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Balule River Lodge & Cape Town

Experience the magnificent wild nature of South Africa: tropical nights, the song of the cicadas, the exotic scents of the bush, breathtaking safari adventures and, last but not least, the world’s most beautiful city - Cape Town.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

  • Experience South Africa’s most famous national park-Kruger
  • Stay next to the Olifants River where the elefants regularly walk through the camp
  • Our own intimate Danish-run lodge lying in the Greater Kruger Nationalpark
  • High numbers of Africas many exciting wildlife species
  • The world’s most beautiful city - Cape Town
  • The incredible view from the top of Table Mountain

Do you also dream of going on a safari in Africa? In Balule River Lodge you can make your dream of a South African safari come true– and more! With a perfect location in the heart of South Africa’s best safari district, very dedicated personnel and room for only 14 guests a week, we will make sure that your safari here will be your best holiday ever! On top of this you will enjoy a fantastic stay in Cape Town, which will make this tour a truly unforgettable holiday.

On this 13-day tour to Balule River Lodge & Cape Town, you will stay next to the Olifants River, where you can see many wild animals even from your room’s terrace.

Balule River Lodge is located in the Greater Kruger National Park - a game reserve nearly the size of Wales! Your safari here will include both gamedrives and a bush walk. There will also be a full day safari in Kruger National Park. It will be possible to book extra activities in camp, or simply enjoy its fantastic location, relax by the pool, and take in the wildlife around you.

Then awaiting you is the world’s most beautiful city, Cape Town.

Cape Town offers plenty of wonderful restaurants and fashionable cafes. Here you will also find experimental artists, great markets and the beautifully restored harbour area, the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, which today is the heart of the city’s entertainment district, with masses of shops, hotels and eateries, while still acting as a working harbour.

Itinerary

 

DAY 1: EUROPE - JOHANNESBURG

Depart from Europe in the afternoon on your overnight flight to South Africa

DAY 2: JOHANNESBURG - BALULE RIVER CAMP

Your flight will land in Johannesburg early in the morning. After a wait of a few hours you will fly to a regional airport, either Phalaborwa or Hoedspruit, close to Kruger National Park.

Here you will be greeted by one of Balule’s guides who will drive you to the camp. You will be welcomed in camp by a delicious lunch. There will be an information meeting then you can relax in your new surroundings.

DAY 3: GAMEDRIVES IN BALULE NATURE RESERVE

Saturday will include two gamedrives in an open safari vehicle in Balule Nature Reserve: a morning gamedrive at 06.00 and an afternoon gamedrive at 15.30.

Hopefully we will be able to spot zebras, gnu, elephants, giraffes, lions, warthogs, impalas, apes, rhinos etc., but as always the case with wild animals, there is no way of predicting what you will actually see. But one thing is absolutely certain: a safari like this is a unique experience, constantly following the animals, their tracks and their smells.

During the afternoon gamedrive we will make a stop in the bush to watch the sunset. Here you will be served a classic “sundowner”, while we enjoy the fantastic sights, sounds and smells of the bush and its fauna and flora, before we return to camp where dinner will be waiting for us.

Click here to see a video of a gamedrive in Balule Nature Reserve.

DAY 4: GAMEDRIVE IN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Before sunrise, a light breakfast will be served in camp, then after an hour’s drive we will reach the state-owned part of Kruger National Park - just as the sun rises.

The park is the largest and most impressive game reserve in South Africa, covering an area of around 20,000 square kilometers.

In Kruger there is the possibility of seeing Africa’s wildlife up close, including the “The Big Five” - a traditional term used  to describe the most sought after hunting big game trophies: leopard, lion, rhino, buffalo and elephant. We will drive in an open safari vehicle, while searching for these animals, our ranger will lead the way, he knows exactly what we will be able to see. He knows the watering holes, where the animals often come to drink, and the plains where many different animal species can usually be found.

During our tour we will make a stop in one of the park’s rest camps, where we will be served brunch, prepared by our rangers. Along the way we will also stop at a number of places to stretch our legs and eat lunch.

We will leave the park just before sunset and arrive back at Balule River Camp, where a delightful evening meal will be awaiting us.

Click here to see a video of a gamedrive in Kruger National Park

DAY 5: RELAXING IN BALULE NATURE RESERVE & OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

Enjoy a relaxing day in Balule River Camp, where you can lie and relax by the side of the pool or sit on your terrace and watch the animals that live close to the camp.

You can also choose to book one of the many extra tours you can buy here, for example a ballon safari, a Olifants River Cruise or a visit to the Shangaan Tribal Village.

