“Remember the quality of your Safari has EVERYTHING to do with the quality of the guide who leads your experience…”
14 Day Highlights of South Africa’s East Tour including Swaziland and Lesotho (Fully Guided)
Highlights:
South Africa Highlights of the East Group Tour Inclusions:
Transportation: Tours and Transfers in air-conditioned luxury vehicles, Safaris in custom-built Open Vehicles
Professionally Escorted: Discover Pretoria and Soweto, the Blyde River Canyon region, Greater Kruger National Park, the Kingdom of Swaziland, KwaZulu Natal province, the Drakensberg Mountains and Lesotho with a professional Tourist Guide
Accommodation: Rooms with private/sharing facilities on twin share basis; All accommodation is of 3 star (min) standard
Dining Inclusions: NONE (All meals for own account)
Plus: All entrance fees, National Park conservation fees, recommended excursions EXCLUDED
Itinerary:
Day 1: ARRIVAL OR TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (JOHANNESBURG)
Your Tour Guide and driver will meet you in the arrivals hall of the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and transfer you to your Hotel in Pretoria where you will spend the night before the Tour officially starts the following day.
Accommodation: Court Classique Suite Hotel Pretoria (or similar)
Day 2: Pretoria (Hatfield) to Long Tom Pass Sabie
You will be collected in Pretoria (Hatfield) by your Tour Guide and driver for a Pretoria City Highlights Tour before heading towards the forestry town of Sabie in the afternoon. The Tour visits Church Square the city's historic centre with beautiful buildings dating from the late 19th century, the South African government buildings (Union Buildings), and the Voortrekker Monument created in memory of the "Great Trek" of the white pioneers and where the history of the Afrikaner "Volk" (Nation) has been carved out in sandstone murals. Travelling from Gauteng to Mpumalanga Province we check into our Lodge near the forestry town of Sabie late afternoon upon arrival.
Accommodation: Misty Mountain Lodge Sabie (or similar)
Days 3-4: Greater Kruger National Park via scenic Blyde River Canyon
Your guide will meet you at reception at 08h30 after breakfast and check out from where you will head towards the scenic Panorama Route Tour. First stop for the day will be the nearby Mac Mac Falls (or similar) where you'll take a short walk down to the 56m high twin falls. Enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding Drakensberg Mountains from God's window viewpoint before continuing along the Blyde River Canyon taking in amongst other sights the Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels with clear views of the 800m deep canyon and the three giant cylindrical mountain tops from which the viewpoint derives its name. A very scenic drive leads to the Manyeleti Private Game Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger National Park, and our Safari base for the next two nights staying at Shalati Bush Camp on the Mnisi Tribal Land.
Accommodation: Shalati Safari Camp Manyeleti (or similar)
Day 5: Greater Kruger National Park
During your stay at Manyeleti "the place of the stars" you can decide which activities you would like to participate in, choose between joining the morning and/or evening sunset jeep Safaris or perhaps take part in a bushwalk under the guidance of an experienced (and armed) ranger to go in search of animals on foot! The activities are for your own account to ensure maximum flexibility. The Kruger National Park is one of the largest and most beautiful wildlife Parks in the world. The Park is unique not only because of its size but also due to the large variety of animals that found here. To ensure our guests get the most from their time in the Kruger Park a one day Kruger Open Vehicle Safari is included for all participants as well as a one night stay at one of the main Kruger Rest Camps in typical African bungalow style accommodation.
Accommodation: Nkambeni Tented Safari Camp Hazyview (or similar)
Days 6-7: The Kingdom of Swaziland
We leave South Africa behind today and enter the mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland where we will be spending 2 nights in the Ezulwini "heavenly" Valley Tourist region. Highlights of our visit include a visit to the Swazi Candles Centre featuring not only the famous Swazi Candles factory shop where the candlemakers can be seen at work, but also nine other creative shops along with a handicraft market where you will have an opportunity to buy African curious from the carvers direct. The Mantenga Cultural Village is a living museum of old traditions representing a classical Swazi lifestyle during the 1850's. Visitors are encouraged to interact with the people in the Village on a guided Tour that includes the opportunity to witness an African dancing performance.
