There’s nothing quite like waking up to the sounds of the African bush — the distant roar of a lion, the call of a fish eagle, and the rustle of leaves in the early dawn. Our 6-day Kruger National Park safari with Viva Safaris was the ultimate South Africa travel experience, combining breathtaking wildlife encounters with the comfort of staying at Tremisana Lodge. From spotting the Big Five on evening game drives to witnessing pink sunrises over the savannah, every moment in Kruger reminded us why this park is one of Africa’s most iconic safari destinations.
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Check out our YouTube video on our experiences at Tremisana Lodge
Day One – Johannesburg Airport to Tremisana Game Lodge
We flew into O R Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, from Botswana the day before. Viva Safaris offer a transfer service from several Airport hotels to the lodge. We chose to stay at one of their nominated hotels – Protea Hotel by Marriott O R Tambo Airport. The hotel provides complimentary airport transfers, a swimming pool, a bar, a restaurant, and very comfortable accommodation with an airport theme.
How to get to Tremisana Lodge
Our Viva Safaris shuttle bus was on time, leaving the hotel at 9:15 am for the approximately 7- to 8-hour transfer to Tremisana Lodge. There are toilet stops along the way, and lunch was at the Mayfly Restaurant at Dullstroom. The food and service are excellent at the Mayfly Restaurant, a good choice by Viva Safaris. It is a pretty town with lots of restaurants, cafes, and shops.
Tremisana Lodge is located in the Balule section of the Greater Kruger Park’s Olifants West Nature Reserve.
Sunset Safari and Bush BBQ
On arrival at Tremisana Lodge, we had 20 minutes to check into our room and prepare ourselves for our first 4-hour sunset safari and a Bush BBQ at the Marula Tree Boma. Who would have thought that in those first four hours we would get to see all of the Big Five? The Big Five are the rhino, elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo, and we saw them in that order the first night. Another first for us was a typical African Bush BBQ under a Marula Tree. The fruit of the Marula tree is fermented to create the deliciously smooth Amarula cream liqueur — a treat we all thoroughly enjoyed tasting. A sneaky hyena tried to get close to the fire where the meat had been cooked, but was quickly hunted away by the staff. He was persistent!
Good to know: take a jacket with you for the sunrise and sunset safaris
Day Two – Sunrise Safari, Bush Walk, and Evening Sunset Sundowner Safari
Tea and coffee were served at 5:15 a.m. for a 5:30 am departure for our first sunrise safari and bush walk. As we left camp, there was a lone elephant at the waterhole near the lapa.
The highlight of the morning came at 6 a.m., when we spotted a leopard perched high in a tree with her impala kill. We watched in awe as she effortlessly balanced herself and her prey, displaying both power and grace with every movement.
In that first hour, we came across zebras, hyenas, elephants and lions all enjoying the early morning sunshine.
There were a few beating hearts and nervousness when we set off for our bush walk. Raymond, one of the lodge’s very experienced guides, with rifle in hand, guided us through the bush, explaining not only about the animals but also about the vegetation. Those who were game enough even tried one of his favourite games – seeing how far you can spit giraffe poo. Giraffe poo can be likened to small, hard, round droppings similar in size to marbles. Most managed to do a fair job of it, but it was definitely not on my sports bucket list.
Good to know: there is a list of dos and don’ts when you are undertaking a bush walk – your guide will explain these to you. Wear a good pair of walking shoes, wear sunscreen, take a jacket and bring water with you
Morning tea was a simple yet memorable affair — an apple, biscuits, and a bottle of water enjoyed by the riverbank of the Olifants River. At the same time, hippos lounged lazily in the shallows nearby.
Back at the lodge, we enjoyed a late breakfast and some time by the pool before a substantial lunch at 1.30 pm.
This afternoon’s 4-hour safari with a ‘sundowner’ starts at 3.30. Giraffes, a white rhino, kudu, lions, impalas, and an elephant had us all snapping away with our cameras before the sun started to set. Our ‘sundowner’ orders were taken during our lunch, and as we gazed out into the African bush at this golden hour, we sipped our drinks and enjoyed some nibbles.
