MATTHEW GREEFF SAFARIS
30+Years of Safari Excellence...
BIG 5 PHOTOGRAPHIC & AFRICAN EXPLORER SAFARIS
ALL OUR SAFARIS ARE PERSONALIZED AND TAILOR MADE FOR EACH TRIP ,PENDING THE FAMILY /GROUP'S REQUIREMENTS AND ANY SPECIAL INTERESTS.
PLEASE FIND BELOW A VERY PROVEN AND POPULAR PHOTO SAFARI ITINERARY
WITH A GOOD COMBINATION OF GREAT GAME-VIEWING ,FINDING LOTS OF ANIMALS ,SEEING THE BIG 5 ,LOTS OF SIGHTS ,CULTURE AND GOOD LODGING.
THIS 8 NIGHT COMBINATION TRIP WILL EXPLORE MPUMALANGA’S FANTASTIC WILDLIFE INCLUDING FANTASTIC BIG 5 SIGHTINGS UP CLOSE IN THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, DRAKENSBERG SIGHTSEEING TOUR, OPTIONAL ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE UP CLOSE ,PRIVATE GAME DRIVES ON THE AWESOME OLIFANTS 'BIG 5 RIVER ,WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTRE ,CURIO SHOPPING ETC…
BIG 5 LOWVELD EXPLORER (8 NIGHTS)
DAY 1 ARRIVE JOHANNESBURG OR TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR DAILY DOMESTIC CONNECTING FLIGHTS TO KRUGER MPUMALANGA INTERNATIONAL (KMI) , NELSPRUIT.MATTHEW GREEFF SAFARIS (MGS) TO MEET GUESTS AT AIRPORT WITH A SHORT ROAD TRANSFER TO OUR GOLD VALLEY LODGE.
SETTLE IN ,HAVE A LIGHT LUNCH ,MAYBE A NAP AND GO ON A LATE AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE ON OUR OWN 3000 ACRE OF WILD BUSH WITH +-15 SPECIES OF GAME INCLUDING GIRAFFE, ZEBRA ,KUDU, WILDEBEEST ,WATERBUCK ,NYALA ,IMPALA ,REEDBUCK TO NAME A FEW…
AT GOLD VALLEY LODGE / RANCH YOU CAN FIND YOUR FEET ,DO GAME DRIVES AND WALKS ,SHOOT SPORTING CLAYS ,AS WELL AS NEARBY SIGHT-SEEING TRIPS TO GOLD RUSH TOWN OF BARBERTON AND ITS GEO-TRAIL INTO THE MOUNTAINS, SUDWALA CAVES, ETC
+ DAY 2 @ GOLD VALLEY LODGE
**WE HAVE FOUND THAT JET LAG IS QUITE AN ISSUE FOR THE FIRST 2 NIGHTS ,SO THIS REALLY WORKS WELL !
DAY 3
AFTER BREAKFAST ,HEAD NORTH FOR SCENIC ROUTE TOUR TO THE DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS / GRASKOP ,GODS WINDOW,BERLIN FALLS ,THE PINNACLE AND MORE…
LUNCHES IN MOUNTAINS.
OPTION TO DO THE POPULAR ELEPHANT SANCTUARY WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A TRUNK IN HAND ENCOUNTER (ADDITIONAL COSTS - SEE WEBSITE BELOW)
DINNERS AND OVERNIGHT AT GOLD VALLEY LODGE.
DAY 4 + DAY 5
EARLY MORNING DEPARTURE FOR THE FAMOUS KRUGER NATIONAL PARK IN SEARCH OF AFRICA’S BIG 5 ,GIRAFFE AND MORE…SPEND NEXT 2 EVENINGS IN THE PARK AT OVERNIGHTING CAMPS SUCH AS PRETORIUSKOP ,SKUKUZA ,BERG EN DAL AND SATARA ,TO NAME A FEW.FOR MORE THAN 3 PEOPLE IN A GROUP WE SUGGEST YOUR OWN PRIVATE SPECIAL ADAPTED 9 SEATER OPEN GAME VIEWING VEHICLE ,WITH PRIVATE EXPERIENCED MGS GUIDE.FOR SINGLE COUPLES WE USE OUR OWN PRIVATE MGS SUV OR D/CAB VEHICLES.
