Kapama River Lodge Private Game Reserve 3 Night Safari

6 Day Safari Itinerary

Spend 5 nights and 6 days at the luxury Private Game Reserve of Kapama whilst tracking and viewing the Big 5 of Africa in style ...

The northern Drakensberg mountain range provides a majestic backdrop to the largest private game lodge in the Greater Kruger National Park region. Kapama River Lodge is situated within Kapama Game Reserve, and presents the perfect blend between luxurious safari accommodation and a generous bed capacity of 64 bedrooms. Although large, it is so stylish and roomy and beautifully positioned along a dry riverbed, that guests fall in love with it.

Day 1:

Welcome to Johannesburg, South Africa. You will check into the next available flight to Hoedspruit where you will be met by a Shark Alley representative transferring you to Kapama Private Game Reserve.

Kapama is one of South Africa’s largest privately owned game reserves, perfectly positioned in the Limpopo province safari area, renowned for its high density of big game animals. A game drive in Kapama Game Reserve, with a qualified ranger and expert tracker, reveals wild animals and many secrets of the African bush.

Kapama has three styles of safari accommodation, each creating a distinctly different safari experience. In this package we include your stay at Kapama River Lodge - an impressive and elegant large safari lodge that can accommodate groups without compromising its high standards. Contemporary African décor in double volume thatch lounges create a cavernous effect and the open plan design extends to the pool deck with a large rim-flow pool looking towards a waterhole.

Kapama River Lodge features 40 spacious air-conditioned suites, with modern yet distinctly African furnishings and log-beam ceilings under a golden thatch. Step onto your private balcony with an iced drink from your mini bar, and while away free time looking lazily into the bush for animals that may pass by. There’s tea and coffee at your disposal too. Bathrooms are all en-suite with his and hers basins, bath and shower, complimentary toiletries and lotions and fluffy white towels.

Your stay includes three meals per day. Dishes are prepared with seasonal local produce and fresh herbs grown at Kapama River Lodge. Ethnic dishes and accompaniments like mealie pap (African-style polenta) and chakalaka (a hot and spicy relish) are used to give the taste of Africa, but more familiar food is also on the menu. Safari game drives have the habit of giving you a raging appetite so blow the diet and dig into specialist dishes like warthog stew and kudu casserole, impala sausages and mild oxtail curries. Fish eaters get an option on the menu and vegetarians are well catered for with fresh African vegetables like sweet potatoes baked in their skin, wild spinach and feta cheese, spiced zulu cabbage and steamed gem squash.

Day 2 to 5:

Over the next few days you will experience two daily game drives as part of your stay and your skilled ranger and tracker do their best to find the animals of Africa for you to admire. Expect a wake up call at between 5am and 5.30am and gather for tea or coffee and rusks before heading out at first light. If you are lucky, the big cats will still be around after their night of hunting. This is Big 5 country (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo) all of which are possible to see during a two-day safari in Kapama Game Reserve. There are also many other species to be seen, large and small, as well as fascinating plants and colourful birds. Stop halfway through the morning game drive for hot drinks and rusks from the Landrover snack box and return at around 9am for breakfast. During the rest of the day, you are likely to see wildlife like nyala antelope and vervet monkeys around the lodges At about 3.30pm everybody convenes for high tea, before departing with the same ranger/tracker team for the day’s second African bush safari. Enjoy a sundowner drink along the way (not included in the tariff), and get out of the vehicle to stretch your legs and watch the sun go down over the distant Drakensberg Mountains. As darkness descends it’s time to return to the safety of the Landrover and let the tracker scan the landscape with a spotlight picking out the glinting eyes of nocturnal animals. Return to the lodge at around 7pm, where there is time to freshen up before dinner.

For the avid adventure and nature lovers not fully satisfied by the said we have even more to curb your enthusiasm – from Hot Air Ballooning to Elephant Back Safaris. These activities you will do over and above the two daily game drives.

When Hot Air Ballooning the giant candy-striped balloons lift off at first light and drift at the mercy of the wind for about an hour. This usually means that you pass right over Kapama Game Reserve and the skill of the balloon pilot is such that you can skim the top of the trees and spot the wild animals below. The hot air balloon landing can be bumpy, so hold on tight then celebrate with a glass of bubbly. This memorable experience is highly recommended.
The Elephant Back Safaris is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here in Kapama Game Reserve to ride on the back of an African elephant. Meet the herd in the early morning or late afternoon and learn just how to get onto the back of an elephant and move to its rhythm as they walk through the bush. Elephants need to feed for many hours a day, so just because you are on top, this doesn’t stop them from pulling down branches and grabbing a trunk full of grass as they walk. They are the largest creatures in the African jungle so other animals that you may come across will give way to you. After walking for about an hour, the elephants will return you to the elephant boma. A video can be made of your experience for an additional fee.