Back at the Lodge, our evening dinner was being prepared on the open fire whilst a lone honey badger scampered in and around the waterhole, and we all watched on.
Dinner is three courses consisting of a vegetable soup, main meal and dessert. All dietary requirements are catered for, and there is plenty of delicious food to go around. You can purchase drinks, which will be put on a tab and paid for at the end of your holiday.
Day Three – Kruger National Park – Orpen Gate Entrance
The journey to the Orpen Gate entrance to Kruger can take up to 1.5 hours, depending on traffic. It’s a long day of travelling, and you won’t get back to Tremisana until around 7 pm or 7:30 p.m. But it is definitely worth it. There were wildebeest, lions, impala, elephants, giraffes, waterbuck, baboons, kudus, zebras and a variety of birds.
Lunch is at the Cattle Baron Restaurant in Satara, which is about 48 km from Orpen Gate or a driving time of 2 hours. Park regulations had us exiting the park by 5:30 pm at the latest. There are plenty of menu options at the Cattle Baron Restaurant, as well as a deli, cafe and souvenir shop. Credit cards are accepted here.
Day Four – A visit to the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre and an afternoon Safari
A visit to the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre is a must! It was interesting to learn about their process and the animals that have come through their centre.
The visit starts with a short video presentation on the Centre and its successes, and then a walk around. You do not get to see some of the animals or birds, as those that can be released back into the wild are kept away from humans as much as possible to make the readjustment easier and safer for them.
During our visit, we were fortunate to see a range of eagles and birds, a pair of white lions, a leopard, a black leopard, a pair of wild dogs, a cheetah, and a honey badger.
During the afternoon’s safari, it was a little quieter than usual with elephants, impalas, and hippos in the water where we enjoyed our ‘sundowner’. One thing is for sure, on safaris, you don’t know what you are going to see!
Day Five – Our last day visiting Kruger National Park
It was sad to know that this would be our last day experiencing Kruger National Park, as tomorrow we head back to Johannesburg.
Many herds of elephants, impalas, kudus, a tower of giraffes, wildebeests, a family of ostriches with 11 chicks, a tortoise, zebras, warthogs, baboons, and the discovery of a mating pair of lions and a leopard – what a great conclusion to a wonderful experience. We could not have wished for anything more!
Day Six – Time to head back to Johannesburg
There is an opportunity to have a short sunrise safari, but we chose not to, as we had two big days of travelling ahead of us. Those who went had the opportunity to see a black rhino (one of the animals I was keen to see). Oh well, there can always be another time!
On the return journey, your shuttle takes you via the Panorama Route, where you stop for around 40 minutes for coffee, a toilet stop, and to see the Rondawels. This famous rock formation looks similar to traditional African round huts, from which their name is taken. Unfortunately, it was very foggy and we did not get the perfect view!
The lunch stop was at the Mayfly Restaurant, and we reached our hotel, the Protea Hotel by Marriott, late afternoon.
Good to know: whilst at the Mayfly Restaurant, you may change vehicles and drivers as this is their changeover point.
Viva Safaris
I found Viva Safaris to be very responsive in all my dealings with them.
They offer a great range of accommodation and safari packages to suit all budgets, from 2 to 7 days.
The meals in the restaurant are excellent, as well as the service from the staff.
The rangers and the drivers are some of the best around, and at all times we felt very safe. We learnt so much each time we went out on a drive.
I could not fault any part of our 6-day safari at Tremisana Lodge and can highly recommend Viva Safaris.
What I Would Do Differently
The length of time was just perfect for us. The only thing we would change is to fly from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit, the airport close to Tremisana Lodge. The flight departs Johannesburg for its 1-hour flight at 12 pm and returns at 2 pm.
Conclusion
Our 6-day Kruger National Park safari with Viva Safaris was more than just a wildlife adventure — it was a journey into the heart of Africa. Each day brought new discoveries, from quiet moments watching elephants at the waterhole to the excitement of spotting a leopard at sunrise. The blend of expert guides, an authentic lodge stay, and unforgettable encounters made this South African safari truly special. As we left Tremisana Lodge, we carried with us not just photographs, but memories of Africa’s untamed beauty — a reminder that the magic of Kruger lingers long after you’ve gone.
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