DAY 6: GAMEDRIVES IN BALULE NATURE RESERVE

On Tuesday we will again start with an early morning game drive in the camp’s open safari vehicles. We will look for animals in Balule Nature Reserve while the bush wakes up and the sun slowly rises higher and higher into the heavens. In the afternoon there will also be a gamedrive in Balule Nature Reserve, where we will have a really good chance of seeing antelopes, giraffes, rhinos, apes and many other different animals.

Along the way we will stop to enjoy the sunset and the classic “sundowner” while we enjoy the fantastic sights, sounds and smells of the bush and its fauna and flora, before we return to camp where dinner will be waiting for us.

DAY 7: GAMEDRIVE IN BALULE NATURE RESERVE + “BUSH BRAII”

Today it will again be possible to book one of the extra activities, for example, an extra safari, a river cruise or a flight in a hot air ballon.

In the afternoon there will be a gamedrive in Balule Nature Reserve.

If the weather is good, the afternoon drive will end with a traditional South African barbecue, a “bush braii” at the viewpoint known as Lion View. Here we will enjoy a delicious dinner under the starry African sky.

A wonderful atmosphere arises when the delicious smells of meat cooking on the grill begins to spread, the red wine is poured into your glass, and the waiters lay the table with candles and a white tablecloth. All to the sound of singing cicadas and lions roaring in the distance.

DAY 8: BUSHWALK AND GAMEDRIVE IN BALULE NATURE RESERVE OR EXTRA ACTIVITIES

We start early in the day with a bushwalk. This type of safari is a wonderful experience, where you can really feel the intense presence of South Africa’s wildlife and get really close to the animals in their natural surroundings. On this tour, which will take place in Balule Nature Reservek, you can meet a selection of the animals that live in the South African bush, for example, giraffe, warthog, impala, waterbuck, baboon, zebra, and - if you are lucky- elephant and hippo. You will naturally be led by an experienced guide, who knows the area and its animals. The guide will tell you about the animals, from the mammals to the insects, the vegetation, climate and much more.

The afternoon is at your own disposal. It is possible to book one of the extra activities or simply relax by the pool or in the lodge.

DAY 9: BALULE RIVER CAMP - CAPE TOWN

Leave Balule River Camp and transfer to the local airport from where you will fly to Cape Town.

Arrive in Cape Town and transfer from the airport to Winchester mansions Hotel.

Afternoon free in Cape Town. We recommend that you dine in one of the many charming restaurants in the Waterfront district.

DAY 10: CAPE TOWN, TABLE MOUNTAIN + AFTERNOON AFTER YOUR OWN CHOICE

Your first full day tour in Cape Town starts at 09.00, when your private guide will meet you at the Winchester Mansions Hotel. You will start which a scenic cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, where you will enjoy a unique panoramic view unsurpassed by anywhere else in the world. This will be followed by a guided tour of Cape Town itself, during which you will be given an introduction to the city and its history, which goes back to the 1650’s.

We will visit places such as the District Six Apartheid Museum, which gives a lively introduction to this important part of the country’s history, and Cape Castle which is the oldest building in Cape Town. In the afternoon you can choose between four different tours in Cape Town:

1)      Visit Kirstenbosch National Gardens, which is a splendid botanical garden, beautifully situated on the slopes of Table Mountain. This tour offer an in-depth introduction to the flora of the Cape Region, which is perhaps the most varied in the world.

2)      Visit a vineyard in the Constantia- district, where we can taste some of the area’s fantastic wines, go for a walk in the vineyards and enjoy a lovely lunch with views of the mountains and vineyards.

3)      The Cape Town area has some fantastic beaches and during the summer it is possible to enjoy the sea, beach and the African sun.

The Waterfront district in Cape Town has not only a wealth of exciting shops and restaurants but also the Two Oceans Aquarium, where you can see more than 3,000 different animal species from the Indian and Atlantic Oceans - including sharks, seals, turtles and penguins. This tour is suitable for both children and adults. Lunch is not included in the price. 

DAY 11: DAY FREE IN CAPE TOWN

Today you have the whole day free in Cape Town to explore this beautiful city.

Go shopping or enjoy a good lunch in the beautiful Waterfront district. If the weather is good it is also possible to visit Robben Island where Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners were jailed.

DAY 12: CAPE PENINSULA NATIONAL PARK: HOUT BAY, DUIKER ISLAND, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, CAPE POINT & BOULDERS BEACH

The second full day in Cape Town again starts at 09.00 when you will be met at the hotel by your private guide, who will take you on an exciting full day tour to Hout Bay, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point Nature Reserve.

