3 Days Radisson Kruger Safari Tour from Johannesburg

The best feature here is the three different safari settings packed into a short trip. You get a sunset drive in Blue Canyon Reserve, a full day in Kruger National Park, and a final morning in Moditlo Private Game Reserve. That gives you different scenery, driving styles, and chances to see wildlife without changing hotels every night.

I like the Radisson base in Hoedspruit, with spacious rooms, a spa, gym, good food, and a calm setting. I also like the small maximum group of 10, plus the fact that airport transfers, two dinners, two breakfasts, and bottled water during the Kruger day are built into the price. The main drawback is the demanding schedule: the first morning starts at 7, the last day includes an early drive and an airport transfer, and lunch is not included.

Key points at a glance

• Three wildlife outings in three days: Enjoy a three-hour sunset drive, a full-day open-vehicle safari in Kruger, and a three-hour morning drive in Moditlo.
• A comfortable Hoedspruit base: The Radisson provides spacious rooms, a gym, spa, restaurant, breakfast, and a peaceful place to rest between drives.
• Simple airport connection: A shuttle leaves OR Tambo International Airport at 7 am and returns you there after breakfast on the final morning.
• A small group size: The tour has a maximum of 10 people, which should make vehicle time more manageable than a large coach-based outing.
• Wildlife variety: Blue Canyon is described as a 38,000-hectare reserve with rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs, and leopards.
• Plan for extra costs: Lunch, personal purchases, and any spa treatments are outside the package price.

Three safari settings, not just one park

This trip works because it does not treat safari as a single drive through a single reserve. Each outing has a different purpose.

The Blue Canyon drive gives you an afternoon and evening in the bush, when the light changes and the day cools. Kruger provides the longest wildlife session, with a full day in one of Africa’s best-known national parks. Moditlo finishes the trip with a shorter morning drive near the Mbesi River.

That variety matters on a three-day schedule. You are not spending all your time on the road between separate lodges, but you still get more than one type of safari. You also return to the same hotel each night, so you can unpack once and keep your routine simple.

The tour description places all three outings under Kruger National Park in the day headings, but the actual activities are more specific: Blue Canyon Reserve on the first afternoon, Kruger National Park on the second day, and Moditlo Private Game Reserve on the final morning. Keep that distinction in mind when comparing this package with a tour that stays inside Kruger for the entire trip.

Day 1: Johannesburg to Hoedspruit, then Blue Canyon at sunset

Your trip begins at 7 am at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport. The included shuttle takes you toward Hoedspruit, with arrival at the Radisson expected between 12:30 and 13:30.

This transfer makes the tour useful for anyone building a South Africa trip around Johannesburg and Kruger. You do not have to arrange a separate connection to Hoedspruit, though the first day is largely a transport day. Once you arrive, you have a short window to check in, freshen up, and settle into the hotel before the afternoon outing.

The Blue Canyon drive leaves at 15:15 and lasts about three hours. The reserve covers 38,000 hectares of bushveld and is described as a home for rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs, and leopards. No safari can promise a sighting of any particular animal, but the reserve’s size and species list make this a serious opening outing rather than a quick introductory ride.

The timing is the real attraction. A sunset drive lets you watch the bush change from afternoon light into evening. Sundowners and snacks are included, giving you a chance to pause during the drive rather than treating every minute as a search for animals.

You return to the hotel at about 19:30. That makes for a full first day, especially after the morning transfer from Johannesburg. I would keep your arrival-day plans simple and avoid adding extra activities before the drive.

The Radisson in Hoedspruit: comfort between game drives

The hotel is a major part of the value here. This is not a basic bush camp where the wildlife setting is the only reason to stay. The Radisson offers spacious rooms, a gym, a spa, restaurant service, and a quiet setting with views across the surrounding natural area.

That comfort can make a real difference on a compact safari. You have somewhere pleasant to return to after a long drive, and you do not need to move bags between properties. Several of the strongest comments about the trip focus on the hotel’s cleanliness, comfortable beds, friendly staff, food, and well-kept facilities.

