Greater Kruger and Zululand safari in 14 days (13 nights)

14 days · South Africa · Sabi Sand → Phinda

Greater Kruger and Zululand safari in 14 days (13 nights)
Photo: Fir0002, CC-BY-SA, via Wikimedia Commons

Every night of this route is spent in a reserve or park. It starts with three nights in Sabi Sand on the Kruger boundary, then moves by road to the neighbouring Timbavati reserve for three more. A flight from the Hoedspruit area to KwaZulu-Natal leads to four nights in iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where boat trips and the coast add variety to the game drives. The route ends with three nights at Phinda, a private reserve nearby. There are only three moves in thirteen nights.

The route, stop by stop

1. Sabi Sand, South Africa · 3 nights

Arrive by fly — Fly in from Johannesburg

A private reserve on the Kruger border with day and night drives. It is often chosen for leopard sightings.

Sabi Sand
Photo: Fir0002, CC-BY-SA, via Wikimedia Commons

2. Timbavati, South Africa · 3 nights

Arrive by drive — Road transfer north from Sabi Sand

A second private reserve in Greater Kruger with a different landscape, including river frontage.

Timbavati
Photo: s9-4pr, CC-BY, via Wikimedia Commons

3. Kwazulu Natal, South Africa · 4 nights

Arrive by fly — Drive to Hoedspruit airport, fly to Durban or Richards Bay, then continue by road to iSimangaliso

Wetland and coast after the bushveld, with boat trips to see hippo and crocodile and time on the beach.

Kwazulu Natal
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC-BY-SA, via Wikimedia Commons

4. Phinda, South Africa · 3 nights

Arrive by drive — Road transfer within northern KwaZulu-Natal

A Big Five private reserve next to iSimangaliso, with areas of sand forest and river trips.

Phinda
Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC-BY-SA, via Wikimedia Commons

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