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South Africa Safari - Tracking the Big Five

From £2,649
Duration 10 Days
Departures from: Oct 2024 - Sept 2026
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From £2,649
Duration 10 Days
Departures from: Oct 2024 - Sept 2026

Tour Overview

Experience the ultimate safari, spending your days tracking the Big Five. Staying in a luxury boutique lodge in South Africa’s first-ever savannah biosphere reserve, you’ll discover a dazzling array of wildlife as well as have time to kick back and relax
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Your Holiday Includes

  • Specialist Local Guide
  • Return flights from London
  • 7 nights in a 5 star safari lodge plus 2 nights in flight
  • 20 included meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners plus daily high tea and a welcome drink
  • Overseas transfers, other transportation & porterage

Included Holiday Highlights

  • Morning and afternoon game drives on most days in the lodge's private reserve
  • Explore the reserve on foot with a guided safari walk
  • Incredible stargazing experience
  • See conservation in action on a visit to the Ground Hornbill project

Itinerary

Day 1 UK to Johannesburg

Today you will fly to Johannesburg, arriving on day 2.
Next day

Day 2 Johannesburg - Greater Mabula Game Reserve

Your local guide will meet you on arrival in Johannesburg and transfer to your luxury safari lodge in the Greater Mabula Game Reserve. Located in the Limpopo Province and known for its rugged beauty, the Waterberg Biosphere is surrounded by low-lying mountain ranges, escarpments, and a network of streams, rivers, and lakes. It proudly hosts South Africa’s inaugural savannah biosphere reserve, in additional to several other nature reserves, providing a protected habitat for diverse array of wildlife. Upon your arrival, you’ll be warmly greeted by the lodge team, who will then look after you throughout your stay. Enjoy a welcome drink with your fellow travellers, and if time allows, there may be the opportunity to take your first afternoon game drive before a welcome dinner this evening. Meals included: D
Next day

Day 3 Greater Mabula Game Reserve

After an early rise, we’ll enjoy tea, coffee and South African rusks before heading out on our first morning game drive - this is the when the 12,000 hectares Greater Mabula Game Reserve is bathed in glorious morning sunlight. The reserve’s diverse habitats provide the ideal conditions for an incredible selection of large mammals including the renowned ‘Big Five’ - lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, and rhinos. Keep your eyes peeled in the shadows where you may spot the elusive brown hyena, jackals, cheetahs, and a range of smaller, lesser-seen predators. And that’s not all - the sweeping savannah plains sustain iconic species including zebras, wildebeests, impalas, warthogs, and giraffes. Each game drive is in a luxury Land Cruiser and unveils a unique chance to witness wildlife in their natural habitat and learn about their behaviours and roles in the eco-system. The Waterberg environment transitions with the seasons and the landscape changes dramatically before and after the rains. 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. After your explorations, you’ll return to camp for breakfast and to spend some leisurely hours at the lodge. Both lunch and high tea will be served daily before you head out on your afternoon game drive. Meals included: B,L,D
Next day

Day 4 Greater Mabula Game Reserve

Today promises two more captivating game drives. You may observe a large herd of impala and zebra grazing on the plains or witness a herd of elephants as they trapse across the open grasslands or trample through thick bush to feed off the trees. Your drive might take you to stop along one of the dams where you can search for hippos and crocodiles who appear to float just below the water surface or search for one of Africa’s most elegant spotted big cats, the cheetah. Later in the day, venture into the bush to enjoy a delightful sundowner. As the sun sets, take in the tranquillity of this incredible setting with your fellow travellers. Meals included: B,L,D
Next day

Day 5 Greater Mabula Game Reserve

On one morning you will visit the Mabula Ground Hornbill Project, a non-profit conservation project. The team here aim to slow down, and then reverse the decline of the Southern Ground-Hornbill in South Africa. Learn about how they are changing perceptions of this iconic but endangered species and the work they have carried out since releasing the first group of birds at the Mabula Private Game Reserve in 1999. Later, enjoy an afternoon safari drive before dinner. Meals included: B,L,D
Next day

Day 6 Greater Mabula Game Reserve

One morning during your holiday, you will also enjoy a guided safari walk through the African bush. This wonderful experience offers you the chance to meet nature up close and your guide, an expert in walking safaris will introduce you to smaller animals and a variety of plant and tree species. Learn more about the Waterberg’s biodiversity and take some time to listen and look out for the countless species of birds. There will be plenty of time for you to relax at the lodge perhaps lazing by the pool or indulging in a treatment at the lodge’s spa (payable locally) before a game drive this afternoon. Meals included: B,L,D
Next day

