Basic Itinerary

Day 1
Start of Tour. We spend our first night at the City Lodge Hotel which is within the Johannesburg Airport (O R Tambo Airport) complex. The hotel is available for check-in from 2-00pm.

Day 2
Check-out of Hotel and depart Johannesburg airport to Skukuza airport on Airlink flight, arriving late morning.
Meet our OSV at the Skukuza airport. Travel to our first overnight Camp and check-in.
Depending on how everyone feels (jet lagged) we can have a late afternoon drive.
Freshen up for dinner at the Camp restaurant. Earlyish to bed ready for the next day\'s early start.

Day 3 to Day 14
Rise at 4-45am for coffee and then depart the Camp at gate opening time at 6-00am.
We will drive until around noon before returning to Camp.
You could have a light lunch or a siesta.
Leisure time until 3-00pm. During this time, you can explore the camp - they all have ‘viewing' areas overlooking the surrounding bush or rivers.
Depart the Camp at 3-00pm for a late afternoon drive and return before gate closing at 6-00pm.
Freshen up for dinner at the Camp restaurant or we can have a communal BBQ. Earlyish to bed ready for the next day's early start.

On the days we move between camps we will have a short early morning drive before vacating our accommodation by 10-00am. We then drive to the next Rest Camp, check in after 2-00pm, and have an afternoon drive. The move between Rest Camps is within the Park and will thus still provide for game viewing and photographic opportunities.

Day 15
We pack and leave Camp early for the drive to the Skukuza airport. (This will be a normal game-viewing drive, so keep your cameras handy.)
Departing Skukuza airport around midday on an Airlink flight, arriving at Johannesburg airport an hour later.
The tour ends here and we say our goodbyes and proceed to the International Terminal for the homeward international flight.

Self-catering bungalow accommodation in Kruger National Park provides a comfortable and convenient way to experience the park’s wildlife. These fully equipped bungalows, found in camps like Skukuza, Satara, and Lower Sabie, feature kitchens with stoves, fridges, and utensils, allowing guests to prepare their own meals. Bedrooms, bathrooms, and living areas offer privacy and comfort, often with decks overlooking bush or river views. Ideal for families, photographers, and independent travellers, self-catering bungalows combine the freedom of cooking at your own pace with proximity to wildlife sightings, guided drives, and park amenities, ensuring a memorable Kruger stay.
The Camps we stay at are listed below and vary as to the type of tour. All these camps have a basic but well stocked shop as well as a restaurant.

Autumn, spanning March to May in South Africa, is one of the most rewarding seasons for photographers visiting Kruger National Park. The quality of light transforms the landscape: softer, golden tones at sunrise and sunset enhance wildlife portraits and scenic shots alike.
Vegetation begins to thin after the summer rains, improving visibility and allowing photographers to capture predators, elephants, and other wildlife without obstruction. Cooler mornings encourage animals to be active, creating dynamic and natural behavior to photograph.
Fewer tourists during this shoulder season mean less competition for prime viewing spots, while mild temperatures and lower humidity make long game drives more comfortable. Combined, these factors create ideal conditions for capturing the park’s iconic Big Five, vibrant birdlife, and stunning landscapes. Autumn in Kruger offers both photographic opportunity and a more intimate, immersive safari experience.
Our itinerary includes stays at Satara, Skukuza and Lower Sabie.

Skukuza Rest Camp.
Located on the banks of the Sabie River, Skukuza Rest Camp is the park’s largest and most developed rest camp. Known for excellent Big Five sightings, especially leopards, it offers diverse accommodation including self-catering bungalows, family cottages, and a hotel. Facilities include restaurants, a café, well-stocked shop, swimming pool, fuel station, ATM, post office, and medical services. With its modern amenities, riverside setting, and abundant wildlife, Skukuza provides both comfort and an authentic safari experience.

