3 Day All Incl. Private Kruger Park Safari Incl. Transfer From Johannesburg

Three days gives wildlife time to appear. This private Kruger safari combines round-trip transport from Johannesburg, two nights in an upscale Hazyview resort, and several game drives inside South Africa’s best-known national park. I like the extra time in Kruger, since one rushed drive can easily miss the action, and I like that meals and park fees are built into the price.

The private format is another strong point. Your group travels together, and the schedule can be adjusted around arrival time on the first day. The main drawback is the cost, $1,335.82 per person, along with a strict non-refundable policy. You are paying for convenience and personal attention, not a bargain group trip.

Key points at a glance

• Three separate safari periods: A first-day half-day or sunset drive, a full 11-hour day, and a final six-hour morning safari give you several chances to find animals.
• Private transport from Johannesburg: Your group receives round-trip transportation, which removes the need to arrange a separate Kruger transfer.
• Two nights in Hazyview: The resort stay gives you a fixed base outside the park instead of changing hotels each night.
• Meals are partly covered: The package includes one lunch, two breakfasts, and two dinners, but not alcoholic drinks or gratuities.
• Guides are a major part of the experience: Edwin is praised for his friendly manner and broad cultural knowledge, while JoJo receives especially warm praise for making the trip personal and enjoyable.
• A closed vehicle is used on the last morning: This matters for comfort and visibility, though the exact vehicle type for every safari period is not specified.

Why three days in Kruger makes sense

Kruger National Park is not a quick photo stop. It is a large wildlife area where conditions, timing, and luck all matter. A single game drive can be quiet, while the next one may bring a memorable animal sighting. Three days give your guide more chances to work different parts of the park and respond to what has already been found.

I like the rhythm here. You are not expected to squeeze every sight into one long day from Johannesburg. Instead, you arrive in the Hazyview area, spend two nights at the resort, and enter Kruger on three different occasions. That creates variety: an afternoon or sunset outing, a full day, and an early morning.

The tour is also private, so you do not have to share the vehicle with unrelated people. That can make a real difference during a long wildlife drive. Your group can focus on the animals, ask questions, and manage the pace without adjusting to a large coach party.

Still, private does not mean luxury at every moment. Safari drives can involve long stretches of watching and waiting. Animals do not follow a schedule, and the package does not promise sightings of specific species. The value comes from time in the park and help from a guide, not from a guaranteed checklist.

Leaving Johannesburg for Hazyview

The trip includes pickup and round-trip transport from Johannesburg, a useful feature if Kruger is only one part of a South Africa visit. You avoid booking a separate transfer, finding your own route, or working out how to connect Johannesburg with Hazyview.

The exact pickup duration and vehicle details are not provided, so I would ask for those details before paying. The stated meeting and operating hours run from 5:00 AM to noon, Monday through Sunday, for the published operating period. That early window fits a safari schedule, but your exact pickup time should be confirmed directly.

Your first day depends on when you reach Hazyview. The safari may be a four-hour half-day outing or a sunset drive. This flexible setup is practical because a late arrival does not automatically mean losing the entire first safari opportunity. If you reach the area earlier, you may have more time in the park. If the transfer takes longer, the plan can shift.

The first drive is also useful for getting comfortable with the guide and the safari vehicle. You can learn how the day is organized, ask about the park, and settle into the slow, alert pace needed for wildlife watching.

Day one: a four-hour first look at Kruger

The first safari lasts about four hours and takes place either during the afternoon or around sunset, depending on your arrival in Hazyview. It is a shorter introduction than the next day, but it gives you an immediate chance to see South African wildlife rather than waiting until morning two.

The timing brings different possibilities. An afternoon drive may offer a chance to see animals moving after the heat of the day. A sunset outing changes the light and may make the park feel quieter and more atmospheric. The supplied details do not promise a particular route or species, so keep your expectations open.

This is also where a private guide can help. The guide tracks animals and points out plants, other wildlife, and details you might miss while looking only for large mammals. I appreciate that the focus is not limited to a five-animal scorecard. Kruger is also about the smaller signs of life and the way the park changes through the day.

The possible weakness is simple: four hours can pass quickly. If your arrival is late, the first safari may be shorter in practice because it is tied to the transfer schedule. I would treat day one as a welcome to Kruger, not as the main wildlife day.

Day two: an 11-hour safari from first light

The second day is the heart of the package. You enter Kruger at first light, when animals may be searching for food or heading toward water. The drive lasts about 11 hours, giving your guide a much larger window to track wildlife and show you different plant and animal life.

Early morning is a valuable time for a safari because the park is beginning its day. You may see movement that is less likely during the hotter middle hours, though the tour does not guarantee particular sightings. The guide’s job is to read the conditions, watch for signs, and take you through areas with a better chance of finding wildlife.

An 11-hour outing is a serious day in a vehicle. It suits people who would rather spend a full day in the park than stop after a brief drive. It may feel long if you prefer frequent breaks or have limited patience for quiet stretches. The private setting helps, since your group can manage the day more comfortably than it might on a crowded shared excursion.

The package includes lunch, which removes one practical concern during this long outing. Breakfast and dinner are also included as part of the stay, giving you two morning meals and two evening meals overall. Alcoholic drinks are not included, and gratuities are separate.

Day three: a six-hour morning farewell

The final safari lasts about six hours and takes place in the morning. It is your last chance to track animals with the guide before leaving the park and continuing the trip.

