On Safari in South Africa – Mabula's Kingfisher Villa

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1 • Fly to Johannesburg

  Start your Premier escape with an overnight flight to South Africa this evening.

• Day 2 • Arrival and transfer to Mabula

  Touch down in Johannesburg this morning, where you’ll be greeted by your friendly, local wildlife specialist and guide, and board a coach for a scenic transfer through Limpopo to the Mabula Game Reserve. Upon arrival this afternoon, you’ll be welcomed by the lodge’s staff with welcome drinks and a high tea served on arrival. Afterwards, the rest of the day will be free to unwind and settle into your suite, with spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes, ahead of your first dinner.

• Day 3 • Morning and Afternoon Game Drives

  It’s an early start this morning, and you’ll enjoy your first taste of the classic safari experience. Join your fellow guests for a hot drink and snack before riding out in open-air Jeeps for a drive further into the Mabula Game Reserve. In the softer morning light, the region’s predators will be at their most active, and you’ll have the best opportunity to spot them mid-hunt. As this is a ‘Big Five’ reserve, be sure to keep your eyes peeled, and you might just catch a glimpse of prowling lions or tree-climbing leopards. After a thrilling first game drive, return to the lodge for brunch and spend some time early this afternoon to relax and recharge, perhaps cooling off in the pool or watching the local wildlife as they gather around the nearby watering holes. Later, head back into the reserve by Jeep for another memorable safari game drive. With more animal sightings guaranteed, see the savannah in a different light as its sprawling landscapes are bathed in the light of the setting sun. This evening, return to the lodge for dinner with your fellow travellers.

• Day 4 • Morning Bush Walk and Afternoon Game Drive

  Get ready for another safari experience and join an experienced ranger for a bush walk along Mabula’s wild trails. As you stroll through the woodland and savannah plains, your guide will point out the finer details of each delicate ecosystem, from the pawprints of smaller animals to the colourful plant life that thrives in the bush. While you’re walking, be sure to keep an eye out for one or two of the lesser-known ‘Little Five’ species – elephant shrews, buffalo weavers, rhino beetles, ant lions and leopard tortoises. Back at the lodge, there will be more time under your own steam to make the most of the South African surroundings. After a lunch, why not recharge with a treatment at the spa or settle in for some more wildlife viewing on deck? If you’re feeling energetic, you can also enjoy a dip in the swimming pool or perhaps take to the courts for a game of padel. This evening, reconvene at the lodge for another dinner and the rest of the evening entirely at leisure. As the temperatures cool, venture back into the reserve for more thrilling animal encounters in the wild.

• Day 5 • Morning Game Drive, Botanical Safari, Bush Dinner and Stargazing Experience

  Wake up to sunrise views over the Mabula reserve and head back out in the bush for another morning game drive. It’s not just the predators that are at their most active at this time of day, and your experienced guide will take you along the best trails for ‘Big Five’ sightings. If you’re lucky, you might even stumble upon a herd of elephants or spot a rhinoceros or two grazing on the plains. Later on, stop for a mid-morning wildlife talk. Delivered by the resident ecologist and reserve manager, the talk will introduce you to some of the 60 mammals and the 300-plus species of birds and reptiles that inhabit the reserve. You’ll also learn about the conservation initiatives being employed to safeguard this marvellous region’s wildlife for future generations. An afternoon siesta at the lodge follows, and you’ll be free to spend the rest of the day however you see fit, with a high tea and opportunities to take part in a selection of optional activities. Armed with a better understanding of the behaviours and habits of each species, venture out, in the company of a specialist guide, for an insight into the medicinal uses of the unique regional plant species in Limpopo. On this excursion, you’ll enjoy a few more animal sightings while learning about the traditional remedies and risks of foraging in South Africa. As dusk falls this evening, stop in the heart of the bush for a special dinner under the stars. You’ll enjoy classic local dishes, backed by the sounds of the South African wilderness, before heading out under the open skies for a memorable stargazing experience. Here, away from noise and sound pollution, you’ll be able to pick out a spectacular array of constellations under expert guidance. On the drive back to the lodge, you’ll have the chance to see a different side of the bush as nocturnal creatures start to roam.

• Day 6 • Morning and Afternoon Game Drives with Bush Brunch

  There’ll be plenty more opportunities to spot Limpopo’s most impressive and elusive wildlife today as you set out on the first of two more safari game drives. You’ll visit several new spots today for a better chance to see Limpopo’s full range of native animal species, and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the region’s iconic southern ground hornbills. Though they’re rarely found in the wild, these iconic birds are a focal point in South African culture and are known to freely roam into the Mabula Reserve. After a few hours, stop at a scenic spot in the bush to enjoy a delicious traditional lunch. Complete with bubbly and spectacular views of the surrounding landscapes, this promises to be one of the tour’s most memorable highlights. You’ll have some more time to yourself this afternoon, ahead of another safari game drive later on. As the sun goes down, return to the lodge for another dinner under the open skies.

• Day 7 • Tracking Safari and Afternoon Game Drives

  Enjoy another full day in the glorious South African bush with ample time at leisure to soak up the sun or make the most of the lodge’s panoramic viewpoints during your downtime. A specialist animal-tracking experience will take you back into the Mabula Game Reserve for an even closer look at the behaviours and daily lives of the reserve’s animals. Led by expert rangers, you’ll be taught how to recognise animal prints, what the sounds of the bushveld signify and how to effectively track different species through the wilderness. This afternoon brings more opportunities for animal sightings with another included game drive, and if you’re still waiting to spot any of your favourite species, this might be the time. Beyond the ‘Big Five’, you’ll be perfectly placed to watch herds of springbok and wildebeest graze in the dimmer light. You’ll also stop at the reserve’s wetland areas, where hippos can often be found wallowing. This evening, enjoy another gourmet meal alongside your newfound friends and take it easy as the sun drops over the horizon.

• Day 8 • Morning and Afternoon Game Drives

  Watch the sunrise from your private balcony or join your fellow travellers for a light breakfast ahead of your final full day on safari. You’ll have a few last chances to spot the elusive local species, and if you have any animals left on your safari wish-list, this is the perfect opportunity to tick them off. Set out on morning and afternoon game drives and perhaps take part in some casual birdwatching at midday with a few more hours under your own steam.

• Day 9 • Morning at leisure and return flight

  It’s your final morning in South Africa, and you’ll have a few more hours to make the most of the lodge’s first-class amenities and its magnificent surroundings. If you haven’t already, get yourself ready for the journey home with a spa treatment, soak up a few final sights on one of the lodge’s viewing areas, or take it easy in the lounge. After a final breakfast, bid farewell to your hosts and set off travel back to Johannesburg airport for your overnight flight home later this evening.

• Day 10 • Arrive back in the UK

  After a week in the South African bush, land back in the UK.