Lower Sabie Rest Camp
Perched on the banks of the Sabie River, Lower Sabie Rest Camp is a favorite for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Its location offers stunning views and easy access to sightings of elephants, lions, leopards, and hippos along the river. The camp provides a range of accommodation, including self-catering bungalows. Facilities feature a restaurant with a viewing deck, shop, swimming pool, and a fuel station. With its scenic setting, modern amenities, and rich biodiversity, Lower Sabie provides a memorable and comfortable safari base in southern Kruger.

Satara Rest Camp
Set in the heart of the central plains of Kruger National Park, Satara Rest Camp is famous for its outstanding predator sightings. The surrounding open grasslands support large herds of buffalo, zebra, and antelope, attracting lions, cheetahs, and leopards. This vibrant wildlife activity makes Satara a favorite among safari enthusiasts and photographers. The camp has a lively yet relaxed atmosphere, with shady trees and frequent visits from roaming wildlife nearby. The camp offers a range of facilities, including self-catering bungalows, a swimming pool, restaurant, shop, and a fuel station. With its excellent infrastructure and prime location in big cat territory, Satara provides both comfort and thrilling safari experiences.

Why Photographers Love Dry Season
The dry months — roughly May through September — are widely regarded as the best time for wildlife photography in Kruger:
• Vegetation Thins: Shrubs and grass recede, revealing clearer sightlines across plains and through riverine forests. Photographers enjoy unobstructed views of game and birdlife against sweeping landscapes.
• Water Becomes Precious: Rain-fed rivers and pans shrink or dry completely, concentrating animals around remaining water sources. This natural funneling increases the likelihood of dramatic scenes — elephants quenching thirst, predators staking ambush nearby, and birds flocking to scant pools — creating strong photographic opportunities.
• Golden Light: Low humidity and open skies yield stunning early-morning and late-afternoon light ideal for rich, high-contrast images. Long shadows and fiery hues enhance textures in the mopane woodlands and wide flood plains.
• Clear Skies: The dry season usually brings stable weather and blue skies, perfect for landscape and safari shots where dramatic light enhances composition.
Our itinerary includes stays at Satara, Shingwedzi, Olifants and Lower Sabie.

Lower Sabie Rest Camp
Perched on the banks of the Sabie River, Lower Sabie Rest Camp is a favorite for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Its location offers stunning views and easy access to sightings of elephants, lions, leopards, and hippos along the river. The camp provides a range of accommodation, including self-catering bungalows. Facilities feature a restaurant with a viewing deck, shop, swimming pool, and a fuel station. With its scenic setting, modern amenities, and rich biodiversity, Lower Sabie provides a memorable and comfortable safari base in southern Kruger.

Satara Rest Camp
Set in the heart of the central plains of Kruger National Park, Satara Rest Camp is famous for its outstanding predator sightings. The surrounding open grasslands support large herds of buffalo, zebra, and antelope, attracting lions, cheetahs, and leopards. This vibrant wildlife activity makes Satara a favorite among safari enthusiasts and photographers. The camp has a lively yet relaxed atmosphere, with shady trees and frequent visits from roaming wildlife nearby. The camp offers a range of facilities, including self-catering bungalows, a swimming pool, restaurant, shop, and a fuel station. With its excellent infrastructure and prime location in big cat territory, Satara provides both comfort and thrilling safari experiences.

Shingwedzi
Situated in the remote northern region of Kruger National Park, Shingwedzi Rest Camp offers a tranquil safari escape along the seasonal Shingwedzi River. Surrounded by mopane woodland and iconic baobab trees, the camp is renowned for large elephant herds and exceptional birdlife. Facilities include self-catering bungalows and cottages, swimming pool, restaurant, shop, and fuel station. Unlike the busier southern camps, Shingwedzi Rest Camp provides a quieter atmosphere, ideal for relaxation and photography. Its rustic charm, scenic surroundings, and rich wildlife diversity make it a hidden gem for visitors exploring Kruger’s wild north.