6-Day Sabi Sands & Kruger Game Drive Safari from Johannesburg

This 6 day Sabi Sands & Kruger safari is designed around a short flight and a lot of time in the bush. You fly from Johannesburg to the Kruger area, spend two nights in the Sabi Sand private reserve for off-road tracking and night drives, move into Kruger for a full day on its roads, and finish with the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. Flights, park fees, full board and a driver guide are included.

Sabi Sand shares an unfenced border of about 50 km with Kruger, so wildlife moves freely between them, and the private reserve is known for leopard sightings. Inside the reserve the guides and trackers can drive off-road to follow fresh tracks, and the day ends with a spotlight night drive. Read our South Africa safari planning guide and the comparison of Big Five safaris in Tanzania and South Africa.

Kruger then gives you broader habitat and bigger herds: riverine forest, open savannah, elephants along riverbeds, buffalo on the floodplains and wide skies full of raptors. See the page on Big Five safaris, game drives and the South Africa destination page.

Easy to moderate, and suitable for most people with a normal level of fitness. Most days include game drives of three to four hours in the morning and afternoon, plus one guided bush walk. The drives are vehicle-based, with early starts and some time in open vehicles.

May to September is the dry season, with cooler mornings, thin bush and animals around the water, so sightings are at their best. The summer months, October to March, are hotter and greener, with afternoon storms and many birds. Layers matter because dawn drives are cold in any month.

This trip suits couples and small groups who want a high-quality Big Five experience in a short time, and who like the idea of flying to the bush. For a shorter version see the 4-day Kruger Big Five safari and Johannesburg tour, and for a version with Cape Town the 8-day South Africa Big Five safari and Cape Town.

The Apartheid Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so we plan day five around that. Check entry rules with our travel visa guide.

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.