A 7 day African Safari tour is possible. Within 7 days you can still experience an authentic safari and combine a variety of accommodation styles to truly experience Africa.
How many days in safari is enough?
We could spend (and nearly do!) 365 days a year on safari and every day we learn something new about the natural world around us. All our safari trips are tailored to your timelines and wishes so we can spend however many days you want on safari.
Wild Insights Safaris will take you on a voyage of discovery. You’ll learn to read signs in the blood-red earth, you’ll feel the ground shake to the rumble of elephants, you’ll breathe the same air as the mighty cats, and know the wild like never before.
As a minimum to fully immerse yourself in a safari experience, we recommend at least a 7 day safari (this includes travel).
Is 7 days safari too much?
No! A 7 day safari is a great length of time to experience African wildlife and stay in some beautiful lodges and bush camps.
We recommend 7 day safaris visit only one African country to experience it in all its beauty with the need to rush over borders. So what does 7 days on safari look like?
7 days on safari in South Africa
Day 1: Travel day arriving in South Africa to our beautiful private lodge, Mpfuvu Manor, on the banks of the Olifants River in the Lowveld bush just 20km north of Hoedspruit in the Limpopo region of South Africa. You’ll meet your private safari guides for the trip Graham Cooke and Steve Mortimer and together you’ll discuss your 7 day safari itinerary in more detail, including the animals you’d like to see and any other activities. Enjoy a late afternoon / evening game walk as the sun is sunsetting. It’s a one night stay at Mpfuvu Manor and you’ll tuck into Lista’s traditional South African cuisine for dinner before drinks around the campfire.
Day 2: An early alarm call for your first safari experience to the Pridelands Game Reserve, just a stone’s throw from Mpfuvu Manor – it’s so close we can go on foot or by vehicle! Wildlife are most active early in the morning. Enjoy breakfast in the viewing lounge and see what animals you can spot on the riverbank. We depart for Timbavati (a private nature reserve that covers over 53,000 hectares) and our accommodation for two nights at Machaton Camp which you will enjoy on an exlcusive use basis.
Day 3: The day is yours! You can spend the morning lounging by the pool and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Machaton then we can head out into Timbavati to watch the wildlife roam freely as the sunsets. The Big Five and over 300 bird species call Timbavati Nature Reserve home, making the ultimate photographic safari experience. Evening meals are often followed by drinks around the campire.
Day 4: After a morning game walk and breakfast, we leave Machaton Camp behind and head to Sabi Sands and our accommodation for the next three nights – Jaci’s Sabi House. This is another exsluive use lodge in one of the most famous nature reserves.
Sabi Sands is in particular well known for its amazing leopard sightings. The most elusive animal of the
Big Five is often spotted on game drives through the reserve. As such, Sabi Sands offers a great
photographic safari experience. You can be certain to return home with some absolutely stunning pictures
and memories. Besides The Big Five, other game species occur in great numbers, among which are more
than 300 bird species. Sabi Sands could be the best South African safari destination for wildlife
enthusiasts, photographers and bird watchers alike.
Day 5 & 6: You are the architect of the day. Jaci’s Sabi House is a stunning private lodge where every detail is tailored to guests’ desires and its location in Sabi Sands means a safari is a must. You’ll have numerous opportunities to spot The Big Five under the guidance of your private guides Graham Cooke and Steve Mortimer. It’s a fantastic destination for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and bird watchers alike.
Day 7: If time allows a morning game drive and breakfast will prepare you for a day of travel. It’s time to head home via Hoedspruit Airport with new stories to tell, incredible experiences to reminsice on memories that will last a lifetime.
Best African safari tours
Small group numbers ensure the best African safari tour experience. We focus on providing a personal safari experience where you spend quality time with our knowledgable private guides who will unlock the secrets of the wild. We’re the perfect choice for adventurous spirits, conservationists, wildlife enthusiasts, families and couples looking for the trip of a lifetime
Meet Private Guide Graham Cooke – author of My Life with Leopards.
“Graham and Steve’s infectious enthusiasm and genuine love for the bush are unrivalled. Their spotting skills, and their unique knowledge of animal behaviour, are truly extraordinary.
Jonathan, Tripadvisor Review
Their amazing knowledge and skills enable them to anticipate animal movement, thus ensuring that customers of Wild Insight Safaris will enjoy unrivalled sightings.
I found that my thrill of having enjoyed dream-like sightings which customers of other operators had missed was further enhanced by the conscience-clearing knowledge that, rather than having gone chasing and disturbing the animals, we had enjoyed the relaxing experience of simply having positioned ourselves in places where we knew we could wait for the animals to come to us.”
Our Safari trips
Enjoy the unspoilt wilderness on custom, intimate safaris with Wild Insight Safaris.
We have over 75 years of collective experience organising and leading safaris in Africa. All our safaris are bespoke, we tailor every detail for you with a focus on exclusivity and privacy.
- Luxury Lodge Safari in Africa
A luxury safari means incredible experiences in beautiful locations. It is a shared safari experience, meaning you’ll have an exquisite room in a lodge with other guests.
Explore where we stay on luxury lodge safaris in Africa
- Private Lodge Safari in Africa
Private lodges, peace and tranquillity at every turn. Safari lodges will be exclusively for you meaning it’s the perfect option for families and couples.
Explore where we stay on private lodge safaris in Africa
- Adventure Safari in Africa
Fall asleep to the sounds of the bush, wake up to a chorus of birdsong and relax outside your bush camp while watching the local wildlife walk by.
