The Big 5 & Kruger
Come for the Big 5. Discover everything beyond them.
At Oase, you do not have to choose. Combine a full-day Kruger National Park safari with the freedom and intimacy of our own private reserve for the best of both worlds.
What are the Big 5?
Lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo. The name has nothing to do with size; it comes from the hunting era, when these five were considered the most dangerous animals to approach on foot. Today, the only thing anyone takes home is a photograph — and the five remain among the animals most guests hope to see.
Important? Yes. The whole safari? Not even close.
Lion
Africa’s largest cat, and the one most often heard before it is seen.
Leopard
Solitary, secretive and the most rewarding of the five to find.
Elephant
The largest land animal on earth, and rarely alone.
Rhinoceros
Both black and white rhinoceros are found in the Kruger landscape.
Buffalo
Powerful, social and often found in large herds.
Why Kruger matters
Kruger National Park is one of the world’s great conservation areas and a cornerstone of Africa’s natural heritage. Spanning nearly 2 million hectares, it is home to extraordinary diversity in wildlife, plants, landscapes and cultural history. A visit to Kruger is not just about seeing the Big 5; it is about experiencing a vast, protected wilderness and the conservation work that makes it so special.
- ~2 million hectares
- Home to 147 mammal species and 500+ bird species
- Rock art and archaeological sites
- Rich in history, culture and archaeological sites
The best of both worlds
Stay at Oase and enjoy the flexibility, privacy and distinctive experiences of our private reserve, combined with full-day safaris into Kruger National Park for the chance to see the Big 5. Together, they create a richer and more varied safari stay.
Kruger for the Big 5. Oase for everything a vehicle cannot give you.
The Oase private reserve
- Hyena, leopard and diverse wildlife
- Walking and tracking experiences
- Freedom to leave the vehicle
- No crowds or game viewing queues
- Riverine forest, birding, fishing and more
- A more personal and flexible safari
Kruger National Park
- The chance to see the Big 5
- Vast and diverse landscapes
- Incredible biodiversity
- Full-day guided safaris
- Breakfast, lunch and tea prepared by our Head Chef
- Included for direct All-Inclusive bookings
A full day in Kruger, included
When you book Oase directly on an All-Inclusive rate, a shared full-day Kruger National Park safari is part of your stay. Start early, spend the day in the park with a picnic in the middle of it, and drive home at dusk.
Guests who would rather have the vehicle to themselves can arrange a private Kruger safari separately.
Shared full-day Kruger National Park safaris are included when you book Oase directly on an All-Inclusive rate. Private Kruger safaris are arranged separately and charged in addition.
Safari is bigger than five animals
The Big 5 are unforgettable, but some of the most meaningful safari moments often come from the unexpected. A leopard on the move, a pack of wild dogs hunting, a sighting on foot, a rare bird, or simply the time and space to truly experience the African bush.
After dark
Genet, civet, bushbabies and the eyes that only a spotlight finds.
Tracks and signs
Half of tracking is reading what has already happened in the sand.
Birding
Hornbills, rollers, raptors and migrants that arrive with the rain.
The smaller things
Dung beetles, chameleons, spiders and the work they quietly do.
The river
Riverine forest, kingfishers, hippo and the coolest air on the reserve.
The landscape itself
Escarpment light, storm skies and the Lowveld turning green overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you have the opportunity to look for the Big 5 during our full-day safaris in Kruger National Park.
No reserve can guarantee a wildlife sighting and we do not promise that you will see all five. What Kruger gives you is an enormous protected landscape that is home to lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros and buffalo, along with far more besides.
No. Oase is not a traditional Big 5 reserve. Leopard and lion occur here, but there are no resident elephant, buffalo or rhinoceros.
That difference gives us more freedom, subject to conditions and your guide's judgement, to walk, track, cycle and experience the bush outside a vehicle. Kruger gives you the classic Big 5 dimension; Oase gives you a more intimate and flexible private-reserve dimension.
Our scheduled shared Kruger National Park game drives are included in our Full Board and All-Inclusive rates. On Full Board, park entry fees are payable separately. Safari Lux includes the drives and park entry fees.
Every second day (and sometimes more often depending on numbers), we leave Oase at 5am for a full day in Kruger, returning around 3pm, with breakfast and lunch picnics in the park.
You can join the scheduled outings or spend the day enjoying Oase. Private safari arrangements are available separately.
Because they are different experiences and you do not have to choose between them.
Kruger gives you scale, enormous biodiversity and the opportunity to look for the classic Big 5. Oase gives you intimacy: flexible hours, walking, tracking, night drives, time outside the vehicle and a private reserve that can be experienced more slowly. Together they make a much broader safari.
The Big 5 may bring you to Africa. There’s much more to discover.
Come for the five. Stay for the walking, the river, the night drives and the days that belong to you.