DAY 6 :
WORK YOUR WAY OUT THE PARK TO ARRIVE AT NEW EXCELLENCE SAFARI LODGE IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON .SETTLE IN AT SAFARI CAMP ,GAME DRIVE IN AFTERNOON /EVENING RETURN ALONG THE OLIFANTS RIVER ... LOTS OF HIPPO ,CROCODILES , ELEPHANT , AWESOME BIRDING ETC...
DAY 7
BREAKFAST AND THEN A VISIT TO THE FASCINATING MOHOLOHOLO WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTRE NEAR HOEDSPRUIT . OPPORTUNITY TO SEE AND INTERACT WITH CHEETAH ,VULTURES , EAGLES AND MORE ...LUNCH , SOME CURIO SHOPPING AND THEN RETURN IN AFTERNOON. LATE AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE. USUAL AWESOME CAMPFIRES WITH SA RED WINES AND GREAT FOOD.
DAY 8
AFTER EASY BREAKFAST START WORKING YOUR WAY BACK TO NELSPRUIT VIA THE TRIBAL LANDS OF ACORNHOEK AND BUSHBUCKRIDGE TO OUR GOLD VALLEY LODGE FOR FINAL AFTERNOON /EVENING AROUND CAMPFIRE.. FINAL LAUNDRY CAN GET DONE /PACK FOR NEXT PART OF TRIP ETC ..
DAY 9 DEPARTURE DAY
EASY MORNING ,BREAKFAST AND TRANSFER TO KRUGER MPUMALANGA INTERNATIONAL (KMI) FOR SCHEDULED FLIGHT TO JHB FOR FLIGHT BACK HOME
OR
FOR DIRECT FLIGHT OPTION FROM KMI TO CAPE TOWN OR TO LIVINGSTONE ,ZAMBIA / VICTORIA FALLS FOR NEXT ADVENTURE.
NOTES :
SOME FLIGHTS GET INTO JHB DURING THE DAY AND EARLY ENOUGH TO CONNECT WITH A FLIGHT TO KMI .SOME FLIGHTS HOWEVER ARRIVE LATE AFTERNOON AND WE THEN SUGGEST AFRICA SKY GUESTHOUSE FOR YOUR 1ST NIGHT ARRIVAL
AFRICA-SKY GUESTHOUSE (HTTPS://AFRICASKY.CO.ZA/) HAS A MEET AND GREET SERVICE AT OR TAMBO AIRPORT ,A VERY SHORT 12-15 MIN TRANSFERS , EASY DINNERS ON ARRIVAL AND IT IS SAFE AND VERY POPULAR WITH ALL OUR GUESTS.
NEXT DAY, SHORT TRANSFER BACK TO AIRPORT ,GUESTS FLY FROM JHB TO OUR NELSPRUIT TOWN’S KRUGER MPUMALANGA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, (THESE ADD ON FLIGHTS ARE WITH SA AIR-LINK )
DIRECT SCHEDULED FLIGHTS DAILY FROM JHB OR TAMBO INTERNATIONAL TO KRUGER MPUMALANGA INTERNATIONAL HAVE A FLIGHT DURATION OF 50 MIN ). MET AND PICKED UP BY ONE OF OUR GUIDES AND TRANSFERRED THE +-40 MINUTES TO OUR OWN GOLD VALLEY LODGE TO START YOUR TRIP .
