This private safari is handcrafted for first-time visitors to Africa who seek an authentic experience while also enjoying Western-style lodge luxury. Watch elephants through windows spanning from the floor to the ceiling, spot lion prides basking in the sun, and relax in a private pool with the wildlife roaming in the background. Relaxed and charming, this safari experience offers exceptional accommodation with sublime animal encounters. You spend three nights each in three iconic private reserves:...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Madikwe Private Game Reserve – Luxurious Safari Welcomes
As the plane descends, the raw beauty of Africa comes into focus. From high in the air, you can sense the enormity of it all, but as the plane comes into land, you can't capture all the immaculate details with your eyes. Perhaps a giraffe wandering along, her colors blurring into the scorched yellow of the landscape. Maybe a buffalo herd grazing close to the airstrip, or a cluster of zebra gracing the drive to the lodge. It's just like how many people imagine, a rich bounty of animals finding their way into almost every panorama. The exquisite details are also clearly visible from your luxurious glass-fronted suite; just gaze out from the bed, and there's likely to be an array of animals down below.
After you've landed, safari doesn't really have a start or an end. Even when sipping a cocktail in the private plunge pool, it's difficult to escape the wild mammal sightings. You could spend hours on the private verandah, getting away from the world yet also continually spotting different mammals. Perhaps a herd of kudu grazing below, maybe springbok skipping past, or even the melancholic plodding of an old elephant bull. With private reserves and lodges like this, the idea is to ensure you're completely comfortable, while still being able to enjoy the authenticity of Africa. So relax in your suite, watch the landscape majestically change colors at sunset, and enjoy the first animal encounters without leaving the privacy of your verandah.
What's Included:
Day 2
Madikwe Private Game Reserve – Big Five Safari in a Remote Desert Landscape
Day 3
Madikwe Private Game Reserve – Seeking Out Rare and Endangered Wild Dogs
Day 4
Sabi Sands Game Reserve – Immersing Yourself in the Kruger Savannah
Day 5
Sabi Sands Game Reserve – Relaxed Private Kruger Safari
Day 6
Sabi Sands Game Reserve – Hot Air Balloon Safari Across the Kruger
Day 7
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve – Elephant Experience and the Unspoiled African Savannah
Day 8 - 9
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve – Private Safari Program Including Game Walks
Day 10
Johannesburg – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Relax in the luxury of South Africa's finest lodges, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing endless views and contemporary fittings evoking a five-star hotel quality in the wilderness
- Immerse yourself in the savannah and quickly discover that the famous Big Five are as commonplace as the baobab and acacia trees
- Charming game drives bring a wonderful proximity to the iconic safari scenes, such as big cats on the prowl or adorable interactions amongst the herds
- Ease yourself into beautiful big game safari with three nights in Madikwe Private Game Reserve, where a compact savannah effortlessly introduces you to the African experience
- Discover a baffling abundance of big mammals in Sabi Sands Game Reserve, where it seems like there's never a moment without a fresh safari scene
- Complete the safari with three nights in the private Timbavati reserve, where the unspoiled savannah offers a full range of encounters and experiences
- Get close to some of Africa's elusive and endangered animals, like packs of wild dogs in Madikwe and a huge number of white rhinos in Sabi Sands and Timbavati
- Take the elephant experience to a new level with a champagne bush picnic surrounded by the great pachyderms
- Soar across the Kruger savannah in a hot air balloon, savoring the ultimate vista of an ancient landscape filled with wild mammals
- Fly to the different game reserves via light aircraft, minimizing travel time and experiencing the thrills of touching down on an airstrip surrounded by animals
Detailed Description
Open the curtains and watch a giraffe through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Spend an hour in a private plunge pool, sipping on champagne as a herd of elephants drinks from the river below. Spot the Big Five on a game drive, then relax in the opulence of South Africa's finest lodges. This handcrafted safari provides a blend of exceptional lodge accommodations and intimate animal encounters, using three private reserves to showcase the premium side of an African safari. It's designed for first-time visitors to Africa, for those who want to enjoy all the five-star Western comforts while savoring the raw authenticity of the savannah. Taking a relaxed pace, it allows you to escape into the beauty of the wilderness and experience just how luxurious an African safari can be.
