This Tour Is Offered By
Tour vehicle and guide
Khalanga Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
-
ZA
Khalanga Safaris offers tailored safari tours expertly crafted by our knowledgeable and helpful travel consultant, and lead by one of our qualified nature guides who can’t wait to share their enthusiasm and love for nature with our local and international guests. Khalanga Safaris is a family run tour operator founded by Shoes Mathebula in 2016 after many years of working as a guide, ranger and tracker for Kruger National Park and privately owned establishments in the region.
Reviews129
IN
Great safari in the Kruger
We had a wonderful five night safari experience in Kruger National Park with Khalanga Safaris from October 29 to November 3, 2026. The entire experience, from the initial planning and transfers to the actual game drives, was very well organised. We would happily recommend them.
What was great?
1. Planning and coordination: Thamia was extremely helpful right from the beginning. She proposed an arrangement that worked particularly well for us. We booked our own accommodation at SANParks rest camps within Kruger, while Khalanga Safaris provided the private vehicle and guide, who stayed with us at the same camps. This gave us the flexibility to choose our accommodation while having a dedicated guide throughout the safari. Thamia was very responsive, patient with all our questions and always on top of timelines and arrangements.
2. Payments and transfers: The payment process was straightforward. We could make credit card payments through links shared by Thamia, and receipts were provided promptly. The shared shuttle transfers between OR Tambo Airport and Hoedspruit at the beginning, and Nelspruit and OR Tambo Airport at the end, were also arranged smoothly.
3. Our guide, John Shoes: John was easily one of the highlights of our experience. He was professional, friendly, courteous and always punctual. His ability to spot animals, both big and small, was excellent. He also appeared to know just about everyone in Kruger, across safari operators and SANParks staff, and was clearly well respected.
4. Respect for wildlife: Something we particularly appreciated was John's approach to wildlife viewing. He always gave animals the right of way and never intruded or made them uncomfortable. He maintained a safe distance and would often back off to allow animals to cross the road or continue their natural activities. Animal welfare clearly came before getting a closer photograph or a better sighting. This was very reassuring to see.
5. Vehicle and overall comfort: The vehicle was clean, well maintained and extremely comfortable. The elevated seating position gave us excellent views during sightings. John also drove safely and always ensured our comfort. His thoughtful gesture of offering us coffee and rusks during the early morning drives was much appreciated.
Overall
We had an excellent safari and managed to see a wonderful variety of animals during our five nights in Kruger. The combination of Thamia's efficient coordination and John's experience, professionalism and genuine respect for wildlife made this a very satisfying experience. Khalanga Safaris deserves the five stars, and we would certainly recommend them to anyone planning a safari in Kruger.
DE
Breathtaking
We booked a 5-day safari tour (Kruger NP + Panorama) with Khalanga Safaris. Even before the trip, our communication with Thamia was excellent. She answered all my questions (and I had a lot of them) extremely quickly and very kindly. Thamia also handled our special requests quickly and without any issues. Thank you so much Thamia,for planning such a perfect trip for us
Then, just as we’d hoped, Shoes joined us on our tour. I’d already read many great reviews about Shoes beforehand, but he exceeded all expectations: friendly, helpful, always there for us, and always attentive to our needs. Thank you so much, Shoes—you made our trip truly special.
The Rukiya Safari Camp that was booked for us (and especially the River House) was also perfect for us, even though the drive to Kruger Park was a bit longer—we enjoyed every moment of the trip
We were very sad when our time with Khalaga Safaris came to an end, and if we ever come back, it will only be with Khalaga Safaris.
SA
Perfect
It was a very successful trip with Kalanga Travel. They easily and excellently selected our dietary plan, and the accommodation arranged by our representative was absolutely wonderful, beautiful, and comfortable. As for our excellent guide and specialist John ( shoes) did a fantastic job organizing our trip to the wonderful Kruger. We returned home extremely happy and delighted, It should be included in travel plans for families with children especially with a company like Kalanga.
NL
What an amazing experience!
What an amazing experience! There are many ways to explore Kruger, but we’re very happy we chose Khalanga.
Our guide didn’t just know exactly where to go and what to look for; he also shared personal stories and life lessons from growing up near Kruger, which made the experience so much more special. Our sons were so impressed that after just a few hours, they had already crowned him the “Kruger GOAT”!
On top of that, he was an excellent and very safe driver. We felt completely comfortable and well looked after throughout the entire trip. A truly memorable experience and one we would highly recommend!
BR
Everything was pretty good!
The driver was very kind (he was waiting for us at airport at the right moment) as well all the team, the car was comfortable and the landscapes on Panorama Route were incredible! We truly enjoyed! Thank you.
