Kruger National Park and the private reserves that share its unfenced border offer spectacular Big Five game viewing. Nearby is the aptly named Panorama Route, whose standout feature is the breathtaking Blyde River Canyon.
Kruger National Park is perhaps the most famous park in Africa, home to all the Big Five and a mass of other wildlife. To the west lie the private reserves that share its unfenced border, creating the Greater Kruger. The oldest of these reserves, Sabi Sands, is renowned for offering the best Big Five game viewing in the country. And thanks to a long history of sensitive interaction, the wildlife is mostly relaxed, allowing unsurpassed viewing and photographic opportunities. Other popular reserves include Ngala Private Game Reserve, famous above all for its leopard sightings, Thornybush Private Game Reserve, a great option for families, and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, a conservation success story known for its rare white lions. Some of South Africa’s most luxurious and exclusive lodges can be found in these private reserves.But it isn’t all about the wildlife. Kruger is also a great jumping-off point for a drive along the appropriately named Panorama Route, whose standout feature is undoubtedly Blyde River Canyon. At nearly 30 kilometres long it’s one of the world’s longest and deepest canyons, offering dizzying views across steep, gaping chasms at places like God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.