Tented Safari Lodge Tented safari South Africa

One of the most appealing elements of this module is that you'll be staying in a luxury safari tent at the Edeni private reserve. This is sure to make you experience the most intense South African safari feeling. You'll start your South African tented safari trip in Dullstroom where you'll visit the spectacular Blyde River Canyon gorge and then you'll continue on to the Edeni private reserve. You'll be amazed by the number of wild animals you'll see walking around here.

This tented safari in South Africa is located on the Edeni reserve only an hour away from Kruger and Phalaborwa. Accompanied by professional game trackers you'll ride along in open 4X4-landrovers and you'll be able to see lions, elephants and many other animals up close. There is a very good chance that you will see the Big 5 here. Aside from the professional game experience, you'll also have the comfort of an 'Out-of-Africa' tent with your own bathroom and a swimming pool nearby. Last but not least, you'll be able to go out on your own game drive through the vast Kruger Park using your own rental car. Over 5 days you'll experience a very adventurous and comfortable tented safari trip.

On the first day of the tented safari South Africa module, you'll leave Pretoria early in the morning by rental car and take the N4 to the eastern province of Mpumalanga. Gradually the countryside will become more meadow-like and hilly and traffic will become scarce. You'll arrive at Dullstroom in the afternoon; one of the best fly fishing areas in South Africa and also known for birds (of prey). It's also a wonderful area to go horseback riding.

This picturesque town between Pretoria and Kruger Park is a great place to stay. Spend the night in our guest house with charming features such as a fireplace and a large garden in which you'll find many different kinds of birds. Your room will have a heater, tv and coffee and tea facilities. Breakfast is included.

Total distance on Day 1 is approximately 300km or 3.5 hours.

There's plenty of time for sight-seeing in this spectacular area today on your tented safari South Africa. Drive past Blyde River Canyon and visit the uniquely shaped hills at the Three Rondavels. A little further along the way, stop to see the effects of wind and erosion on stone at Bourkes Luck Potholes. Another must-see is the view at Gods Window, where you can see all the way to Mozambique if skies are clear. There are several other enjoyable rest-stops along the way, such as the quaint village of Sabie or former mining town Pilgrim's Rest with its historic houses, facades and stores. Be sure to visit one of the many friendly cafés for lunch.

A little further up north, approximately a 50 minute drive away from Phalaborwa and Kruger, lies the Northern Province (also known as Limpopo) and the Edeni private game reserve. Stay in one of the tents at the bush camp, with your own private shower & toilet. The camp looks out on the Mahkutswi River, a place where wild animals come to drink water in the evenings. Arrive before 15.00 and you'll be on time to search for wild animals with a ranger that same afternoon.

Total distance on Day 2 is approximately 200 km or 2.5 hours.

Spend the entire day exploring the wildlife reserve. During the morning, go on a game drive with a professional game tracker. Drive straight through the 'Big 5' reserve in an open land rover and see the beauty of the bush up close. The rangers know where which animals can be found and they can also tell you quite a bit about the flora and fauna, tracks and animal droppings.....

In the afternoon head back to the reserve, but this time join a professional ranger for a game walk. Since the reserve is relatively small and since a large number of animals live in the reserve, chances are you will encounter the 'Big 5' during your walk. The reserve is quite exclusive and only a few tented safari lodges in South Africa have permits to be there. The guides and trackers available to you are extremely qualified and know all of the secrets of the bush. In between game walks and game drives relax in the swimming pool, while giraffes and zebra's swish their tails through the water of the river nearby.

Your tented safari South Africa trip will continue on to Hazyview. Hazyview is located several kilometres from Kruger Park's Numbi gate. If you'd like to sleep in a bit this morning in your South African safari lodge and rather not spend too much time in the car, we suggest driving along the outer perimeter of Kruger Park. Of course, driving through Kruger with your own rental car is a lot of fun as well. There are excellent maps available at the entrance of the park. Pass Satara and the Orpen dam and slowly head south towards Skukuza. The roads are well maintained and most are paved. Keep in mind that the speed limit is only 40 km/hour. If you do decide to drive through Kruger Park, you'll be on the road for hours. Be sure to leave the park on time. You'll spend the night right outside of Kruger Park in the village of Hazyview, which is beautifully situated between sugar cane and banana plantations at the Kruger Park border. You'll stay in a cosy, comfortable guest house with swimming pool in the midst of fields. Enjoy a great meal here, or explore other dinner options in Hazyview.

Total distance on Day 4 is approximately 300km or 4-7 hours (depending on your route).

After breakfast, the tented safari South Africa module ends and you'll continue your trip through South Africa. Next, you can choose to travel on to Johannesburg or into Swaziland and Mlilwane National Park. If you would like to continue travelling with a module that fits well with this one, have a look at the Beehive huts and St. Lucia module.

Tip: Want to spend more time in the bush? Book an additional night in a bush camp.