OR
IF THERE ARE ANY FLYING ISSUES…WE HAVE A MEET AND GREET OPTION AT JHB AIRPORT OR GUESTHOUSE NEXT MORNING AND THEN A +- 4 HOUR SCENIC DRIVE TO OUR GOLD VALLEY LODGE / RANCH WITH REGISTERED DRIVER AND AIR CONDITIONED VEHICLE ON EASY HIGHWAY (ADDITIONAL COSTS)
MGS SAFARI = 8 NIGHTS
INCLUDED IN COST:
FULL TIME EXPERIENCED GUIDING SERVICES
ALL ABOVE AND FULL TIME SERVICES OF EXPERIENCED GUIDES, ALL CAMP STAFF, ACTIVITIES AND ALL GROUND TRANSPORTATION / TRANSFERS THROUGHOUT SAFARI
GOVERNMENT VALUE ADDED TAX OF 15% (CURRENT)
8 SAFARI NIGHTS WITH ALL PRIVATE ACCOMMODATIONS ALL MEALS & GAME DRIVES AT GOLD VALLEY ,SCENIC MOUNTAINS TOURS,
ALL KRUGER NATIONAL PARK DRIVES IN AN OPEN GAME VIEWING VEHICLE FOR BETTER GAME VIEWING/PHOTOGRAPHY (4+ IN GROUP)
ALL PARK ENTRANCE FEES AND CONSERVATION LEVIES
ALL VEHICLE AND TRANSFERS BETWEEN LODGES /ATTRACTIONS WHILE ON SAFARI AND ANY AIRPORT TRANSFERS FROM AND BACK TO KRUGER MPUMALANGA INTERNATIONAL
BARBERTON MUSEUM AND GEO TRAIL
DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS SCENIC TOUR
MOHOLOHOLO WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTER VISIT /LUNCHES /CURIO SHOPPING
BIG 5 SAFARI LODGE RESERVE GAME DRIVES/ LUNCHES
EXCLUDED IN COST:
PENDING SCHEDULES AND POSSIBLE LATE AFTERNOON ARRIVAL FLIGHTS INTO JHB , YOUR ARRIVAL EVENING AND MEET AND GREET SERVICE AT AFRICA SKY GUESTHOUSE (SETTLE BILL DIRECTLY WITH GUESTHOUSE ) . WE WOULD INTRODUCE YOU AND ARRANGE EVERYTHING .
LIQUOR, BEER AND TABLE WINES AT FAIR COST
GOLD VALLEY LAUNDRY SERVICE @ $75 TOTAL PER GROUP/FAMILY ONCE OFF
BAR BILL /DRINKS /ADDITIONAL LAUNDRY OTHER LODGES
PERSONAL ITEMS AND CURIOS
OPTIONAL STAFF /GUIDE GRATUITIES
SOME ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES (EXTRA COSTS) TO CONSIDER:
ELEPHANT SANCTUARY NEAR CASA DO SOL. (TRUNK IN HAND PROGRAM OR ELEPHANT BACK RIDE OPTIONAL ADD-ON) WWW.ELEPHANTSANCTUARY.CO.ZA
CLAY PIGEON SHOOTING AND TUITION AT OUR GOLD VALLEY CLAY SHOOTING RANGE
CHIMPANZEE SANCTUARY
I HAVE ADDED SOME WEBSITES BELOW FOR YOU TO TAKE A LOOK AT ….
WWW.MOHOLOHOLO.CO.ZA
WWW.SANPARKS.ORG (SEARCH KRUGER NATIONAL PARK )
WWW.MPUMALANGA.COM/EXPERIENCE/ ATTRACTIONS-&-THINGS-TO-DO
COSTS:
THE ABOVE 8 NIGHT PRIVATE PHOTO /SCENIC SAFARI WILL COST USD $ 6640-00 TOTAL PER COUPLE ON A SHARING ROOM BASIS
= $ 3320-00 PER PERSON/ 8 NIGHTS
TO SECURE LODGES AND OUR SERVICES AND DATES ,WE REQUIRE A DEPOSIT OF 50 % PER PERSON TO OUR LOCAL USA ACCOUNT ,TO MAKE PAYMENTS VIA BANK WALK IN /CHECK DEPOSITS / WIRES TRANSFER …VERY EASY. THE REMAINING DAILY RATES ARE NORMALLY DUE 8 WEEKS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL IN AFRICA.
