18 Days South Africa

Departing from Johannesburg at 07h00, we head towards Mpumalanga (Mpumalanga ‒ a place where the sun rises). From Johannesburg, the high plateau grasslands of Mpumalanga stretch eastwards for hundreds of kilometres, offering outstanding attractions especially for those who seek tranquility. It’s a landscape of mountains, panoramic passes, valleys and waterfalls. We visit Pilgrim’s Rest, Mac Mac Falls and God’s Window among other attractions, and stay at the edge of the escarpment near Graskop

Kruger National Park is the second oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa. The park boasts the world’s greatest concentration of species, with 16 different ecosystems. We have two days to explore and enjoy safaris in our vehicle. Our first safari (game drive) will be a sunset game drive, followed by an early three-hour morning game drive on the next day. Kruger National Park offers optional sunset and night game drives in an open vehicle, which can be booked through reception or with the assistance of your guide.

The Kingdom of Eswatini is one of the most beautiful countries in Africa, with stunning mountain views, wildlife and its interesting history. Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary is the oldest nature conservation in Eswatini. We overnight in the Swazi traditional beehive-shaped huts. The game (animals) roams freely within the lodge grounds.

We visit the Swazi candle factory before driving south heading to Zululand. We stamp out of Eswatini and enter South Africa. We have some time in the afternoon to relax in the hotel. Enjoy the complimentary Zulu dance after dinner. The next morning, we have a cultural village walk where we will learn more about the Zulu tribe and their culture and later visit a local primaryschool. Optional game drives in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park are available and can be arranged with the guide or hotel reception.

We take a drive through the elephant coast, starting early and heading towards the west of KwaZulu-Natal Province. UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park has been declared a world heritage site for both outstanding and ancient San rock paintings found in the caves and overhangs. The Zulu people named the mountains Ukhahlamba ‒ “The Barrier of Spears”. The following day we have a half-day hike with spectacular views of the mountains.

The Wild Coast is one of the most pristine regions in Africa with its beaches, abundant bird life, rolling hills and subtropical vegetation. After spending some time on the high mountains (hot in summer) of the Drakensberg, our next destination offers a fresh sea breeze. It offers spectacular hikes as well as horse riding along the ocean. Use the free day to roam around and along the beach or venture into local activities.

Addo Elephant Park is the third largest park in South Africa, and was formed in 1931 to protect the 11 remaining elephants of that time in the area. The park’s ecosystem mainly consists of fynbos (fine bush). It is more famous for big herds of elephants, but they also have different species of mammals such as lions, rhinos and hyenas. We have a short sunset game drive and have a morning game drive or safari on the following day.

Knysna is believed to be a San word, meaning “ferns”. The town nestles on the edge of a tranquil lagoon with beautiful views. We spend two days exploring this renowned region and its several attractions. The next day will be spent in Tsitsikamma Nature Park, enjoying a beautiful half-day walk on the acclaimed Otter Trail. Before we head back to our lodge we stop by Bloukrans, where adrenaline junkies and bystanders alike can jump or view the world’s highest bungee jump (optional). Late in the afternoon we visit Knysna Heads for the sunset.

Hermanus is one of the best places in the world to watch whales from land. The town holds a whale festival every year in September/October when the Southern Right whales visit the bay for calving. We stop at Cape Agulhas, the point where Indian Ocean meets Atlantic Ocean. We have an hour to walk around the lighthouse before proceeding with our journey to Hermanus. The following day is a free day for optional activities. Our lodge offers some spectacular views of the sea from the terrace.

The most picturesque city in the world is Cape Town, with the majestic Table Mountain providing its central focus. The city is known as Mother City, because it is the oldest city in South Africa, dating back to 1652. On our way to Cape Town, we visit Boulders Beach (penguin colony), Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope and drive through Chapman’s Peak on our way to the hotel. We spend the following day visiting surrounding attractions, wineries and Table Mountain.

Tour ends after dinner on day 18.