Itinerary

DAY 1; (1 Night)
JOHANNESBURG to MPUMALANGA, South Africa  [Lodge - lunch & dinner]

Departing from Johannesburg at 06:30am we head towards Mpumalanga where mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls & forests characterize the landscape. Few regions in the world can match the extraordinary beauty of the Lowveld & escarpment. We visit Pilgrims Rest, Mac-Mac Falls and God's Window, before staying in a lodge on the edge of the escarpment near Graskop.


Includes: Entrance to Mac Mac falls & God’s Window.
Overnight: Chalets - 2 twin share bedrooms in each chalet with 1 bathroom shared between 2 bedrooms. Swimming pool, bar, restaurant.
Distance / Time: 380kms, ± 5½ hours, excluding stops for sightseeing, breakfast & lunch.
Optional Activities: N/A

DAYS 2 - 3; (2 Nights)
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, South Africa  [Tented Lodge or Chalets - breakfast, lunch & dinner]

The largest game reserve in South Africa, boasts the world's greatest concentration of species, and has an amazing 16 different ecosystems. Exciting game drives provide us with excellent game viewing. Spot the “Big 5“ (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) and many other animals in this true African wilderness.

Includes: Entrance to Kruger National Park, morning & afternoon game drives.
Overnight: Chalets – twin chalets (or lodge tent) on suite facilities, swimming pool, restaurant.
Distance / Time: 150kms, ± 2 hours + 3 x 3 hour game drives.
Optional Activities: Night game drives in National Park open game viewing vehicles.

DAY 4; (1 Night)
KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND  [Cabins - breakfast, lunch & dinner]

Malolotja Nature Reserve in the mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland is our next attraction.  Renowned for a great variety of habitats from short grassland, to thick riverine scrub, bushveld and moist forest, we explore the reserve on foot to enjoy the fantastic mountain views, relax around a campfire dinner and stay in mountain cabins for the night.

Special Interest
Tradition is strong in the Kingdom of Swaziland, with no better example than the use of traditional medicine & healers. We visit the traditional medicine and craft market in Mbabane for insight into the traditional beliefs of the Swazi people.

Sustainable Tourism
Our stay in Mkuzi Game Reserve not only supports the wildlife but also the local surrounding villages. Your tour funds are used to support the local Zulu villages which surround the Game Reserve. Our village visit and our local guide create employment and income for the villages increasing the importance of tourism and conservation. Community awareness and prosperity helps to reduce subsistence poaching.

Includes: Entrance fees to Malalotja Nature Reserve.
Overnight: Cabin – each cabin sleeps a maximum of 6 people in 2 bedrooms and a loft room which share a ablution facilities, hot showers.
Distance / Time: 200kms, ± 4 hours, excluding 2-3 hour morning drive out of Kruger, shopping stop in Malelane, Jeppes Reef border formalities & stops for sightseeing etc.
Optional Activities: N/A

DAYS 5 - 6; (2 Nights)
ZULULAND, South Africa  [Tented Lodge or Chalets - breakfast, lunch & dinner]

e visit craft markets near Mbabane that have a fascinating range of handmade crafts and the local witchdoctor stall is not to be missed! We re-enter South Africa and head to Mkuzi Game Reserve, which is a safe haven for the endangered black rhino. We visit a waterhole hide and watch game come down to.  An early morning game drive is followed by a cultural afternoon where we visit a Zulu village on the border of the game reserve and learn about the Zulu culture.

Includes: Entrance to Mkuzi Game Reserve, morning and afternoon game drive & Zulu village visit with local Zulu community guide.
Overnight: Chalets - 2/3/4 twin share bedrooms in each chalet with 1 or 2 bathrooms shared. Swimming pool, restaurant & shop .
Distance / Time: 300kms, ± 4 hours, excluding border formalities + game drives in Mkuzi.
Optional Activities: N/A

DAYS 7 - 8; (2 Nights)
DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS, South Africa  [Cottages - breakfast, lunch & dinner]

The Drakensberg Mountains or “uKhahlamba” - the Barrier of Spears, is a 200-kilometre-long mountainous wonderland and world heritage site. From Mkuzi we move further south to the base of these mountains where we overnight for two nights in a quaint cottage. We will spend time walking along beautiful mountain stream paths, looking for Bushman rock paintings or just enjoying spectacular views.