WE ACCORDINGLY DRAW UP AN INVOICE REFLECTING ALL OF ABOVE AND FIGURES QUOTED, TO BE SIGNED OFF BY BOTH PARTIES, SO EVERYONE IS VERY COMFORTABLE.
AFTER 30+ YEARS IN THIS BUSINESS AND A VERY REPUTABLE NAME IN THE INDUSTRY AND LOTS OF GREAT REFERENCES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD ,WE CAN ASSURE YOU A PERSONABLE ,EXCITING YET VERY SAFE TRIP TO OUR AWESOME COUNTRY .
EXCITING OPTIONAL INCLUSIONS OR ADD ONS TO ABOVE TRIP CAN INCLUDE :
2 NIGHTS AT LUXURY BIG 5 PHOTO SAFARI LODGE IN THE SABI SAND OR TIMBAVATI RESERVE HOME TO THE BIG FIVE. AFTERNOON & EVENING GAME DRIVES.
GAME DRIVES IN OPEN LAND ROVERS WITH AN EXPERIENCED RANGER AND TRACKER. 2 GAME DRIVES DAILY, LASTING APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS EACH. EARLY MORNING DRIVE AND LATE AFTERNOON GAME DRIVE, SUNDOWNER IN THE BUSH THEN SPOT LIGHTS ARE USED TO TRACK PREDATORS SUCH AS LION, LEOPARD AND OTHER NOCTURNAL ANIMALS. GAME DRIVES ARE EXCITING, OFTEN VENTURING OFF-ROAD AND OFFERING EXCEPTIONALLY CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH GAME. PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES ARE OUTSTANDING. AFTER BRUNCH, A SAFARI WALK IS AVAILABLE FOR GUESTS INTERESTED IN THE VARIOUS ANIMALS, INSECTS, TREES, TRIBAL VALUES AND ANIMALS TRACKS. DINNER IS HELD IN A BOMA AROUND A GLOWING FIRE. SPECIAL VENISON DISHES FEATURE PROMINENTLY ON THE VARIED FOUR-COURSE BUFFET MENU.
CAPE TOWN - WINE ROUTE, CAPE PENINSULA, TABLE MOUNTAIN
ROVOS RAIL OR BLUE TRAIN JOURNEYS
VICTORIA FALLS /CHOBE/OKAVANGO /SERENGETI AND MORE ...
MPUMALANGA ATTRACTIONS / ACTIVITIES
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ATTRACTIONS
The proximity of our Lodge to the following Lowveld attractions include:
Kruger National Park
Premier Private Big 5 Game Reserves
Blyde River Canyon - Drakensberg Mountains
Kingdom of Swaziland
Historic Gold Rush Town
Fishing, Golf, Clay Shooting
Airports – KMI International Airport
Shangana Cultural Village
and more ...
TANZANIA /KENYA 'SERENGETI MASAI MARA MIGRATION'/NGORONGORO CRATER & ZANZIBAR
Tanzania is full of safari highlights and exceptional game areas ! After several trips up there with our own safari groups and families ,we can advise on best time of year, where to go and our tailor-made tours can be arranged to include Matt /MGS team member as personal guide /photography guide for this epic trip !
Highlights will include intimate tented camps that follow the Wildebeest Migration across Tanzania’s flagship Serengeti conservation area, to ensure front-row seats to all the action. Depending on what time of the year you travel, you could see spectacular river crossings or catch the dramatic calving season.
Pending duration most trips include the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater ,Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks.
East Africa also offers incredible bucket-list Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking experiences in Rwanda /Uganda with the best times during the dry months, from June to September or between January and February.
To see primates in their natural habitat is a life-changing experience. With our advice, we can tailor-make a dream gorilla and chimpanzee trekking experience for you.
Top off your trip with a few days unwinding in the peaceful atmosphere of your private ocean-front lodging on the Zanzibar coast. Explore the rest of the Spice Island on day trips to the historical Stone Town and Prison Island, and the fragrant spice plantations or go snorkelling, scuba diving, sea-kayaking, sailing, or simply just soak up the sun beside the pool .
