On Safari in South Africa at Mabula Lodge

Live your travel story and save up to 15% on wish-list tours until Thursday, 13 March.

On this immersive, family-friendly tour, you’ll get the chance to really settle into your breathtaking surroundings as you spend a blissful week at the Mabula Game Lodge. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the UNESCO-listed Waterberg Mountains, the Mabula Private Game Reserve boasts diverse landscapes and habitats, perfect for the free-roaming Big Five and other wonderful creatures, making this a perfect family friendly safari holiday that you’ll never forget!

Highlights

Go in search of the Big Five on five included safaris into the Mabula Private Game Reserve
Enjoy an expert-led wildlife talk and fascinating bush walk
Pay a visit to the award-winning Hornbill Project
Spend a night stargazing under the starry South African night sky
Take in a colourful sunset with a sundowner in hand and included snacks
Enjoy an included lunch in the bush

Inclusions

Seven nights’ full-board accommodation at the Mabula Game Lodge, plus two on the aircraft
Open bar between 12pm and 10pm (limited to local brands only of beer, wine and spirits, premium brand beverages and cocktails are excluded)
Five safaris into the Mabula Private Game Reserve
A wildlife talk by a wildlife specialist
A bush walk through the reserve
A visit to the Hornbill Project
A traditional bush lunch at a scenic location
A stargazing session beneath the starry South African night sky
A sundowner in the bush
Return flights to Johannesburg
Comfortable, air-conditioned transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager and wildlife specialist

Day 1

Fly overnight to Johannesburg.

Day 2

Meet your transfer representative at the airport for the transfer to Mabula Game Lodge. Upon arrival at the lodge, unwind and settle in, perhaps making use of the wellness and spa facilities. This evening, dinner is served at the lodge, as you enjoy a first night under the starry African sky, looking forward to a wonderful break ahead.

Day 3

Rise and shine early this morning, grab a tea or coffee and perhaps some rusks then head out into the Mabula Private Game Reserve on the first of many wonderful safaris. All safari drives are in open-air 4x4 vehicles for maximum visibility. Keep your eyes open for the Big Five - lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo. Upon your return to the lodge, enjoy a well-earned, leisurely breakfast. This afternoon, you’ll enjoy a fascinating wildlife talk. Delivered by the resident ecologist and reserve manager, the talk will introduce you to some of the 60 mammals and the 300-plus species of birds and reptiles that inhabit the reserve, arming you with some interesting knowledge for forthcoming week. This evening, after your first full day in your wonderful new surroundings, enjoy dinner at the lodge.

Day 4

This morning you’ll visit the Hornbill Project, located within the boundaries of the reserve. Founded in 1999, the award-winning Hornbill Project aims to change the fortunes of this iconic, endangered species through a number of different evidence-based conservation techniques. The southern hornbill is a focal point in South African culture, and you’ll learn all about them this morning. This afternoon, you’ll head out into the reserve on a safari, equipped with the knowledge from this morning’s visit and yesterday’s wildlife talk, before dinner is served under the stars at the lodge this evening.

Day 5

Rise and shine early this morning for an included morning safari, giving you the chance to spot herds of antelopes and other pretty moving in the open as they tend to move around more early in the day, to find the best protection from predators. Return to the lodge and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, perhaps making use of the wellness and spa facilities or the leisure area, including tennis and cricket, before dinner is served at the lodge this evening.

Day 6

After breakfast, join your guide for a gentle guided bush walk into the reserve. Enjoying the fresh air as you stretch your legs, giving you a different more intimate perspective of the reserve. Being closer to the ground also allows you to track the paths of animals including kudu, zebra and maybe even lions that have followed the same path just a few hours before you. This afternoon, embark on another open-air safari into the reserve, keeping your eyes open for the Big Five. After the safari, you’ll stop at a picturesque spot to enjoy a refreshing sundowner and some snacks as the sun slips behind the horizon and the sky turns a vibrant patchwork of red, purple, orange and yellow – a fitting end to a wonderful day. Please note: Children aged under 16 cannot participate in the bush walk for safety reasons.

Day 7

Rise and shine early this morning as you head out into the reserve on your penultimate safari, hopefully spotting something new to tick off your list. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge upon your return. After dinner this evening, you’ll spend an unforgettable night stargazing. As the sun goes down, thousands of twinkling stars, including the Milky Way, reveal themselves to you, completely free of any light pollution. Your guide will point out the different constellations visible as you spend a wonderful evening beneath the starry South African night sky.

Day 8

Today, your last full day at the lodge, brings the chance to take one last safari out into the Mabula Private Game Reserve, giving you a final opportunity to tick animals off your list. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and morning before setting off into the reserve. After the safari you’ll stop at a scenic spot in the bush to enjoy a delicious traditional lunch – a fitting finale to an exceptional week on safari.

Day 9

After breakfast, it’s time to say your goodbyes to the lodge and its staff. You’ll be transferred to Johannesburg airport for your overnight return flight, bringing a wonderful week to an end.

Day 10

You'll land in the UK in the early morning.

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