Ideal for first timers, experienced safari travellers, and families, embark on a wildlife adventure, journeying through four malaria free parks and reserves in South Africa’s North West & Limpopo provinces.
Scattered across South Africa's North West and Limpopo provinces, visit some of the country's most popular national parks and private game reserves, as well as some absolute hidden gems. From the comfort of intimate, personal lodges, offering lovely accommodation and boasting incredible panoramas over waterholes and/or the wonderful untamed bush beyond, join shared game drives with knowledgeable and experienced guides who know the land, and all the animals who reside there, helping you get the most out of your visit.
All areas visited in this itinerary are malaria free. Pilanesberg and Madikwe require almost no introduction, their reputations ensuring they're renowned for their Big Five viewing potential, along with wild dog, cheetah and spotted hyena. Welgevonden, another Big Five reserve, is lesser known, but this mountainous area of stunning natural beauty lies nestled within the UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, as does the final destination on the trip, Ant's Hill Safari Lodge. Here, you dictate your schedule, and horse-riding safaris are their speciality. No prior experience is required, but if you prefer, bush walks, mountain biking, game drives and night drives are also possible.
Suggested Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart the UK
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Days 2-3
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Arrive Johannesburg, Drive to Pilanesberg National Park, Vehicle Safaris
Welcome to South Africa!
Once in receipt of your vehicle, leave the city behind you and head north-west towards Pilanesberg National Park, around three hours’ drive away. Home for your first two nights, let the adventure begin as you enjoy shared morning and afternoon game drives, starting immediately. No doubt big cats, wild dogs and elephants will be on your mind, and there are healthy populations of them all here, but antelope, primates, butterflies, bugs and more, will vie for attention as you throw yourself into nature and life in the bush.
Between safaris, spend quality time in the lodge’s hide overlooking a waterhole, seeing what ambles past to drink, or perhaps sign up for a bush walk to learn more about the intricacies of the ecosystem. You may prefer to indulge in a spa treatment, or a swim, all the while listening to birdsong (over 360 species have been recorded here to date) as you slowly disconnect from the outside world.
Accommodation: Black Rhino Game Lodge, 2-nights
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Days 4-6
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Drive to Madikwe Game Reserve, Vehicle Safaris
Following one last morning safari at Pilanesberg, continue driving north-west, this time to the next destination on your journey, Madikwe Game Reserve. Just two hours away, a veritable treasure trove of wildlife awaits and once again, you explore through shared morning and afternoon vehicle safaris. Large numbers of plains game support a plethora of predators here, from leopard and cheetah to wild dog and hyena.
Perhaps you’ll witness a hunt, or the majestic spectacle of a coalition of male lions, manes glowing as they stride through the bush, patrolling territory and protecting their pride. With a high density of elephants especially, enjoy time well spent at waterholes watching little ones discover the joy of splashing, dunking and glorious mud, as antelope, warthog, giraffe and zebra warily approach to drink, hugely aware of their vulnerability when doing so. Discover the language of nature and listen as she speaks.
Accommodation: Motswiri Private Safari Lodge, 3-nights
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Days 7-8
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Drive to Welgevonden Game Reserve, Vehicle Safaris
Leaving Madikwe Game Reserve and North West Province, your Limpopo safari commences with a drive to Welgevonden Game Reserve. Situated four hours away to the north-east, the Big Five and other wildlife here is shown off to perfection against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty made up of montane bushveld, grasslands, cliffs, ravines and ephemeral rivers, all conserved under the UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. As your immersion into nature continues, join shared safaris exploring the reserve morning, afternoon and night, returning to the sanctuary of your barefoot luxury accommodation between activities for some well-deserved R&R. Enjoy warm service and hospitality, cool off in the pool, and watch passing wildlife from the elevated deck.
Accommodation: Ekuthuleni Lodge, 2-nights
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Days 9-11
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Drive to Waterberg Biosphere Reserve, Vehicle, Walking, Mountain Biking & Horse-riding Safaris
And now for something a little different. Less than an hour away lies Ant’s Hill Lodge, the last stop on your trip. Perched atop a ridge and overlooking kilometres of wonderful Africa, it's situated within its own private reserve in the Waterberg, and offering a home from home experience, what sets Ant's Hill apart, is the ability to choose your own morning and afternoon activities.
Horse-riding safaris are a speciality, with no experience necessary, and fabulous sightings are possible due to the lodge's 90 or so horses roaming free amongst white rhino, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, and multitudes of antelope species, which include roan, sable, waterbuck and red hartebeest. The lack of elephant, lion and wild dog mean that bush walks, day hikes and mountain biking are accessible to all, especially families, in addition to regular day and night game drives.
Accommodation: Ant's Hill Safari Lodge, 3-nights
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Day 12:
Drive to Johannesburg & Depart
After a final safari, it's time to commit all the sights, sounds and smells of Africa to memory, as you prepare to leave this little slice of heaven on earth. Allowing at least three hours for the journey south, pass Pretoria en route, fill up your vehicle and drop it off in time to commence your onward or homebound journey.
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Day 13:
Arrive UK
