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Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

  • Signature Stays
  • Exclusive & Intimate Experiences
  • Best Travel Experts
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Image 1 of 16
Signature

Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.

Comfort Level

Premium

Activity

Culture

Overview

Where nature reigns and skies stretch infinite, the safari plains stir with life and quiet connection

In South Africa’s northeast, nature moves to an ancient rhythm: in the march of elephants, in the flick of a lion’s tail, in the hush before dawn. Led by your handpicked Signature Guide, journey from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park, tracing the living pulse of South Africa. Each day reveals a new cadence: rare encounters, quiet reflection, and feasts beside the fire, so you don’t just see the wild, you feel it.

Venture to the very heart of each destination on our Signature Collection, where every journey is shaped by our unrivalled local connections and insider expertise. Step beyond the ordinary with private invitations, rare encounters, and experiences few will ever share. So when someone says, “I’ve been there,” you’ll simply smile, knowing you’ve experienced it differently.

Signature Day: Experience our distinctive Signature Day, choosing between included activities such as meeting the pioneering women of the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit, crafting unique jewellery from snare wire, gold panning in Pilgrim’s Rest, or a scenic Blyde River Canyon cruise

Signature Stay: Answer the call of the wild at Leopard Sands, Kruger Park, where luxury and the natural world combine in perfect harmony

Signature Guide: Let your handpicked Signature guide lead you to the country’s soul – sharing their home, heritage, and heart

Key Information

Signature Exclusive Inclusions

  • Elegant, hand-picked hotels and a Signature Stay in a luxury retreat close to Kruger National Park
  • All breakfasts, five lunches, and seven dinners, featuring restaurants that capture the authentic cuisine of South Africa
  • Your preferred Signature Day experience, selected and prebooked ahead of travel
  • Named Signature Guide with outstanding knowledge and guest satisfaction
  • Complimentary transfers on arrival and departure, plus comfortable transport throughout (private vehicles and safari-style 4x4s)
  • Gratuities for local support staff so every detail of your journey feels effortless

Don't Forget To

  • Request a single room if required, purchase travel insurance and arrange any visas and vaccinations.

Signature Experiences

Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Discover the wild’s rhythm on a private full-day safari through Kruger National Park, tracking elephants, lions, and rhinos alongside expert rangers
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
See the rescued residents of Jane Goodall’s Chimp Eden and learn how education and empathy are transforming conservation
rhino
Join a community in harmony on a private tour of Nourish Eco Village, creating, cooking, and sharing a braai lunch beneath the trees

Itinerary

Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
  • First Destination: Johannesburg
  • Next Destination: Kruger Airport
  • Accommodation:Fairlawns Boutique Hotel and Spa
  • Meals included:Dinner
  • Accommodation:Hippo Hollow Country Estate
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Hippo Hollow Country Estate
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation:Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Meals included:Breakfast
  • First Destination: Johannesburg
  • Next Destination: Kruger Airport

Welcome to Johannesburg, where urban energy meets creative flair and stories of renewal shape the city’s spirit. Complimentary arrival transfers are provided today.

Those arriving early can join an optional walking tour of Soweto or accompany local chefs in the Outdoor Kitchen for a hands-on potjie cooking session. Using herbs from the garden and fragrant spices, create dishes like chicken stew, vegetarian curry with pap, and the beloved chakalaka salad (both activities available to prebook on request).

We gather at Fairlawns, a serene boutique retreat surrounded by lush gardens. Unwind by the pool or admire the art-lined interiors before meeting your Signature Guide for our welcome reception.

As evening falls, head to Marble Restaurant in Rosebank, led by David Higgs, one of South Africa’s top chefs who creates bold flavours that define South Africa’s culinary spirit.

  • Accommodation:Fairlawns Boutique Hotel and Spa
  • Meals included:Dinner

Travel east into Mpumalanga, where sheer escarpments give way to canyons, rivers, and waterfalls. Pause in Dullstroom for lunch at Clarky’s Lakeside Restaurant, a tranquil spot surrounded by still water and soft hills.

Continue through the Drakensberg escarpment to marvel at the Three Rondavels, their sculpted forms standing guard over the Blyde Canyon, and at Bourke’s Luck Potholes, where water has carved intricate sandstone patterns through time.

By late afternoon, arrive at Hippo Hollow Country Estate on the Sabie River, your serene retreat amid indigenous gardens. Dinner celebrates South African flavours paired with fine regional wines.