Breakfast is included on two mornings, and dinner is included on two nights. The hotel’s breakfast receives particularly strong praise, so make good use of it on the morning when timing allows. Dinner gives you a settled end to the first two days, though you should remember that lunch is not part of the package.

The spa is available as a hotel amenity, but spa treatments are not listed as included. If that appeals to you after a game drive, treat it as an extra purchase and confirm the cost directly with the hotel or tour operator.

This hotel-based format suits you if you want safari with a touch of polish. It may be less appealing if your priority is sleeping inside a remote reserve, hearing animals around a tented camp, or spending every waking hour in the bush.

Day 2: the full-day Kruger safari

Day two is the main event. You leave early for a full-day open-vehicle safari in Kruger National Park, one of the most recognized wildlife areas in South Africa.

The length of this outing is its biggest advantage. A three-hour drive can produce a memorable sighting, but a full day gives you much more time to cover ground and wait near promising areas. It also gives you a better feel for the scale and changing scenery of the park.

The focus is on the Big Five, along with other wildlife encounters. The included vehicle is an open safari vehicle, which should give you a more direct view than a fully enclosed shuttle. Bottled water is supplied during the Kruger safari, a small detail that matters on a long day outside.

You should expect an early start and a late return compared with the shorter drives. The schedule allows time in the park, but it leaves little room for a leisurely hotel morning. Bring practical clothing, sun protection, and a camera or phone with enough battery for the day. Those are sensible preparations for any long outdoor outing, and they do not require buying specialist safari gear.

One thing to understand is that wildlife viewing is never fixed. You may see several major species, or you may spend long stretches watching smaller animals and the bush itself. The value of this day comes from the amount of time available, not from a guarantee of a checklist.

After the park, you return to the Radisson for dinner and rest. That return to a familiar room is one of the package’s clearest advantages over a more complicated lodge-hopping plan.

Day 3: a Moditlo morning near the Mbesi River

The final morning begins with a three-hour game drive in Moditlo Private Game Reserve. The reserve sits along the Mbesi River, giving this outing a different setting from the previous day in Kruger.

A morning drive is a good way to finish a safari because the day starts with wildlife activity before the heat builds. The three-hour length is also easier on your schedule than another full-day outing, especially since you need to check out afterward and begin the return journey.

Once the drive ends, you return to the hotel, check out, and have a farewell breakfast. Then the shuttle takes you back to OR Tambo International Airport.

This timing is convenient if your onward plans involve Johannesburg airport, but you should not book a tight flight without confirming the expected transfer schedule. The supplied details give the start time from Johannesburg and say the return shuttle follows breakfast, but they do not provide an exact airport arrival time.

The final morning is efficient rather than relaxed. You receive one last safari, breakfast, and transport back to Johannesburg, but there is no spare day for delays or a leisurely afternoon by the hotel pool.

What the $1,956.43 price includes

At $1,956.43 per person, this is a substantial short safari. The price makes more sense when you look at what is bundled together:

• Return transport between OR Tambo International Airport and Hoedspruit
• Air-conditioned transport
• One full-day open-vehicle safari in Kruger
• One three-hour Blue Canyon sunset drive
• One three-hour Moditlo morning drive
• Two dinners
• Two breakfasts
• Bottled water during the Kruger safari
• Accommodation at the Radisson

You are paying for more than park access. The package combines hotel accommodation, scheduled transport, three safari outings, and meals into one booking. That can be good value if you want a ready-made trip and would otherwise need to coordinate transfers, rooms, and separate drives yourself.

The price is harder to justify if you already have accommodation in Hoedspruit, can arrange a cheaper private transfer, or only want a single Kruger day. Lunch is excluded, as are personal purchases and spa treatments, so allow room in your budget for food during the transfer days and any extras at the hotel.