Days 7 & 8 Greater Mabula Game Reserve

As well as your two daily game drives, there are a variety of optional excursions (bookable locally) that you can enjoy. One evening during your stay (weather permitting), you’ll enjoy an authentic South African Braai, served in the open air around a roaring fire. After dinner on another evening, when there is a clear night, you will enjoy some time star-gazing under the vast African sky in the company of a local expert. Meals included: B,L,D
Next day

Day 9 Greater Mabula Game Reserve - Johannesburg

After breakfast, you’ll be transferred Johannesburg for your flight back to the UK, arriving on day 10. Meals included: B
Next day

Day 10 UK

You’ll arrive back in the UK today.
Additional Information

Additional Information

Please note: The order of the included activities may change depending on the weather and seasonal schedule.

Accommodation (as specified or similar)

Safari Plains

Safari Plains is a boutique, luxury safari lodge set in the Mabula Game Reserve. Facilities include high–ceiling dining room, elegant lounge and friendly bar. The swimming pool is at the centre of the lodge grounds and has seating and loungers surrounding it for those relaxing afternoons. For further relaxation the lodge has it's on spa with a menu of treatments available to book (payable locally). Your accommodation is in private luxury safari tents set along the winding sand pathways of the lodge. Each of the tented suites has a viewing deck with seating, tea and coffee making facilities, Wi-Fi and air-conditioning.

Safari Plains is a boutique, luxury safari lodge set in the Mabula Game Reserve. Facilities include high–ceiling dining room, elegant lounge and friendly bar. The swimming pool is at the centre of the lodge grounds and has seating and loungers surrounding it for those relaxing afternoons. For further relaxation the lodge has it's on spa with a menu of treatments available to book (payable locally). Your accommodation is in private luxury safari tents set along the winding sand pathways of the lodge. Each of the tented suites has a viewing deck with seating, tea and coffee making facilities, Wi-Fi and air-conditioning.

FAQ'S

How is the booking process

You can request a brochure, check availability and book online 24 hours a day/7 days a week at www.travelsphere.co.uk. Booking one of our holidays is easy online.

If you prefer to speak to someone to make your booking you can call us on 01858 415100. Calls may be recorded to ensure a high level of customer service. When you are ready to book please have the following information to hand:

✔ Holiday reference as shown on the holiday page

✔ Preferred departure date

✔ Full names of all those travelling as stated on their passport

✔ How many rooms and type

✔ Holiday insurance requirements

✔ Credit or debit card details for deposit payment

You will be given a booking reference, please quote this whenever you contact us. If you book by telephone you will be asked for your email address so that we can send you details of all the relevant documentation for your booking; which will include: your confirmation invoice, holiday information, final travel documents and a health questionnaire.

 

Do we take deposits ?

Each booking must be accompanied by the appropriate deposit payment. In most cases we will charge the following deposit per person but the actual amount will be made clear at the point of booking:

  • UK HOLIDAYS - £150
  • EUROPEAN HOLIDAYS - £200 PER PERSON
  • WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS - £250 OR 10%
  • WHICHEVER IS THE GREATER
  • OCEAN CRUISES - £250 OR 10% WHICHEVER IS THE GREATER

On some holidays we may charge a slightly higher deposit, to cover any costs we have to pay immediately to secure your booking with our suppliers. This will be made clear at the time of booking.
You can use your debit or credit card to confirm your booking instantly. All major credit cards are accepted and there is no charge for paying by debit/ credit card, by cheque or bank transfer.

What is our Cancellation Policy

Each booking must be accompanied by the appropriate deposit payment. In most cases we will charge the following deposit per person but the actual amount will be made clear at the point of booking:

  • UK HOLIDAYS - £150
  • EUROPEAN HOLIDAYS - £200 PER PERSON
  • WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS - £250 OR 10%
  • WHICHEVER IS THE GREATER
  • OCEAN CRUISES - £250 OR 10% WHICHEVER IS THE GREATER

 

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Prices shown are based on twin occupancy of a double or twin bedded room with private facilities unless otherwise stated. Single occupancy supplements will apply. Travelsphere have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the hotel images provided on this website and images of room types displayed may vary to those offered on your tour. Therefore due to the possibility of inadvertent errors we do not guarantee their accuracy. Accommodation, airlines used and flight times are subject to change and will be confirmed in your final documents.

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