South Africa & Swaziland safari
| country: | South Africa |
| location: | Swaziland |
| departures: | 2008: 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 10 Oct, 24 Oct |
| price: | From US $1885 (19 days) excluding flights, local payment R1600 |
| offers: | On 5th Sep 2008 departure receive a discount of 40% for the second traveller booking the same tour as you. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
A wonderful journey through the Rainbow Nation. Camping, trekking, game viewing, historical and cultural visits through South Africa! Your safari starts in Johannesburg and ends in 'the Mother City' - Cape Town. You'll spend 19 day exploring the diversity of South Africa.
Highlights include
Mpumalanga Panorama Route Kruger National Park Drakensberg mountains Garden Route & Karoo Cape Town
Highlights include
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Johannesburg to Mpumalanga, South Africa. Departing from Johannesburg at 06h30 we head east towards Mpumalanga. A landscape characterized by mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests. We will camp the night in the old gold rush town of Pilgrims Rest, a living museum dating back to 1873. We explore the quaint town visit Mac Mac falls and God's window viewpoint. |
| Day 2-3: | Kruger National Park, South Africa. Big game country - exciting game drives provide us with excellent game viewing. Spot lion, elephant, rhino and other animals in one of the last African wildernesses. Early morning & afternoon game drives get us close to the wildlife. |
| Day 4-5: | Kingdom of Swaziland. The mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland, lead by King Mswati III, is one of 3 monarchies in Africa. Swazi's are proud of their traditional lifestyle & cultures. Malalotja borders on the Drakensberg escarpment and we explore the reserve on foot to enjoy the mountain scenery, rare bird life, and the 95 m high Malalotja waterfall. Overnight in log cabins with fantastic panoramic views. |
| Day 6-7: | Zululand, South Africa. After visiting craft markets near Mbabane, we re-enter South Africa. Mkuzi Game Reserve is a safe haven for the endangered black rhino. We have an afternoon and the following morning to do game drives in our vehicle and stop at hides and waterholes to watch game come down to drink. The following afternoon we visit a local Zulu village to learn about their culture, traditions and lifestyle. |
| Day 8-9: | Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa. Moving further south to the base of the Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains). We have two nights here in chalets allowing time for walking along beautiful mountain stream paths, looking for Bushman rock paintings or just enjoying spectacular views. |
| Day 10-11: | Wild Coast, South Africa. Passing rolling hills topped with Xhosa villages; we make our way to the Wild Coast. We stay overnight on the Wild Coast within walking distance of the beach. Dolphins are often seen surfing in the waves. The next day is free to explore the area on foot, meet local villagers and learn about the Xhosa culture or relax on the beach. |
| Day 12-13: | Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. A conservation success, Addo Elephant N.P. offers a unique wildlife area, famous for the Addo elephants. We head out on game drives in search of elephant, black rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard. Evening viewing at the floodlit waterhole allows us to watch the nocturnal animals. |
| Day 14-15: | Tsitsikamma, South Africa. Indigenous Tsitsikamma forests surround the campsite at Storms River mouth, and there are walks up the Storms River Gorge and along the rocky coastline. There is an option of world's highest bungi jump (own expense). Whale watching in season (July to November). |
| Day 16: | Karoo, South Africa. After visiting 'The Heads' in Knysna, a town nestled on a tranquil lagoon we travel over the Outeniqua Mountains into the Little Karoo. In Oudtshoorn we tour an ostrich farm where the more adventurous can ride one of these huge birds. We camp outside Oudtshoorn and enjoy our final night under Africa's starry skies. Optional tour of Cango Caves (own expense). |
| Day 17-18: | Cape Town, South Africa. Visit Stellenbosch, for wine tasting and a cellar tour. Explore Cape Town and the 'Mother City's' many attractions; visit Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope, Chapman's Peak drive, the harbour at Hout Bay, enjoy the famous beaches and the V&A Waterfront. Optional visit to Robben Island (own expense). Meals at a variety of local restaurants (own expense). |
| Day 19: | Cape Town, South Africa. We climb Table Mountain in the morning admiring the views over Table Bay and Cape Town. Spend the afternoon catching up on last minute curio shopping or just lazing on the beach absorbing the Cape's sunshine. Tour ends at +/-18h00. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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This safari takes the traveller through South Africa as well as a short visit to the Kingdom of Swaziland. Clients can expect incredible bio-diversity and cultural insights.
 During our stay at Mkuzi Game Reserve in Zululand, South Africa, we give you a cultural-interactive experience by participating in an excursion to a Zulu village with a close-knit family. Visit this small “kraal” and experience first-hand their fascinating dress, traditions and culture. You might even want to try the traditional Zulu beer, “Ijuba” as a show of respect to the Zulu ancestors. This outing gives the traveller an insight into the everyday life of a fascinating tribe instrumental in South Africa’s history, as well as providing sustainability in a non-obtrusive way. Throughout the trip, gifts and souvenirs, hand-crafted and unique to South Africa, may be purchased by the travellers. From exceptional beadwork in KwaZulu-Natal, intricate wirework in Cape Town and brightly-painted enamel dinnerware in Knysna, you will not be disappointed by the curious and crafts. This in turn provides invaluable income for these mostly self-employed craftspeople and encourages sustainable tourism in many remote parts. Further promotion, opportunity and growth are developed by making use of local guides only. All our driver/guides are African born and bred, mostly from South or Southern Africa. They have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the surrounding areas as well as with the local cultures and customs. A local guide is always hired for interpretation of local culture and traditions so as to maximise information and understanding. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |