Of Kings & Beasts

Prized Big Five territory, five nights

Timbavati's elephant plains vs Sabi Sands leopardy riverine bush

Fly-in with luxury lodging, excellent guides, fine food & wine

Rhino at Kings Camp

TIMBAVATI, TWO NIGHTS

A super-luxurious safari exploring the African wilderness in search of the Big Five. Start by discovering the vast elephant ranges of the Timbavati, home to some of the last great bulls. There is a rich concentration of game which keeps the famed white lions busy. Stay in Kings Camp’s luxurious, beautiful and tastefully appointed suites.

Leopard Hills leopard on drive

SABI SAND, 3 NIGHTS

Head by private chartered aircraft to world-renowned Sabi Sand Private Reserve, and track the big cats made famous by National Geographic. At Leopard Hills, Africa’s signature species abound in number. Each day is different as you explore this prized territory in an open Landrover. Leopards hunt. Lions roar at twilight. Observe majestic eagles keeping watch overhead. These are just a few of the amazing encounters awaiting you.

Kings Camp from the air

FLY-IN TO KINGS CAMP

Departing from OR Tambo International, you will enjoy the ever-changing vistas of your flight  to the Lowveld, with downtown Johannesburg replaced by Soweto and the industrial heartland of South Africa, before panoramas of the bush begin to open up beneath you. It is a different world here, with its own pace and rules.

Silver service at Kings Camp

TIMBAVATI

Immerse yourself in your first game drive in the Timbavati. This exclusive area covers 600 square  kilometres of the Greater Kruger. Vast elephant ranges are home to some of the last great bulls. Large herds of buffalo roam the plains. Timbavati is the ancestral home of the fabled white lion. Head to camp for your first silver service dinner and a post dinner drink on the deck overlooking the waterhole.

DAWN & DUSK DRIVES

Early morning and late afternoon you will embark on fascinating game drives with knowledgeable rangers in open vehicles. The reserve is home to the vaunted Big Five and much more. In between drives the days are flexible and, weather permitting, you will be able to feel the soil of Africa beneath your feet on a bush walk among the charismatic megafauna.

Afternoon tea at Kings Camp waterhole

REFRESH BODY & SOUL

You will be served tea, coffee and biscuits on your morning game drive and drinks and canapés on your afternoon game drive. Your afternoon drive continues after dark, which gives you the opportunity to observe nocturnal animals with a spotlight. It is a privilege to quietly watch a wild animal in its natural environment going about its usual business.

WaterbucK boma at Kings Camp

DINE AL FRESCO

Dinner can be served under the stars around the campfire or, for the more adventurous, out in the bush. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the wild. Enjoy a matching wine from the extensive cellar. Retire to the bar for a post-prandial drink.

Kings Camp fly-in

MORNING ACTIVITY, FLIGHT

After the morning game drive and a scrumptious bush breakfast, transfer by light aircraft to Leopard Hills in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. The short flight avoids unproductive hours on bumpy bush roads and the world  outside on hot R40 tar. From the plane, the view of the wilderness is endless and gives you an excellent birds-eye perspective of your two destinations.

Hyena and crocodile at Leopard Hills

SABI SAND

You will arrive in time for your first game drive in the beating heart of the South African bush. The name Sabi Sand conjures up the best of safari and is the place of fairytale experiences. It is the closest to Lord Tennyson’s “Nature, red in tooth and claw” that we love from wildlife documentaries on television. The reserve offers 65,000 hectares of prime Big Five territory, and it shares an unfenced boundary of 50km with the Kruger.

Leopard Hills bush view

CLIFFTOP VIEW

Leopard Hills has an amazing setting on a bluff overlooking plains below. As well as twice-daily drives or game walks, view the Big Five from the luxury of your private deck in your hammock, private plunge pool or on the lounger outside. While the day away with a pair of binoculars in the glorious sun, under the shade of an umbrella, or in the library reading up on your sightings. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast or indulgent lunch on the viewing deck.

Dusk drinks at Leopard Hills waterhole

DRIVE IN TO THE EVENING

After high tea, head out into the bush for an afternoon drive, stopping to enjoy sundowners as day turns to dusk. Your tracker sits on the front of the vehicle, focusing a spotlight on nocturnal animals as they come to life. Big cats start to hunt under the cover of darkness, including around the floodlit waterhole at the lodge. Get your ranger to talk you through the southern stars at night.

Dine on your suite deck at Leopard Hills

FINE FOOD & WINE

Dine on your private deck overlooking the waterhole, or in the dining room for fine silver service. Visit the cellar and select a matching wine. Or enjoy the traditional Shangaan boma where a drink and fireside chat is a superb way to close the day.

Federal Air landing in the bush

ACTIVITY, FLY HOME

After your morning activity and a leisurely brunch, return to Johannesburg by scheduled charter-style flight that departs from a tarred airstrip serving the western Sabi Sand. Flying saves you a drive of 6 hours or more, offers you a spectacular final view of the Lowveld, and enables you to carry your sense of peace and relaxation directly back to the big city.

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