Package 5 nights
5 NIGHTS MOYA "DISCOVERY" SAFARI PACKAGE- 2024 (From: 28 500 ZAR per person sharing)
Your stay at Moya Safari Lodge positions you perfectly in the heart of one of South Africa's most interesting and exciting regions with a multitude of activities and sites to discover. The town of Hoedspruit - the center of South Africa's safari industry - is a stone's throw away. With some excellent restaurants, cafes, and pubs as well as a number of curiosity, decor and art shops and one of the best-stocked wine merchants outside of the Western Cape, Hoedspruit also has old world charm.
Highlights of the package:
- Visit the famous Kruger National Park
- Get up close and personal with the legendary Big 5 of Africa
- The largest "green" canyon in the world
- Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers
- Magnificent natural landscapes
- Discover authentic African hospitality
- Luxurious accommodation with impeccable service
- Excellent cuisine (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Expert guides and hosts
- Professional advice
ITINERARY
Day 1 – ARRIVAL AT MOYA VILLA
Arrive at Moya Safari Villa after your transfer from Hoedspruit Airport (approximately 20 minutes’ drive) and check-in.
After a light lunch our friendly staff will discuss your safari itinerary in detail with you.
Tonight, you will have dinner at the lodge.
Included today:
- HDS airport transfer (if necessary)
- Welcome drink on arrival
- Light Lunch and dinner at the lodge
- Free bottled water, teas, and coffee
Not included today:
- Other drinks
- All activities not mentioned above
Day 2 – FULL DAY KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
No visit to Hoedspruit and the Greater Kruger region would be complete without a visit to the world-famous Kruger National Park. This legendary reserve is home to the Big Five - buffalo, rhino, elephant, lion, and leopard - among others - and it is Africa's oldest and most iconic national park.
It's a very early morning start at 5:30 am, but the effort is well worth it. A takeaway breakfast will be prepared for you before your departure.
After an approximately 40-minute transfer from Moya Safari Villa you arrive at the Orpen entrance gate of the Kruger National Park, where your adventure begins.
After a short stop at Orpen Camp, where a cup of fresh coffee can be purchased to help wash the last mists of sleep from your eyes, along with a range of snacks and sweets, it's time to explore a small part of this 20,000 km² reserve.
This park is a bit smaller than Belgium, and considerably larger than Israel and Wales! The park is 350 km long and 60 km wide and is bordered by Mozambique and Zimbabwe. On your full-day safari, you will explore the Satara area, where you will stop for lunch later.
Your safari guide will make every effort to find plenty of animals and the area you pass through is renowned for game viewing all year round. So, I hope you have a great day filled with great observations!
Camp Satara has a restaurant with a range of light snacks and a well-stocked souvenir shop.
You should be back at Moya between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Included today:
- Full Day Kruger Tour
- Takeaway breakfast
- Mineral water
- Dinner at the lodge
Not included today:
- Other drinks
- Lunch at Camp Satara
- All activities not mentioned above
Day 3 – HERD & HESC & AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE
Today starts early again as we will be visiting two different Wildlife Centers.
As we will start our trip at 5:45, a takeaway breakfast will be prepared for you before your departure.
Our first adventure today will be the visit to the HERD, which is the Elephant Orphanage Centre just outside Hoedspruit.
The HERD (Hoedspruit Elephant Rehabilitation and Development) TRUST was established in 2021 following a 24-year journey in caring for elephants that have been displaced or orphaned due to human-elephant conflict.
The Jabulani elephant herd are a unique and close-knit family that started with Jabulani, an orphaned elephant who was rescued in 1997, and a herd of elephants that were rescued from Zimbabwe in 2002 – whose fates crossed to form the Jabulani Herd as we know it today.
Over the years, the herd continued to accept wild elephant calves that needed a new family, who had lost theirs.
Guests can enjoy a respectful 90-minute experience and will be inspired, enlightened, educated and enthused by this memorable opportunity to meet these gentle giants.
After a break to enjoy our takeaway breakfast, we will visit the unique and nearby Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center.
Founded on the compassion and incredible work of Ms. Lente Roode over the years, it is a unique centre and proof that humans can make a difference to the long-term survival of the planet and its African wildlife.
HESC focuses on the conservation of rare, vulnerable, and threatened animal species. Cheetah conservation is one of its basic focal points while being actively involved in research; breeding of endangered animal species; the release and establishment of captive-bred cheetahs in the wild;
treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife in need (including poached rhinos); and anti-poaching initiatives.
