3 days

About this activity

DAY ONE : We collect our clients from all JHB hotels, guesthouses or Johannesburg Airport. We drive in an air-conditioned vehicle via the Highveld farmlands to the picturesque Lowveld and Tremisana Lodge. You may rest in your air-conditioned chalet, have a quick refreshing dip in the pool, unwind at the bar or relax in the beautiful gardens. At around 17h00 we board the open Landcruiser for an exciting Big Five Sunset Drive. Your qualified guide will facilitate your first thrilling opportunity to experience the varied African fauna and flora. Watch the magnificent African sunset, and after darkness falls, use powerful spotlights to locate nocturnal animals. Dinner will be a BUSH BRAAI at the Marula Tree Boma deep in the bush. Overnight in comfortable, air-conditioned en suite thatch-roofed chalets.

DAY TWO : Drive to the Orpen Gate of Kruger Park. Your custom built open-sided vehicle allows for a total wildlife experience – you will not only have time to view game, but also to listen to and smell the African bush and its denizens. The absence of windows and elevated position allow for excellent photographic opportunities. The Orpen/Satara region has the greatest concentration of animals in the whole of Kruger Park. Sightings of the Big Five are guaranteed. You will have a great day of game-viewing and bird-watching in this truly outstanding wildlife paradise.

DAY THREE : Enjoy an early morning Sunrise Drive on the open Landcruiser. After a hearty breakfast, there is an opportunity to purchase some memorabilia from our shop and take your last photos of the lush luxuriant gardens at Tremisana. We then drive to the awesome Blyde River Canyon and view the Three Rondawels. We return to Gauteng in the late afternoon. Airport dropoff by arrangement.

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Included

2 nights accommodation
All taxes, fees and handling charges
Local taxes
National Park fees
Breakfast
Dinner
All activities
Local guide
Hotel and/or Airport pickup and drop-off
Transport by air-conditioned minivan
Entry/Admission - Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
Entry/Admission - Kruger National Park

Not included

Drinks
Lunch on transfer days and days in Kruger (we will stop at places where lunch can be purchased)
Gratuities
Flight to South Africa
Items of a personal nature

Additional

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Most travelers can participate
Not wheelchair accessible
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 9 travelers

Features

Tourism

90%

Cultural

50%

Original

40%

Aquatic

30%

Reviews

2.0

1

K

Kerry B

2 | 2019-09-11

Day 1 we arrived an hour late (broken down bus). They then tried to put 12 of us in a 10 seater jeep, as they only had 1 driver. We refused and asked for a second jeep (given one of the selling points is that only 9 people will be in a jeep), so we were further delayed to wait for a second driver to arrive. There was no urgency or apology from the staff. We started our safari at 5.40pm (the sun sets at 5.50). In my opinion, this was absolutely pointless. Our jeep then broke down twice, and turns out the same car had broken down earlier in the day. Given there were other jeeps, I’m not sure why we used that car. Day 2, we departed for our day at Kruger at 8am (15 minutes late). Our driver (Rex) kept us waiting almost an hour on a toilet break when we got to the park, so our safari didn’t actually start until sometime after 10am. I’m not sure what we were waiting for- it seemed a chance for the drivers to smoke and chat. Again, no rush or urgency from the staff, and zero consideration of customer satisfaction. At the end of the day, Rex was certainly in a rush to drop everyone back to their lodges, so that he could get home. He was speeding at over 120km/h, in an open jeep with a 2 year old in the back. The impression he gave was that he didn’t care about anything that affected our time or our enjoyment, only when it affected his time. After our safari, I heard from other guests who had been on safaris with Rex on previous days that he had driven so fast in Kruger, that he almost hit a giraffe crossing a road. I also met numerous people on other viva safari tours, who experienced issues with late starts and broken down vehicles. There was one particularly bad accident the day before we arrived, where the break-pads failed going downhill. 2 people went to hospital (one with particularly bad cuts and bruises, and 2 black eyes). Day 3, on the drive back to Johannesburg, one of the buses broke down, so we had to stop for an hour while people and luggage were shuffled between buses Everyone I met felt the same and many people have made complaints during the trip. We are so confused how there are so many good reviews. I think Viva safaris need to work on their vehicles and driver training (However, I do exclude one driver (Victor) from this. He was the only person that genuinely seemed to care about our enjoyment and trying to find the animals). On the plus side, the accommodation at Tremisana exceeded our expectations, and the food was very nice.

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