Prolific sightings. Unhurried encounters. Exceptional five-star value.
Our best-value luxury Big 5 combination pairs two lodges we know firsthand: four nights at RockFig Safari Lodge in the Timbavati, followed by three nights at Klaserie Drift Misava Safari Camp in the quieter Klaserie Private Nature Reserve.
We’ve stayed at both lodges, reviewed them honestly and designed this itinerary around what actually makes a great safari: productive game viewing, beautiful accommodation, excellent food and enough time to properly experience the wildlife.
RockFig brings the frequency and excitement. Misava brings the space and intimacy. Together, they offer the perfect balance of quality and quantity at two of the best-value five-star lodges we have stayed at in Greater Kruger.
Help me plan my safari →At a Glance — The Insider’s Big 5 Luxury Safari
| Duration | 7 nights / 8 days |
| Lodges | RockFig Safari Lodge: 4 nights in Timbavati Klaserie Drift Misava: 3 nights in Klaserie |
| Wildlife | Big 5 country, plus cheetah, wild dog, hyena and the Timbavati’s famous white lions |
| Game drives | Two daily at both lodges: 14 total drives |
| From | A$10,775 / USD$7,555 per person twin share, based on selected 2027 travel periods This includes accommodation, meals, game drives, bush walks, drinks, laundry, wifi and transfers. Subject to exchange rate fluctuation. |
| Best for | Couples, families with children 6yrs+, groups and first-time safari travellers wanting genuine five-star luxury and serious game viewing without ultra-luxury pricing |
| Access | Fly directly into RockFig airstrip, or into Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport with a short road transfer; straightforward road transfers throughout |
Why combine Timbavati and Klaserie?
The Timbavati and Klaserie sit side by side in Greater Kruger, sharing unfenced borders with Kruger National Park. Wildlife moves freely throughout this enormous natural ecosystem, but the safari experience in each reserve feels noticeably different.
The Timbavati is one of Greater Kruger’s most productive game-viewing areas. Lions currently dominate parts of the reserve, cheetahs are seen surprisingly regularly in the west, and the reserve is world-famous for its rare white lions. It is busier than Klaserie, with vehicles from several lodges sharing information and rotating through popular sightings, but the frequency and variety of wildlife encounters are difficult to beat.
Klaserie is the quieter insider’s choice: approximately 60,000 hectares of wilderness with far fewer lodges and safari vehicles. You may find fewer sightings in a single drive, but when you do find something special, you can often remain there without queues, strict time limits or pressure to move on.
During our stay at Misava, we watched a buffalo charge two lionesses and a hyena steal a kill from two leopards, with no other vehicles and enough time to watch the behaviour unfold.
“More sightings first. More time with each sighting second.”Together, they deliver the full Greater Kruger experience.
The combination is also logistically easy. Both lodges are accessible from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport and both use the same reserve entrance gate (~20 minutes’ drive), making the transfer between two different reserves surprisingly straightforward and getting there and back very simple, with very little time spent driving outside the reserve.
Nights 1–4: RockFig Safari Lodge, Timbavati
Completely rebuilt and reopened in 2026, RockFig is one of Greater Kruger’s newest luxury safari lodges. After putting it through its paces ourselves, Van declared it his new favourite lodge and rated it 9.5/10. How is that for an endorsement!
With only six suites, RockFig feels intimate and personal while still delivering a polished five-star experience.
- Six spacious suites, each with a private heated plunge pool that can be enjoyed year-round
- Four people to a vehicle (most 5-star lodges cap this at six)
- Families or groups of four effectively receive a private vehicle at no extra cost
- Bush breakfasts in a dry riverbed, excellent food and warm, unfussy service
- Outstanding Big 5 and big-cat viewing in western Timbavati
- On our stay, we saw cheetahs twice, a leopard, lions and a rare white lion cub across only four drives
- Fenced lodge grounds, family suites and children of all ages welcome on game drives
- Gym and spa treatments available between drives
- All meals, snacks and a broad selection of wines, beers, spirits and cocktails included
RockFig is particularly compelling for first-time safari travellers, families and anyone wanting to maximise the number and variety of wildlife sightings during their stay.
Read our full RockFig Safari Lodge review →
Nights 5–7: Klaserie Drift Misava Safari Camp
A straightforward road transfer takes you north into the quieter Klaserie Private Nature Reserve.
