Combination : Silver Class

From R 12 345 per person sharing

Day 1

Arrive into Johannesburg (OR Tambo International), where you will be met by an Island-Safari.com representative and assisted onto your flight to Hoedspruit Airport.

Road transfer from Hoedspruit Airport to The Ezulwini / Balule Game Reserve. Check into Billy’s Lodge where there will be time for some cool beverages and freshening up before your first afternoon/evening game drive.

Located in the South African Lowveld in the unrivalled Balule Nature Reserve, part of the world famous Greater Kruger National Park.  This total conserved biosphere comprises some 3 million hectares of Africa at her unspoiled best - a fascinating world of indigenous bush and wildlife.  The Greater Kruger National Park is unquestionably the jewel of African Game Parks and Ezulwini is certainly one of the jewels of the luxury private lodges in this park. Much of the attraction of Ezulwini Game Lodges lies in their diversity of habitats - from open savannah through mixed woodland and mountain bushveld, to the Olifants riverine forest - that not only are scenically appealing, but also host an exceptionally broad range of fauna.  This includes the Big 7 comprising lion, elephant, leopard, rhino, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, as well as giraffe, zebra and all the other plains game, and approximately 460 species of birds

Experience luxury, game drives, cuisine and service which are world class, when you relax at one of our two exquisite game lodges - Billy's Lodge or River Lodge - with attractive grass thatched chalets.  Cool off in a swimming pool or enjoy fascinating game viewing from the comfort of a spacious deck in a welcoming, deep leather sofa.  If you want to experience the lowveld as the pioneers found it, why not try our Paradise Camp for an unforgettable African adventure.

Highly skilled rangers will let you experience the excitement of a walk through the virgin African bush, tracking animals, identifying trees and birds, or they will drive you through thousands of hectares of prime game area, with undisturbed traversing, in state-of-the-art open Land Rovers. You will stop in this wilderness of absolute beauty to experience an intimately romantic, uniquely African ambiance as you enjoy a sun downer with spectacular views of a glowing red sunset over the Drakensberg Mountains.   Become one with nature as you absorb this enchanting world of sound, scents and colour.  Continue the night drive under a canopy of sparkling stars, with powerful spotlights probing the dark for the secretive nocturnal creatures.

Delight in the traditional cuisine prepared by their chefs.  Be pampered and experience luxury and exclusivity at very affordable prices which represent excellent value for your money.
   
Billy’s Lodge is located on the banks of a seasonal river, surrounded by the resident lion pride, plains game, large knob thorn, leadwood and marula trees in the western savannah region of Ezulwini. The lodge has lots of character and features gorgeous lounge areas, dining rooms and decks, sumptuous leather armchairs, exquisite leadwood sculptures and original paintings by David Johnson.  Billy's Lodge also boasts the "finest wine cellar in Africa" set against the natural rock face and resembling an ancient Bushman cave. Superb chefs and rangers will ensure you enjoy the ultimate getaway. This charming most exclusive lodge has luxury, thatched, twin bed chalets with en suite bathrooms, accommodating a maximum of 8 guests which guarantees tranquillity and exclusivity. The accommodation is modern, yet traditionally African.
The rooms have:
 
 220V, 50Hz electrical supply, 
 Potable drinking water, 
 Insect-proof window screens
 Elegant mosquito nets
 Overhead fans, 
 New silent air-conditioners
 Mini-bar, tea and coffee facility.   
 Satellite T.V. and telephone/fax facilities are available.

The day typically begins with an early morning game drive, in search of Africa's exciting fauna, followed by a sumptuous breakfast on the deck.  You can then go on a ranger-guided walk through the bush and learn about game tracks and all of the little creatures.  Discover how the local people use trees to make toothbrushes and toothpaste, tea and coffee, poultices, etc. Alternatively relax on a cosy leather couch, enjoying the animals at the water, and the ever present bird life in one of the top birding areas in South Africa.

After a light lunch, sit by the pool on a comfortable lounger, or relax in the lounge with a selection of wildlife books and videos.
  
Then head out for the evening game drive in an open Land Rover, where you will stop for sundowners with unparalleled views, deep in the Ezulwini Bush

A wine tasting in our amazing cellar is followed by a Boma barbeque - when the sky is brilliant with stars and the night time sounds of wild Africa fill the air.

Day 2

Your one full day on safari will be spent on game drives early in the mornings and late in the afternoon with time in-between to just relax and be spoiled by the lodge staff.

Day 3

After a morning game drive and some leisure time, you will be transferred to the airstrip, in time for your flight back to OR Tambo International Airport. Upon arrival in Johannesburg, you will be met by an Island-Safari.com representative and transferred via road to Outlook Lodge.