Accommodation: Maguga Lodge (or similar)
Days 8-9: iSimangaliso Wetland Park St Lucia - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
We exit Swaziland and re-enter South Africa and the KwaZulu Natal Province today. The cozy town of St Lucia in the iSimangaliso "miracle" Wetland Park, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, is our next destination. We spend 2 nights in the town centre within walking distance of numerous restaurants, coffee shops and bars. Highly recommended optional activities to choose from (own account) include a Half Day Game Drive into the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, and the very popular sunset boat cruize on the St Lucia estuary to witness the numerous hippos and crocodiles that inhabit the shallow lake as well as the countless animals and birds that live in the dense forests and mangrove swamps along the shores.
Accommodation: Sand Forest Lodge Hluhlue (or similar)
Day 10: Durban eThekwini
Driving South along the national route the "N2", which is the main Highway along the Indian Ocean Coast, we arrive at the coastal city of Durban early afternoon to take in some of the city sights including a drive along the Golden Mile and a visit to the Victoria Street Markets before checking into our Hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Optional (own account) guests may opt to visit the uShaka Marine World.
Accommodation: Shonalanga Lodge Vryheid (or similar)
Days 11-12: The uKahlamba Drakensberg Park
We travel through the beautiful "Valley of a 1000 hills" towards the uKahlamba "barrier of spears" Drakensberg Park today stopping at Phezulu Safari Park en-route where guests have the opportunity to learn about the customs and rituals of the Zulu culture and witness a Traditional Zulu dancing Show. We continue to the Southern Drakensberg region where we stay near the town of Underberg for 2 nights in close proximity to the Sani Pass scenic road that leads up into the neighbouring country of Lesotho. A Sani Pass Tour (optional extra, not included) is a highly recommended excursion for those interested in travelling up to the "Highest Pub in Africa" at 2874 meters along what was once only a narrow footpath suitable for traversing by foot or donkey! The road is only accessible by 4Wheel Drive Vehicle...don't forget your passports!
Accommodation: Coleford Lodge Underberg (or similar)
Day 13: The Golden Gate National Park
The last Park we visit is the Golden Gate National Park that derives its name from the shadows cast on the surrounding sandstone cliffs by the sun. The area is characterized by grassy slopes, clear mountain streams and spectacular shades of color. The Park is home to many different types of animals; Black Wildebeest, Eland, Blesbuck, Springbok, and Zebra. There are also many unique bird species including the rare Bearded Vulture. Numerous walking tracks can be explored in the afternoon. We spend the night at Glen Reenen Rest Camp.
Accommodation: Golden Gate National Park (or similar)
Day 14: Soweto
Leaving the Golden Gate NP behind today we arrive at SOWETO "South Western Township" on the outskirts of Johannesburg only a couple of hours later. In SOWETO numerous attractions will be visited including Vilikazi street where both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu lived, The Mandela House Museum, The Hector Pieterson Memorial, The Regina Mundi Church and Freedom Square. Late afternoon the Tour will come to an end at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
Notes:
Minimum 10 and Maximum 20 passengers (Average group size is 16) per Tour.
Additional information:
International Flights EXCLUDED
Cancellation policy:
Please note that the deposit is non-refundable. Cancellation 30 days prior to arrival date and/or commencement of Safari/Tour/Activity - deposit plus 25% of total bill; 14 to 29 days - deposit plus 50% of total bill; 0 to 13 days - 100% of total bill.
Booking Enquiry
+27 (0) 82 556 1223 [email protected]
Chacma baboons are numerous in the Kruger National Park and live in huge troops numbering up to 200 animals (typically between 30-40). Troops consist of a family group of males, females and their young. Young baboons depend on their mothers for transportation, initially the little “pink foots” cling to the underside of the mother. At around 3 months of age they start riding “jockey style” on mommy’s back (leaning against the tail for support) as seen in this footage...
There are approximately 10000 Giraffes in the Kruger National Park. They are gregarious and live in nonterritorial loose groups of up to 20 at a time, a behaviour that apparently allows for increased vigilance against predators. They have excellent eyesight, and when one giraffe notices approaching danger it will keep staring until the others look in that direction too. Giraffes live up to 26 years in the wild and slightly longer in captivity.