Misava sits high above the Klaserie River, with one of the most spectacular lodge views we have experienced. Elephants and buffalo regularly gather in the riverbed below while guests watch from the infinity pool, dining areas or river-facing suites and villas.
- Small, intimate camp with Garden View, River View and River Villa accommodation
- Quiet game-viewing area with fewer lodges and vehicles
- We saw the Big 5 across four drives, with every major sighting to ourselves
- Safari vehicles generally carry six guests or fewer
- Exceptional food: particularly impressive at this price point
- All meals, snacks and a broad selection of wines, beers, spirits and cocktails included
- Garden View Suites can interconnect for families and groups
- River View Suites offer panoramic views across the Klaserie River
- River Villas add separate living areas, private plunge pools and rooftop starbeds
Misava is less about racing between sightings and more about taking the time to observe behaviour, appreciate the landscape and enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.
Read our full Misava Safari Camp review or learn more in our guide to Klaserie Private Nature Reserve →
What’s included
- Seven nights of five-star accommodation: four at RockFig and three at Misava
- All meals and snacks at both lodges
- Included wines, beers, spirits, soft drinks and other lodge beverages
- Two scheduled game drives daily
- Laundry and Wi-Fi at both lodges
- Conservation and community levies
- Road transfers from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, between the lodges and back to the airport
- Personal planning and support from Ready Set Safari, from your first enquiry until you return home
Not included: international and domestic flights, spa treatments, gratuities, designated premium beverages, optional activities, travel insurance and personal expenses.
Getting there
Fly to Johannesburg and connect to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport on an approximately one-hour domestic flight. Your driver will meet you at the airport and transfer you directly into the Timbavati.
After four nights at RockFig, you will transfer by road to Misava in Klaserie (arriving in time for lunch) before returning to Hoedspruit Airport at the end of the safari. There are no charter flights and no full travel day lost moving between regions.
2027 pricing
From A$10,775* and USD$7,555* per person twin share
Or from A$37,850 and US$26,540 for family of 4
Based on four nights at RockFig during an eligible Stay 4/Pay 3 period and three nights in a Misava Garden View Suite. Subject to exchange rate fluctuation.
Misava room upgrades
| Misava accommodation | Indicative seven-night package price |
|---|---|
| Garden View Suite | From A$10,775 / USD$7,560 per person From A$37,850 / US$26,540 per family of 4 (children aged 6-11 years) |
| River View Suite | From A$11,970 / US$8,390 per person |
| One-bedroom River Villa | From A$12,760 / US$8,945 per person |
| Two-bedroom River Villa | From A$51,850 / US$36,350 per family of 4 (children aged 6-11 years) |
The lowest price applies only during selected RockFig promotional periods. Pricing is higher at other times of year and remains subject to availability and the exchange rate when your quote is confirmed.
Ask us about the best-value 2027 travel windows for your dates, so we can provide an accurate quote.
Is this safari suitable for families?
Yes. We recommend the combined itinerary for families with children aged six and over who are comfortable joining morning and afternoon game drives.
RockFig offers dedicated family suites and effectively includes a private vehicle for a family of four. At Misava, interconnecting Garden View Suites or a two-bedroom River Villa provide excellent family accommodation.
Neither lodge revolves around a traditional kids’ club, so this itinerary works best for children who genuinely enjoy animals, nature and game drives.
Help me plan my safari →Frequently asked questions
Yes. Lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo are found in both Timbavati and Klaserie, alongside cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas and many other species. Sightings can never be guaranteed, but seven nights across these reserves gives you an excellent opportunity to see a broad range of wildlife.
The itinerary allows for up to 14 scheduled drives: eight during four nights at RockFig and six during three nights at Misava. If this is your bucketlist safari, you will definitely be making the most of it!
Both reserves offer excellent year-round game viewing. May to September is cooler and drier, with thinner vegetation, while the summer months bring lush scenery, migratory birds and young animals. RockFig’s lowest Stay 4/Pay 3 pricing is available only during selected periods.
Absolutely. This safari combines easily with Cape Town and the Cape Winelands, Victoria Falls, Mozambique or additional safari nights elsewhere in Greater Kruger.
Ready to start planning?
We have personally stayed at both lodges and can tailor this itinerary around your dates, family setup, preferred room category and wildlife wishlist.
