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Addo meerkat, South Africa Safari by Werner Bayer

7 Day Lesotho & South Africa Safari: Durban to Addo…

Tour Length7 days
Priced from pps $1424 R27000 £1119 1310 A$2172 C$1928 NZ$2342 Full pricing info
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Summary of this Lodge Africa Overland Tour

  • Max. Group Size 20 Travellers
  • Departs from Durban, South Africa
  • Ends at Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), South Africa
  • Accommodation Lodge / Safari Lodge / Hotel
  • Transport Large Overland Vehicle
  • Wildlife Big 5, Elephant, Leopards, Lions, Rhino & More
  •  See Departure Dates

Quick Itinerary Overview

An excellent, budget Lesotho & South Africa Safari offering a fantastic mix of overland adventure and comfort!

Travel overland from Durban to Addo Elephant Park and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), via the Drakensberg and Lesotho Maloti Mountains, and the Great Karoo. Highlights of this Africa Overland Tour include hiking in the Drakensberg Park of KwaZulu Natal; exploring Malealea in Lesotho, visiting the rugged Valley of Desolation and historic Graaff-Reinet in the Karoo; and game viewing in the malaria-free Addo Elephant National Park, home to one of Africa's largest elephant populations. A diverse and budget-friendly overland tour staying at comfortable safari lodges.

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Itinerary for this Tour

Day 1: Durban to Drakensberg Mountains - South Africa

This affordable Lesotho & South Africa Safari departs from Durban on the warm east coast of South Africa. In the morning you meet up with your safari guides and fellow travelers in Durban. Then we travel overland, leaving the stunning golden beaches of the KwaZulu-Natal coast behind and heading inland towards the towering Drakensberg Mountains.

Along the way, we stop at the place where Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected president of South Africa, began his life as a prisoner. A statue marks the site where he was arrested in 1962. After visiting the site where Mandela's 27-year-long imprisonment first began, we drive to Howick Falls nearby to marvel at the beauty of nature.

The Drakensberg Mountain Range is the tallest in South Africa peaking at over 3,000 meters and is so named after the Dutch word for ‘dragon’ since the silhouette of the mountains look like dragons' backs. For the first two nights of our Durban to Addo Lodge Safari, we stay in twin-share rooms with en-suite bathrooms at a lovely hotel near Monks Cowl Peak, so named as it resembles a monk's cowl or hood. The landscape is a dramatic mix of high peaks, rolling grasslands, and deep valleys.

  • Included Activities: Visit Mandela Capture Site & Howick Falls
  • Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park - South Africa

We spend Day 2 of our Africa Overland Tour exploring the towering Drakensberg Mountains. In 2000, the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional natural beauty and the abundance of San rock paintings. It is one of the few places in the world that holds this status for both cultural and natural reasons. The region is home to a rich diversity – it boasts over 2,000 plant species, including many endemic species.

In the morning, your safari guide takes you on a hike in scenic uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. There are plenty of trails to choose from, suited to different levels of fitness and activity, so you are free to determine your own pace. Alternatively, you can relax in the scenic splendor of the hotel or enjoy other optional outdoor activities. The hotel boasts a 9 Hole golf course, tennis court and swimming pool.

  • Included Activity: Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park Entry Fee & Hike (with your overland guide)
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Drakensberg to Malealea – Lesotho

Day 3 takes us into the next country on our Africa Overland Tour, Lesotho, a land in the mountains. We traverse spectacular mountain passes and wind our way through the majestic cliffs of Golden Gate National Park and cross over into Lesotho.

After completing border formalities, our drive takes us through the capital city of Maseru, on our way into the spectacular mountains of southern Lesotho. Our next lodge is located in Malealea village, nestled in the Makhomalong Valley surrounded by the breathtaking Maloti Mountains, where we will stay two nights.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Malealea – Lesotho

Day 4 of our overland adventure is set aside for exploring the remote Lesotho highlands. This morning we take an easy hike through the local village and into the countryside to view the Maletsunyane Waterfall, where the waters plunge a spectacular 186-meter (610 feet) into a gorge with its towering 300-meter (984 feet) cliffs.
Along the way you'll get to see the traditional Basotho way of life and gain insight into the local community. The Basotho are known for their distinctive woven grass hats, and the thick Basotho blankets which shield them from the icy temperatures that the mountains can bring.

After our hike, we return to the lodge in Malealea. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax at the lodge, explore the village and local surroundings at your own pace or opt for an exhilarating pony trekking adventure (optional) in the mountains. The Basotho have a very close relationship with their ponies which are the main form of transport in these remote mountainous areas.

  • Included Activity: Morning Waterfall Hike
  • Optional Activity: Lesotho Pony Trekking, Hiking, and more
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Lesotho to Graaff-Reinet & Valley of Desolation - South Africa

Day 5 of our budget Lesotho & South Africa Safari sees us descend the lofty Maloti Mountains and cross the border back into South Africa. We head southwest into the wide expanse of the Great Karoo, a semi-arid region making up the bulk of South Africa’s interior, known for its flat, open landscapes. En-route we cross the mighty Orange River, South Africa's longest river, that rises in the mountains of Lesotho and flows right across the breadth of South Africa towards the Atlantic Ocean in the west.

