3-day Kruger Safari from Johannesburg: All-inclusive game drives

Three game drives catch the wildlife when predators hunt

A 3-day safari tour from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park with two nights' accommodation, three guided game drives, all meals and conservation fees included. Day one is a 5-hour drive south to the lodge and an afternoon drive. Day two starts before sunrise for the prime hunting hours, breaks for lunch at the lodge, then returns to the park at 3:30pm. Day three is breakfast, a final drive out, and return to Johannesburg by 6pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Departure and first safari game drive

• Depart Johannesburg at 07:00am
• Drive 5 hours to Kruger National Park
• Enjoy first safari game drive
• Check into air-conditioned accommodation
• Dinner under starry sky

Day 2: Morning and afternoon safari drives

• Early morning safari game drive
• Return to lodge and relax
• Lunch at 13:30
• Afternoon game drive along Crocodile River
• Dinner at 19:00

Day 3: Breakfast, relaxation and departure

• Breakfast at lodge
• Relax and check out
• Closed vehicle drive
• Return to Johannesburg by 18:30

The experience

The tour departs Johannesburg at 7am for a 5-hour drive to Kruger's southern section, where you'll stay in an air-conditioned room with an ensuite bathroom and access to a pool. That first afternoon you're out on a game drive while the light is still good. Dinner comes under the stars with a South African braai and sundowner drinks: the setup that frames each evening of the trip.

Day two is built around the hours when predators move. An early morning drive starts at sunrise, when lions and leopards are still active from the night hunt. Back at the lodge by mid-morning, you'll have time to rest or walk the grounds before lunch around 1:30pm. The second game drive runs from 3:30pm to 6:30pm along the Crocodile River, where the light is low and animals come to drink. Dinner service starts around 7pm.

The final morning brings breakfast and a relaxed checkout drive through the park in a closed vehicle, with an estimated arrival back at your Johannesburg hotel or airport around 6:30pm. All three game drives are included, as are the Kruger conservation fees and every meal from lunch on day one through breakfast on day three.

What’s included

• Two afternoon safari game drives and one morning safari drive.
• Kruger National Park conservation fees.
• accommodation with air conditioning, ensuite bathroom and pool access.
• all meals from lunch on day one through breakfast on day three.
• sundowner drinks each evening.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 06:30, 10:00 and 12:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendly

Operated by Balanta Imagine Safaris

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, so commentary flows naturally for English-speaking travelers. Early morning and afternoon drives are scheduled back-to-back to catch the wildlife when they're most active, which means you're in the vehicle during the hours predators hunt: the payoff for the early starts and the afternoon rhythm.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What's the difference between the early morning and afternoon game drives in Kruger?

Early morning drives, from sunrise onward, catch predators still active from the night hunt: the hours when lions and leopards are most likely to be moving and feeding. Afternoon drives, typically 3:30pm to 6:30pm, take advantage of the low light when animals gather at water sources like the Crocodile River to drink before dark.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Johannesburg to Kruger?

No. The tour includes a 5-hour drive from Johannesburg at 7am on day one and a return drive to your Johannesburg hotel or airport by approximately 6:30pm on day three. You don't arrange separate transport.

What kind of accommodation will I have in Kruger?

You'll stay in an air-conditioned room with an ensuite bathroom and access to a swimming pool. The operator books you into a lodge inside Kruger National Park or at one of the lodges on the park's borders, depending on availability.

What meals are included over the three days?

Lunch on day one, dinner on days one and two, breakfast on day three, plus sundowner drinks each evening. The dinners feature a South African braai (barbecue) under the stars.