  • Accommodation:Hippo Hollow Country Estate
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

Today is your Signature Day, inviting you to connect with South Africa. You could:

  • Visit the Black Mamba All-Women Anti-Poaching Unit, a groundbreaking initiative empowering local women to protect rhinos and reconnect communities through conservation.
  • Try your hand at gold panning in Pilgrim’s Rest, keeping what you find before a guided walk through the town’s historic museums and mining heritage.
  • Cruise the Blyde River Canyon, where lush cliffs rise above Africa’s largest active tufa waterfall, and go behind the scenes at Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre.
  • Fight poaching by crafting your own unique bangle from snare wire alongside the conservation-driven team at Down to the Wire.

Return to the lodge for an unhurried afternoon at leisure, before dinner together at our retreat.

  • Accommodation:Hippo Hollow Country Estate
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Travel the Panorama Route, where Mpumalanga’s escarpment drops into misty valleys. A short walk at God’s Window reveals vast Lowveld views, gold and green fading to the horizon.

Descend by glass elevator into Graskop Gorge, joining a naturalist for a guided forest walk and the Next-Level suspension bridges high above the trees. Enjoy lunch at the Lift Café before continuing to our Signature Stay, Leopard Sands, a riverfront retreat where modern design meets wild serenity.

After settling in, set out on our first private game drive through Kruger as the afternoon light softens. Tonight, unwind with a cinema under the stars, complete with wine, popcorn, and the gentle hum of the bush.

  • Accommodation:Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

Signature Experience: Wake before dawn as the bush stirs to life, joining an expert ranger to explore Kruger National Park. Travelling in open 4×4 vehicles, track safari icons – lions, elephants, rhinos, and more – with an expert by your side. Pause mid-morning as your ranger interprets the bush’s subtler signs, from tracks pressed into the dust to birds heralding unseen movement.

Midday brings a stop at Skukuza Indigenous Plant Nursery, a sanctuary for native flora and a cornerstone of Kruger’s conservation work. Enjoy an educational talk with a specialist botanist and the chance to adopt and plant a tree, a contribution to the park’s rewilding efforts. A picnic lunch awaits amid the greenery before continuing the safari through the park’s diverse terrain.

Return to Leopard Sands in time for sundowners overlooking the Sabie River, the bush glowing with the last light of day.

  • Accommodation:Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

Descend into the 240m-year-old Sudwala Caves, among the oldest known on Earth, to walk through vast illuminated chambers and ancient formations. Emerge to daylight for a private lunch at the Sudwala Restaurant, gazing over forested hills that once formed part of the Gondwana supercontinent.

Signature Experience: Continue to Chimp Eden at the Jane Goodall Institute for a private tour and talk with the Primate Manager. From raised walkways, watch rescued chimpanzees roam freely through semi-wild forest enclosures, a powerful glimpse of protection and hope restored.

Return to your lodge to unwind before dinner.

  • Accommodation:Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

Signature Experience: Join a private tour of Nourish Eco Village, where local hosts share the harmony of community, culture, and conservation. Stroll through organic gardens, create beadwork and recycled art, and cook traditional dishes alongside the village’s ‘grannies’. Meet a Sangoma (traditional healer) to hear stories of ancestral balance before sharing an African braai lunch – a celebration of warmth and togetherness.

Return to the lodge for a final private game drive, as the late-afternoon light gilds the Sabie River.

As night falls, gather for a farewell boma dinner under the stars. Begin with a hand-washing ritual, then dine in dashiki sarongs to the rhythm of marimba music and traditional dance. The evening closes beside the fire with s’mores, hot chocolate, and stories shared beneath the night sky.

  • Accommodation:Leopard Sands, Kruger Park
  • Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Savour one last breakfast surrounded by birdsong before you complimentary transfer to either Skukuza Airport or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. Flights from either of these airports can be added to your booking (supplements apply). Your journey might end here, but the experiences linger: elephants at dusk, lion roars in the distance, starlight mirrored in the Sabie River.

Alternatively, open a new chapter of discovery by speaking to your Signature Collection travel expert about extending your stay.

  • Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

Need flights or extra nights? Book through us – one team, one seamless journey

Call us: 020 3733 5948
Read more about our flights

  • Friday 11 Sep 2026 to Friday 18 Sep 2026

    Availability
    Available

    This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
    Optional Single Supplement
    +£ 1730

    £ 7355 (excl. flights)

    Book with £ 1838 deposit

  • Friday 18 Sep 2026 to Friday 25 Sep 2026

    Availability
    Available

    This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
    Optional Single Supplement
    +£ 1730

    £ 7355 (excl. flights)

    Book with £ 1838 deposit

Your Group, Your Adventure

Want to choose your travel companions? Gather your family and friends and let us create a Private Adventure just for you.

View Details

Accommodation

Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains
Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains Image 1 of 17

Experience the best of South African hospitality

Every aspect of the Signature Collection is meticulously planned to take you deeper into the destination. That means your accommodation is a refined showcase of local hospitality, whether you’re staying in a pioneering luxury hotel or enjoying privileged access to a characterful stay designed to fully immerse you in the local culture.

