South Africa, Swaziland & Lesotho Safari

This exclusive camping safari takes you from the Mpumalanga region through the wilderness of the Kruger Ntional Park and on to the landlocked country of Swaziland, and area rich in traditional African Culture.

Then head to Lesotho passing through the Drakensberg Mountains, where you can choose to hike through the mountains, or explore the caves of the area, featuring San Bushmen paintings. In Lesotho you can opt to go on a pony trek in this Mountain Kingdom.

We travel through the arid Karoo of South Africa to the Addo Elephant Park home to Africa's "Big 5". Its then off to Tsitsikamma National Park, an indigenous vegetation haven, home to an array of wildlife and remarkable birdlife. 

From there we head westwards along the scenic Garden Route to our final destination, the beautiful city of Cape Town.

Day 1: JOHANNESBURG to MPUMALANGA - SOUTH AFRICA [camping -LD]

(B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
On day one of the South Africa, Swaziland & Lesotho Safari we depart from Johannesburg at 06:30am and head east towards Mpumalanga. A landscape characterised by mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests. We will camp overnight 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 [camping BLD]

Today we enter big game country, taking exciting game drives that provide us with excellent game viewing opportunities. Spot lion, elephant, rhino and other wild animals in one of the last African wildernesses.

The vast and popular Kruger Park is South Africa's premier game reserve and one of the top game viewing destinations in Africa. Early morning & afternoon game drives get us close to the diverse wildlife. You have the option of taking a night game drive in Kruger Park in an open 4x4 safari vehicle.

Day 4: MALOLOTJA - KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND [cabins BLD]

The mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland, led by King Mswati III, is one of only three monarchies in Africa. Swazi's are proud of their traditional lifestyle & cultures. We explore the Malolotja Game Reserve on foot to enjoy the mountain scenery, rare birdlife, and the 95m high Malolotja waterfall. Overnight in log cabins with fantastic panoramic views.

Day 5 - 6: ZULULAND - SOUTH AFRICA [camping BLD]

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 a full day to game drive and stop at waterhole hides and watch game come down to drink.

Day 7 - 8: DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS - SOUTH AFRICA [camping BLD]

Moving further south we continue to the base of the Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains) in Natal. We have two nights at the foot of the mountains allowing time for walking along beautiful mountainous stream paths, looking for Bushman rock paintings or just enjoying the spectacular views.

Day 9 - 10: LESOTHO HIGHLANDS - LESOTHO [chalets BLD]

We travel through the towering red sandstone cliffs of Golden Gate en route to Lesotho. Quaint villages and towns offer interesting stops along the way. We cross the border and head to southern Lesotho to our overnight chalets at Malealea. This lodge nestled in the mountains forms our base for two nights. The next morning we are up early and spend the day trekking on foot with a local guide and his Basotho pony. The guide's pony will carry lunch and a few small bags, as we walk through the rugged mountains.

Day 11: KAROO - SOUTH AFRICA [guest house BL]

Descending from the lush Lesotho highlands we make our way into the great Karoo. The dramatic Karoo landscape covers most of central South Africa and is a vast semi desert. It has become famous for its sheep and ostrich farming industries, and roadside stalls selling handmade windmills.

Day 12: ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK - SOUTH AFRICA [camping BLD]

On day 12 we head for conservation success - Addo Elephant National Park, in the rustic Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Addo is a unique wildlife area, famous for the numerous 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 13 - 14: TSITSIKAMMA NATIONAL PARK - SOUTH AFRICA [camping BLD]

Indigenous Tsitsikamma forests surround the campsite at Storms River mouth, and there are forested walks up the Storms River Gorge and along the beautiful rocky coastline. There is the option of taking the world's highest bungi jump (own expense) from the nearby Bloukrans Bridge. Whales are frequently sighted along this scenic stretch of coast in season (July to November).

Day 15: WESTERN CAPE - SOUTH AFRICA [camping BLD]

After visiting "The Heads" in Knysna, a charming town nestled on a tranquil lagoon, we travel south along the Garden Route towards the Hottentots Holland Mountains. We pass the Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve and Threewaterkloof pass, making our way to our campsite near Franschhoek for the evening.

Day 16 - 17: CAPE TOWN - SOUTH AFRICA [guest house B]

On day 16 of the South Africa, Swaziland & Lesotho Safari we take a morning walk in quaint and historic Franschhoek village. We then visit Stellenbosch, for wine tasting and a cellar tour in this famous wine region. We head for Cape Town and explore the “mother city’s” many attractions; visiting Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope, Chapman’s Peak drive, the harbour at Hout Bay and enjoying 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 18 TOUR ENDS - CAPE TOWN [- B--]

We climb Table Mountain in the morning admiring the spectacular views over Table Bay and the city of Cape Town. Spend the afternoon catching up on last minute curio shopping or just lazing on the beach absorbing the Cape's sunshine.

The South Africa, Swaziland & Lesotho Safari ends at +/-18:00pm in Cape Town.

Please note:

This Southern African tour covers great distances; so you'll see all the highlights of this diverse region, but it also means that we have to spend several days travelling. This involves long days on the road, generally followed by a full day to explore the area. This is an all-encompassing tour and a fantastic way to explore South Africa.