes to an abrupt and dramatic halt, falling steeply away into the Lowveld accompanied by incredible views out over the grasslands of .

Accommodation:

The well-appointed Chestnut Country Lodge is situated in the beautiful district near Hazyview and boasts magnificent mountain and valley views, together with comfortable accommodation and tasteful dining. Lodge

2 facilities include a large swimming pool surrounded by a wooden pool deck overlooking fabulous views which gives you the feeling of sitting among the trees – an ideal spot to grab the binoculars and birdwatch!

24 June 2021:

Today, after breakfast, we depart for our scenic Panorama Route Day Tour. The Panorama Route is favoured for the access it provides to one of the province's major scenic draw cards, the . It is one of the largest greenest canyons on earth, and increasingly popular with overseas visitors. The most popular stretch of the route is the R532 that winds its way from the town of via a selection of graceful waterfalls – the Sabie Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Mac Mac Falls and Pools – to God's Window, the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, The Pinnacle and Three Rondavels.

Lunch is for your own account.

This evening, we will once again enjoy a 3-course dinner at our accommodation. (Drinks for your own account).

Map 2: Scenic Viewpoints along the Panorama Route

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25 June 2021:

After early breakfast at 06h30 on 25 June, we depart for the Kruger National Park. Game viewing and lunch (own account) to be enjoyed en-route to the Rest Camp before checking in.

Kruger National Park

Where nearly 2 million hectares of unrivalled bio-diversity fuses with historical and archaeological sites - this is real Africa. The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man's interaction with the lowveld environment over many centuries - from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela - is abundantly evident in the Kruger National Park. These treasures represent the cultures, people and events that played a role in the history of the Kruger National Park and are conserved along with the park's natural assets.

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Map 3: Kruger Park Rest Camps

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25 – 26 June: Kruger National Park – Letaba Rest Camp (or similar) 220 km, ±5 hours (including 2 hours game drive to the Rest Camp)

Letaba Rest Camp:

The idyllic Letaba Rest Camp is situated on a sweeping bend of the Letaba River, midway between the southern and northern boundaries of the Kruger National Park. The name means “river of sand”, and the sandy riverbed is an excellent location for game viewing, particularly elephant, which thrive in the area. Letaba is a green oasis in the surrounding mopane and remains a firm favourite with visitors. From camp, one can often see game lining for a drink. The Rest Camp has an interesting natural museum dedicated to the colossal elephants of the Letaba area.

Map 4: Letaba Rest Camp layout

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25 June 2021:

On arrival at your accommodation, after an exciting game drive, you will check in and have the opportunity to relax under the shaded trees or take a stroll to the swimming pool to cool off. If you wish you can enjoy another short late- afternoon game drive.

In the evening, South African wines and other refreshments will be served around the campfire while a delicious braai dinner is prepared on open fire.

26 June 2021:

Early morning (05h15), enjoy a cup of coffee and rusks before our game drive loop. On our return, enjoy breakfast at the Rest Camp’s restaurant before continuing south to Satara (this is a game drive through the Park). In the afternoon we will check in at Satara and to relax. (Lunch will be enjoyed en route).

Dinner and drinks around the fire to follow later.

26 – 27 June: Kruger National Park – Satara Rest Camp (or similar) 65 km, ±4 hours game drive

Accommodation:

Satara is a popular camp, and not without reason. It is situated in an excellent game viewing area, with the bush relatively open and the animals plentiful and diverse. The camp itself has a rustic charm, with the bulk of the accommodation set out in a series of circles. Game is diverse and bird life is prolific. At night, the clink of fruit bats is fused with the chirping of cicadas and crickets. The calls of owls and nightjars add to the symphony that is punctuated intermittently by the whoop of hyena, the screech of jackal and the roars of lion.

27 June 2021:

After early coffee and rusks enjoy a short early morning game drive to spot the cats. Satara is “cat territory” and well- known for Big 5 sightings. After breakfast at the Rest Camp’s restaurant we depart for Umkumbe Safari Lodge (or similar lodge), situated in the Sabi Sands section of the Greater Kruger.

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Sabi Sands Game Reserve 27 June – 29 June: Umkumbe Safari Lodge (or similar) 75 km, ±5 hours

Sabi Sands:

The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a 65,000-hectare reserve founded by local landowners in the 1950s and shares a border with the Kruger Park. Wildlife in the Sabi Sands is well habituated resulting in extraordinary close encounters and sightings, particularly of the elusive leopard. The Sabi and the Sand Rivers run through the reserve, which adds greatly to the biodiversity of this area. The reserve offers one of the best photographic safaris one can think of. Besides the Big 5, other game species occur in great numbers.

Umkumbe Safari Lodge:

Umkumbe is located in the heart of the Sabi Sands. Umkumbe is owner managed and run; ensuring guests enjoy a personal, rustic and real South African safari experience. The lodge consists of ten chalets/rooms with most overlooking the seasonal Sand River. Guests regularly see elephants, hippos, buffalo and antelope grazing in the riverbed. Additional facilities include a swimming pool, lounge, bar and dining area and the traditional boma, where guests will be served delicious and hearty meals.

Game drives take place twice a day, and are always an exciting adventure, and dinner times are a celebration in the traditional boma under the starry skies.

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A typical day at Umkumbe Safari Lodge

• 05h30 Wake-up call • 06h00 Coffee and a light breakfast • 06h30 Depart on morning game drive • 09h00 to 10h00 Return to lodge • 10h30 Breakfast/Brunch • 11h00 Optional bushwalk • 15h00 Tea and a light lunch • 16h00 Depart on afternoon and night drive • 19h00 to 20h00 Return to camp and drinks at the bar • 20h00 Dinner • 21h00 Drinks, coffee, or tea around the campfire

Map 5: Umkumbe Location 9

29 June 2021:

Enjoy an early breakfast, before departing for O.R. Tambo Airport to check in for your flights back home (or extend your tour with a tropical Mozambique add-on!)

------End of Tour------

Price: R21, 900 Person Sharing *Single supplement applies.

Includes: Excludes:

• Return Cape Town/Durban/Port • Meals and drinks not Elizabeth/ George - Johannesburg specified. flights. • Visas (not needed for South • All accommodation. Africans). • Breakfast and dinner (Hazyview) • Tips and spending money • Breakfast, 3-course braai dinner & for personal items. drinks (Kruger NP) • Full Board (Sabi Sands). • All activities mentioned in the itinerary. • Daily game drives in open safari vehicle in Kruger and Sabi Sands. • Guides, bush cook, tour assistant. • Vehicle cost, petrol, permits and entrance fees. • Park entrance fees for vehicles and passengers.

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