Includes: Morning and afternoon hikes in the Drakensberg Mountains.
Overnight: Chalets – 2 or 3 twin bedrooms with 1 or 2 bathrooms shared between bedrooms.
Distance / Time: 500kms, ± 7 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch. The last 50km is a slow gravel road.
Optional Activities: N/A

DAYS 9 - 10; (2 Nights)
WILD COAST, South Africa  [Chalets - breakfast, lunch & dinner]

The Wild Coast remains a relatively untouched paradise in South Africa. There are unspoiled stretches of dramatic and savagely beautiful coastline, open spaces and pristine forest areas. We stay overnight within walking distance of the beach and the next day is free to explore the area, meet local villagers or relax on the beach.

Includes: Scenic coastal walk.
Overnight: Chalets or guesthouse – twin rooms with shared ablutions, hot showers, swimming pool, restaurant & bar.
Distance / Time: 600kms, ± 8½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch – a long day!
Optional Activities: Quad bikes, horse riding & ocean fishing.

DAY 11; (1 Night)
ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK, South Africa  [Chalets - breakfast, lunch & dinner]

The Addo Elephant National Park was established in 1931 to protect the last 11 wild elephants from extermination. Today more than 350 elephants roam through the area. The park also offers excellent viewing of black rhino, Cape buffalo, lion and leopard, as well as a host of other large and small mammals and over 400 species of birds in the greater park area. (We overnight either at the national park camp on the border of the park, or nearby at a guest house).

Includes: Entrance fees to Addo Elephant National Park, afternoon & morning game drives.
Overnight: Chalets – twin room, with en-suite facilities, restaurant & floodlit waterhole.
Distance / Time: 500kms, ± 7½ hours – a long day! Excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch + game drives.
Optional Activities: Night game drives in National Park open game viewing vehicles.

DAYS 12 - 13; (2 Nights)
KNYSNA / TSITSIKAMMA, South Africa  [Lodge - breakfast x2]

For two nights we will stay in a lodge resort in Knysna, which is nestled on a tranquil lagoon. We will take a day trip to the Storms River mouth where there are walks up the gorge and along the rocky coast. The Tsitsikamma National Park incorporates 80km of spectacular sea and landscapes; a remote mountainous region with secluded valleys, coastal forests with deep river gorges leading down to the sea. There is also an option of the world’s highest bungi jump. Sample seafood at one of Knysna's great restaurants (own expense).

Includes: Entrance fees to Tsitsikamma National Park.
Overnight: Chalets – 2 twin bedrooms in each chalets with 1 bathroom shared between 2 rooms. Swimming pool & restaurant.
Distance / Time: 300kms, ± 4½ hours excluding stops for sightseeing.
Optional Activities: Bungi jumping, whale watching & treetop canopy tour.

DAY 14; (1 Night)
HERMANUS , South Africa  [Guest House - breakfast & lunch]

Hermanus offers some of the best land based whale watching in the world. From May to December Southern Right whales come up from the southern oceans to the coast to calve and mate in the shallows. In the afternoon we will take a walk along this beautiful coastline before having a dinner out at local restaurant (own expense).

Includes: N/A
Overnight: Guesthouse – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool & restaurant.
Distance / Time: 500kms, ± 7 hours excluding stops for sightseeing & lunch.
Optional Activities: Whale watching by boat, shark cage diving.

DAYS 15 - 16; (2 Nights)
CAPE TOWN, South Africa  [Hotel - breakfast x2]

Cape Town is one of the most picturesque cities in the world, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. On our way into Cape Town, we visit Stellenbosch, South Africa’s renowned wine region, for wine tasting and a cellar tour. The “mother city” has many attractions; we will visit Cape Point, the harbor at Hout Bay, enjoy the famous beaches and the V&A Waterfront. Optional visit to Robben Island (own expense). We sample the local fare at a variety of local restaurants (own expense).

Includes: Entrance fees to Penguin colony & Cape Point National Park.
Overnight: Guesthouse / hotel – twin rooms with en-suite facilities, swimming pool & restaurant.
Distance / Time: 150kms, ± 2 hours, excluding stops for sightseeing + full day Cape Peninsular tour on day 16.
Optional Activities: Robben Island cruise, Shark Cage diving, Seal colony visit.

DAY 17
TRANSFERS  [Tour ends - breakfast]

In the morning we climb Table Mountain, offering panoramic views over Cape Town reaching out into the bay and Robben Island. Having explored the highlights of the Rainbow Nation we take a last look at Cape Town and catch up on last minute curio shopping in the afternoon, before your tour ends at 6:00pm.

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