Day 1 - Johannesburg to Mapesu Game Reserve
Leave Johannesburg in the morning and arrive at Mapesu Game Reserve in the afternoon. Enjoy a late afternoon or sunset drive on the reserve, or have sundowners at the pool. Depending on the weather, dinner is served under the stars in the boma, on the lawn, in the dining room, or lapa.
Day 2: Mapungubwe National Park
Wake up early and go on a morning tour of Mapungubwe Hill and the World Heritage Site led by South African National Parks guides. Visit the Hamilton baobab on the way back to the lodge and have a well-deserved brunch.
Relax at the lodge around the pool, in your chalet, or in the lounge until tea before taking a trip back to the Mapungubwe National Park to walk the boardwalk in the riverine forest and the viewpoint at the confluence of two great rivers of Africa – the Shashe & Limpopo Rivers.
Dinner is served around a fire in the boma under the African stars.
Day 3: Mapungubwe National Park
Before breakfast you can join a local guide to view unique Limpopo Valley San Rock Art, painted around 4000 years ago. Have brunch at the lodge and relax until a late afternoon game drive to the Maloutswa Hide to check out the elephants, other game and birds that frequent the waterhole.
Dinner is again served under the stars.
Day 4: Kruger National Park
Go for an early morning walk or cycle and have a leisurely breakfast before departing for Kruger National Park.
After entering the Pafuri Gate, the route will take you through the lesser visited Pafuri region, Luvuvhu River and Klopperfontein Dam before approaching Dimbo Hill and ending at the Punda Maria Rest Camp. While large predators can be harder to find on some of these roads, the variety of herbivores and birds is just outstanding.
The Pafuri region is dominated by mixed bush-willow woodland, so elephants are a common sight. The Luvuvhu River Is a perennial water source that traverses alluvial floodplains. Look out for the fever tree forest where wildlife abundant and birding is outstanding. Make sure to stop of at the Thulamela ruins to learn more about this ancient kingdom.
Punda Maria Camp is known for its great bird watching opportunities and rich history. Large herds of Elephant and Buffalo roam the Mopane-covered plains and Tsebbebe and Sable are frequently sighted close to the camp.
Day 5: Punda Maria to Phalaborwa
Take a leisurely drive from Punda Maria to Phlaborwa. You can expect to see a range of game including Impala, Chacma Baboon, Elephant, Buffalo and Waterbuck and birds like the Swainson’s Spurfowl, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Cape Glossy Starling, Grey Go-away Bird, Laughing Dove, Grey Hornbill, Yellow-billed Hornbill, Burchell’s Starling and Woodland Kingfisher.
Day 6: Phalaborwa to Johannesburg
After a leisurely breakfast, depart for Johannesburg.
Everyone loves a good road trip – and with a country as beautiful as South Africa, it’s easy to see why. Taking to the road is ingrained...