SPECIAL OFFER:
Save £200 per person on South Africa tours departing from September 2025 when you book by 30th November 2024. Request a brochure
13-days from only £5,395 £5,195pp
Embark on an unforgettable South African safari adventure to witness the wild wonders of this diverse nation. Immerse yourself in the heart of untamed landscapes, where iconic animals roam freely amidst breath-taking panoramas. In an intimate group of no more than 18, join us as we traverse lush savannahs and encounter the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo – up close. The Big Five are the most sought after, yet you will also see animals such as zebra, giraffe, hippos, an abundance of bird life and many smaller mammals too.
The lure of being on safari in Africa has captured the imagination of many a traveller. There is after all, nothing like the experience of hearing a lion’s roar travelling across the open plains. It is one of life’s great adventures. Days will fall into a regular pattern of early morning and early evening game drives, prime times for spotting wildlife. Yet no two game drives will ever be the same – each safari offering an incredible array of experiences that you will continue to share for many years to come. On this tour, the lodges we stay in are highlights in themselves. From sun decks overlooking watering holes to dining under the stars, these are accommodations that will make your holiday so memorable.
Take the opportunity to explore Africa further by extending your holiday with a three-night stay at Victoria Falls, with a guided walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Victoria Falls and a cruise on the Zambezi included; or add a stay amid Botswana’s abundant wildlife and make it a fabulous six-night extension to Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park; or visit Cape Town with a three-night stay experiencing pristine beaches to rugged mountains, world class cuisine and an incredible waterfront, the perfect addition to your African adventure.
SAVE £200 per person! Book one of our South Africa tours departing from September 2025 and save £200 per person. Offer ends 30th November 2024.
Depart from the UK airport most convenient for you with British Airways at no extra cost. Your flight will depart from London Heathrow, with complimentary regional connections from Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen or Belfast.
In-flight meals and drinks
Upon arrival, and after the usual immigration formalities, we board our waiting coach for our transfer to Dinokeng Game Reserve, and the fabulous Mongena Private Game Lodge. En-route to the lodge, look out for our first animal and bird sightings. Settle in to our accommodation prior to our first open jeep game drive later in the day.
In-flight meals and drinks, and dinner
Wake early for a pre-breakfast game drive. Located in Gauteng, South Africa, Dinokeng Game Reserve is over 18,500 hectares and home to South Africa’s Big Five: elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, lion and cheetah. Later in the day, join an evening game drive or join a lake cruise for an opportunity to see elephants taking an afternoon bath, and hippos playing in the waters whilst relishing the magnificent African sunset.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Following a hearty breakfast, we bid farewell to Mongena and the Dinokeng Game Reserve as we make our way eastwards into South Africa’s beautiful Mpumalanga Province. The quaint village of Dullstroom is our destination – known for its excellent fishing opportunities, panoramic walks and fresh country air. Aptly named, Dullstroom (‘stroom’ meaning stream) enjoys an abundance of water, marking the beginning of the Crocodile River and home to other major tributaries. It serves as a convenient stopover en-route to our next two game reserves in the Lowveld region of Limpopo. Our hotel for the evening is the fabulous Walkersons Hotel and Spa. Reminiscent of a traditional Scottish country fishing lodge, relax in beautiful surroundings with a drink prior to dinner.
Breakfast and dinner
Early risers may wish to follow the Walkersons mountain trail, which is almost fully paved for safety and convenience, and covers a distance of approximately 1.8km to the summit. The views are fantastic and a number of antelope species can be seen in the area. After breakfast we continue our travels as we make our way to the Makalali Private Game Reserve. Upon arrival at the outstanding Main Lodge, settle in, and enjoy a welcome drink prior to lunch. Later in the afternoon we meet our rangers for our first open jeep safari at Makalali.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Rise early for our morning game drive as we continue our search for the Big Five. Keep your eyes peeled for cheetah and wild dog, who also call Makalali their home. Makalali means ‘place of rest’ in Shangaan – and you can do that in style today, by the main lodge’s spectacular large crystal-blue pool, with its decking area overlooking the adjacent watering hole. Later, prepare for your afternoon game drive with accompanying sundowners. Enjoy!
