Best March Break ever!
NEW FOR 2025: This tour was created to fit precisely into Ontario's nine day March Break. By flying out of Toronto Saturday morning and returning the next Sunday morning, families from anywhere in the province can visit this bucket list destination without missing a minute of school, making this an unforgettable March Break for everyone, including teachers and school staff!
Who hasn't dreamt of riding across the African savannah in an open vehicle, checking out the elephants, rhinos, hippos, giraffes, zebras, and a few big cats? I think everyone had this dream as a kid, but for many Canadians, an African safari has always seemed too far, too expensive, too dangerous, or just too much to seriously contemplate.
Well, here's some good news: TravelMaven wants to make your safari dream a reality!
Our home-away-from-home in the Kruger is Rio Vista Lodge overlooking the Crocodile River. From here, we enjoy six day trips, including three safaris into Kruger National Park. The first safari will be all-day (departing at 5 am!), the second will be an evening safari that starts in the daylight and ends after dark, and the third will be a chance to take a more relaxed attitude and hopefully see what we may have missed the first two times!
In addition to safaris, we will also do a few more awesome things. For example, we will make a full day tour to the Panorama Route to see the Blyde River Canyon, often called Africa's green Grand Canyon. We will also visit Jane Goodall's Chimp Eden and Sudwala Caves.
Finally, it's important to note that all activities and almost all meals are included. For those things not included, prices are reasonable (e.g. beer $3), so your spending money total could easily be as little as $200 per person.
I am confident this will be the trip of a lifetime for whomever joins us. If you've read this far, you must have an African safari on your bucket list. Here's your chance to scratch it off!
TOUR DETAILS
2025
LAND PACKAGE: $2,980
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $500
2026
TOUR PACKAGE (inc air): $3,280
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: $600
TYPE: Safari
HOTELS: 4 star
GROUP SIZE: Max 18 guests
DURATION: 9 days (6 hotel nights)
FLIGHTS: This tour was created specifically for the Ontario March Break. As such, it is only available once each year, and is based on the flight schedule of Ethiopean Airlines between Toronto and Johannesburg. While there are many airlines that connect these two cities, some require an additional night in Johannesburg (which we can easily arrange).
LAND PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Rio Vista Lodge Kruger (6 nts)
Breakfast (6)
Lunches (2)
Dinners (6)
3 Kruger safaris (2 full-day; 1 sunset)
Kruger bush braai (subject to availability)
Panorama Route day tour
Jane Goodall's Chimp Eden
Sudwala Caves
Local Tour Director and safari guides
Domestic return flights (Jo'burg-Kruger)
All ground transportation
All taxes and fees
Land Package prices are quoted in Canadian dollars, and this price is guaranteed once the 20% nonrefundable deposit is received.
DAILY AGENDA
DAY 0 (Fri): Arrive in Toronto (optional)
Those not living near Pearson Airport may want to arrive in Toronto on Friday, so TravelMaven has arranged a special rate at the Holiday Inn (900 Dixie Road) that includes one night accommodation and parking for 8 additional days. Please ask for details.
DAY 1 (Sat): Depart Toronto
While trans-Atlantic flights are not included in the Land Package, this March Break Special is built around Ethiopean Airlines flight 553 that departs Pearson at 10:20. (There are other flight options, but most of those depart Friday afternoon or evening.)
Get ready for the trip of a lifetime!
DAY 2 (Sun): Arrive Johannesburg; transfer to Kruger (D)
Our Ethiopean Airways flight arrives at Johannesburg airport at 13:10. After clearing customs, guests will catch Airlink regional flight 845 to Kruger Mpumalanga Airport, where they will be picked up by our local hosts Debbie and Charles, and taken to Rio Vista Lodge for a relaxing afternoon around the pool and dinner at The Deck restaurant.
DAY 3 (Mon): Kruger Safari (B,D)
We leave the hotel early in open safari vehicles to catch sunrise in Kruger National Park. This is a full-day safari that includes morning coffee stop at Afsall Trader’s Rest and lunch at Skukuza, the largest rest camp in the Park. After returning to Rio Vista Lodge mid-afternoon, dinner is on The Deck.
Dinner visitors at Rio Vista Lodge
DAY 4 (Tue): Chimp Eden, i'Langa Mall, Sudwala Caves (B,D)
In the morning, we visit Chimp Eden, a mountain-side facility operated by the Jane Goodall Foundation that rehabilitates and provides refuge for abused chimpanzees. Afterwards, we will stop at the i'Langa Mall for lunch and some time in a modern South African shopping mall before heading to Sudwala Caves to explore this amazing underground space.
DAY 5 (Wed): Free Time; Kruger Sunset Safari (B, L, D)
This day has a slow start, with plenty of time to sleep in, hang around the pool, or maybe get a massage! In the late afternoon, guests head to Kruger for a sunset safari with a National Park Ranger, followed by dinner in or near the park.
On safari in Kruger National Park
DAY 6 (Thu): Panorama Route & Blyde River Canyon (B, L, D)
We will leave early, headed north to experience the world-famous Panorama Route. This spectacular drive overlooks the Blyde River Canyon, sometimes called Africa's Grand Canyon. There will be several stops for photographs, and lunch will be provided at the famous Harrie's Pancake House.
DAY 7 (Fri): Kruger Safari (B,D)
On this day, guests will experience their third Kruger safari. Depending on what we see on our first two visits, our safari guides will try to find anything we've missed. After an easy afternoon, guests will have their final opportunity to try something new off The Deck's extensive menu.
Blyde River Canyon
DAY 8 (Sat): Depart South Africa (B)
After breakfast, guests will be shuttled to Kruger Mpumalanga airport to catch a 10:45 flight to Johannesburg that connects them to the Ethiopean Airlines flight at 14:35 back to Canada (shuttles will also be provided for those departing at different times).
DAY 9 (Sun): Arrive in Canada
For those flying Ethiopean, their flight will arrive at Pearson at 09:05, and the Holiday Inn shuttle will take guests back to their cars.
Leopard (photo taken by TravelMaven guest)