South Africa: Big Five Safari at Sebatana Elephant Lodge
10 Days | 7 Nights at Sebatana Elephant Lodge | Johannesburg – Waterberg – Sebatana Private Reserve
From £2,337 per person, including return flights | In partnership with Newmarket Holidays
Based on two adults sharing, departing London Heathrow on 2nd February 2027. Regional departures available on request. Price includes all mandatory taxes and charges.
Tour Overview
Escape to the wild heart of South Africa’s Waterberg region on this full-board safari at the intimate, four-star Sebatana Elephant Lodge. With just 14 rooms set within a private reserve where access is strictly limited, it often feels as though you have the bush all to yourself.
Head out on open-air game drives in search of zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and meerkats, venture into the nearby Welgevonden Reserve to look for the Big Five, and track wildlife on foot with an expert guide. Between drives, relax by the pool, enjoy wine tastings and a bush brunch, and toast the sunset over the Waterberg Mountains. A friendly tour manager and wildlife specialist is with you throughout.
Tour Highlights
- Seven nights’ full board at the four-star Sebatana Elephant Lodge
- Big Five game drive in the Welgevonden Reserve
- Open-air game drives in the private Sebatana Reserve
- Guided bush walk and a walk-in visit to the Christina’s Wallow waterhole hide
- Traditional African brunch in the bush at Kudu Rock
- Sundowner drinks at Sunset Rock overlooking the Waterberg Mountains
- Welcome drink and complimentary wine tastings
- Visit to the Apartheid Museum or the Voortrekker Monument (depending on date)
- No packing and unpacking: one lodge for your whole stay
- Fully escorted by a tour manager and wildlife specialist
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 – London Heathrow → Johannesburg
Board your overnight flight to Johannesburg.
Overnight: On board
Day 2 – Johannesburg → Sebatana Elephant Lodge
Your tour manager meets you at Johannesburg airport for the scenic transfer to Sebatana Elephant Lodge. After lunch, settle in and perhaps take a dip in one of the pools. This evening, enjoy a welcome drink, dinner and a briefing on the week ahead.
Overnight: Sebatana Elephant Lodge
Day 3 – Sebatana Reserve Introduction & Game Drive
Explore the reserve by 4×4 as your guides introduce its animals and plant life. After lunch, set out on your first open-air game drive, looking out for zebra, meerkats, giraffe, wildebeest and impala. Enjoy a complimentary wine tasting before dinner.
Overnight: Sebatana Elephant Lodge
Day 4 – Welgevonden Big Five Game Drive
Venture into the nearby Welgevonden Reserve in search of the Big Five: lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant. This evening, you can join an optional tribal evening to learn about South Africa’s indigenous cultures.
Overnight: Sebatana Elephant Lodge
Day 5 – Bush Walk & Christina’s Wallow
Join your guide on a gentle bush walk through the Sebatana Reserve. In the afternoon, take a game drive to Christina’s Wallow, a hide overlooking a waterhole, completing the final stretch on foot for a truly authentic wildlife experience.
Overnight: Sebatana Elephant Lodge
Day 6 – Day at Leisure or Optional “Echoes of the Past”
Relax at the lodge, or join the optional “Echoes of the Past” excursion to the Kaingo Private Reserve for an early game drive and a visit to ancient archaeological sites, including Bushman paintings and cave shelters used by the earliest humans.
Overnight: Sebatana Elephant Lodge
Day 7 – Game Drive & Bush Brunch
Set out early to spot antelope on the move, stopping mid-morning at Kudu Rock for a traditional African brunch with views across the bush. Enjoy another wine tasting before dinner, and perhaps join the optional night safari.
Overnight: Sebatana Elephant Lodge
Day 8 – Sunset Rock Sundowner
Join an optional morning Big Five game drive in the Kaingo Game Reserve, or relax at the lodge. In the afternoon, head out on a safari to Sunset Rock for a sundowner overlooking the Waterberg Mountains, followed by a farewell dinner.
Overnight: Sebatana Elephant Lodge
Day 9 – Johannesburg → London Heathrow
Say goodbye to the lodge and travel to Johannesburg with a packed lunch. Depending on the season, visit the Apartheid Museum and Hector Pieterson Memorial, or the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria, before your overnight flight home.
Overnight: On board
Day 10 – Arrive London Heathrow
Arrive back in the UK in the early morning.
What’s Included
- Return flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg (regional departures available on request)
- Seven nights’ full-board accommodation at the four-star Sebatana Elephant Lodge
- Game drives in the Sebatana Private Reserve in open-air vehicles
- Big Five game drive in the Welgevonden Reserve
- Guided bush walk and Christina’s Wallow hide visit
- Bush brunch at Kudu Rock
- Sundowner at Sunset Rock
- Welcome drink and complimentary wine tastings
- Visit to the Apartheid Museum or the Voortrekker Monument
- Transfers throughout
- Fully escorted by a tour manager and wildlife specialist
- All mandatory local taxes and charges
- ATOL protection
What’s Not Included
- Optional excursions: tribal evening, “Echoes of the Past”, night safari and Kaingo game drive
- Drinks (other than those listed)
- Travel insurance
- Gratuities and personal expenses
Accommodation
Seven nights at the four-star Sebatana Elephant Lodge near Lephalale, set within a sweeping private game reserve. With just 14 rooms, including two suites, it offers a wonderfully intimate safari experience. Each room has an en-suite bathroom, air conditioning and its own small terrace, and the lodge has a restaurant, bar, outdoor pool, Jacuzzi and a traditional African boma.
Enquire Now
Ready for a Big Five adventure in the Waterberg? Departures run from London Heathrow between December 2026 and October 2028, with regional departures available on request. Our touring experts can find the best date and price for you.
Call us on: 0800 033 7787
Or complete the enquiry form below and we’ll be in touch.
*Price correct at the time of publishing (31st October 2026). The from price is per person, based on two adults sharing and the 2nd February 2027 departure from London Heathrow. Regional UK departures are available on request and prices may vary. Prices vary by departure date and are subject to availability and change. A single supplement applies for solo travellers. Optional excursions are payable locally. Tour operated by Newmarket Holidays (ABTA V7812, ATOL 2325).