5-day Kruger National Park safari: Game drives and Panorama Route

Track the big five on open vehicles, then walk the Panorama Route's viewpoints and waterfalls

A 5-day safari tour based at an eco-lodge near Kruger National Park, with morning and afternoon game drives in open vehicles, a full day on the Mpumalanga Panorama Route, and pickup from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. The itinerary mixes wildlife viewing in premier park areas with scenic stops at Pinnacle Rock, God's Window, Berlin Falls, Bourke's Luck Potholes and Blyde River Canyon. Guides are English-speaking professionals. Children six and under ride in closed air-conditioned vehicles during safaris. Book at least 14 days in advance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and lodge transfer

• Pick up at Kruger International Airport
• Transfer to lodge near Hazyview
• Check in and relax at lodge
• Dinner at lodge

Day 2: Morning and evening game drives

• Breakfast at lodge
• Morning safari in Kruger National Park
• Return to lodge and rest
• Optional sunset or night safari
• Dinner at lodge

Day 3: Panorama Route sightseeing tour

• Breakfast at lodge
• Visit Pinnacle Rock
• View from God’s Window
• Visit Berlin Falls and local crafts
• Lunch in Graskop
• See Bourke’s Luck Potholes
• View 3 Rondawels at Blyde River Canyon
• Return to lodge
• Dinner at lodge

Day 4: Afternoon game drive and relaxation

• Breakfast at lodge
• Relax at lodge in the morning
• Afternoon safari in Kruger National Park
• Dinner at lodge

Day 5: Departure and optional morning safari

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive back to Kruger International Airport
• Optional morning safari before flight
• Flight departure

The experience

The lodge sits 45 minutes from Kruger's gates and 15 minutes from the park's premier wildlife areas. Each room has a private balcony, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. From there, you head out on open safari vehicles with a professional guide for morning and afternoon game drives across four days. The guides are rated number one on review sites for these routes. Lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, buffalo, zebras, giraffes and dozens of other species move through the park's landscape. The big five (elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard and buffalo) are the draw, though sightings depend on where the animals are that day.

One full day breaks from the lodge routine for the Panorama Route, a scenic drive through Mpumalanga that runs parallel to the park. You stop at Pinnacle Rock, a rock formation rising from the forest; God's Window, a viewpoint overlooking the lowveld; Berlin Falls, where local artisans sell crafts; Bourke's Luck Potholes, a series of cylindrical rock formations carved by water; and the Three Rondawels at Blyde River Canyon. Lunch happens in Graskop at a pancake or crepe restaurant. The route takes a full day and covers ground outside the park, so it offers a different kind of landscape and a break from the vehicle.

Half board is included, meaning breakfast and dinner at the lodge. Lunch is not. An optional sunset or night safari can be arranged on your own cost to see nocturnal animals. On the final morning, you have time for one more safari before the drive back to the airport, or you can skip it and head straight to your flight. The tour ends at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, where you depart for your next destination.

What’s included

• Pickup from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.
• four nights at an eco-lodge with private balcony, air conditioning and Wi-Fi.
• breakfast and dinner each day.
• open-vehicle game drives with a professional English-speaking guide on four days.
• a full-day Panorama Route tour with stops at Pinnacle Rock, God's Window, Berlin Falls, Bourke's Luck Potholes and Blyde River Canyon.
• air-conditioned transport throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Amatungulu

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and leads the commentary throughout, so you follow the wildlife and landscape explanation without translation. Children six and under travel in closed air-conditioned vehicles during safaris, which matters if you're bringing young children into a malaria area and want them protected from insects and heat.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

7 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).

What animals am I most likely to see on the game drives?

Lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, spotted hyenas, elephants, zebras, hippopotamuses, warthogs, giraffes and buffalo move through the park's premier wildlife areas. The big five (elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard and buffalo) are the main draw, though sightings depend on where the animals are on any given day.

How do the game drives work in Kruger?

You travel in open safari vehicles with a professional English-speaking guide on morning and afternoon drives across four days. Children six and under ride in closed air-conditioned vehicles instead. The open vehicles let you see and photograph wildlife from closer angles than a closed car allows.

What exactly is the Panorama Route?

The Mpumalanga Panorama Route is a scenic drive through the region that includes stops at Pinnacle Rock, God's Window, Berlin Falls, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Three Rondawels at Blyde River Canyon. You spend a full day there with lunch in Graskop, then return to the lodge.

What meals are included in the five days?

Half board covers breakfast and dinner at the lodge each night. Lunch is not included, except on the Panorama Route day when you eat in Graskop. The optional sunset or night safari and any drinks are on your own cost.

When do I arrive and leave?

You're picked up at Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and driven 45 minutes to the lodge for four nights. On the final morning, you have time for an optional safari before the drive back to the airport for your onward flight. Book at least 14 days in advance.