13 day Explore Southern Africa Lodge Safari

Explore Southern Africa's scenic mountains, forests and coast to encounter the amazingly diverse wildlife, landscapes and cultures of this part of Africa.

In just less than two weeks this budget lodge safari takes you to several of Southern Africa's top game parks including South Africa's Kruger Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve and the St. Lucia Wetlands Park, as well as the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Swaziland. 

Encounter the rich culture of the Swazi people, the Basotho people of Lesotho and the tribal Zulu culture in Natal on this accommodated tour through Southern Africa. On this affordable trip starting and ending in Johannesburg you get a glimpse into the fascinating history of South Africa, visiting its most famous battlefields.

An unforgettable 13-day lodge safari - see Africa's wildlife roaming freely, experience spectacular natural beauty and meet the vibrant people of Southern Africa! 

Tour Highlights:

• Panorama Route - Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes & The Three Rondavels
• Game viewing in the world-renowned Kruger National Park
• Swaziland’s scenic Mlilwane National Park & Swazi culture
• Game drive in the prestigious Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
• Venture into the beautiful and diverse St Lucia Wetlands Park
• Walk in the forests of Drakensberg and visit the scenic Royal Natal National Park
• Visit the historic South African battlefields of Blood River, Rorke’s Drift and Talana Hill
• Explore the mountainous Kingdom of Lesotho and meet the friendly Basotho people

DAY 1: Johannesburg to Private Game Reserve via Panorama Route (Dinner)

On day one we depart from the bustling city of Johannesburg, the economic powerhouse of Southern Africa, heading west into one of the most scenic parts of South Africa. Travelling along the Panorama Route in the Mpumalanga Province we stop off at the Blyde River Canyon. At Blyde River Canyon, the world’s third largest canyon, we enjoy spectacular panoramic views over the surrounding landscape and the deep canyon. We walk down into the canyon a short way to see the rounded rock formations of the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, formed by erosion. We view the Three Rondavels en route, stopping at the edge of the escarpment to look out over the lowveld stretched out below.

Descending the scenic escarpment we make our way to our first overnight lodge within the Greater Kruger park area. The safari lodge is set in a private game reserve that shares unfenced borders with the world-renowned Kruger National Park, allowing wildlife to roam freely.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 2: Kruger National Park (Breakfast & Dinner)

Day two starts bright and early as we make our way into South Africa’s premier game park, Kruger National Park. We spend the day game viewing in this over 2 million-hectare wilderness area teeming with wildlife. A typical day in Kruger starts early; with a morning game drive into the African bushveld, as many wild animals are at their most active early in the morning. We stop at one of the rest camps inside Kruger Park for lunch and a rest during the hottest part of the day. In the late afternoon, when the predators become more active, we venture back out into the wilderness on another game drive. We exit Kruger before sunset heading back to our safari lodge for the night.

Kruger is South Africa’s flagship game park and top travel destination, boasting an unrivalled diversity of plants and animals, including Africa’s Big Five - elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo. Our game drives in Kruger take us in search of the Big Five and a variety of other wildlife, such as giraffe, zebra, cheetah, hyena and various antelope species. With around 507 bird species, 147 mammal species and 114 reptiles game drives in Kruger Park offer excellent photographic opportunities. In addition to its abundance of wildlife, the untamed Kruger Park is also rich in archaeological and historical sights.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 3 – 4: Swaziland (Breakfast x 2, Dinner x 2)

Today we cross into mountainous Swaziland, visiting a glass works factory en-route to Mbabane, the capital of this small landlocked country. Swaziland with its festivals and traditional villages is rich in culture, as well as natural beauty.

We spend the next two nights in Swaziland’s Big Game Parks area where the Hlane Royal National park, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary and Mkhaya Game Reserve are situated. We visit the scenic Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary situated in the “Valley of Heaven”. Mlilwane, Swaziland’s oldest protected area, covers 4 560 hectares of mountains and grassland plains inhabited by numerous wild animals. We also visit the Royal Enclosure where the Reeds Festival, or Umhlanga, is celebrated and then browse the local craft markets.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 5: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve (Breakfast & Dinner)

The morning is spent relaxing before we return to South Africa, travelling to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Reserve, in northern KwaZulu-Natal. We head into Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Reserve on an afternoon game viewing drive. One of the oldest game reserves in South Africa, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve is home to Africa’s Big Five and numerous other wildlife, offering superb game viewing opportunities. The prestigious Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is a leader in conservation standards and best known for the pivotal role the park played in saving the white rhino from extinction. We overnight at a secluded lodge not far from Hluhluwe.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 6 – 7: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, St Lucia & Durban (Breakfast x 2 & Dinner x 2)

Day six starts early with a visit to one of the local villages to get a glimpse of the proud Zulu culture with its warriors, tribal dances and customs.  After our cultural excursion we make our way to the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park, encompassing a diverse array of habitats and 280km of wild coastline. We get the chance to take an optional boat cruise in this Natural World Heritage Site and go in search of its abundant wildlife.

