Itineraries
Please note that the itineraries provided are samples intended to give you an overview of what to expect on your safari adventure. Africa Through Your Lens (ATYL) reserves the right to change itineraries as necessary to best fit the time of travel or wildlife movement. Our safari experiences are meticulously crafted to ensure that each guest enjoys the best possible stay, taking into account factors such as the time of travel, animal movement patterns, and the overall safari experience we aim to provide. Additionally, we recognize that the ambiance and atmosphere of the accommodations are integral to shaping the safari experience. Ultimately, our goal is to curate unforgettable safari experiences that showcase the beauty of Africa’s wildlife while delivering unparalleled comfort and hospitality throughout your journey.
Description
Summary: Enjoy the ChaZen Private Nature Reserve & Conservation Center located in the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site. Interact with wildlife and enjoy daily gamedrives while contributing to conservation efforts. You will experience aspects of a private nature reserve, cultural village, Cradle of humankind, a national reserve and stay in a private lodge. Local cuisine will be served.
Duration: 8 Days, 7 Nights
Highlights: It is believed that a major catastrophic event occurred over 2,000 million years ago when a huge meteorite (10-15 kilometers diameter) slammed into this area creating a massive, 300 km (180 miles) diameter impact crater. Although half of the circular rim has eroded away and the crater filled in, a semi-circular range of rim hills still exists, and it is inside this circle of hills that ChaZen is located. In fact, when you sit on the observation deck at the lodge, you have a view of the underside of the Earth’s crust as it was 2 billion years ago!
Private Lodge & Reserve
This private game reserve incorporated into a National Park on the North-Western side. This lower lying reserve’s sweet veld vegetation complements the National Parks predominantly mixed sour veld. This type of habitat is known to carry a wide variety of game species, and sighting of elephant, black rhino and white rhino, buffalo, lion, and leopard are very common. The National Park is 55 000 Hectares (135907.96 Acres) in extent the most remarkable feature of this destination is the 1200 million-year-old volcano crater with a manmade lake in the center.
Cultural Village
This Cultural Village is located in the heart of the African bushveld amidst the rocky hills within the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site. Discover the fascinating cultures and traditions of the people of Africa, visiting five traditional homesteads inhabited by Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele tribes who live according to tribal folklore and traditions of their ancestors.
Day 1: Arrive at O.R. International Airport, Johannesburg. 2-hour Drive South West to ChaZen Private Nature Reserve. Check into accommodations at Safari Lodge. Enjoy lunch at the Safari Lodge. After lunch enjoy downtime to take a nap or relax on the deck at the Safari Lodge. Afternoon tea at the Safari Lodge.
Depart on afternoon gamedrive on ChaZen Private Reserve. Enjoy appetizers and drinks around a Boma Fire before dinner at the Safari Lodge. Dinner at the Safari Lodge where you will be introduced to local cuisine.
Day 2: Morning coffee and breakfast at the Safari Lodge. Depart for a morning gamedrive on ChaZen Private Nature Reserve. Lunch at the Safari Lodge. Downtime to take a nap or relax on the deck at the Safari Lodge. Afternoon tea at the Safari Lodge. Depart on afternoon gamedrive on ChaZen Private Reserve. Enjoy appetizers and drinks around a Boma Fire before dinner at the Safari Lodge.
Day 3: Morning coffee and breakfast at Safari Lodge. Luggage must be ready to load for departure from the ChaZen Safari Lodge. Travel 2.5 hours to Maropeng, Cradle of Humankind, where you will have a tour of the Facility. After the tour have a light lunch. Travel 2.5 hours to a private reserve. Upon arrival, you will enjoy some downtime after check-in to the private lodge. Afternoon tea at the Safari Lodge and bring your Gamedrive essentials. Depart on afternoon gamedrive on the Private Reserve. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Day 4: Coffee & Rusks. Enjoy a cold breakfast at the Safari Lodge. Go on a 6-hour gamedrive into the National Park, enjoy lunch in the Park where you will also have some shopping opportunities.
After the gamedrive, you will have some downtime at the lodge. You will be served tea with a light snack thereafter you will depart on an afternoon sundowner Game drive. After your gamedrive, you will enjoy dinner at the lodge.
Day 5: Enjoy coffee/tea with rusks and breakfast at the Lodge. Your bags will be loaded. Depart on a 2 Hour 40-minute drive to a Cultural Village. Enjoy a tour of the village and a traditional dancing show with lunch. Depart on a 2. Hour drive back to ChaZen where you will enjoy a fire at the Boma and dinner at the lodge.
Day 6: Morning coffee and breakfast at the Safari Lodge. Depart to the ChaZen Educational Center for an Educational tour of the Ambassador Predators. Enjoy some time to connect to the Wi-Fi. Lunch at the Safari Lodge. Downtime to take a nap or relax on the deck at the Safari Lodge. Afternoon tea at the Safari Lodge. Depart on afternoon gamedrive on ChaZen Private Reserve. Enjoy appetizers and drinks around a Boma Fire before dinner.
Days 7: Enjoy coffee/tea with rusks and breakfast at the Lodge. Enjoy a morning Game drive. Lunch at the Safari Lodge. Downtime to pack and get ready for your 2-hour drive to O. R Tambo International airport for your connecting flights.