In the afternoon you will leave for a nearby private reserve for a big 5 safari (approximately 3 hours).
You will be back at the lodge around 7:30 p.m.
Included today:
Visit of the HERD
Visit of the HESC
All entrance fees
Lunch at the lodge
Afternoon safari
Mineral water
Dinner at the lodge
Not included today:
Other drinks
All activities not mentioned above
Day 4 – PANORAMA ROUTE – FULL DAY
One of South Africa's finest tourist routes, the aptly named Panorama Route traverses some of the country's most breathtaking scenery, as well as some of its most beloved tourist attractions.
Depart at 8:00 am, you meander up to the magnificent Drakensberg escarpment which dominates the western horizon of Hoedspruit. Climbing to the top of the escarpment, you'll make your way to the stunning Blyde River Canyon, stopping at dedicated lookout points along the way.
From there, head to Bourke's Luck Potholes where the meeting of the Blyde and Treur rivers carved incredible formations into the sandstone bedrock that can be explored in detail. Then off we go to visit some of the legendary waterfalls that contributed to make the so popular scenic route.
You will then admire the inimitable vantage point of God's Window from where, weather permitting, you can admire stunning views of the Lowveld from the top of the escarpment and the Pinnacle rock formation.
This full day excursion will introduce you to incredible natural wonders.
You will stop for lunch en route in the small village of Graskop, but don't forget to pack some drinks for the road, as well as a hat, a good pair of walking shoes and your camera!
For the very brave you can even try to access one of the highest free falls in South Africa, the famous Big Swing in Graskop. (At own risk and expense)
You will be back at Moya Lodge between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Included today:
- Tour of the scenic route
- All entrance fees
- Mineral water
- Dinner at the lodge
Not included today:
- Other drinks
- Lunch at Graskop
- All activities not mentioned above
Day 5 – HOEDSPRUIT HIGHLIGHTS TOUR – FULL DAY
After the hearty breakfast at 8:00 am, we first head to the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehab Center which we will visit at 9:30 am.
This center is about a 25-minute drive from Moya. Wild animals are brought to the center of all parts of South Africa to be reintroduced into their natural environment. Animals that cannot be returned to the wild due to the nature and extent of their injuries are cared for at the center and used to educate the many people who visit Moholoholo each year.
Then we will take a short hike to a beautiful waterfall through an indigenous forest and have a picnic.
In the afternoon we will start a cruise on the Blyde Dam and it is one of the best ways to see the incredible Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world and one of the greenest, thanks to its unique microclimate.
Situated beneath the distinctive and imposing peaks of the famous Three Rondavels and with a view of Mariepskop - the highest peak of the Drakensberg escarpment - the Blyde Dam is bordered by these high mountains and thick mountain forests. This is home to a range of wildlife such as the kudu and duiker. The dam itself is home to hippos and crocodiles, which you might be lucky enough to spot.
Enjoy the sublime landscapes passing by some of the most photographed mountains in South Africa. A camera and a pair of binoculars will come in handy for spotting some of the amazing birds that inhabit the canyon, including the African eagle and the rare Taita falcon.
You will be back at Moya Lodge around 5 p.m.
Included today:
- Visit Moholoholo Rehab Centre
- Boat Trip on Blyde Dam
- All entrance fees
- Mineral water
- Picnic
- Dinner at the lodge
Not included today:
- Other drinks
- All activities not mentioned above
Included in your 5 Nights "DISCOVERY" Safari Package:
- Return transfer to Hoedspruit HDS airport
- Luxurious accommodation for 5 nights
- 1 full day guided tour of Kruger National Park
- 1 guided scenic route full day tour
- 1 guided safari in an open 4 × 4 vehicle
- 1x free drink during safari
- 1 Visit to the Elephant Orphanage Centre
- 1 Visit to the Endangered Species Centre
- 1 visit to the Moholoholo Rehab Centre
- 1 boat trip on the Blyde River Dam
- All entrance fees
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day (except on Kruger Tour and Panorama Tour)
- All teas and coffees at the lodge (except specialty coffees, lattes, espresso, cappuccino etc.)
- All tourist taxes
- Mineral water
Excluded from your safari package:
• International and regional flights
• Personal travel and health insurance
• Tips
• Purchases in souvenir shops
• Any activity not mentioned above
• Lunch at the Kruger and Panoramic Route
• Cash purchases