From CAD 2,800 Was CAD 3,170
Guarantee
Small Group
Easy
Rating
(20 reviews)
Experience Overview
Travel through the heart of South Africa in search of the Big 5. On this ten-day trip, we'll delve into some of the country's most iconic national parks, including Kruger, hoping to spot the bounty of wildlife that calls these varied landscapes home. Along the way, immerse yourself in the history of the Zulu battlefield, explore the wetlands of St Lucia and rub shoulders with the Swazi people in Eswatini.
Kruger National Park - Get the chance to spot the Big 5 on a game drive in Kruger - one of Africa's biggest game reserves.
Hluhluwe iMfolozi - Explore the game reserve which has the biggest rhino population in Africa.
Mlilwane - Get closer to South Africa's wildlife on an intimate walking safari in this secluded sanctuary beneath the Nyonyane Mountains.
Highlights
Search for the Big Five in South Africa's spectacular Kruger National Park|Get up close and personal with a thrilling foot safari in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary|Visit the battlefield of Rorke's Drift -home of the famous battles of the Anglo-Zulu War
Trip Details
Product Code: 20351
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Minibus4WD
Guide Language: English
Supplier Code: ZK
Starts: South Africa
Finishes: South Africa
Duration: 10 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating:
Easy
Includes
Explore Tour LeaderAccommodation
- Sungubala Eco Camp
- St Lucia Eco Lodge
- Mlilwane Rest Camp
- Pretoriuskop Rest Camp
- Mogodi Lodge
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 2800 (CAD 280 /day)
Itinerary
Our tour starts today in Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, once home to both Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Your tour leader will meet you at 11:00 at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) and we aim to depart no later than 11.30am. From the airport, we'll drive southeast to the Drakensberg Mountains (a journey of around four-and-a-half hours). Drakensberg is the world's oldest mountain range, deriving its name from the Afrikaans word for 'Dragon Mountains'; in the mist, the razor-back ridges of the mountains have a likeness to these mythical beasts. Upon arrival to our accommodation, there might be time to take a short walk in the surrounding nature. If you're booking your own flights to Johannesburg, we recommend giving yourself plenty of time to clear the airport. The latest your flight can arrive is 10.30am.
This morning, after a hearty breakfast, we'll have the opportunity to join a guided walk and experience the beauty of the mountain range first-hand. The full walk takes around four to five hours and we've graded it as moderate-to-challenging. There are several turning points along the way for those who'd like to do a more gentle walk. Weather permitting, upon returning to our hotel, our guide will have prepared a tasty 'al fresco' lunch for us to enjoy while we soak up the spectacular views of the Drakensberg. Following lunch, your guide will relay the true story of 'Shaka' the famous Zulu warrior. The afternoon is left free to either relax whilst enjoying a cool drink or perhaps continue our adventure with an easy walk through the mountain valleys to view a rock carving close to camp.
We'll set off early this morning and head to the famous battlefield of Rorke's Drift, arriving around mid-morning. Portrayed in the film Zulu Dawn, the battle at Rorke's Drift was a bloody and hugely significant battle in the history of the Zulu nation. Although time is limited today, due to the distance we have to travel, our tour leader will take time to explain the importance of these clashes in relation to South Africa's history, British colonialism and the Zulu people. After a picnic lunch, we'll drive for the rest of the afternoon to St Lucia, our base for the next three nights.
We'll have another early start this morning to take advantage of the 'golden hour' on a Big 5 safari in one of Africa's oldest game reserves. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park boasts the densest population of both white and black rhinos in the whole of Africa. We'll have lunch at one of the reserve's picnic sites, where we can stretch our legs and freshen up before continuing our journey through this ancient Zulu hunting ground. With over 500 species of birds recorded at this reserve, it's also a paradise for any birdwatchers amongst us. In the mid-afternoon, we'll return to St. Lucia where we'll have the opportunity to experience the optional activity of a 'Hippo Cruise' on the Greater St. Lucia Estuary. The cruise meanders along allowing us to relax whilst viewing the hippos and crocodiles in their natural habitat as the sun drops from the African sky.