After exploring the natural beauty of St. Lucia we follow the coast south making our way to Durban, South Africa’s largest port and one of its top beach destinations.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 8: Valley of a Thousand Hills & Dundee (Breakfast & Dinner)

Leaving Durban we travel through the dramatic landscapes of the scenic ‘Valley of a 1000 Hills’, formed by the Mngeni River and it's tributaries. This tranquil valley is a Zulu stronghold dotted with villages that we visit to learn about the proud Zulu warrior culture.

From the Valley of a Thousand Hills our journey takes us to Dundee, the gateway to colonial-era battlefield sites where the English, Zulu and Afrikaner settlers fought some of South Africa’s most famous battles.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 9 - 10: Battlefields of Dundee & Drakensberg Mountains (Breakfast x 2 & Dinner x 2)

The Dundee Battlefield area has the highest concentration of battlefields in South Africa and today we visit Blood River (Zulu/Afrikaner), Talana Hill (British/Afrikaner), Rorke’s Drift (British/Zulu) and other battle sites. These colonial era battles played a very important role in shaping South Africa’s more recent history. We stay in Dundee for a second night, before heading for the majestic Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa’s highest mountain range.

The Drakensberg Mountain (Dragon mountain) range is a UNESCO World Heritage sight, also known as uKhahlamba, meaning the Barrier of Spears in Zulu. This impressive mountain range stretches 200km’s in length separating Lesotho and the Kwa-Zulu Natal province of South Africa. We explore the magnificent mountains of Drakensberg, visiting bushman rock paintings and walking on nature trails in the forests to enjoy the peaceful waterfalls, cliffs and spectacular mountain views.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 11 - 12: Royal Natal National Park, Drakensberg & Lesotho (Breakfast x 2 & Dinner x 2)

Early in the morning we enter the Royal National Park a wilderness area of the spectacular natural beauty offering breathtaking views. The Royal Natal Park’s most famous feature is the Amphitheatre, a 5km long and 500m high rock wall. Towering over the Amphitheatre is Mont-aux-Sources peak, where the source of the Orange River is found and cascading over the rock face is one of the world’s highest waterfalls, the Tuglea Falls.

From the Royal Natal National Park we make our way over the Drakensberg Mountains crossing into the Kingdom of Lesotho, known as the Kingdom of the Sky. We spend the next two days exploring this beautiful landlocked country, rich in culture and tradition. 

In mountainous Lesotho we head into rural Africa to visit local villages and meet the friendly Basotho people. Here we experience the colourful local culture of Lesotho’s proud people, gaining insight into their traditions and way of life. Traditionally the Basotho people wear straw hats and wrap themselves in blankets to keep warm at high altitudes, in a country that lies entirely above 1000m. Lesotho is best known for its Basotho pony trekking and during our stay we have the opportunity of going on a scenic pony trek through the hills and villages. There is also the option of taking a guided walk to enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery and get away from it all.

Twin Share Rooms/ Shared Facilities

DAY 13: Lesotho to Johannesburg (Breakfast)

Tour Accommodation:

On this tour accommodation is mostly in shared rooms with twin beds in chalets, bungalows or cabins, or in guesthouses with shared facilities. Many of the places that we stay at are located in picturesque settings with a swimming pool, restaurant and bar. Some of the accommodation is a little more basic but still comfortable, clean and secure.

Tour Transport:

Transport on this tour will be in a comfortable mini-bus or microbus. Maximum group size: 14 passengers.

Participation on this Tour:

This is an active participation tour; which means everybody helps out with the daily chores. The chores are usually shared on a roster basis and include tasks like shopping and cooking. 

The active participation on this tour provides good opportunities to meet local people and get to know your fellow travellers. Your contribution helps to make sure that your trip is successful and enjoyable for everyone. Sharing the responsibilities means that nobody has to work too hard! On past tours most people have found that the more they get involved, the more they enjoy themselves. With a sense of adventure and a flexible attitude you will be sure to have a wonderful trip.

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