A morning drive is a sensible final outing. It gives you another period when animals may be active, and it avoids using the last day only for transport. Six hours is long enough to feel worthwhile, but shorter than the full second day, which makes the overall schedule less exhausting.

This safari uses a closed vehicle. That detail may appeal if you want more protection from the elements or prefer a conventional enclosed ride. The available information does not specify whether the first two safari periods use the same type of vehicle, so ask if the vehicle format matters to you.

The final morning also offers a different kind of value. Even if you have already seen major wildlife, your guide may point out flora, tracks, and smaller animals that did not catch your eye on earlier drives. Kruger rewards careful looking, not just dramatic sightings.

Hazyview lodging and included meals

Two nights at an upscale resort in Hazyview are included. Hazyview works as the tour’s base, allowing you to return to the same accommodation after the park rather than pack and move each night.

The resort category is described as upscale, but no property name, room details, pool information, or meal style is supplied. I would confirm the exact resort before booking if accommodation quality is central to your decision. The phrase gives you a general level of comfort, but not a full picture of the rooms or facilities.

The meal plan is clear enough to help with budgeting:

• Two breakfasts
• Two dinners
• One lunch
• Park admission and other listed fees and taxes

This is a useful middle ground. You do not need to plan every meal, but you should budget for anything outside the included schedule. Alcoholic beverages are extra, and gratuities are not included.

Because the second safari lasts 11 hours, lunch coverage matters more than it might on a short outing. It keeps the day simpler and means you do not have to arrange a separate meal while inside the park. Still, ask how meals are handled if your first-day arrival changes the normal schedule.

The guides: Edwin, JoJo, and the human side of safari

A guide can shape the entire safari. The strongest personal praise here goes to Edwin and JoJo, though the information does not say which guide is assigned to a particular departure.

Edwin is described as friendly, well cultured, and generous with information beyond simple animal identification. That suggests the guide may add context about South African life, nature, and the places you pass through. For me, that kind of conversation helps turn a drive into a fuller experience.

JoJo receives especially strong praise for making the trip feel personal and for offering recommendations that added to the overall enjoyment. The comments about JoJo are enthusiastic, but you should not assume he will lead every departure. Ask who is assigned to your group if a particular guide matters to you.

The organizer also receives praise for prompt communication and flexibility with timing and scheduling. That is useful on a private trip, where pickup and arrival details affect the first safari. Communication cannot control animal sightings, but it can make the transfer and schedule easier to manage.

Is the $1,335.82 price fair?

At $1,335.82 per person, this is not an inexpensive safari. The value depends on how much you want a private, multi-day arrangement with Johannesburg transport already handled.

You are paying for several substantial pieces:

• Round-trip transport from Johannesburg
• Two nights in an upscale Hazyview resort
• Three safari periods inside Kruger
• A private group setting
• A guide throughout the wildlife outings
• Park admission and listed fees and taxes
• Two breakfasts, two dinners, and one lunch

For two people or a small group, the private setup may feel worthwhile because the service is built around your party rather than a large shared vehicle. It also saves you the work of arranging separate transport, accommodation, meals, and park access.

The price is harder to justify if you mainly want the lowest possible cost or only one short game drive. In that case, a group excursion or a self-arranged visit may cost less, though this package offers more time and less planning.

I would compare the total, not just the headline price. Add the likely cost of Johannesburg to Hazyview transport, two hotel nights, park entry, meals, and separate safari drives. The package may become more competitive once those pieces are counted. Just remember that the experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason, so you should be certain about your dates.

Who should book this safari?

I would recommend this tour to you if you want a private Kruger experience but do not want to organize the moving parts yourself. It suits a couple, family, or small private group that values a personal guide, several park entries, and a comfortable base in Hazyview.

It is also a good fit if wildlife is a major reason for visiting South Africa. The three-day structure gives you more chances than a day trip, and the full 11-hour second day allows plenty of time for tracking and watching.

You may want another option if you dislike long vehicle days, need a flexible cancellation policy, or want a precisely specified lodge and vehicle. The schedule is flexible around the first-day arrival, but the package still has fixed components and a firm no-refund rule.

If you book, confirm the pickup time, the exact Hazyview resort, the assigned guide, and the vehicle type for each safari. Those questions are especially sensible because the first safari changes according to arrival time and only the final vehicle is specifically described as closed.

FAQ

Where does this Kruger safari begin?

The tour is based in Johannesburg and includes pickup from Johannesburg, along with round-trip transportation for your private group.

How long does the experience last?

The safari experience lasts approximately three days.

How many safari outings are included?

You receive three safari periods: a four-hour half-day or sunset safari on day one, an approximately 11-hour safari on day two, and a six-hour morning safari on day three.

Where do I stay during the tour?

The package includes two nights at an upscale resort in Hazyview.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes two breakfasts, two dinners, and one lunch.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the tour price.

Are park fees included?

Yes. All listed fees and taxes are included, and admission to Kruger National Park is included for the safari outings.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your own group participates in the private activity.

Is the tour refundable if I cancel?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or request an amendment, the amount paid will not be refunded.

Should you book it?

Book this safari if you want three chances to explore Kruger, private transport from Johannesburg, a fixed Hazyview base, and guides who can make the wildlife search more personal. The praise for Edwin, JoJo, and the organizer’s communication adds confidence to the service side of the trip.

Skip it if the price stretches your budget, you need refundable plans, or you want complete control over the lodge and vehicle details. For the right group, though, the extra days and private format make this a practical way to experience Kruger without arranging every part yourself.