New Year on Safari

Celebrate the new year in a beautiful bush-lodge setting, surrounded by wildlife and spectacular scenery.

This easy-going African adventure with a family-friendly feel has a strong focus on nature and features special festive touches throughout. Mabula Game Lodge, a private game reserve and base for this tour, presents plenty of opportunities for safari outings in search of the ‘Big Five’, and a blend of guided bush walks and wildlife talks.

The UNESCO-listed Waterberg Mountains serve as the backdrop for your seven-night stay. An experience that will be enhanced further by a stargazing session, a sundowner stop and sunsets that you’ll never forget.

Ways to pay

Venture on five included safaris in search of the ‘Big Five’ around the Mabula private game reserve

Experience an expert-led wildlife talk and bushwalk

Soak up a tangerine-tinged sunset with a sundowner and snacks in hand

Sit back and stargaze at the South African night sky with your tour guide

Upon arrival, you’ll meet your guide at the airport and be transferred to Mabula Game Lodge – your blissful home in the bush for the next week. You can take some time to relax and get settled in, perhaps checking out the wellness and spa facilities.

As the sun sets, your first dinner will be served at the lodge, under a star-speckled sky, while you look forward to a festive break and ringing in the new year.

An early rise will be followed by a cup of tea or coffee, and some rusks before you journey into the game reserve for one of many safaris. All safari drives are in open-air 4x4 vehicles to ensure maximum visibility.

Make sure to keep an eye out for the fabled ‘Big Five’, hyena, jackal, antelope, the elusive cheetah, and honey badger. A well-earned, leisurely breakfast can be enjoyed after you’ve returned to the lodge.

In the afternoon, a resident ecologist and reserve manager will host a fascinating wildlife talk. During this he’ll introduce you to some of the 60 mammals and the 300-plus species of birds and reptiles that inhabit the reserve, arming you with some interesting knowledge for the week.

This evening, after your first full day, you can sit down for a dinner at the lodge.

In the morning, you’ll visit the Hornbill Project, located within the boundaries of the reserve. Founded in 1999, the award-winning Hornbill Project aims to change the fortunes of this iconic, endangered species through several different evidence-based conservation techniques. The southern ground hornbill is a focal point in South African culture, and you’ll learn all about them.

An afternoon game drive is up next, and you’ll head out into the reserve on a safari, equipped with the knowledge from your visit earlier. Tonight, an alfresco dining experience will be a delightful treat.

Rise and shine this morning as you head out into the reserve on safari, hopefully spotting something new to tick off your list. Savour a leisurely breakfast at the lodge when you’ve returned.

You’ll have the opportunity to spend a part of the evening stargazing alongside your guide. As the sun goes down, thousands of twinkling stars, including the Milky Way, reveal themselves to you, completely free of any light pollution. Your guide will point out the different constellations before you go on to have dinner at the lodge.

It’s the last day of the year, and you’ll really make the most of it by getting up early for an included morning safari, giving you the chance to spot herds of antelopes, zebras, and giraffes.

You’ll then return to the lodge and have the afternoon at your leisure, possibly lounging by the pool, or playing a game of tennis. Dinner will be served at the lodge, and you can ring in the new year with some drinks under a starry South African night sky.

Following on from breakfast, your guide will lead you on a gentle bushwalk into the reserve on New Year’s Day. Stretch your legs as you soak up the surroundings and see the reserve from a more intimate perspective. Being closer to the ground also allows you to track the paths of animals, like kudu and maybe even lions that have followed the same path just a few hours before you.

This afternoon, embark on another open-air safari into the reserve, keeping a lookout for the ‘Big Five’. Post-safari, you’ll stop at a picturesque spot to sip on a sundowner and tuck into some snacks as the sun dips beyond the horizon, turning the sky into a patchwork of pleasing shades.

On your final full day, you’ll experience one last safari within the reserve. You’ll then return to the lodge for a relaxed breakfast and a morning at leisure.

In the afternoon, you’ll go back into the reserve, travelling to a scenic spot in the bush and feasting on a traditional lunch.

After breakfast, it’s time to say your goodbyes to the lodge and its staff. You’ll be transferred to Johannesburg airport for your overnight return flight, bringing your celebratory week on safari to an end.

Mabula Game Lodge spotting cheetah on a game drive

Mabula Game Lodge Accommodation Suite Side View

Mabula Game Lodge, water feature at night

Mabula Game Lodge Accommodation Bushtime Room

Mabula Game Lodge, giraffe and wildebeest on a game drive

Spend some time visiting the award-winning Hornbill Project

Feast on an included lunch right in the heart of the bush

Relax and unwind in an open bar open between 12pm and 10pm

Five safaris into the Mabula Private Game Reserve, plus a wildlife talk, bushwalk, visit to the Hornbill Project, a bush lunch, stargazing and a sundowner in the bush
Seven nights’ full-board accommodation at the Mabula Game Lodge, plus two on the aircraft
Open bar between 12pm and 10 pm (limited to local brands only and beer, wine and spirits, premium brand beverages and cocktails are excluded)
Return flights to Johannesburg, with coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager and wildlife specialist
All mandatory local taxes and charges

Dates & Prices

Mabula Game Lodge Limpopo, South Africa The UNESCO-listed Waterberg Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop to this luxury lodge.

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made. In many developing countries access is sometimes not as easy as at home. Should you have walking difficulties, getting around monuments and attractions may be harder and, in some cases, impossible. Should you have any concerns whatsoever please do contact us prior to travel.

In developing countries road networks are continually being improved and expanded, which can mean that, from time to time, roadworks and rough road surfaces can extend journey times. Some journeys are made on winding mountain roads and passes, which may also make for slow travelling - although the scenery is usually worth it! Many roads do not have separate pavements or safety barriers, and great care should be taken when crossing or walking alongside roads.

All mandatory local taxes and charges are included in the price of your holiday as per the itinerary. Prices for any optional excursions are listed separately. Any suggested free-time activities, attractions, meals or entertainment are not included (unless otherwise stated), and may be subject to local charges. Please note that tipping is optional and as such, is typically not included in the price of your holiday (unless otherwise stated).

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New Year on Safari

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