Group discounts are offered, though no discount amount is specified. Since the maximum group size is 10, ask for the current group rate if you are booking with family or friends.

The tour is typically booked about 40 days ahead. That is useful planning guidance, but confirmation is still subject to availability and is sent within 48 hours of booking.

Transport, group size, and the daily pace

The air-conditioned vehicle is welcome on the long Johannesburg to Hoedspruit transfer. You are covering a considerable distance on day one, and climate control makes that leg more comfortable.

The small group limit of 10 is another practical plus. You are still joining a group rather than booking a fully private safari, but a 10-person maximum should make boarding, listening, and vehicle movement easier than a large sightseeing bus.

The schedule is tight. Day one runs from the airport shuttle to the evening return from Blue Canyon. Day two is an early full-day outing. Day three combines a morning drive, checkout, breakfast, and the airport shuttle.

I would choose this tour if you have only three days and want the planning handled for you. I would choose a longer safari if you prefer slow mornings, several full days in the bush, or more time at the hotel.

Communication before departure appears to be a strong part of the service. Ruben is noted for replying promptly to questions, while Lavender is described as helpful with booking details and WhatsApp communication. These are useful contacts for sorting out pickup instructions and additional arrangements before you leave, though they are booking representatives rather than named safari guides.

Who will enjoy this safari most

This package is a good fit for you if:

• You are starting or ending a South Africa trip at OR Tambo International Airport.
• You want a short safari without arranging every transfer separately.
• You like comfortable hotel facilities after outdoor activities.
• You want a mix of Kruger and private-reserve drives.
• You prefer a group capped at 10 people.
• You are comfortable with early mornings and long scheduled days.

It may not suit you if you want a remote camp, a private vehicle, a slow pace, or a trip devoted entirely to Kruger National Park. It also requires firm commitment because the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason after purchase.

Most people can take part, according to the supplied participation information. Specific mobility details are not provided, so contact MoAfrika Tours before booking if you have questions about vehicle access, walking, luggage, or other personal needs.

Practical ways to prepare

Pack light but bring layers. Morning and evening drives can feel different from the warmer middle of the day, and the tour includes several outings at opposite ends of the daily temperature range.

Keep lunch money available. Lunch is not included, and the itinerary gives you little reason to assume that every meal is covered. Personal purchases are also extra.

Save the pickup details and WhatsApp contact information before departure. The shuttle leaves OR Tambo at 7 am, so you should know exactly where to meet it and arrive with time to spare.

Finally, leave some flexibility around your return flight. The final shuttle follows breakfast, but no exact airport arrival time is supplied. A comfortable connection is wiser than one that depends on perfect road conditions.

Should you book this Radisson Kruger safari?

Book it if you want a polished, compact safari with three distinct game drives, reliable airport transport, and a comfortable hotel base. The strongest reasons are the full-day Kruger outing, the small group cap, and the convenience of having dinners, breakfasts, accommodation, and transfers arranged together.

Think twice if the $1,956.43 price stretches your budget, if you need flexible dates, or if you want a fully private and slower safari. The non-refundable policy makes careful planning important.

For a first short safari from Johannesburg, this is a sensible package. You trade some freedom for a straightforward plan, but you gain a comfortable room, varied wildlife settings, and far less trip planning.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Johannesburg International Airport, also known as OR Tambo International Airport, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

What time does the tour start?

The airport shuttle departs at 7 am.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately three days.

Where do you stay?

You stay at the Radisson Hotel in Hoedspruit.

Which safari activities are included?

The package includes a full-day open-vehicle safari in Kruger National Park, a three-hour sunset drive in Blue Canyon Reserve, and a three-hour morning drive in Moditlo Private Game Reserve.

Is airport transport included?

Yes. Return transport from OR Tambo International Airport is included.

Are meals included?

Two dinners and two breakfasts are included. Lunch is not included.

Is bottled water provided?

Bottled water is provided during the Kruger safari.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 10 people.

Can I cancel or change the booking?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.