Planning your Kruger Park Safari
All our guests have limited time for a safari so it is important to plan properly.
DURATION OF YOUR SAFARI
Our experience at Viva is that safaris should be of at least 4 days duration.
The overland safaris spend substantial time getting from Johannesburg to Kruger and back (one way distance of 480 km) and we have found that guests on the 3 day safari return very tired. They also miss out on our 4 h Bush walk along the Olifants River – many tourists rank this as a highlight of their safari.
For those tourists that cannot do 4 or more days on safari, we recommend the 3 day Fly In package.
It ii more expensive to fly, but you get more time in the bush.
SELECTION OF SAFARI
Viva Safaris caters for guests of differing pockets – we offer inexpensive Lodge/Tent options all the way to pampered Luxury Lodge safaris.
We have a total of 30 different safari packages !
Overland Safaris
The vast majority of or guests opt for overland safaris. We are conscious of our guests’ concerns about their safety, so, APART FROM THE 2 day BLITZ SAFARI, we collect them from where they are staying : their homes/hotels/hostels.
This is time-consuming and we ask our guests to be both punctual and patient !
We need to be on our way out of Johannesburg by 09h30 latest and we therefore ask international tourists who are arriving by plane on the day of departure and going on safari to touch down at O R Tambo airport by 07h00. We supply an attachment for emails indicating the exact location of the meeting point at the airport. to touch down at O R Tambo airport
On the return journey, unlike other shuttle service providers, we visit the spectacular Blyde River Canyon and stop at the famous Three Rondawels. We therefore only return to Johannesburg at around 17h00 (just before rush hour). Guests cannot book local flights leaving before 19h00 or international flights leaving before 20h00.
Our transfer vehicles rendezvous at Dullstroom where we have a lunch stop and where you may have to change vehicle. To expedite matters, we supply a menu from the restaurant with numbered items. You select your meal and our guide contacts the restaurant roughly 1 hour before arrival and informs them about the dishes they need to prepare. In this manner, the meals are ready upon arrival ! By law, our drivers are meant to have a one hour break so if you do finish lunch early you will have time to explore this quaint little tourist town.
Fly In and Luxury Lodge Safaris
The airline usually leaves JNB at around 12h00 and arrives in Hoedspruit roughly 1 hour later.
Our guide will be on hand to meet and greet you and transfer you to Tremisana Game Lodge.
The return flight usually leaves HDS at around 14h00 arriving in JNB at around 15h00.
BUSH BBQ at Marula Boma
One of the highlights that every guest remarks about is the Bush BBQ which takes place on the first night of your Sunset Drive. It is quite a magical atmosphere being in the middle of the African bush at a candle-lit dinner.
We return to Tremisana at around 21h00..
It is quite a treat for guests who have booked the 4 ,5 and 6 day Lodge/Tent safari as most would never have expected to have a night in an air conditioned en suite chalet !!