Today you're free to choose from one of several optional activities. There is the opportunity to continue our game-viewing experience by taking a leisurely open game drive in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which was the first World Heritage Site in South Africa and home to four of the Big 5. The word iSimangaliso means miracle and wonder, which aptly describes this truly unique place. This optional activity also includes a typical 'braai' lunch at Cape Vidal. There is also the chance explore the local forest hiking trails. In the evening, you can enjoy an exhilarating night game drive when all the nocturnal wildlife start their day. From November to February, we can join a guided turtle tour in the Wetland.
This morning, we'll make our way to Eswatini, from June to November we may have the opportunity to participate in the optional activity of whale watching, the St. Lucia coastline is the optimal location to view Humpback whales as they make their way up the coastline to Mozambique to breed. We'll then drive north and enter Eswatini - a tiny, independent kingdom inhabited by the Swazi tribe who revere their king and take great pride in retaining their culture and traditions. Along the way, we can soak up the spectacular scenery of the Ezulwini Valley, dotted with traditional homesteads. In the late afternoon, we'll enter one of Eswatini's best wildlife reserves, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. This secluded and beautiful sanctuary is a haven of tranquillity, located in a natural bowl beneath the Nyonyane Mountains. For the next two nights, we'll stay in traditional dome-shaped beehive huts set in a wooded area. Though the camp has all the mod cons - showers, toilets, outdoor swimming pool and restaurant and bar - it is rustic in the best sense of the word. Warthogs and antelope share the camp with us, and the restaurant overlooks a lake populated by water birds. Due to the high demand in Mlilwane, accommodation is subject to change without notice and can vary in style. We'll endeavour to stay within the park when possible, however, some departures may be staying up to a 15-minute drive from the sanctuary in a hotel or guesthouse.
Mlilwane is Eswatini's oldest protected area, owned and managed by a non-profit making trust, it is situated in the low foothills of the Nyonyane Mountains. The park has been rehabilitated to become Eswatini's most frequented reserve where you can enjoy the beauty of the surroundings and the abundant wildlife that calls these plains home. Mlilwane has a large area of open grassland making game viewing and bird watching relatively easy and this morning we'll begin with a walk in search of zebra, wildebeest, nyala and warthog. The afternoon is free to choose one of the optional activities available at the reserve, the absence of big cats allows us to partake in mountain biking or trail walking in a relaxed setting. The alternatives are to accompany our guide to the friendly local curios to learn more about the Swazi people and their culture, or relax and sit back to watch the local wildlife grazing outside our very own front door.
After an early start, we'll drive north re-entering South Africa and crossing the Crocodile River into the Kruger National Park. This two-million-hectare wilderness is amongst the world's first proclaimed National Park and is justifiably South Africa's showpiece, boasting 147 mammal species. The park offers the Big 5 and over 500 recorded bird species along with scenery as diverse as riverine forest, granite outcrops, endless savannah and impenetrable mopani woodland. We'll take a game drive on our way to the camp area where we'll stay overnight. These camp areas benefit from modern infrastructure with toilet and shower blocks, restaurants, and shops, as well as our accommodation.
The Kruger National Park was established in 1898 to protect big game that had been hunted to near extinction, it's now one of the most prolific animal habitats in South Africa, committed to animal conservation. We'll depart camp for our morning game drive, stopping at various watering holes where we might see buffalo or antelope taking an early morning drink and hopefully a pride of lions nearby. We'll finish the morning drive with lunch at one of the park's restaurants. Our afternoon game drive will take us to the Sabie River, which is a major water source for the park's wildlife and a fantastic spot for game viewing. We'll leave the park in the late afternoon, climbing more than 1,000 metres to our overnight stop at Graskop.
Departing at 9am this morning, we'll drive back to Johannesburg (a journey time of seven hours). Along the way, we'll drive through the airy uplands of Mpumalanga, an area that has been inhabited since the Stone Age and boasts rivers, multiple waterfalls, craggy escarpments and colourful birdlife. We'll stop at several viewpoints, including the aptly named 'God's Window' and admire the awe-inspiring Blyde River Canyon. We'll arrive at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) at around 5pm and this is where our trip ends. The earliest your flight can depart is 7.20pm.