The name "Karoo" originates from the Khoi language, meaning 'land of thirst', which aptly describes the arid, sunbaked landscape of endless plains, rolling hills, and ancient mountain ranges. The next night of our South Africa Safari adventure will be spent in the gracious town of Graaff-Reinet, one of the oldest towns in South Africa that has preserved much of its traditional Cape Dutch architecture.

This evening we take a sundowner trip to the towering dolerite pillars of geological wonder, Valley of Desolation, just outside town. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the sun setting over the cliffs and towering rock pillars of the valley with the plains of Camdeboo stretching into the distance. (In winter, the Valley of Desolation trip is conducted on the following morning as a sunrise excursion.)

  • Included Activity: Valley of Desolation Sundowner Tour (or Sunrise Trip tomorrow morning)
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Graaf Reneit to Addo Elephant National Park & Gqeberha - South Africa

This morning our overland tour continues south across the empty plains of the Karoo, soaking up the wide skies and open space. The landscape becomes greener as we approach the Addo Elephant National Park, where we will spend the afternoon on a game viewing adventure.

Popular South African safari destination, Addo Elephant Park, is the third largest in South Africa and incorporates both marine and land habitats. Known initially for its elephant conservation, the park has expanded over the years to include five of South Africa's seven major vegetation zones, providing a habitat for a wide range of wildlife.

Our guide takes us on a game drive to see what animals cross our path. With over 600 elephants roaming the reserve, Addo offers some of the best elephant viewing opportunities in the world. These magnificent creatures can often be seen around waterholes, providing unforgettable photo opportunities. The park is also home to the rest of the "Big 5" - lions, leopards, rhinoceros, and buffalos – and a variety of other animals, including zebra, giraffe, ostrich and antelope species like eland, red hartebeest, kudu, and bushbuck. Addo's birdlife is equally impressive, with over 400 species including black eagles, secretary birds, and pale chanting goshawks, among others.

After our exciting game drive in Addo Elephant National Park, we head to the coast once more. We spend our last night at a comfortable, centrally located guesthouse in the city of Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth.

  • Included Activity: Afternoon Game Drive in Addo Elephant Park (in the overland truck)
  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) - South Africa

After a hearty breakfast, our Lesotho & South Africa Safari comes to a close in the Friendly City of Gqeberha.

To add an extra night's stay at a hotel or guesthouse on the Sunshine Coast after your safari, simply ask one of our travel advisors when you book your safari. Alternatively, airport transfers can be arranged.

  • Meals included: Breakfast

Africa Overland Tour Note

We recommend arriving in Durban the day before your Lesotho & South Africa Safari departs and only booking onward flights for the day after the safari ends in Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth. We can help arrange affordable accommodation before and after the lodge safari on request.

Alternative South Africa Safari Options

This Lodge Overland Tour is also available as a Camping Overland Tour - Lesotho & South Africa Safari: Durban to Addo (Camping) which follows the same itinerary and accommodation is more budget-friendly camping at campsites instead of in lodges.

For more details contact African Budget Safaris

Optional Extras and Excursions

For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.

Lesotho Safari Activities:

  • Pony Trekking
  • Additional Hiking Options

Child Policy

This tour does take children.

There is a minimum age limit of 8 years of age, for travellers on scheduled departures, however, children aged 8 and 9 years of age are accepted on a request basis only.
A maximum of 4 children, aged between 10 - 15 years will be allowed per scheduled tour departure date.
Should there already be 4 children confirmed on a tour, any further children requests will be dealt with on a request basis only.

Age restrictions may apply to certain items listed in the respective tour activities and it is important that you are aware of these restrictions prior to confirming children on tour.

Please contact African Budget Safaris for further information.

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For confirmed pricing on these optional items, please drop us an enquiry

Lesotho Safari Activities:

  • Pony Trekking
  • Additional Hiking Options
+Included in the Tour Price
  • Tour Transport in Overland Safari Truck
  • 6 Nights of Lodge Accommodation
  • Registered Tour Guides
  • All Meals (as per the itinerary)
  • Safari Activities (listed as included)
  • Filtered Drinking Water
  • National Park Entry Fees
+Not Included in the Tour Price
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Items & Tips
  • Drinks and Snacks
  • Optional Activities
  • Flights & Visas
+Departure Dates

This tour is also conducted in German.  Please contact African Budget Safaris for departure dates.

Scheduled Tour Departures
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If you do not see departures listed for your dates, please do contact us for further info.

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Optional Extensions to this Tour

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Priced from pps R35500 $1873 £1471 €1722 A$2856 C$2535 NZ$3079 Full pricing info
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Hluhluwe rhino  by Vaiz Ha Eswatini & South Africa Safari (Lodge Overland Tour) to Kruger National Park, Panorama Route, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, iSimangaliso & Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary

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