 The Outlook Lodge is one of those establishments, perfectly situated to meet all clients’ specific needs and requests. From discerning travellers, professionals and avid safari enthusiasts, the lodge will meet your expectations.

They are situated within 10 minutes drive from Johannesburg International Airport, and offer complimentary airport transfers between 8am and 8pm. Rooms are tastefully and elegantly furnished to celebrate South Africa’s wonderful diversity of wildlife and spectacular landscapes.

Coffee and tea making facilities are available in every room as well as satellite television. All rooms have their own private bathroom facilities. Public areas such as the lounge and bar area are friendly and unassuming with fireplaces scattered throughout the lodge. The lounge is the ideal place to watch a wildlife documentary, read a book or simply relax with friends and family.

Overnight Outlook Lodge on a Bed and Breakfast basis

Day 4

This will be a very early departure from the Bed and Breakfast for your 06h25 flight to Upington. Pick up your 4x4 vehicle will be delivered at the Guesthouse. Depart early to !Xaus Lodge in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

!Xaus Lodge offers a remote, tranquil wilderness experience for guests looking for total isolation, to be immersed in the environment and for an opportunity to interact with members of the resident Bushman community. It is important that guests are aware that whilst !Xaus is comfortably appointed with high standards of service, it is nevertheless “A place to experience not merely observe”. It offers a unique experience and is not just a place to stay overnight. The lodge’s remote location in the desert, its long and sometimes corrugated dune track access, its scarce and saline water, its limited power supply and the harsh climatic conditions that prevail are all part of the challenge that guests will experience first hand. KTP covers 3, 8 million hectares which is only 0.35 million smaller than the Netherlands thus sightings of game are a privilege and a source of great excitement, particularly if its lion or leopard, as they are often exclusive to those that happen to be there at that precise moment.

You have a couple of options -
Self-drive to Kamqua picnic site.

• This can be done in any standard sedan motor vehicle.
• Guests are met at Kamqua and escorted to the turnoff at Rooibrak to !Xaus Lodge. Guest vehicle are parked in a demarcated zone off the road behind the dunes for the duration of their stay at !Xaus Lodge.
• Guests are then transferred to !Xaus Lodge in an Open Safari Vehicle.

Self-drive directly to !Xaus Lodge.

• 4x4 vehicle is definitely required.
• Guests are met by a lodge guide at Kamqua picnic site and drive in convoy to !Xaus Lodge.

Fuel can be purchased at Askham, Andriesvale (diesel only), Twee Rivieren and MataMata.
Tyre pressures should be reduced to 1, 6 bar for travelling on gravel roads in the KTP and to 1, 4 bar if self-driving through the dunes to !Xaus Lodge.

A daily conservation fee is payable on entry into KTP (currently R33 SA residents/ R132 Foreign visitors).

The distance from Upington to Twee Rivieren is 260 kilometres of which 30 kilometres are on gravel (in the process of being tarred and scheduled for completion by March 2009). Travelling time is 2, 5 to 3, 0 hours
Twee Rivieren (entry gate to KTP) to Kamqua picnic site (meeting point for !Xaus Lodge) is 64kms. It is a game drive all the way along the Auob river bed and takes approximately 1, 5 hours.

Kamqua picnic site to !Xaus Lodge is 30 kilometres on a single track, soft sand road through the dunes. A 4x4 vehicle is necessary for this leg of the journey. Travelling time is about 1, 0 to 1, 5 hours.
Travelling times in the KTP can vary according to game sightings en-route

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP) treaty between South Africa and Botswana signed in 1999, unifying the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (South Africa) and the Gemsbok National Park (Botswana) and formalising the principle of co-operative management.  South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok National Park was first proclaimed in 1931 and Botswana’s Gemsbok National Park in 1938. KTP is 3, 8 million hectares (38 500 km²) in extent, one of the largest National Parks in the world

Spend three nights at !Xaus Lodge on a fully inclusive basis

Day 5, 6

Accommodation - 12 en-suite chalets each with its own deck overlooking the waterhole in the pan.
The Chalets are equipped with:

• Twin beds, high quality mattresses and linen.
• Winter sheets, hot water bottles and gas heaters for the cold months.
• Ceiling fans for the hot months.
• Bedside tables with bedside lamps.
• Wardrobe, writing table and chair.
• Luggage rack.
• Floor rugs.

Please note:

• Chalets are not air conditioned. Traditional methods, using shade and damp cloths as means of keeping cool in this environment, are explained to guests.

• There are no hairdryers in the individual chalets but these are available on request.

Bathrooms  

• Large shower, wash-hand basin and separate flush toilet.
• Rooibos soap, sandalwood moisturizing hand-cream and shampoo are provided.
• Gas water heaters for hot water.

