2-Day Kruger Safari from Johannesburg
A Real Big Five Break in a Single Weekend
Overview
Two days, one night, and a genuine Big Five safari from Johannesburg — put together for travellers who have a weekend rather than a week. You leave the city in the morning, you are on an open 4x4 with a ranger by the afternoon, and you are back in Johannesburg the next day in good time for an onward flight. There is no minibus herded down the highway and no roadside guesthouse: this is a private concession inside the Greater Kruger, with every game drive, every meal and all park fees already settled.
How you reach the bush is your choice, and we set it out plainly. The included road transfer carries you from Johannesburg to a lodge near the Numbi Gate, the closest corner of Kruger to the city. If you would rather keep your feet out of the car, a light-aircraft fly-in to Skukuza turns the drive into a short hop and buys you more time on the ground — we quote it openly so you can weigh the trade for yourself. Either way you get an afternoon arrival drive and a sunrise drive the next morning: two proper sessions in the field, a night under a sky full of stars, and a short break that still feels like a real safari. When you have a day more, the same trip extends cleanly to our three-day Kruger Classic.
Who It's For
Made for travellers with only a weekend free, anyone adding a quick taste of the bush to a Johannesburg or Cape Town holiday, and first-timers who want a short safari handled properly rather than rushed.
Package Highlights
Two Big Five Drives
An afternoon arrival drive and a sunrise drive the next morning
Private Ranger & Open 4x4
Expert guiding on a private concession, off the busy public roads
One Night in a Real Lodge
A proper Greater Kruger lodge, not a roadside guesthouse
Transfer Included
Return road transfer from Johannesburg, fly-in offered as an upgrade
All Meals & Fees Settled
Every meal and all park and conservation fees are in the price
Weekend-Friendly
Runs Friday–Saturday or Saturday–Sunday with no leave required
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A morning departure from Johannesburg brings you to your lodge near the Numbi Gate in time for lunch — by road through the escarpment, or on a short light-aircraft hop to Skukuza if you have taken the fly-in upgrade. Once the afternoon heat eases, your first game drive heads out with a ranger and tracker, often with an early sighting, and closes with sundowners in the bush before a boma dinner under the stars.
🏨 Accommodation: Nkambeni Safari Camp / Shishangeni Private Lodge
🍽️ Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Your Route
Tap a marker to see each stop on your journey.
Featured Lodges & Accommodation
Nkambeni Safari Camp
📍 Private concession, Numbi Gate, Greater Kruger
A value-luxury lodge on an 11,500-hectare private concession just inside Kruger at the Numbi Gate — the closest corner of the park to Johannesburg, which is exactly why it suits a two-day trip. Spacious safari suites sit on raised decks under the trees, with a boma, a pool and a spa at the centre. Comfortable, characterful and genuinely good value for a single night.
From $320 per person per night
Shishangeni Private Lodge
📍 Mpanamana concession, south-eastern Kruger
A premium thatched lodge on the 15,000-hectare Mpanamana concession, offered on the fly-in tier when you would rather trade the drive for more time in the bush. Thatch chalets open onto private pool decks, with a riverside dining room, a spa and an open-air boma — a refined step up for a short but special break.
From $520 per person per night
Pricing & Options
All prices per person sharing. Customize any tier to your preferences.
Value Luxury
(~$690/night)
Nkambeni Safari Camp suite, return road transfer from Johannesburg, both game drives and all meals
Get QuoteFly-In Premium
(~$1,150/night)
Shishangeni Private Lodge thatch chalet, return light-aircraft fly-in to Skukuza, bush walk and premium beverages
Get QuotePrivate & Exclusive
(~$1,750/night)
Top suite, private vehicle and guide for your party only, fly-in and all-inclusive beverages throughout
Get QuoteWhat's Included & Excluded
✓ Included
- ✓ One night's lodging on a private Greater Kruger concession (chosen tier)
- ✓ All meals from lunch on day one to breakfast on day two, with boma dining
- ✓ Both game drives — an afternoon arrival drive and a sunrise drive
- ✓ Open 4x4 game drives with a qualified ranger and tracker
- ✓ All park, reserve and conservation fees
- ✓ Return road transfer from Johannesburg (light-aircraft fly-in on the upgrade tiers)
- ✓ Airport meet-and-greet and private transfers
- ✓ Sundowner drinks on the afternoon drive
- ✓ Bottled water, tea and coffee throughout
- ✓ 24/7 on-trip support from Beyond Africa Safaris
✗ Excluded
- ✗ International and domestic flights to/from Johannesburg
- ✗ Travel and medical insurance (mandatory)
- ✗ Visa fees where applicable
- ✗ Premium imported champagne, cellar wines and spirits
- ✗ Spa treatments and wellness extras
- ✗ Gratuities for guides, trackers and lodge staff (guidelines provided)
- ✗ Personal expenses and curio purchases
- ✗ Optional activities not specified (helicopter flips, private vehicle upgrades on lower tiers)
Photo Gallery
Best Time to Travel
April to October is the dry season — thinning bush and animals drawn to the waterholes make for the strongest Big Five viewing, which matters most when you only have two days.
Why Choose This Package
A Real Safari, Not a Day Trip
One night on a private concession with two proper game drives, rather than a long round-trip in a day with barely an hour in the park.
Honest About the Transfer
The road transfer is included and the light-aircraft fly-in is quoted openly — you decide whether the extra bush time is worth it.
Private Guiding, Quiet Roads
Open 4x4 drives with a ranger and tracker on a private concession near Numbi Gate, away from the crowded public routes.
Extends When You Have More Time
Love it and want another day? The itinerary steps up cleanly to our three-day Kruger Classic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Experience the 2-Day Kruger Safari from Johannesburg?
From $690 per person | 2 Days / 1 Nights
⚡ Limited availability for peak season 2026 — book early to secure your dates