Below are the accommodations we use on this adventure:

Johannesburg: Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa (night 1)

Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

A tranquil oasis in the heart of the city, Fairlawns offers an elegant welcome to South Africa. Set amid lush gardens, its individually styled suites, art-lined interiors, and serene spa create an atmosphere of grace and calm. The perfect prelude to your journey into the wild.

Hazyview: Hippo Hollow Country Estate (nights 2-3)

Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

Set along the banks of the Sabie River, Hippo Hollow is a warm, contemporary escape at the gateway to Kruger. Thatched chalets overlook the river where hippos wallow at dusk, while the restaurant pairs regional cuisine with fine South African wines. A blend of charm, comfort, and the untamed spirit of the Lowveld.

Kruger National Park: Leopard Sands, Kruger Park (nights 4-7)

Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

Your Signature Stay. Set on the banks of the Sabie River, Leopard Sands combines modern luxury with the thrill of a true African safari. Riverfront suites open onto private decks where elephants and hippos may wander below, while lantern-lit boma dinners and curated dining experiences celebrate the flavours of the bush. Evenings bring starlit skies, the call of night birds, and, on one special night, a private open-air cinema beneath the constellations.

  • Enhance your stay: Personalise your journey with curated room upgrades or additional nights tailored to your travel plans.

Essential Information

We have graded this trip Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page.

Driving times: The longest travel time takes place on Day 2, with approximately five hours’ driving from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park. Game drives will also involve long days in a vehicle.

Prebooking activities: An immersive adventure of your choice awaits on the Signature Day. This activity is included – all you need to do is prebook your chosen experience at least 60 days before departure through our Signature Collection travel experts. Additionally, an optional walking tour of Soweto or a cooking session can be prebooked for Day 1.

As with all adventures in the Signature Collection, we take care of your arrival and departure transfers, allowing you to fully relax and immerse yourself in the local culture.

  • Arrival airport: O.R. Tambo International (JNB)
    • Your adventure begins with a welcome reception at 6pm on Day 1 at our first accommodation.
  • Departure airport: Skukuza (SZK) or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP)
    • Your adventure concludes with a complimentary transfer to either Skukuza Airport or Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, from which onward flights can be organised to Johannesburg. Please speak to our Signature Collection travel experts to add these flights to your booking.

Complimentary transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Complimentary transfers should be booked with your Signature Collection travel expert at least two weeks before the tour starts.
South Africa

Travellers from the UK, US and most (though not all) EU states normally do not need a visa to enter South Africa. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/south-africa
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SouthAfrica.html

Please note, all travellers to South Africa who require a visa need at least two consecutive blank pages in their passport (ie a left- and right-hand page) to enable an entry visa to be issued.

Additionally, any child under 18 travelling to South Africa needs to be in possession of an unabridged birth certificate with the names of both parents. If a child under 18 is only travelling with one parent, they will also have to have an affidavit, no less than three months old, from the absent parent confirming the child can travel with the other parent; a court order granting full legal guardianship of the child; or a death certificate of the deceased parent.

This journey is designed to deepen your connection to the country through its food and drink. From renowned chef David Higgs’ live-fire creations at Marble Restaurant to riverside lunches and open-air feasts in Kruger, flavour takes centre stage. Dine on flame-grilled game, Cape-inspired curries, and citrus desserts from Mpumalanga’s orchards. At Leopard Sands, lantern-lit bomas and a farewell dinner with marimba music capture the warmth and creativity of South Africa.

South Africa’s northeast shifts beautifully with the seasons, each revealing a new face of the wild. From May to October, golden light bathes the plains, and wildlife gathers around rivers and waterholes. Between November and April, rains return to renew the land, transforming the bush into a lush green sanctuary alive with migratory birds.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

We also weave Signature Legacy moments into your itinerary, so the positive impact of your trip lasts long after your stay. These are moments to remember which help people and nature thrive, ensuring you build a harmonious, positive connection with the places you visit.

On this journey, you can:

  • Support South Africa’s wildlife guardians on your Signature Day. You could meet the Black Mamba All-Women Anti-Poaching Unit, who empower communities through conservation, or transform reclaimed snare wire into jewellery with the conservation-focused artisans at Down to the Wire
  • Explore Chimp Eden, part of the Jane Goodall Institute, where rescued chimpanzees live freely in forested enclosures, and learn how the Roots & Shoots programme supports conservation and community awareness.
  • Join our hosts at Nourish Eco Village to garden, craft, and cook alongside the community’s ‘grannies’, share a braai lunch, and learn from a traditional healer – providing essential income for the communities and helping to preserve local culture.

Signature South Africa | Across the Wild Plains

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£ 7355
8 Days Excluding Flights
0203 9605443 dates & prices

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