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Rise early to join the morning game drive. Hopefully by now, we may have ticked off three or four of the Big Five. Perhaps the leopard is being elusive? Enjoy another relaxing day prior to your afternoon game drive. Dinner this evening is a real pleasure as we dine under the stars in Makalali’s stunning boma.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Enjoy one final game drive prior to our departure. A short drive away, our final game reserve awaits. The privately-owned Balule Game Reserve is adjacent to and open-bordered with the greater Kruger National Park. Our home is the boutique Greenfire Game Lodge, which is situated in a beautiful natural environment, perfectly complimenting our safari experience. Become acquainted with this wonderful lodge, relax and enjoy an authentic home- cooked lunch prior to meeting our rangers and taking our first evening drive.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Take an early morning drive. The rich diversity of vegetation within the Balule Reserve ensures excellent game sightings are guaranteed. In addition to the Big Five, there is an abundance of bird life and smaller mammals attracted by the riverine forest and open plains. Later in the day, we join our rangers for our evening drive.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Whilst the big game is the undoubtable highlight of Balule, we can also look forward to spotting an array of other African wildlife, such as a variety of buck, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and over 250 bird species living amongst the savannah, riverine forest and wooded mountains. Whilst back at the lodge, view the river or riverbed (dependent on season) from the comfort of your own secluded balcony, in between game drives.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
The landscape and wildlife in Balule is nothing short of superb. Enjoy our last full day in this very special reserve and of course, Greenfire Lodge. This evening, after our day’s viewings, we join our new-found friends in Greenfire’s boma and exchange memorable tales of our wildlife sightings, during our final South African dinner.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
One final game drive prior to breakfast and then it’s time to bid farewell to South Africa’s wildlife. No doubt we will have memories and stories to last a lifetime. We leave Greenfire and Balule as we make a short journey to Hoedspruit Airport in time for our flight to Johannesburg. Our onward flight to London Heathrow departs this evening.
Breakfast, and in-flight meals and drinks
Take the opportunity to explore Africa further by extending your holiday with a three-night stay at Victoria Falls, with a guided walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Victoria Falls; or add a stay amid Botswana’s abundant wildlife with a fabulous six-night extension to Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park; or visit Cape Town with a three-night stay experiencing pristine beaches to rugged mountains, the perfect addition to your African adventure.
We arrive direct into London Heathrow this morning. For regional UK airports, flights will connect via Heathrow. After two fabulous weeks our search for the Big Five is complete.
In-flight meals and drinks
Departure date | Price (pp) | Availability | Offer |
2024 | |||
04 November* | £4,995 | ON REQUEST | – |
2025 | |||
16 February | £5,295 | JUST LAUNCHED | – |
03 March | £5,295 | JUST LAUNCHED | – |
07 August | £5,295 | JUST LAUNCHED | – |
09 October | JUST LAUNCHED | SAVE £200 per person | |
10 November | JUST LAUNCHED | SAVE £200 per person |
*Please note, on this departure, guests will stay at Chisomo Safari Camp, Karongwe Private Game Reserve on Days 5-7.
Prices
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin or double room.
Single occupancy supplement
£1,295
Deposit:
£1,000 per person if travelling in economy class, £1,950 if travelling in World Traveller Plus, £3,750 per person for Club World.
Flight upgrades:
British Airways upgrade to World Traveller Plus from £1,395 per person return, or Club World from £3,895 per person return.
Visa information
A visa is not required for travel to South Africa. However, if you are planning to Victoria Falls or Chobe National Park, visa’s for Zimbabwe will be required. For more information on applying for your visa and the associated costs, please refer to our FAQ’s page.
Important information
Our holiday prices are subject to fuel surcharges and the availability of flights in the lowest fare booking class. The correct price will always be confirmed to you before you book, and once you have booked, our Price Promise will guarantee there will be no further increases. For full terms and conditions see our Booking Conditions page.
At Distant Journeys, we offer a leisurely and flexible tour of South Africa with so much included in the price. Your scheduled international flights, overseas transfers, expertly chosen hotels, daily breakfast, experienced drivers, knowledgeable rangers/guides, and many amazing excursions are all included.
At Distant Journeys, we take great care in selecting the accommodation you will be using throughout your In Search of the Big Five tour. Our travel experts personally visit the destination to search out the hotels that have a great location and are of a high quality too – which we believe are two of the most important factors when choosing any touring holiday to South Africa. These are the hotels we’ve chosen for you…
ALL HOTELS
Those looking to extend their African adventure have the option to spend three-night stay at Victoria Falls, with a guided walking tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Victoria Falls and a cruise on the Zambezi included; or add a stay amid Botswana’s abundant wildlife and make it a fabulous six-night extension to Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park; or visit Cape Town with a three-night stay experiencing pristine beaches to rugged mountains, world class cuisine and an incredible waterfront, the perfect addition to your African adventure.
3 night Victoria Falls tour from £1,595pp
Victoria Falls is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of awe-inspiring beauty, described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 19th century as Mosi-oa-Tunya: ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. As Victoria Falls is only a short flight from Johannesburg,…6 nights from £2,855pp
Victoria Falls is one of our planet’s greatest natural wonders. Just a short flight from Johannesburg, it is the world’s largest waterfall and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In neighbouring Botswana, Chobe National Park is a true wildlife paradise and…3 nights from only £645pp
Welcome to Cape Town, a city that effortlessly weaves together natural beauty, rich history and a vibrant culture. With the awe-inspiring Table Mountain as its backdrop, the city has so much to offer, from the colourful streets of the Bo-Kaap,…This is a new tour with the inaugural departure in 2024. This page will be updated with reviews as soon as our returning customers are contacted by the independent reviews company Feefo. In the meantime, please feel free to look at the reviews for some of our other tours to South Africa – we’re sure you will be impressed with the service our guests receive and the great reviews they kindly give us!
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