Water

• Water is an extremely scarce resource.
• Water is drawn from a borehole close to the lodge and is hard and fairly saline.
• A system of reverse osmosis is used to produce purified desert drinking water.
• Laundry is done in Twee Rivieren 90 kilometres from the camp and for this reason linen and towel changes are limited to the duration of a guest’s stay unless circumstances require otherwise.
• Guests are encouraged to use water sparingly.

• All supplies for the lodge are sourced from Upington which involves a 720km round trip, 120 kilometres of which is on dune and gravel roads.
• For this reason the lodge may not always be able to offer certain items or the variety of food and beverage that is available in establishments with easier access to sources of supply.

Meals

• Meals include items prepared in the tradition of the Mier community  such as roosterbrood, potjiekos, braised meats, sweet pumpkin & other vegetables, seasonal local fruits such as tsama melon, home baked biscuit, breads etc.
• Meals are served at times advised by lodge management on a day to day basis.
• Times are scheduled according to the day’s activities and guest departures.
• All meals are served either in the dining area or Boma.
• Three, set-menu meals are provided each day; Breakfast, light lunch and two/three course dinner.
• Complimentary tea or coffee is available on request throughout the day.
• Every effort is made to accommodate dietary requests/allergies provided these are advised in advance of arrival at the lodge.

Boma

• Open to the night sky.
• Pre-and post-dinner drinks and dinners are served in the fire lit Boma on occasion.

Beverages

• Purified desert water is provided in guest chalets and at meals.
• Bottled water is available for sale
• Limited variety of beers, popular brand spirits and mixers are available for sale.
• Limited variety of red and white wine is available for sale.

Power

• Power is supplied by a generator providing 220 volt power.
• The generator operates for four hours per day in the evenings and for half an hour before sunrise.
• Computers and cameras can be charged during generator operating hours.
• Outside of the generator operating hours no electric lighting is available at all. Torches are available in the chalets.

Communications

• No cell phone reception is available at the lodge.
• Two-way radio communication is available between the lodge and several of the KTP rest camps.
• All lodge vehicles are fitted with two-way radios for safety reasons.
• The lodge is equipped with satellite telephone and email communication which is available to guests only in cases of emergency.

Activities

• Guided wilderness walk along the dunes identifying animal spoor, birds, trees and plants, and their medicinal uses.
• Guided pan walk to the “Heart” of the Kalahari
• Guided walk to a re-created cultural village to visit Bushman crafters at work, see young men demonstrating their traditional games and to purchase traditional Bushman crafts hanging from the branches of the tree under which the crafters sit peacefully at work.
• Game drives
• Sunset pan drive and dune walk to “listen” to the sun set over the Kalahari with an early evening game drive back to the lodge
• After dinner night drive 
• For guests staying longer than three nights, a full day game drive through the dunes to the Auob river with packed breakfast and picnic lunch
• Night-sky viewing through telescopes from the observation deck

Day 7

Today you have to depart very early to be back in Upington no later than 10h00. Drop off your rental vehicle and check in for your flight to OR Tambo International. From this point you will depart under your own arrangements.

END SERVICES

Priced from: ZAR 12,345 per person sharing
 
WHAT IS INCLUDED:
Accommodation as specified, Meals as specified, Ground transportation and excursions as noted, Park and entrance fees for lodges/camps inside national parks.

OUTLOOK LODGE
Accommodation and Breakfast

!XAUS LODGE
Accommodation
Return transfers from Kamqua meeting point
All meals
All activities including:

• Wilderness walks
• Walks to re-created Bushman cultural village
• Game drives
• Night-sky viewing

BILLY’S LODGE:
Luxury Accommodation, Two game drives per day within the reserve, one guided bushwalk per day along the Olifants River, All meals, prepared by our award winning chefs.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED:
Domestic flights (quoted separately) all flights as specified in the above itinerary: PLEASE NOTE: Fares are subject to class/seat availability at the time a reservation is made.
Lunches & dinners (unless specified)
Drinks & refreshments
Tips for porters and restaurants
Telephone calls, laundry & other incidental personal expenditure
Visa fees, in countries where these apply
Airport departure taxes, in countries where these apply
Medical, cancellation and baggage insurance
 
Notes:

• All activities are subject to prevailing weather conditions
• ** PLEASE NOTE: These rates are given as guidelines, and will differ depending on factors such as the time of the year that guests travel, the number of guests travelling, and the class of airline seats available. All rates are subject to change at the discretion of the properties/operators, and due to currency fluctuations, unforeseen increases in fuel prices, increased airline prices, or any future government imposed taxes