Ku Sungula means ‘new beginning’ in the local language of the Tsonga people, also known as the Shangaan.
Ku Sungula Travel embraces this definition with its adventurous journeys. We want to amaze every traveler every day, whether it’s an exciting game drive through South Africa’s most famous national park or seeing the sunrise from the doorway of your comfortable rondavel. Not to mention all the special native animals and plant species you’ll find in Olifants West Private Nature Reserve, where Ku Sungula Safari Lodge is located. These are just some of the special moments you can only experience in Africa. Ku Sungula Travel will make this all possible. We do this with personal attention and individual guidance for a small group.
Day 1. Road transfer from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport to Balule Private Nature Reserve
Day 2. Full day Kruger national park
Day 3. Full day Ku Sungula safari lodge
Day 4. Full day Panorama route
Day 5. Bush walk and road transfer to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport
Today the adventure begins! In the morning, you take a flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival, the driver from our partner Swift Kruger Shuttles will be waiting for you at the OR Tambo Airport bus terminal. The pickup time is 07:45 am local time. The shuttle arrives around 1:20 pm at the Olifants West Gate endpoint, where one of our guides will be waiting to take you to Ku Sungula Safari Lodge. After a warm welcome, you check in, and it’s time for a delicious lunch and relaxation. In the afternoon, our guide and tracker will take you on your first game drive, exciting! Keep your camera and binoculars ready because the game drives go off-road and take you as close as possible to the animals. Once back at the lodge, a delicious dinner awaits you.
Accommodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
Mealplan: Lunch, Dinner and Drinks
Activities: Transfer from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport to Balule Olifants West
Game drive PM
KU SUNGULA SAFARI LOGDE
Experience the African Bushveld in the wild heart of South Africa with a touch of Luxury. Ku Sungula Safari Lodge is a Greater Kruger Park Safari Lodge in South Africa that exudes the romance and beauty of a bygone age. At the lodge they offer you daily comfort and convenience during an unforgettable safari experience. Your stay is your own unique personal adventure in the South African bush.
Ku Sungula means “new beginnings” in the local Shangane. The authentic African rondavels in safari style are built and tastefully furnished and are completely absorbed in the charm of the surrounding bush. The rondavels are situated in such a way that they offer a view of the pristine bush, they are exclusively designed to provide coolness in the heat of the African bush. Enjoy this comfortable style and personal atmosphere in this rustic, intimate lodge. Listen to the Sounds of the bush at night and discover the breathtaking starry sky. Experience the magic at Ku Sungula Safari Lodge.
The park is calling! Or is it the adventure? Either way, today you’ll be spending the entire day at Kruger National Park. And it starts early. At the break of dawn, you’ll leave the lodge for either the Orpen or Phalabowra gate, where you head directly into the wilderness. After breakfast at one of the picnic spots in the park, you’re ready to explore the beautiful surroundings. Keep your camera or binoculars handy because there’s a good chance you’ll spot the Big Five. The guide will share all the ins and outs of the park. Did you know that the park is also incredibly rich in geology? There are rocks that are over 3 billion years old, making them the oldest ones in the world. All those impressions will work up an appetite, so a delicious lunch in the national park is arranged as well. There’s so much to see; you’ll want to savor it for even longer. And you can! After lunch, the adventure carries on. Enjoy the wind in your hair during the drive, the breathtaking views, and the beauty that South Africa has to offer. Before dinner, you’ll return to the lodge, content and filled with today’s experiences. Later, you rest your head on your pillow, excited about the next adventure.
Accommodation: Ku Sungula Safari lodge
Mealplan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Drinks
Activities: Whole day game viewing in the Kruger Park The Kruger National Park
THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
This well-known wildlife park is 380 km long, 60 km wide and has a total area of ± 20,000 km2. The park contains 25 camps, all of which are fenced. Only in these camps, and on the picnic areas, is it allowed to get out of the car. So, stay safe in the car.