Private game reserves offer an exclusive safari experience as they restrict access to just a handful of guests. That means there won't be other vehicles ruining the photos and you can come exceptionally close to the animals. Yet, while they are private, they're also part of a wider ecosystem, so mammals continue to roam free, and the rhythm of nature isn't interrupted. As a general guide, private game reserves and concessions are also where the most luxurious safari accommodations are found. This safari handpicks three opulent lodges, accommodations that have the comfort of a five-star Western hotel, yet still ensure an authentic experience in the bush.
Evocative and effortless, a safari in Madikwe provides an iconic introduction to the style of safari. Wild animals are spotted from the pool and your air-conditioned suite, while elegant evenings are spent sipping champagne with elephants down below. Relaxed game drives bring encounters with the Big Five, and there's the added treat of spotting wild dogs, one of Africa's rarest hunters. Then, you fly to the Greater Kruger area and the Sabi Sands, where Leopard Hills Private Game Lodge provides stunning accommodation in an unspoiled part of the reserve. Again, the safari is relaxed, with morning and afternoon activities punctuated by the escapism of the lodge and the wonderful views across the savannah. The abundance of leopards and rhinos are among the many highlights here.
Spend a day on a hot air balloon safari before embarking on a two-hour experience at Elephant Whispers the following day. As the elephants roam around, you enjoy a champagne picnic deep in the bush, safely enjoying a thrilling proximity to Africa's giants. Timbavati is another of the private reserves in the west of the Greater Kruger area. You're free to explore both the private reserve and the adjacent national park, along with trying out activities like game walks. This flexibility makes it a favored place to end a safari, with the guides customizing each day dependent on your interests. As always, expect the authenticity of the savannah to mix with the opulence of the lodge accommodation.
Starting Price
$13,000 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.95 stars based on 1165 reviews.
The trip was the best we have ever had. Africa is a very special place. Zicasso's travel expert did a fantastic job of organizing the itinerary. The only disappointment was that we were not scheduled to see the mass migration across the river.
Reviewed By Andrew K.
Zicasso’s travel agent put together an amazing trip for our family. This travel agent was incredibly responsive.
Reviewed By David W.
We had an amazing trip, planned by Zicasso's travel partner. This is the first time I've ever used a travel agent and I'll admit, I was nervous. She took all of our feedback into consideration while planning. I highly recommend!
Reviewed By Kris C.
This was a well-planned trip that was personally rewarding and fulfilling.
This trip provided a great balance of the diverse locations from both countries (Namibia and South Africa).
I chose Zicasso as, at this stage of life, when taking well-deserved vacations, I just want to pay, pack, show up and have everything (accommodations, transportation, domestic and international flights, tours, attention to safety, and additional recommendations) accounted for. And that is exactly what the Zicasso's travel expert provided via her tour agency.
I was able to share my must-haves/nice-to-haves and she customized a vacation package that tended to every detail. It was a wonderful balance of rustic and luxury. It was also our July “birthdaycation” for my aunt and me, and we were surprised at multiple locations with surprise birthday acknowledgements. Birthdays are very special to me, so this was a major “icing” on the cake for me on this vacation.
Although there was a minor “hiccup” on the day of arrival, the travel specialist's “on-the-ground” (local) staff pivoted and quickly and professionally found another option for us for our airport pickup. This shows the mark of a company interested in ensuring the complete satisfaction of their clients.
For the destinations the travel expert specializes in, they will be my first point of contact when looking to make my next vacation destination.
Well done!
Reviewed By Andrea +.
The trip was carefully planned and we received optimal assistance throughout the trip and constant availability and monitoring during the journey. Our Zicasso travel agent was very professional and always available to respond to our requests and needs. The choice of hotels was excellent and reflected the expectations. The activities offered in the different locations were very well structured and the guides were of high quality, particularly those in Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta.
Reviewed By Roberto B.
Our family had a blast in South Africa, thanks to Zicasso's travel designer. She was meticulous in the planning and gave some good suggestions that worked well for our group. From fast-track tickets up to Table Mountain to food recommendations, she curated an itinerary that made the trip a breeze.
The guide in Cape Town was a wellspring of knowledge. We learned so much about the country from her, from history to economics and culture.
The safari portion of the trip was most memorable. The resort in Hoedspruit was just what the family needed.
We will definitely look up this travel company for future trips.
Reviewed By Lauren L.