Highlights

Safari Experience in The Manyeleti (Greater Kruger Park)
Walking Safari Experience in The Kruger Park

Description

This authentic South African Safari experience touches down at Hoedspruit Airport, the mini hub of the African Bush. You will be met at the airport by your hosts Mike and Jacky and driven by mini bus (1 hours drive) to the Kruger National Park where you will enjoy a quick light lunch and a soft drink. Not to waste any bush moments, you will then take your positions on the open Kruger National Park Safari vehicle to head out to the Walking Safari departure point in the iconic Kruger National Park.  Your afternoon will be spent learning about the smaller creatures and plants of Africa under the guidance of some extremely knowledgeable local guides.
When you return from the walk you will be met by Mpho, your vehicle Safari guide who will be introducing you to your first on board safari experience in the magnificent Manyeleti reserve.  You will stop en route for an obligatory sundowner and photo op. You will then head to the camp where you will be met by your hosts and show your accommodation before settling down for a traditional South African camp dinner.  
From here on in, the order of the day will be an authentic Old World African Safari Experience!

Up with the birds before sunrise, eager for the adventure of searching for the myriad of creatures that inhabit the Manyeleti Reserve which forms a part of the Greater Kruger Park region.  This experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity with the very real possibility of encountering “The Big 5 “in their natural environment. Your hosts will afford you genuine South African bush warmth, delicious meals and ensure that you have the best wildlife experience possible.

The Safari Camp business is a collaborative operation, focusing firmly on the enrichment of regional community residents and local service providers. The accommodation is traditionally constructed thatched rondavel huts with your own en suite bathroom. The camp has a bush pool which is awesome for cooling off in the Summer months.  The camp meals are all homestyle meals with an emphasis on traditional South African cuisine.

This Safari experience includes an "on foot" walking Safari experience and 4 Open vehicle Safari experiences.  The open vehicle safari involves seeking out the iconic African creatures  from the comfort of an open safari vehicle with an exceptionally skilled guide within the Manyeleti Reserve.  Early morning coffee and rusks or Sundowner drinks and snacks are enjoyed out in the bush while soaking up the vastness and peace that is the African bush while homestyle meals, refreshments and relaxation are enjoyed back at camp. 
All activities are conducted by extremely knowledgeable and skilled local guides who have advanced experience of the region and its special nuances. This Safari promises to be a life changing opportunity to commune in nature while getting to see the African Wildlife in their original habitat.

Who Is This Experience Good For

Anyone who loves nature and wildlife, beautiful scenery, who has dreamt of a real African Safari and fireside drinks under the milky way, listening for the distant calls of hyena and lions.

Meet Our Local Hosts

Mike and Jacky of Awethentic Africa, have been hosting Remote Year Safari trips for several years and enjoy sharing their love and knowledge of the African bush and are focused on the authenticity of the African Safari experience they host. The Manyeleti safari camp sources its staff within the local communities closest to the camp.   Your extremely knowledgeable main Safari Guide, Mpho Malopane, has been guiding in the Manyeleti and greater Kruger areas for his entire adult life. He is a wonderful personality with amazing tales about his daring experiences in the African Bush. He will show you the smallest of creatures, the tracks and signs that nature gives him and the incredible beasts that make African Safari what it is. Mpho has, largely through the great patronage that RY has afforded this region, been able to start his own guiding business and partnering with your Safari hosts. He enhances every bush experience for each RY guest. 
Without having the opportunity to gain any real life work experience, many local young people who have basic hospitality and guide training struggle to secure full time work. 
Awethentic Africa, the host company has established relationships with the local hospitality training and guide training organisations and pledged to  afford trainees in these fields the opportunity to gain valuable work experience working in the Safari camp.  This cyclic process  enables these young graduates to gain operational knowledge and practical “on the job” training and exposure which in turn sets them on the path to finding full time employment in their field of interest.


Itinerary

DAY 1 - Cape Town to Hoedspruit Kruger Park Walking Safari and Manyeleti Open Vehicle Safari

Travel from Cape Town to Hoedspruit ( HDS Airport - flying with either SAAirlink or CemAir) arriving between 12h00 and 13h00 and be met just outside arrivals by your host/s Jacky or Mike and be driven to the Kruger National Park Orpen Gate Camp (1 hour).

Arrive at the  camp for a light picnic lunch and a soft drink. Meet your highly experienced and professional Kruger Park guides before embarking on a 2 hour guided Bush Walk. After the walk have a quick browse around the camp souvenir shop before climbing onto the open Safari Vehicle with your dedicated Safari guide Mpho who will be safari guiding you through the Manyeleti Reserve to  the Safari camp with bush stop sundowner and snack photo op en route. 
Arrive at the camp at dusk, and freshen up in your accommodation before joining everyone under the stars around the campfire for your first African fireside bush meal. 