We leave Cape Town and drive first to Hout Bay, from where we sail out to Duiker Island, which is home to a lively colony of fur seals, who lie on the rocks and jump and frolic around the boat.

Cape Point Nature Reserve is another great attraction, We drive through the nature reserve and see the most varied, well preserved and rare flora in the world. Here are ostriches walking about, baboons climbing and antelopes grazing and quenching their thirst by the coast.

Finally we reach Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Here we will walk or take a small train up to the old lighthouse on Cape Point Peak, which lies 250 meters above sea level.

Afterwards we drive to the Cape of Good Hope, which is famous because rounding this Cape was an important milestone on the way to establishing a maritime trade route to the East.

We continue to Simon’s Town and Boulders Beach which is home to a breeding colony of thousands of penguins, which swim 15km out to sea every day to hunt small fish. The penguins are permanent residents here and have lived on this part of the coast for centuries.

Lunch is not included.

DAY 13: CAPE TOWN - EUROPE

In the late afternoon you will transfer from your hotel to Cape Town Airport, from where your flight will leave in the early evening.

DAY 14: ARRIVAL HOME

You arrive back in Europe in the morning. If necessary you will take your connecting flight home later that morning/early afternoon.

Accommodation on the tour

 

Kurhula - Balule River Lodge

Kurhula Lodge er nabo til Balule River Lodge, som ligger i Balule Nature Reserve, der er en del af Greater Kruger National Park.  Kurhula Lodgen består af fire dobbeltværelser med plads til i alt 8 gæster - alle værelserne fører ud til en veranda, hvorfra man har udsigt til Olifants River.  Værelserne har eget badeværelse, aircondition, myggenet over sengene, køleskab, safetybox, føntørre, garderobe og kaffe/te-faciliteter.  Main House: Lodgens hovedhus, Main House, er opført i klassisk afrikansk byggestil. Her finder du en stor spisestue og en opholdsstue, som især benyttes, når det er for koldt til at spise og sidde udendørs. Hovedhusets mest populære sted er den kæmpestore terrasse, som byder på en helt unik udsigt over Olifants River og Great Kruger National Park. Terrassen er møbleret med komfortable, bløde lænestole og et stort åbent ildsted. Her indtager gæsterne en drink inden tjeneren kommer ind for at annoncere, at ”Dinner is ready!”. Bomaen: Middagene på lodgen indtages størstedelen af året - når vejret er til det - i bomaen. En boma er en indhegning lavet i smukke naturlige materialer; dens oprindelige anvendelse i Afrika har været at beskytte husholdningens husdyr mod de vilde dyr, men i vore dage anvendes betegnelsen også om et udendørs spisested med grill og åbent ildsted. Poolen:  Poolen ligger direkte ud til Olifants River med fri udsigt til de dyr, som opholder sig i floden eller som kommer ned til den for at drikke eller svale sig i det kolde vand. I poolområdet er der solsenge og parasoller samt et overdækket område, hvor man i skyggen kan nyde en god bog eller betragte dyrelivet.

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Attractions on the tour

The Price Includes

  • Flights  N.Europe - Phalaborwa, Hoedspruit - Cape Town and Cape Town - N.Europe
  • Reception in Phalaborwa airport and car transfer to Balule River Lodge
  • 7 nights in Balule River Lodge in a shared standard-double room
  • Full board in Balule River Lodge excluding beverages*
  • 2 morning game drives in Balule Nature Reserve, one finishing with a “champagne breakfast” in camp
  • Full day safari in Kruger National Park
  • 2 afternoon game drives in Balule Nature Reserve including a “sundowner” in the bush
  • Gamedrive in Balule Nature Reserve with “bush braii”
  • Bushwalk  in Balule Nature Reserve
  • Car transfer from Balule River Lodge to Hoedspruit airport
  • Return transfers Cape Town Airport - Winchester Mansions Hotel
  • 4 nights in the Winchester Mansions incl. breakfast
  • Two full day excursions in Cape Town

The Price Does Not Include

  • Beverages
  • Gratuities
  • Travel/cancellation insurance
  • Extra excursions book on site
  • EU-Liability Insurance: EUR 10,- pr. person
  • Everything else not list under “The Price Includes”

* it is possible to purchase a drinks package, so that your holiday becomes All Inclusive. The drinks package costs Dkk 1,995- per adult per week, and Dkk 695- per child under 18 years of age. The drinks package includes the house wine, beer, soft drinks and locally produced spirits list on the bar card.

GOT ANY QUESTIONS?

Linda Bertelsen

Telephone 63 21 43 04

Ulla Fregerslev

Telephone 63 21 43 02