Oil Lanterns in the Bush

South Africa safari tours

During this South Africa safari tours module you'll travel by your own rental car from Johannesburg or Pretoria towards Kruger Park. After a first overnight stay amidst the banana plantations in Hazyview, you'll drive past the Blyde River Canyon to an affordable and small-scale bush camp at the edge of Kruger Park. You'll spend the night in one of our small-scale lodges or tented camps in the middle of the bush. In the evening you'll have a wonderful time by a crackling campfire with a good glass of wine and the vast starry sky spread out above you. 

During your stay in the bush camp you'll go on a game drive or bush walk with the ranger and you'll search for wild animals together. There's a very good chance that you'll see many wild animals since the park is less spread out than for instance Kruger Park. You'll receive a proper 'bush' introduction from the ranger, which will come in handy when you go out and search for wild animals on your South Africa safari tours. While keeping an eye out for elephants, zebras and lions you'll continue driving to the southern camps in Kruger Park.

Oil lanterns in the bush offers what we'd consider to be the true 'safari-feeling'; a very unique and affordable combination between private game reseve and the famous Kruger Park. This is one of our personal favourites.

Route: from Johannesburg / Pretoria to Hazyview, via Blyde River to Private Game Reserve and Kruger South

Leave Pretoria early in the morning by rental car and take the N4 to the eastern province of Mpumalanga. Slowly but surely, the countryside will become more meadow-like and hilly and traffic will become scarce. After a while the Drakensberg peaks will loom in the distance and you'll come across the impressive, in some areas 700 meter deep, gorge of Blyde River Canyon. Your trip ends in the village of Hazyview, beautifully situated between sugar cane and banana plantations, at the Kruger Park border. Spend the night just outside of the village in a cosy guest house with swimming pool in the midst of fields. Restaurants in Hazyview are easily accessible for dinner in the evening.

Total distance on Day 1 of your South Africa safari tours is approximately 400 km or 5.5 hours.

When morning comes it's time to get back behind the wheel of your car. There's plenty of time to explore the spectacular surroundings today. Drive along Blyde River Canyon and have a look at the uniquely shaped hills at the Three Rondavels, see the result of wind and erosion at Bourkes Luck Potholes and enjoy the elevated view at Gods Window (see picture above). You can see all the way to Mozambique when skies are clear. There are several other interesting stops along the way such as the quaint village of Sabie or former mining town Pilgrim's Rest with it's historic houses, facades and stores. Be sure to stop at one of the friendly cafés for lunch.

Just short of Klaserie you'll find the Orpen Gate exit at Kruger Park. During our search for South African safari tour 'gems' we found several private game reserves with small-scale lodges and tented camps in this area. These camps are located in intimate and secluded areas in the middle of the bush and consist of only a handful of rooms or comfortable safari tents. You'll spend two nights here. At the end of the day enjoy a roaring campfire, a glass of wine and thousands of twinkling stars above you. This is undeniably the best way to truly experience the African bush. 

Total distance on Day 2 is approximately 200 km or 4 hours.

After breakfast, say goodbye to your new friends at the bush lodge and drive down to Kruger's Orpen Gate. As you pass Satara and the Orpen dam, you'll head further and further south through Kruger. The roads are in excellent condition and you'll encounter all kinds of different animals during your drive. Stop at one of the many camps or rest stops along the way to stretch out for a bit. 

Although you may get the urge to push the pedal to the metal, keep in mind that the speed limit in this area is 40-50 km/hour.

You'll spend the night in one of the southern camps: Skukuza, Lower Sabie, Pretoriuskop, Berg and Dal or Crocodile Bridge. The park is larger than you would imagine it to be, so keep an eye on the time. All camp and park gates close at 18.00 PM. Click here for a Map of Kruger

Total distance on Day 4 is approximately 225 km or 4 hours.

After breakfast this morning, this South Africa safari tours module ends and you'll continue with your trip. You'll travel by car through one of the gates, for instance Malelane, Kruger's southern gate. Along the way you'll do one last 'game drive' on your way to Swaziland and Mlilwane Park. Click here for the corresponding module, Beehive huts and St. Lucia.

Aside from Oil Lanterns in the Bush we also offer four other modules in this part of South Africa. Each of the modules are different from the others. During the Kruger Walking Tours module you'll experience the park in a very unique way. While being accompanied by a ranger you'll go on very special hikes through the park and you'll sleep in the heart of the bush. You can also choose for a more exclusive option and the ultimate 'Out of Africa feeling' during the modules Exclusive Kruger Game Drives or Tented Lodge Safari. These modules will take you to the private game reserves Timvabati (with Exclusive Kruger Game Drives) or Edeni (with Tented Lodge Safari). Aside from staying in private game reserves such as with the modules Oil lanterns in the bush, Tented lodge safari and Exclusive Kruger game drives it's also possible to combine Hazyview with a stay in Kruger Park itself. You'll go on game drives with your own rental car and sleep in basic rondavels in the park. Click here for the Rondavels in Kruger module.