DAY 2 - Walking Bush Safari and Open Vehicle Safari
05h30 AM wake up for coffee and rusks before heading out on the morning Safari with your dedicated guide, Mpho, at the helm.  
Enjoy 2 to 3 hours in the fresh morning light seeking out all African creatures with a very real possibility of encountering some of the big 5. Return to Camp for a hearty brunch of fresh fruit, homemade muesli and yogurts followed by a hot plated breakfast. The warm mid hours of the day are spent chilling at the pool, or simply resting in your thatched hut accommodation.  Internet connectivity is limited so it's best not to plan important work over these few days. Mid-afternoon will be Teatime (beverage and a light snack) before boarding the open Safari vehicles again for late afternoon into the evening wildlife encounters. This time of day promises excellent viewing with possible experiences with all the species that Africa is famous for. After sundowner drinks in the bush, return to camp to freshen up and once again enjoy the fireside dining that Africa is known for.

DAY 3 - Open Vehicle Safari and Return flight To Cape Town
5h30 AM rise for coffee and cookies then heading out to get out on the last open Safari of the experience. Enjoy the soft light and freshness that is early morning in Africa. Keep your eyes peeled for beautiful birds while continuing the quest for the Big 5 game viewing that the Manyeleti is known to deliver. Return to the camp for another sumptuous brunch after which we pack up and head back to Hoedspruit Airport for your flight back to Cape Town.

What's Included

Ground Transportation
Meet & greet at Hoedspruit Airport by your Safari Hosts.
Transfers to the Safari Camp and the Kruger Park for the walking safari experience.
Transfers to and from the airport to the Safari Camp.

Meals
All meals while at camp
Brunches, light afternoon “tea”  and  dinners.

Conservation, Park Entrance and Game Guiding Fees
All fees for the Manyeleti Reserve
All fees for the Kruger National Park
A Bush Walking Safari Experience in the iconic Kruger National Park where the on foot experience brings incredible bush sharing knowledge as well as the very real possibility of viewing African Bush animals en route.
4 Open Vehicle Safari activities within the Manyeleti Reserve with the very real likelihood of viewing Elephants, Cape Buffalo, Lion, Leopard, Impala, Zebra, Giraffe and rarer possibilities of Cheetah and Wild Dog.
The services of highly experienced personal safari guides.

Accommodation
Individual thatched rondavel accommodation with en suite bathrooms at Manyeleti Main Camp 

Safari Refreshments
2 x Safari early morning coffee, cookies and rusks
2 x Sundowner Drinks (G &T's, Wines, Beers, Soft Drinks) and Snacks

What's Not Included

Drinks
All drinks served at  the Safari camp - the camp runs an honesty bar so drinks need to be recorded and then paid in cash or card if there is connectivity before departure.

Tips for Safari Guides and Safari camp staff
R 800.00 per guest collated by Jacky and given as individual envelopes to the Safari and Manyeleti Camp staff as well as the camp trainees before departure.

Air Transportation
Flights in and out of Hoedspruit Airport.

Know Before You Go

Minimum Needed: 5 people
Maximum Capacity: 10 people
Booking Deadline: 21 days before event
Weather Dependent: Not unless there is excessive rainfall
Difficulty Level: Easy
Special Clothing Required: Yes - Comfortable walking shoes, Comfortable easy fitting clothing. Days are hot, and evenings cool down. Ensure you are wearing muted clothes for walking safari (no white/bright colours). Rainproof jacket for Summer and Warmer jacket and beanie for the Winter months for evening and dawn game drives, Sunscreen, swimming costume and small swimming towel  sun hat, sunglasses. Bring a headlamp for moving around the camp at night.
Special Dietary Restrictions: All dietary needs catered 
Extra Cash:  Needed for tipping - R 800.00 per guest
Potential  additional services (Massages on site) to be confirmed per trip 
Additional Information: Manyeleti is on the periphery of malaria areas. The hosts do not take malaria prophylaxis, but you may do so for your own peace of mind. It is not required. 
Accommodation: Shared or Single Rooms - different rates and dependent on availability. The accommodations are comfortable thatched rondavel huts with en suite bathrooms. Internet connectivity is limited. The huts have outlets - please bring relevant adaptors and chargers for your devices.  At times electricity is erratic in South Africa.  A solar lantern will be provided by the hosts to light the way in the event we have a power problem.
Liabilities: The liability for any injury, loss, or damage incurred by participants is not assumed by Remote Year or its affiliates.