In addition to its size, this park is also known for the wide variety of animal species. Of these, the so-called ‘Big Five’ are best known: lion, buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros, and the African elephant.
You must be lucky: Being in the right place at the right time to see all 5 of them!
There are also so many other beautiful animals, the giraffe, cheetah, hippo, beautiful bucks, wild dogs, hyenas, monkeys, wart hogs. In total there are about 150 species in the Kruger Park. Then I haven’t even mentioned the enormous number of birds, often with the strangest names. There are of course also many reptiles, special trees, and special plants.
Enjoy it!
You know you can’t leave Africa without having seen elephants. So that’s exactly what we’re doing today! Today’s plan includes not one but two exhilarating game drives in the Olifants West Nature Reserve. This is the home of, as you may have guessed it, elephants. And so much more! As the early morning sun paints the horizon with hues of gold, we depart from the lodge to the Olifants River Valley within the reserve. Tucked away along the western border of Kruger National Park, a piece of paradise awaits. Prepare to be spellbound by the breathtaking landscapes, the untouched wilderness, and the diverse array of wildlife that calls this place home. You’ll peer carefully at the waterholes in hopes of spotting leopards or hippos. After the morning safari, breakfast back at the lodge will be a welcomed must. Then, you’ll have some free time before lunch. A perfect opportunity for a power nap. Because in the evening, we’ll be returning to the reserve once more. Be extra quiet and experience the interactions of the animals, from the haunting howls of hyenas to the thunderous roars of lions. With adrenaline still coursing through your veins, you’ll be grateful to return to the lodge for dinner. What a day!
Accommodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
Mealplan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Drinks
Activities: Game drive AM & PM
Today, the impressive Panorama Route is on the agenda. Beautiful natural wonders, waterfalls, and breathtakingly beautiful vistas live up to the name of this route. We visit as many viewpoints and sensational landscapes in the area of the Panorama Route as possible. There is much to see, so we have lunch on the way. When the day is done, you return to the lodge, where you enjoy an appetizing evening meal lovingly prepared by our chefs.
Accommodation: Ku Sungula Safari Lodge
Mealplan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and drinks
Activities: Full day Panoramaroute
PANORAMA ROUTE
They didn’t give this route this name for nothing!
Graskop is a busy town with nice souvenir shops and restaurants because of the starting point of the panorama route. Perhaps a nice place for you for a cup of coffee or to buy some souvenirs. From Graskop you start the Panorama Route. You will come across 3 viewpoints with the appropriate names “The Pinnacle”, “God’s Window” and “Wonder View”.
The Panorama Route is located along one of the largest forested areas in the northeastern province of Mpumalanga and centers around the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world. The route starts at the foot of Long Tom Pass, then descends to the Lowveld Plains and ends near the border with Limpopo Province. The area that the Panorama Route traverses is mainly characterized by the large number of waterfalls. Other well-known natural phenomena include the rock formations Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the grass-clad mountains The Three Rondavels and the lookout point God’s Window.
The Panorama Route has an important historical significance. Many of the towns along the route, such as Pilgrim’s Rest, Graskop and Sabie, emerged in the late 1800s in connection with the Gold Rush: The quest for gold.
Early rise! Greet the new day with a bush walk. In the morning, you will take a final safari on foot, accompanied by an experienced and armed guide. During the bush walk, the guide will share their knowledge while your nose fills with the scent of crushed wild grass as you make your way through the bushes. You will learn about tracking, animal behavior, and the ecosystem of the bush. Smell and taste the wild herbs, learn traditional customs, and explore the smaller wonders of the bush.
After the morning safari, an extensive breakfast will be waiting for you at the lodge. Then it’s really time to say goodbye. The shuttle bus to Johannesburg airport departs around 9:40 am, and you arrive in Johannesburg between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. From there, the connecting flight home departs, and you will land the next day with a suitcase full of beautiful memories.
Mealplan: Breakfast and Drinks
Activities: Bush Walk, Transfer from Balule Olifants West to Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport
ZAR 32.190,- per person sharing
