We meet before sunrise, where coffee will be served, while the balloon is inflated to an impressive height equivalent to an 8 story building. The flight takes place so early that we get to see the sun rising in the horizon while the balloon is rising. We drift over the landscape enjoying the impressive view while looking for animals and taking in the splendid landscape beneath.
After we have landed, a glass of champagne will be served. We do not take safety lightly, so this excursion will only take place when the weather forecast secures us that wind and weather is perfect.
Price: 4,800 Rand per person
River cruise – the ultimate experience
To float quietly on the river among hippos and crocodiles, while elephants and giraffes are watching from the banks – a great way to relax and have an amazing experience. The cruise takes place on a dammed part of the Olifant River, where the calm waters are habitat for an abundance of animals and birds. We sail among snorting hippos, lurking crocodiles and impressive ospreys looking for fish.
Price: 1,400 Rand per person
Half a day to the city Phalaborwa, where you can shop – or simply experience the life in a modern African city. Take a walk, enjoy the life here and the exotic stalls at the square, or you can buy clothes, shoes, jewellery etc. in the modern shops at African prices. If possible, we combine the trip with a visit to the copper mine where you have a view over the second largest man-made hole in the world – the diameter is nearly 2 km with a depth of 1 km. The mine has made Phalaborwa quite a wealthy city with many wonderful properties.
Price: 1,100 Rand per person
Play 18 holes in the Hans Merensky Golf Club, which is an extraordinary experience with giraffes and other animals crossing the course attracted by the fresh green grass. It is not advisable to try and look for golf balls in the water as the lakes are filled with crocodiles and hippos.
Price: 1,750 Rand per person incl. green fee
Rental of golf gear 280 Rand extra
The tour takes place right before you arrive at Mpala and ends by you arriving at the Mpala Safari Lodge on Monday afternoon. The Panoramic Route is a legendary drive through the wonderful Draken Mountains North-East of Johannesburg. The tour offers an cornucopia of magnificent nature scenery with mountains, views, waterfalls, the gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest, the geological wonder The Three Rondavels in Blyde River Canyon, Bourkes Luck Potholes, shopping, and much more.
There is a lot to be experienced on the Panoramic Tour. That is why this tour has been planned to take two days, where you arrive the first day and get a chance to rest after the flight. It also means that you have your travel to South Africa prolonged by one day, when you choose the Panoramic Route. You leave home one day earlier and arrive in Johannesburg already on Sunday.
The tour includes transfer from Johannesburg International Airport (or Tambo), where a guide will meet you and drive you to the selected hotel in Hazywiev. In Hazywiev you stay in a hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing and acclimate yourself to Africa or take a cooling swim in the swimming pool at the hotel. If possible, we will make a reservation for you at the wonderful Casa Do Sol Hotel, where dinner and breakfast is included.
The next morning you will be picked up by the hotel guide, and here the Panoramic Route starts. You will drive through beautiful banana plantations, eucalyptus forests and enjoy epic nature scenery through the Draken Mountains where you stop at attractions along the route.
| Price: included transfer from Johannesburg: |
Rand 9,510.87 per person by 2 persons Rand 6,793.48 per person by 4 persons or more. Single room addition at Casa do Sol: Rand 2,264.49 |
There is already 2 bush walks included in the program, but do you want to see even more, you can book extra tours. It is fascinating to see how even our experienced guides can discover the slightest signs and tracks in the terrain. You may not see them until they are pointed out to you. A broken branch, tracks in the sand or the droppings from an animal to tell you which animal has been here and when.
Price: 600 Rand per person
When you are on horseback, you will experience the feeling of becoming one with nature. The African animals are not frightened by a rider on a horse as they simply consider the equipage as yet another animal in nature. You can ride right into a herd of zebras without they run away. It is truly an intense nature experience. NB! The tour is for experienced riders only.
Price: 1.800 Rand per person
Enjoy a great time around the bonfire with a wonderful ambience
We har reconstructed the good old safari experience. Where you walked through the bush and satyed over in tent.
The dinner is prepared over the fire and the night in tents in the midle of the bush.
The evening is spent around the bonfire where we enjoy the ambiance in the midle of the African nature.
Price: 850 Rand per person
The Draken Mountains
Combine your safari with a 1-day tour
1-day tour to the spectacular Draken mountains where you visit caves, enjoy the view over Blyde River Canyon, the third biggest canyon in the world, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, where the river has eroded wondrous formations into the rocks as well as many other magnificent sceneries of nature. During the tour, picnic will be served.
