Kruger National Park & Panorama Route

7 - D a y G u i d e d T o u r 2 5 - 3 1 M a r c h 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 like-minded group of 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

25 March 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 in the package), 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 3-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 25 – 27 March: 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 Southern Africa.

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 facilities include a large crystal-clear 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!

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26 March 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 1: Panorama Route

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Map 2: Scenic Viewpoints along the Panorama Route

27 March 2021:

After early breakfast at 06h30 on 27 March, 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

27 – 28 March: Kruger National Park – Satara Rest Camp (or similar) 170 km, ±6 hours

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

4 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.

Map 3: Kruger Park Rest Camps

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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 March 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/barbeque dinner is prepared on open fire.

28 March 2021:

Early morning (05h15), enjoy a cup of coffee and rusks before our game drive loop to spot the cats. Satara is “cat territory” and well-known for Big 5 sightings. On our return, we will enjoy breakfast at the Rest Camp’s restaurant. Then it is onwards further north to Letaba (this is a game drive through the Park). Lunch will be had at Olifants Camp (for your own account). Arrival at Letaba and check in to enjoy your cool room and rest.

Dinner and drinks around the fire to follow later.

28 – 29 March: Kruger National Park – Letaba Rest Camp (or similar) 65 km, ±4 hours (game drive)

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.

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Map 4:: Letaba Rest Camp layout

29 March 2021:

After early coffee and rusks enjoy a short early morning game drive. On your return to Letaba we enjoy breakfast together. After breakfast we depart the Kruger National Park. We will travel south to the stunning Umkumbe Safari Lodge (or similar lodge), situated in the Sabi Sands portion of the Greater Kruger.

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Sabi Sands Game Reserve 29 – 31 March: Umkumbe Safari Lodge (or similar) 150 km, ±4.5 hours

Sabi Sands:

The Sabi Sands Game Reserve is a 65,000-hectare reserve. This reserve was founded by local landowners in the 1950s and shares a border with the Kruger National 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 Safari Lodge 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.

A typical day at Umkumbe Safari Lodge

The below is a typical day on safari.

• 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 game drive and night drive 8

• 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

31 March 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------

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Includes: Excludes:

 Return Cape Town/Durban/Port Elizabeth/  Meals and drinks not George - Johannesburg flights. specified.  All accommodation.  Visas (not needed  Breakfast and Dinners (Hazyview & for South Africans). Kruger).  Tips and spending  Full Board (Sabi Sands). money for personal  All activities mentioned in the itinerary. items.  Guides, bush cook, tour assistants.  Vehicle cost, petrol, permits and entrance fees.  Park entrance fees for vehicles and passengers.

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