Lots of our guests fly to the Kruger National Park and its adjacent private game reserves for his or her Kruger safari and fly straight out again. Unless you’re seriously short on time, i suspect that’s a true shame, because the countryside around Kruger National Park, including the Blyde River Canyon, is stunning.

1) The Panorama Route

The Panorama route is the name of the drive alongside the Blyde River Canyon in the beginning of the Highveld. This area of sculpted peaks and deep ravines, tumbling streams and green valleys provides a marked contrast to the sub-tropical bushveld of the Kruger. The panorama drive alongside the Blyde River Canyon, an imposing red sandstone gorge with sheer cliffs plunging into waters below, is magnificent. It is usually used to get from the northern Kruger area including the Timbavati and northerly Sabi Sands right down to the Hazyview area where the various country lodges are situated. It truly is worth taking either as a scenic day drive or so one can get from A to B. Nearby is Pilgrim’s Rest, a restored mining village that was the epi-centre of the 19th century gold rush, and the town’s many preserved houses and museums bring alive this fascinating history of false hopes and dashed dreams.

2) Relax & Lie In

After the very early mornings of a Kruger safari, it truly is good a good way to lie in for some real R&R. a few of the lodges along with Cybele Forest Lodge or Olivers have stunning spa facilities so that you don’t even have to leave the lodge to enjoy yourselves . Here is particularly needed if you’re spending time at two different safari lodges. We endorse breaking apart your Kruger safari experience with 2 nights at a rustic lodge in between.

3) Enjoy some activity

A Kruger safari in a personal game lodge or inside the Kruger park itself inevitably involves a lot of sitting in game vehicles and many eating of fine food. The Blyde River Canyon area provides the appropriate antedote with a variety of soft adventure activities on offer equivalent to like ziplining, white water rafting, kloofing, hiking around Blyde River Canyon or maybe some more sedate rambles to go to pretty waterfalls around Sabie. (Here’s a picture of my daughter ziplining…)

And two practical reasons:

4) Flight Connections

If you’re connecting to a different destination throughout the region inclusive of Botswana, Victoria Falls or Mozambique, you regularly need to stay overnight in Johannesburg because the flights depart within the morning between 11 and 12 noon. You may avoid this overnight city stop should you catch the early morning flight from Kruger Mpumalanga Airport (or KMIA for brief) as much as Johannesburg.

You cannot stay at a game reserve and catch this flight as there’s not enough time to get to the airport (the reserve gates don’t open until 6am) but you could spend an evening or two at a rustic lodge.

Similarly to be able to fly direct from the Kruger Airport to Victoria Falls (which departs mid morning), you would need to miss your final game drive whenever you were staying at a game lodge, whereas you’re able to have a leisurely breakfast at a rustic house hotel before the quick 30-40 minute drive to the airport.

5) Driving back to Johannesburg

Finally a good way to drive back to Johannesburg in preference to flying (cheaper if you find yourself a family) then the drive from among the many private game lodges will take you not less than 6 hours and regularly more like 7 hours. Not pleasant with kids! But the drive from one of several country lodges is a way more reasonable 4 to 4½ hours counting on which one you pick, and at the least 1/2 that drive is particularly scenic.

Trip Report on Cybele Forest Lodge

Recently we stayed at Cybele Forest Lodge & Spa near the Blyde River Canyon area and that i thoroughly recommend this lodge, ideally for no less than 2 nights (or 3 nights – see the special below). It’s far an old hunting lodge in the midst of a forest which have been became an overly convivial country house hotel. There’s a range of room types to fit various pockets from their well-appointed and spacious luxury rooms as much as their massive Paddock Suites which come complete with their very own garden and big private pool. These are great for honeymoon couples or even families with kids of 10 upwards as there’s a mezzanine level that can accommodate two children with their very own shower room. Cybele has long had a name for nice food and there’s an intensive a la carte menu in addition to a tasting menu with wine pairing. The breakfasts were superb and in addition to the Spa, there’s a rather well equipped gym in case you are feeling somewhat guilty about your food intake! There’s also a captivating walk along the riverside and a secluded swimming pool of their extensive gardens.

Long Stay Special at Cybele Forest Lodge

If you might have more time, you may make the most our 3 for two special – stay 3 nights at Cybele Forest Lodge but pay for less than two…