Welcome to your South African Wildlife Adventure : Thrilling Animal Encounters Daily

Your guides will arrange the daily activities according to weather, previous animal sightings, or other factors. This itinerary is representative of what your days will be like,but exact order and activities may vary.

We keep you busy and fill the best game viewing times of the day - morning and evening, with excellent wildlife encounters and photographic opportunities.

Most days will have an early start with a game viewing activity with a break for morning tea, then return for a full breakfast. The mid morning to mid afternnon is your free time to work on your images, relax, or enjoy the lodge. After a light, late lunch we depart for another game drive or activity. Dinner is served after 7pm each evening.

On the day we visit Kruger National Park we will leave early and stay in the park all day until they close at sunset. It takes around 30 minutes to drive to the park entrance. On the day we visit the nearby canyon and wildlife rehabilitation centre we will have an earlier breakfast and depart afterwards.

Spotting the herds of elephants and rhinosaurus by microlight plane is highly dependent on the right weather conditions and we will often change our schedule to give the highest possibility of doing this activity on the best day. In the event that we can not fly, we will still seek out the rhinos and elephants.

Day 1: Your South African Adventure Beings

All guests meet up at the Johannesburg airport where your guides will greet you and everyone will board the minibus for transfer to the game lodge in Limpopo Province.

After a few short rest stops along the way, you arrive at the tree house game lodge. Now is the time to unwind and unpack the photo gear. Depending on arrival time, you will be served an afternoon tea (a light meal) and given an orientation by the lodge staff and your guides. If possible, you will have your first afternoon game drive on the lodge’s reserve followed by dinner.

Day 4 : Relaxation, Conservation Awareness, and Close Encounters

Today we leave the lodge in the morning to take a relaxing  a cruise of the Blythe Canyon. The carved red rock formations are impressive but no less impressive are the hippopotamus and Nile crocodiles that coexist in this waterway.

In the afternoon we  visit the Maholoholo Wildlife rehabilitation center. They have many birds of prey to observe up close as well as big cats and other animal ambassadors.  The staff and the centre educate the visitors as to their role in wildlife conservation and on the current issues effecting the animals of this region.
Before dinner we have time to gather for photo critiques or to discuss digital photography topics such as white balance management,  post processing, or backups.

Day 5 : Tracking The Biggest of the Big Five

After the past few days of experience on safari you are ready to leave the vehicle on the trail and bush walk up close to rhinos or elephants. But first we have to find them in the thousands of hecteracres of private reserves around the lodge. You will help us spot them from air while taking a flight in a microlight airplane flown by an experienced bush pilot. Up in the air you will see the mountain range in the distance and herds of animals congregating or on the move below. One at a time you enjoy this experience while the rest of the group relaxes with morning tea.

When we have located the herds, we head off in the vehicles. When we get close, we leave the vehicles and quietly track the herd through the bush. There is no comparison to the feeling of seeing these large herbivores up close. Our guides will see to our safety as we get once in a lifetime photographs of these great animals.

Exhilarated, we return to the lodge for breakfast and some free time for downloading photos.  Before afternoon tea is a good time to gather for questions, sharing and comparing photos, and a lesson in Photoshop techniques related to wildlife photography such as dodging and burning and sharpening.

This afternoon we will explore another a famous private game reserve where they conserve all five of the Big 5. It is very possible to see all five plus cheetahs and small cats in a single visit. This game drive is always thrilling.

Day 6 : The Bush From an Elephant's Prospective

This morning we travel to a nearby reserve to experience a safari on the back of an elephant. The elephants are a herd of rescued and orphaned elephants and their handlers will introduce you to each one and their story. Guests can touch and feel this incredible animal then mount their ride on a comfortable saddle and enjoy a relaxing and unique bushveld experience. You will have a unique chance to photograph plains game who are completely relaxed in the presence of the elephants.
            The afternoon will be open for guests to enjoy some of the many optional activities such as a  hot air balloon ride, or horseback riding. Guests not choosing to do an optional activity can take advantage of the nature walking trails around the lodge for some bird and macro photography or just rest in the treetop lounge and observation tower after the busy week.

Day 7 : Breathtaking Scenery

Today guests who are only staying on for a week will depart the lodge and return to Johannesburg for  the return home or onward travel              
The rest of us will leave after breakfast to experience The Panorama Route through the epic scenery of the Canyon. We will view different types of scenery and many scenic overlooks. We will have time for lunch in the small town of Graskopf and some shopping.

Day 8 :

Awaken to Big 5

This morning will be our second chance to experience the reserve will all of the Big 5, this time in the morning. Expert guides are out early reading the tracks from the night before and often find the predator still snacking on its kill. This afternoon is another opportunity for catching up on your photos and learning some new techniques from your guides. This time can also be used to do optional activities such as hiking, zipline tours, or walking in the reserve.

 

Day 9 : Kruger, Never the Same Twice

Today is our second outing to Kruger National Park. Never the same experience twice, we will explore a different area. A hot day may lead us down to the grass filled riverbeds where elephants wade, or a cooler day may excellent for find large herds in the open grass plains.

Day 10 : Back to the Home Reserve

It has been a while since we had a game drive close to home. This will be another chance to seek out rhino, waterbuck, kudu, and giraffe and get out of the vehicle and into the bush. We will transfer to a different lodge tomorrow, so the afternoon is for learning how to color correct your photos and techniques for printing and packing up for the next destination.

Day 11 : A change of Scenery

It has been an exhausting week and you might be ready for a change so we will transfer to another lodge a short drive away. The lodge is on a big 5 reserve and we will participate in their game drives and enjoy their wonderful European style cuisine.

Day 12 : A Look at Conservation

Your chance for unique wildlife photos is not over because this reserve has a big cat breeding program and resident cheetah population. There are many memorable surprises waiting here.

Day 13 : Taking Home the Memories

Most guests will depart after breakfast for return to Johannesburg. If you have not packed your camera away already, we will squeeze in a few opportunities this morning. You should arrive at the airport with plenty of time for shopping and final backups to your photos.