In-depth African Safari
Embark on an extraordinary 7-night African safari, an immersive odyssey in the heart of South Africa's untamed wilderness at Mabula Game Reserve. This experience transcends the ordinary, offering more than mere wildlife sightings. Discover the celestial wonder as you map constellations on a starry night. Engage in lion tracking, bush walks, and daily game drives, encountering Africa's majestic Big Five, including lions, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, rhinos, and warthogs. Amidst this wild backdrop, delve into the world of conservation, learning about endangered species and the dedicated individuals who safeguard them. Break free from the checklist mentality, forging a deep connection with nature and its protectors during your stay at a luxury lodge.
- 20 meals - 7 breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 dinners
- All-inclusive stay, with daily high tea and free bar (local drinks) up to 12 hours a day
- Accommodation - 7 nights in lodge
- Local Representative
- 14 Excursions & Visits
Your fare excludes:
- Airfares & Travel Insurance
Day 1 - Mabula Game Reserve
Mabula Game Reserve feels like entering another world. A world that’s home to over 300 species of bird and 60 species of mammal, including the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Plus, their lesser-known friends, the Little Five - elephant shrew, antlion, rhinoceros beetle, buffalo weaver and leopard tortoise. Join your tour group at the lodge.
Day 2 - Mabula Game Reserve
Up with the dawn chorus, we head out on our first game drive. With open-air safari vehicles and expert guides getting us closer to the action, we start to explore the grassy plains, rocky outcrops and watering holes that are home to wildlife including lion, cheetah, warthog, leopard, elephant, rhino, hyena, ostrich and jackal. Plus, the grumpiest of them all - the honey badger. With the best chance of seeing big game at dusk and dawn, we relax back at the lodge and listen to a wildlife talk before heading out on a second game drive this afternoon.
Excursions & visits: Two game drives in Mabula Game Reserve (morning/afternoon)
Wildlife talk
Day 3 - Mabula Game Reserve
It’s time to meet the top cats on a guided lion tracking experience. Experienced rangers get us within roaring distance of a pride of lions - teaching us about their behaviour, pride structure and the conservation efforts to protect them. Safari royalty, the power and majesty of these jungle kings is a humbling experience that we’ll remember forever. After lunch, we go out on another game drive - keeping watch for comical warthog, wallowing hippos and tree-pruning giraffes.
Excursions & visits: Madjuma lion tracking experience (morning)
Game drive in Mabula Game Reserve (afternoon)
Day 4 - Mabula Game Reserve
This morning, we take a walk on the wild side with a guided bush walk. Sticking to the open plains and grasslands, we look out for the morning grazers - including impala, giraffe and ostrich. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the lodge - settling in by the pool, booking a treatment at the spa or simply enjoying the lodge's surroundings.
Excursions & visits: Guided bush walk (morning)
Day 5 - Mabula Game Reserve
Heading out on a game drive before breakfast, we get to enjoy the stillness of the reserve as the sun warms the savannah and the bush comes alive. Wild animals don’t lie in, so this is an amazing time to see active wildlife before the sun gets too hot and the bigger predators go down for a mid-morning nap. The rest of the day is free before a stargazing experience tonight. Free from light pollution, the inky Southern Hemisphere skies above the reserve are mesmerising. A guide talks us through the planets and constellations and the local myths and legends that surround them.
Excursions & visits: Game drive in Mabula Game Reserve (morning)
Stargazing experience (evening)
Day 6 - Mabula Game Reserve
This morning is all about plant power. When faced with elephant ambling past your 4WD and warthog snuffling in the bushes outside your chalet, it’s natural to focus on the fauna. But the flora on the reserve is critical to the survival of both the wildlife and traditions here. Guided by a specialist in local medicine and holistic cultures, this morning’s bush walk focuses on identifying different native plants and their healing properties. This afternoon, we head out on another game drive.
Excursions & visits: Guided bush medicine walk (morning)
Game drive in Mabula Game Reserve (afternoon)
Day 7 - Mabula Game Reserve
The reserve is home to 300 species of bird including ostrich, osprey, nightjars and migratory swift, which we hope to see on this morning's guided bush walk. This afternoon, there’s the chance to spot non-feathered friends on a game drive. Spend your final night at the lodge dining under the stars, sharing your favourite moments with new friends, and having a farewell drink for the road.
Excursions & visits: Guided bush walk (morning)
Game drive in Mabula Game Reserve (afternoon)
Day 8 - Mabula Game Reserve
Our last day at Mabula, wake up for one final game drive as the sun rises over the savannah, before saying goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel.
Excursions & visits: Game drive in Mabula Game Reserve (morning)
**Please note the above itinerary is subject to change without notice.
Safari on various dates between January and November 2025. Below pricing based on 27 August 2025 departure from Mabula Game lodge:
- from
$2,830$2,123 per person twin share* - from
$3,785$2,839 for Solo Traveller
We recommend arriving into Johannesburg the day prior to the tour commencing and doing a pre night at Southern Sun O.R Tambo Johannesburg Airport Hotel. Prices start from $160 per night with breakfast and complimentary roundtrip airport shuttle.
Call our team today on 1300 414 198 to book your preferred date.
Note: prices are subject to change without notice.
- Mabula Game Lodge
Flight recommendations 2024
- Group transfers are provided from Johannesburg Airport to Mabula Game Lodge for flights arriving prior to 10am on day 1 of tour.
- Recommend pre night accommodation at Southern Sun O.R Tambo Johannesburg Airport depending on flights.
- The hotel has a complimentary 24 hour roundtrip airport shuttle, to be able to meet for the group transfer on day 1 at the airport to Mabula.
- Departing flights on final day to be booked for departure after 7.40pm or recommend a post night at Southern Sun O.R Tambo Johannesburg Airport.
Flight recommendations 2025
- Group transfers are provided from Johannesburg Airport to Mabula Game Lodge for flights arriving prior to 10.30am on day 1 of tour.
- Recommend pre night accommodation at Southern Sun O.R Tambo Johannesburg Airport depending on flights.
- The hotel has a complimentary 24 hour roundtrip airport shuttle, to be able to meet for the group transfer on day 1 at the airport to Mabula.
- Departing flights on final day to be booked for departure after 7.40pm or recommend a post night at Southern Sun O.R Tambo Johannesburg Airport.
Each of our tours has been given a rating from 1 to 3, with 3 being the most strenuous. It’s really important that you discuss with us your suitability for this tour prior to booking.
The above tour has been classified as:
- Level 2 - A moderately paced holiday with more long days. Excursions may require moderate walking at a steady pace, and you might be required to walk further distances, including over mixed terrain and up and down stairs.
Please note: This is a guide only. Please be aware that for each level you should also be comfortably able to manage the requirements set out in the lower levels.
**Specific wildlife sightings on each experience can't be guaranteed. The daily schedule may change subject to local game viewing conditions and the day of your visit to the Ground Hornbill Project will be confirmed during your stay.
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply.
A non-refundable deposit of $550 per person is required within 7 days.