Price: 2,200 Rand per person
SOWETO
Take a guidet trip into SOWETO in Johannesburg.
The area carrys a lot of the violent history of the fight against apartheid.
The trip includes a visit to Desmond Tutus church and the Apartheid Museum.
Price: 1.900 Rand per person
ATV
Take an extra ride on the fun ATVs.
One safari bike trip on the 4×4 wheeler bikes through the bush is already included in your stay at Mpala.
But if you can’t get enough you can take an extra trip.
Price: 1.100 Rand per person
Elephant interaction
Experience the African elephants up close
Have you met Indian elephants in the zoo or mayby years ago in a circus? Yes, they are big. But the African Elephants are much bigger!
They can only be tamed with patience, kindness and lots of treats. Previously these elephants worked in the forrests in Zimbabwe. They got liberated from work years ago.
Now they stay in their own reserve near Mpala Safari Lodge.
The elephants are tame and you can meet them up close and pet them.
Price: 3,000 Rand per person
Extra sunset drive
A game drive in the soft light of sunset
As the day cooles down the animals become active . They seek the waterholes and feed in the bush.
This is the time go drive out and spot them. We drive in Mpalas vicinity and on our own part of the reserve.
Along the way, the guide talks about the fascinating life of the animals, plants and insects.
While enjoying the sunset and the view, we take a little break with cool drinks.
Price: 675 Rand per person
Moholoholo
Excursion to the Rehabilitation Centre for Animals
Near the Drakensberg mountains is Moholoholo situated. It is a wildlife care centre where a lot of work is being done to save wild animals.
Thsy could be injured or have lost their life-giving parents at an untimely age. After the animals are brought back on their feet, they are again let out in the nature, either in their own reserve or in the big nature.
Guests will have the opportunity to see the cared for animals and visit the “vultures restaurant”, where food is served for the wild vultures.
The Centre is also making great efforts to teach environmental and animal protection
Pris: 1.400 Rand per person
Extra morning gamedrive
Enjoy an extra gamedrive in the rising Sun
We drive out into the early morning light. The animals wake up. They’re active and you see them out in the open. They use the cool time in the first sunbeams to get their breakfast before it gets too hot and send them back into the shades.
We drive in Mpalas vicinity and on our own part of the reserve.
Along the way, the guide talks about the fascinating life of the animals, plants and insects.
Price: 675 Rand per person
An extra day in Kruger Park incl overnight stay
Stay in Kruger Park an extra night and day
oSome of us just can’t get enough of Kruger Park.
So we made this opportunity for the dedicated Kruger Park fans. Where we usually drive home after the second day, this trip can be extended with an extra night and a new day.
As we have to book extra chalets in the camps in Kruger Park, this tour must be booked at least 3 months before arrival. We make sure that the 2nd night takes place in a new camp, so that 2 different places are stayed in the total trip. The tour can be arranged according to special preferences.
There must be at least 4 guests joining on this tour. A lack of capacity in the Kruger Park chalets can occur. This happens especially during the South African high season.
So contact us during the planning of your trip to Mpala so we toghether can find just the right time for this extension of your trip.
Price: 4,300 Rand per person for a minimum of 4 guests
Additional 1,000 Rand per vehicle if less than 4 guests
An extra day in Kruger Park
Enjoy a day trip in Kruger Park
og We start out from Mpala before the sun rises and enjoy the sunrise in the car on the way to Kruger Park.
The experience of Kruger is the same as on our included 2 day tour, but we drive in a smaller area as we have to go home again and out of the park before it closes.
Here you will drive through the day with stops in picknik spots and enjoy Mpala’s deliciousries.
Pris: 2,800 Rand pr. person for a minimum 4 guests
Additional 1,000 Rand per vehicle if less than 4 guests
Reptile Park
See and learn about the snakes and other creepy things up close
Honestly– although there are snakes and other “creeping things” in the bush, it is extremely rare to see them. So don’t fear being “attacked” by scary things just because you come to Africa.
If you are interested in seeing them anyway. This trip to the Reptile Centre in Hoedspruit is nice to do. They have a lot of different kinds of reptiles and also some slightly larger insects.
You can also get a demonstration of the reaction of the 3 most dangerous snakes to a close encounter with people in a secure area. In this way you can see for yourself that they are really doing everything they can to dodge and look to get away.
Price: 1,400 Rand per person
