Big Five Safaris

A Big Five safari is the ultimate South African experience, and Mike offers two world-class destinations to make it happen: Kruger National Park in the northeast and the private game reserves of the Eastern Cape.

Kruger National Park and the Panorama Route

Kruger National Park is South Africa’s flagship game reserve and one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries on earth. Spanning nearly two million hectares of bushveld, Kruger is home to an extraordinary concentration of wildlife, including all of the Big Five - lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo - along with cheetah, wild dog, hippo, and over 500 bird species. Early morning and late afternoon game drives offer the best sightings, when the animals are most active and the light is at its most beautiful for photography.

Many Kruger safaris combine naturally with the Panorama Route, one of South Africa’s most spectacular scenic drives along the Drakensberg escarpment. Highlights include Blyde River Canyon, the third-largest canyon in the world, with its dramatic green gorge and the Three Rondavels rock formations. God’s Window offers breathtaking views across the lowveld stretching all the way to Kruger, while Bourke’s Luck Potholes showcase extraordinary rock formations carved by centuries of swirling water. The Panorama Route is the perfect way to begin or end a Kruger safari.

Eastern Cape Reserves

The Eastern Cape is home to some of the finest private game reserves in the country, all completely malaria-free. Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 to protect the last eleven elephants in the region, and today it is home to over 600 of these magnificent animals, along with lion, buffalo, black rhino, leopard, spotted hyena, and a dazzling array of birdlife.

For an even more exclusive experience, Mike can arrange stays at private reserves such as Shamwari, Pumba, Kwandwe, or Amakhala, where expert rangers lead game drives in open safari vehicles through vast private wilderness areas. These reserves offer a level of intimacy and luxury that is hard to match, with small group sizes, tracking on foot, and the chance to see animals behaving naturally without the crowds of larger parks. Sundowner drives are a particular highlight, ending with drinks in the bush as the African sun sets in a blaze of orange and pink.

Your Safari, Your Way

Between drives, the lodges themselves are havens of comfort, with swimming pools overlooking the bush, gourmet meals, and the sounds of the African night as your soundtrack. Mike will work with you to design a safari itinerary that suits your interests, budget, and time frame - whether that is a Kruger adventure with the Panorama Route, a malaria-free Eastern Cape experience, or an extended journey combining both.