The Ultimate All-Inclusive Guided Self-Drive 4×4 Camping & Lodge Safari across South Africa and Botswana.
Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe National Park, and the Northern Tuli Wilderness in South Africa and Botswana form one of Southern Africa’s largest transfrontier wildlife areas. Its high density of wild animals includes the Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalos. Hundreds of other mammals make their home here, as do diverse bird species such as vultures, eagles, and storks. Mountains, bush plains, and riverine forests are all part of the landscape.
Key Highlights Included: Dinokeng Big 5 Reserve • Kruger National Park • Crooks Corner (Pafuri) • Mapungubwe National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site) • Northern Tuli Wilderness in Botswana (Serolo Safari Camp) • Blouberg Nature Reserve • 4×4 Rental Camper, Insurance & Fuel.
Transfer from OR Tambo International Airport to the 4×4 Camper rental company. Collect your equipped 4×4 vehicle, complete final shopping, and drive to Dinokeng Big 5 Reserve just north of Pretoria. Optional afternoon game drive on an open safari vehicle (own cost).
Depart after breakfast and drive in convoy on tarred roads via Polokwane and Tzaneen to the small village of Gravelotte, where we turn off to visit one of the oldest Baobab trees in South Africa. Enjoy a picnic lunch here before following the road to Phalaborwa bordering Kruger National Park.
Depart after breakfast and enter the world-famous Kruger National Park. Drive via Letaba Rest Camp and Mopani Rest Camp to Shingwedzi Rest Camp, marvelling at the rich animal kingdom along the way.
Wake up inside Kruger National Park! Today we spend a full day exploring the game-rich loops and riverbeds of the Shingwedzi area.
Depart from Shingwedzi and make our way further north into Elephant and Buffalo country. En route we visit the legendary “Crooks Corner” in Pafuri where three countries meet: South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique—once a remote hideout for ivory hunters and outlaws a century ago. Exit the park and end the day at Pafuri River Camp next to the Mutale River.
Depart at 10h00 and drive a short distance to the nearby community-owned Awelani Lodge. Check into your comfortable accommodation with time to relax—swimming, hiking, or birding at your leisure.
Travel north past the border town of Musina to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mapungubwe National Park. Situated at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo rivers, the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area spans 5,909 km² across South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
Explore the dramatic sandstone formations and ancient history of Mapungubwe Hill—Southern Africa’s first kingdom established between 1200 and 1290 AD, famous for the archaeological excavation of the golden rhino and ancient trade links with India and China.
Like any good story, we leave the best for last! Depart early and cross the Limpopo riverbed border post between South Africa and Botswana, immediately entering the pristine Northern Tuli Game Reserve—renowned for spotted hyena, elephant herds, and frequent leopard sightings. Check into the unfenced Serolo Safari Camp under giant Mashatu trees, followed by a late afternoon open-vehicle guided game drive and dinner under the stars.
Enjoy two daily guided open-vehicle game drives (or optional guided bush walks) and a visit up spectacular Eagle Rock. Look out for elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, warthog, and prolific birdlife including Meyer’s Parrot, Woodland Kingfisher, and African Scops-Owl.
Enjoy an early morning game drive and breakfast in Tuli before crossing back into South Africa and driving to the scenic Blouberg Nature Reserve for our final night under the African stars.
Depart after breakfast and drive back to Johannesburg. Drop off the 4×4 camper vehicle and take the included transfer to OR Tambo International Airport.
Includes 4×4 Camper rental, insurance, fuel, tolls, all park fees, meals, lodge stays & guide.