Get some African soil under your feet with a bush walk after breakfast. Explore the environment with your ranger, learn about curative properties of plants and identify animals from their footprints and dung. Large game is avoided when on foot but animals can often be seen from a safe distance.
The Hoedspruit Centre for Endangered species is an ideal activity for the restless to fill up a morning after breakfast. A guide will take you to the Hoedspruit Centre for Endangered Species facility where cheetah and a number of other rehabilitated animals can be viewed at close range. An educational video is shown to explain the projects undertaken by this unique establishment. A guided tour will follow to view the cheetah and other animals.
Romantic Add on for Honeymooners and others requiring some TLC:
Sleeping out under the African moon on the Kapama Romance Platform could be one of the most memorable nights of your life! Arrive at the double-story wooden platform, to a vision of billowing white mosquito netting surrounding a giant bed of white linen. It will take your breath away. This is your most private night in the bush; it is just you and the African animals in the wilderness. You are quite safe, as the platform and luxury bathroom underneath (complete with flush toilet, rose-head shower and his ‘n hers basins) are animal-proof. You are nevertheless, supplied with a radio and cellphone for your peace of mind. Arrive before sunset and drink champagne with your picnic dinner, or come after your lodge dinner and witness an African bush fairytale, with lanterns glowing in the darkness. Relax and absorb the sights and sounds of wild Africa before sinking into a slumber, punctuated by the roar of a lion.
As dawn breaks you can call your ranger on the radio or set an appointed time in advance. Inclusive of a private meal and a bottle wine or sparkling wine.

The cherry on top of this romantic breakaway is a Kapama Marula Sensual Steam Treatment for two (2 hrs). A relaxing and rejuvenating ritual for 2 in your own private Rasul room. Cocoon one another in our African nourishing Body Butters. Thereafter enjoy a gentle heat and Marula infused Rasul treatment. Complete the ritual with a Kapama wellness massage and the application of Marula and Neroli oil, leaving you relaxed from head to toe.

Day 6:

This morning you will embark on your very last game drive before enjoying a whole some breakfast after which you will say good bye to Kapama and be on your way to Hoedspruit for your flight to Johannesburg, arriving Johannesburg in time for your onward travel arrangements.

Included / Excluded:

INCLUDED:

RETURN flight Johannesburg/Hoedspruit/Johannesburg
RETURN airport transfers
5 x nights Kapama River Lodge accommodation
Full Board
Teas/Coffees and Pastries
Twice daily game drives
1 x Hot Air Balloon Safari
1 x Elephant Back Safari
1x Bush Walk
1 x Visit to Hoedspruit Centre for Endangered species
Add on:
1 x Sleepout Platform
1 x Marula Sensual Steam Treatment for two
All activities are fully guided
Transfers as specified
Regional flights as specified
All flights include taxes

EXCLUDED:
International flights
All expenses of a personal nature
Travel Insurance
Visas

RATES ON REQUEST

Kapama Game Drives (with tracker)

Two daily game drives are part of the fully inclusive tariff and your skilled ranger and tracker do their best to find the animals of Africa for you to admire.

Expect a wake up call at between 5am and 5.30am and gather for tea or coffee and rusks before heading out at first light. If you are lucky, the big cats will still be around after their night of hunting. This is Big 5 country (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo) all of which are possible to see during a two-day safari in Kapama Game Reserve.

There are also many other species to be seen, large and small, as well as fascinating plants and colourful birds. Stop halfway through the morning game drive for hot drinks and rusks from the Landrover snack box and return at around 9am for breakfast. During the rest of the day, you are likely to see wildlife like nyala antelope and vervet monkeys around the lodges.

At about 3.30pm everybody convenes for high tea, before departing with the same ranger/tracker team for the day’s second African bush safari.

Enjoy a sundowner drink along the way (not included in the tariff), and get out of the vehicle to stretch your legs and watch the sun go down over the distant Drakensberg Mountains.

As darkness descends it’s time to return to the safety of the Landrover and let the tracker scan the landscape with a spotlight
picking out the glinting eyes of nocturnal animals. Return to the lodge at around 7pm, where there is time to freshen up before dinner.

Kapama Bush Walks

Get some African soil under your feet with a bush walk after breakfast. Explore the environment with your ranger, learn about curative properties of plants and identify animals from their footprints and dung. Large game is avoided when on foot but animals can often be seen from a safe distance. Please note that this will be done under ranger discretion.

Kapama Hot Air Balooning

This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity here in Kapama Game Reserve to ride on the back of an African elephant. Meet the herd in the early morning or late afternoon and learn just how to get onto the back of an elephant and move to its rhythm as they walk through the bush. Elephants need to feed for many hours a day, so just because you are on top, this doesn’t stop them from pulling down branches and grabbing a trunk full of grass as they walk. They are the largest creatures in the African jungle so other animals that you may come across will give way to you. After walking for about an hour, the elephants will return you to the elephant boma. A video can be made of your experience for an additional fee.

R 1,553.00 per person including return transfer to your Kapama lodge subject to availability.

More About Kapama

Kapama Private Game Reserve occupies a vast area between the northern Drakensberg mountains and the Greater Kruger National Park. It is the largest single-owner game reserve in the region, and is perfectly situated to receive guests flying into Eastgate Airport (Hoedspruit). This airport is just minutes from the reserve and Kapama include free airport transfers in open safari vehicle direct to any of the four lodges in Kapama; Kapama Lodge, Kapama River Lodge, Kapama Buffalo Camp and Kapama Karula. These camps and lodges can accommodate a total of 208 people between them.

Kapama Game Reserve is in Limpopo Province, an area renowned for superb safari vacations. Kapama’s 13000 hectares has all the big game of Africa with 42 mammal species and approximately 350 bird species. This equates to huge natural diversity and includes the famed ’Big 5’ - lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Game drives are conducted through the rolling savannah grasslands and riverine forests that make up this appealing African reserve.

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