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Tour Operator
Explore Worldwide
A prominent adventure travel company with over four decades of experience, this business that offers a comprehensive array of unique and thrilling experiences worldwide. Catering to various interests, they provide small group journeys, walking and cycling trips, solo holidays, and family adventures.
In Business Since 1981
Reviews
Janet - Traveled, February 2023
We managed to see a wide variety of animals, many close up. A group of 15 or more giraffe gave a great spectacle in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi park.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/28/2023
Susanne - Traveled, January 2023
the reserve in Eswatini was a really nice place to stay for acouple of days.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/22/2023
Hannah - Traveled, January 2023
Every part of the trip was a highlight within itself. Each location and activity was something new to enjoy in it's own special way. Our tour guide Graeme definitely helped make the whole itinerary a highlight. Specifically I enjoyed the game drive in Kruger the best as we saw so many elephants, giraffe etc which was amazing.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/15/2023
Rebecca - Traveled, February 2023
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve - great scenery as well as the animals, and felt less commercial than Kruger
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/05/2023
Andreas - Traveled, February 2023
Close up experiences with giraffe and elephants. Warthog families with babies. Crocodile right below a bridge. Night safari seeing lethal snakes in the trees. Birds with incredible colours. 12 hippos in one pool at Kruger.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/05/2023
ANNE - Traveled, February 2023
the safaris in St Lucia. Kruger speaks for itself but the other parks were a lovely surprise. Drakensberg - the peace of the mountains Eswatini - the beehive huts accommodation and sharing the space with the animals around us Also the views across the Blyde River Canyon - a real bonus at the end
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/08/2023
Tina - Traveled, March 2023
Too many to mention. Graeme our guide was just the best, he really made the trip - 1st class!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/12/2023
Simon - Traveled, March 2023
Lions and elephants at (very) close quarters in Kruger, Rorke’s Drift battlefield, Hippo cruise and night safari St Lucia, Mlilwane walks and chilling out.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/01/2023
Katie - Traveled, March 2023
The highlights were the activities, all exceeded expectations and the guides all went above and beyond to keep us all smiling!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/01/2023
Jacquelyn - Traveled, September 2023
Wonderful tour! Graeme was a fantastic tour guide and very knowledgeable. The itinerary was packed full with exciting experiences, and optional add ons. Some experiences challenged my comfort zone in the best way! I travel alone a lot, and being part of this tour was incredible and offered me experiences that as a solo traveler I wouldn’t have been able to book on my own!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Jacquelyn - Traveled, September 2023
The highlight for me was the night game drive in St. Lucia! But honestly it was very difficult to find a favorite.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/08/2023
Yannis - Traveled, September 2023
The tour was very well balanced so I cannot really think of something that would emerge. Probably the first day of safari as it was my first one.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/07/2023
Cassie - Traveled, September 2023
Meeting new people, the first time seeing a wild elephant, sitting on a boat, blanket on my lap drinking hot chocolate surrounded by hippos, that felt so special, seeing the stars and the lions in Kruger!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/25/2023
Mr - Traveled, September 2023
It’s very difficult to to single out any specific experience though out the trip as each and every day something new would just blow me away
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/18/2023
Emma - Traveled, September 2023
Staying in some beautiful locations in unusual accommodation inside the national parks; seeing wildlife in their natural habitat; amazing stars in Kruger; snorkelling as part of the wetlands heritage day (option)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/14/2023
Lisa - Traveled, August 2023
Accommodation in Drakensburg is fabulous. It’s wonderful waking up in such beautiful places, every morning.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/14/2023
Pamela - Traveled, August 2023
Honestly from day one to the end of the trip there's just way to many things to rave about. I'm now planning my next trip with Explore Worldwide
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/14/2023
Helen - Traveled, August 2023
There are too many highlights to the whole trip but the night Safari in St Lucia was much more than O originally thought it would be.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/13/2023
Rosemary - Traveled, July 2023
This itinerary has a few experiences I want to do from spending time in Drakensberg mountains visiting the Zulu battlefields and a safari in Kruger NP.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/03/2023
Simon - Traveled, March 2023
Lions and elephants at (very) close quarters in Kruger, Rorke’s Drift battlefield, Hippo cruise and night safari St Lucia, Mlilwane walks and chilling out.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/01/2023
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