4-Day Big Five Safari in Kruger & Johannesburg City Tour

This 4 day Kruger Big Five safari is a short trip with two parts: two nights in the bush for dawn drives, a sunset bush dinner and the chance of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, then a day of Johannesburg's history at the Apartheid Museum and in its markets. Kruger covers almost 20,000 square kilometres, which is larger than some countries. Transfers, park fees, full board and a local guide are included.

Kruger is one of Africa's great parks, with lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, rhinos and a wide range of birds. You rise early for a birdwatching drive, join an evening game drive when the animals become active, and have dinner in the bush under the stars. Read our guides to the Big Five in Tanzania versus South Africa, where to go on a Big Five safari and planning a South Africa safari, and see the page on Big Five safaris.

In Johannesburg you visit the Apartheid Museum, walk through a craft market, photograph Nelson Mandela Square and see something of the city's energy. See the cultural experiences page and the South Africa destination page.

Easy to moderate. It suits travellers who are comfortable with early starts for sunrise drives, time in open vehicles and bush lodges, and a mix of safari and city touring. You do not need to be an athlete, though a reasonable level of fitness helps. Johannesburg to the Kruger area and back is a long road journey each way.

May to September is the dry season, with cooler mornings, thinner bush and animals concentrated near water, so it is the best time for sightings. The summer months, October to March, are hotter and greener, with more birds and afternoon storms. Dress in layers: dawn drives are cold even in warm months.

This trip suits travellers with limited time who want a Big Five safari and some history in a single long weekend. If you want more days in the bush, see the 6-day Sabi Sands and Kruger safari, the 7-day Kruger safari and Table Mountain hike or the 8-day South Africa Big Five safari and Cape Town.

Check entry rules with our travel visa guide. Note that the Rosebank market operates on Sundays only, so day three works best when it falls on a Sunday, and we will tell you if you travel on another day.

If you are also weighing a trip with conservation and community visits built in, see our Signature Journeys in Rwanda.

Planning this trip? Our guides on the best park for the Big Five in South Africa and a Big Five family safari in South Africa cover the main questions to settle before you book.