Departure day, where you will fly to Johannesburg with connecting flights along the way.

When you arrive in Johannesburg, you will drive through the scenic South African countryside to the 4-star Kruger Gate Hotel. Located on the Sabie River, the hotel enjoys a colourful panoramic view of Kruger National Park. Spend the afternoon taking in the fantastic view from the large communal terrace or from the observation tower – or relaxing by the pool.

Bush walk
Early in the morning, you will be picked up from the lodge and you will head off on a bush walk with an experienced ranger to guide you through the bush. Your guide has been specially trained in bush walks and will teach you how to decode Mother Nature’s signals, by smelling the air, listening intently, looking and observing like a real tracker. He will also talk to you about the various animals’ behaviour, and explain how to identify them by their tracks. As you walk, you will hear and learn about many of the small plants and animals you often do not notice when driving through the area in safari vehicles. Not permitted for children under the age of 12.

Sunset Game Drive
When the sun starts to go down, it is time to set off on a fascinating evening safari tour where you are sure to see a variety of animals in the spotlights of the safari vehicle. This gives you the chance to experience the nocturnal animals that rest and hide during daylight hours. You will also encounter many of the animals you saw earlier in the day. If the skies are clear, you can ask the guide about some of the impressive constellations of the southern hemisphere. For example, ask him to point out the Southern Cross or Orion’s belt. Not permitted for children under the age of 6.

Full-day safari in open-topped vehicles, where you can experience the delights of Kruger National Park – one of the most important national parks in the world. Kruger National Park was established as a game reserve back in 1898, and was elevated to national park status in 1926. The park is around 350 km long from north to south, and around 65 km wide from east to west. Covering a total of approx. 20,000 km², it is the largest national park in South Africa. The park is home to 146 different species of mammal, around 520 species of bird and 120 species of reptile. Not only are many species represented, but they are also strongly represented. For example, it is estimated that there are 11,000 elephants, 2,000 lions, 1,000 leopards and 35,000 buffalo in the park, as well as 35,000 zebras and more than 150,000 antelopes. As regards plants, the park boasts 2,000 different species of flora, including everything from mosses to grasses, trees, creepers and cacti.

The wild animals are generally most active early in the morning, and then again towards the end of the afternoon. You will therefore be leaving the lodge early so as to experience as many animals as possible before they seek out shelter and shade to rest during the middle of the day. On account of the early start, the lodge will provide you with a packed breakfast to enjoy at a suitable time and in a suitable place. For lunch, you will stop at one of the authorised areas where you will find both a café and a minimarket.

You will return to the lodge at the end of the day – almost certainly with a camera packed with wonderful photos!

Today is given over to a beautifully scenic full-day trip along the Panorama Route through the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains. The mountains themselves are red, and form a magnificent contrast to the green trees and plants. On the trip, you will experience the breath-taking Blyde River Canyon. Measuring 700 m deep and 60 km long, it is the third-largest canyon in the world. You will stop at the three best vantage points along the canyon: God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and The Three Rondavels – three beautiful and remarkable rock formations whose shape calls to mind the round huts previously to be found in local villages in many parts of southern Africa. The Panorama Route will also take you past a number of waterfalls, and you will have the chance to stop to admire one of them. This could, for example, be the Berlin Falls, where the water cascades down into a lake from a height of 150 metres. Or you may stop at the Lisbon Falls, located where the Blyde river splits in two and then drops 92 metres down an almost vertical cliff, before coming together to form a single river once more. There are many other waterfalls, however, and your guide will decide where you stop. One of the most spectacular sights you will see during the day is sure to be the Bourke’s Luck Potholes – cylindrical holes carved into the rocks by the action of water and sand over thousands of years. You can see this amazing natural phenomenon right up close from bridges built over the peculiar holes.

The day is yours to do with as you wish. You may wish simply to relax by the pool, but you can also choose to go on one of the extra excursions organised by TourCompass.

Enjoy two full-day tours in Kruger National Park in four-wheel-drive safari vehicles. The park features extensive grassy plains, as well as areas of rocky land, lakes and watercourses. Late in the afternoon, all kinds of animals flock to the lakes and watercourses to drink, and you may even be lucky enough to witness elephants bathing in the cool water. On the tour, your guide will attempt to spot as many animals as possible, and will almost certainly try to find antelopes – because where there are antelopes, there are sure to be predators. If you are really lucky, you may even see a shy leopard or two.

You will be picked up from your lodge and driven to the airport, from which you will fly to Livingstone in Zambia. You will be met by a driver in the arrivals hall, who will drive you to your lodge, which is situated on the banks of the Zambezi, not far from the impressive Victoria Falls. You will spend three nights here, giving you plenty of time to explore the amazing surroundings.

The first glimpse you have of the mighty Victoria Falls is often from the air. The water spray rises hundreds of feet into the air above the falls, and you see immediately why the locals call the falls “Mosi-oa-Tunya” – the smoke that thunders. It looks like actual smoke, but the rainbows dancing in the rays of the sun tell you that it’s water.

Up close, the falls are almost unreal. More than 1000 cubic metres of water per second cascade some 100 metres down the basalt ravine of Batoka Gorge. The falls are 1.7 km wide and form the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

It is both intoxicating and impressive to stand in the spray of the violent, never-ending force of nature.

You spend the days at Victoria Falls at your leisure. However, we strongly recommend that you book a couple of excursions from home. The area is brimming with sights, history, culture, good food, exciting activities and adrenaline kicks. But places are often limited, so we recommend that you secure your place in advance.

In our opinion, a helicopter tour over the falls is one of the best experiences. Only from the air can you see the falls in their entirety. We also highly recommend a visit to Elephant Café – it’s an experience of a lifetime and the food is quite simply enchanting! A sunset trip on the Zambezi River will remain etched in your memory forever, and a train ride on board The Royal Livingstone Express will take you back to the colonial era. The choice is yours – but you will find our excursion recommendations below.

The time has now come to leave Victoria Falls and head for home. You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport to catch your flight to the UK, which will include connecting flights along the way.

Arrive back in the UK after a magnificent holiday packed with wonderful experiences.