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CAPE TOWN/ WINE TOURS/ PENINSULA
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CAPE TOWN PENINSULA AND WINELANDS
Table Mountain
The world famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
The Waterfront
Robben Island
A full day tour of the Cape Peninsula: Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Simonstown – our Naval base, the Penguin Colony at Boulders Beach.
Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
The Atlantic and the Indian oceans meet
The southernmost tip of Africa - Cape Agulhas.
Hout Bay
Chapman’s Peak Drive
A full day tour of the famous Cape Winelands - Paarl, Franschoek
Enjoy some wine tasting - Spier wine estate, S Stellenbosch
LUXURY ON TRACKS' ROVOS RAIL/ BLUE TRAIN/ DINNER TRAIN @ VICTORIA FALLS
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ROVOS RAIL / BLUE TRAIN
Rovos Rail
"The Most Luxurious Train in the World"
Recapture the romance and atmosphere of a bygone era as you step aboard their reconditioned wood-panelled coaches and enjoy fine cuisine in five-star luxury.
Blue Train
"Luxury takes on a new dimension with The Blue Train."
You'll feel it the moment you step into the pre-departure lounges in Pretoria or Cape Town. A warm-hearted South African welcome begins a journey that is defined by personal attention and devotion to detail. Kings and presidents have travelled on this magnificent moving five-star hotel.
SPECIALITY BIRDING SAFARIS
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With a checklist of over 300 bird species around the City of Mbombela and the Nelspruit region, this truly is one of the best birding destinations in Mpumalanga
We are currently working on our own species list here at Gold Valley, with a large variety of unique and special birds found in our mountains and riverine forests.
Our regular star attraction is undoubtedly the common sightings of
our resident breeding pair of Crowned Eagles and last year’s
chick.Other raptors seen on a regular basis include Long Crested Eagles, Jackal and Steppe Buzzards, Black Sparrow hawk and Little Sparrow hawks, Special sightings include Ovambo Sparrow hawk, Martial Eagle, African Fish Eagle and all the secretive species including Gorgeous Bush shrike, Narina Trogon, Robin Chats and much more ...
FRESHWATER FISHING / FLY FISHING
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Freshwater Fishing / Fly or Conventional
From the fast flowing Crocodile and Komati Rivers south of the famous Kruger National Park, in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, to the cooler streams and dams of the highlands near Dullstroom, fishermen have access to some of the finest freshwater fishing available in South Africa.
Species include:
Introduced Rainbow and
Brown Trout
The challenging Small or Large mouth Yellow-Fish
Bream & Black Bass
The sought after Tiger-Fish
Experienced fishing guides, local fly-fishing techniques and equipment hire are all available for our guests utilising our services.
MOZAMBIQUE SALT WATER FISHING & COAST / BEACH TRIPS
Benguerra Island – Mozambique
World class deep sea and fly fishing with some of the best guides in the business await you at Benguerra, an exquisite 10 km long, 5 km wide palm-fringed island in the Bazaruto archipelago. An exclusive and idyllic place with each of the thatched chalets built on stilts, with reed walls and wooden floors, en-suite facilities and a private sea-facing veranda. Other activities include snorkeling, diving, dhow cruises, castaway picnics and bird-watching.
Luxury lodging on Inhaca Island, Mozambique only an hour boat ride from Maputo Bay.
Situated on a hilltop,offering a Tropical Island Adventure with a wealth of Breathtaking Beaches, Coral reefs and Exotic Marine Life. It is surrounded by Indigenous Lush Gardens with 180° view of the Indian Ocean. On a clear day the view stretches as far as the Bay of Maputo. Island has some of the best coral reefs in Mozambique, with its very impressive 100km coastline. Marine life is plentiful.
Activities include: Snorkeling, Whale Watching, Surfing, Kayaking, Fishing Charters, Sunset Cruise, Bird Watching, and visits to Lighthouse, Biology Museum and Ponta Torres.
