The 9-day Self Drive South Africa Tour enables you to travel independently and explore at your own pace. Experience the natural splendour of Eswatini (Swaziland) and South Africa's Kruger National Park and KwaZulu-Natal Province with this affordable self-drive tour.
Follow our suggested schedule, get us to tailor-make your South Africa holiday, or create your own program. We will provide all accommodation and rental car bookings – and offer our expert recommendations for the best attractions along the way – but of course, you are entirely free to plan each day of your private self-drive safari in South Africa, as you prefer.
Highlights include a drive through the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, a Big 5 safari in Kruger National Park, the colourful culture and traditions of the Kingdom of Eswatini, and a scenic boat cruise in St Lucia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in KwaZulu-Natal.
Please Note: This self-drive tour package is merely a sample itinerary that can be tailored for your Eswatini and South Africa holiday.
Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, just outside of Johannesburg, pick up your rental vehicle at the Avis Car Hire Depot and head into the South African province of Mpumalanga.
This drive will take you through a landscape of panoramic mountain passes, picturesque mountains, lush valleys, waterfalls, and bushveld. Stay for the night in Graskop, a small town and hub of local forestry on the edge of South Africa’s escarpment that is the unofficial gateway to the Kruger National Park. Spend the remainder of the first day of your self-drive South Africa holiday relaxing and enjoying the stillness of the African bush.
Begin day two of your Self Drive South Africa Tour with a trip to the aptly named Panorama Route in Mpumalanga province. Take a drive along this scenic route, widely regarded as one of the most stunning places to visit across South Africa.
Savour the incredible vistas of the Blyde River Canyon, the third-largest in the world, teeming with wildlife and lush vegetation, and offering the opportunity to visit God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Take your time and stop to admire the views in peace - one of the perks of doing a self-drive safari in South Africa.
Prepare for the following day, when you will visit the iconic Kruger National Park. South Africa's most famous and popular game park, a wildlife safari in Kruger promises to be one of the most unforgettable experiences on your self-drive tour! Embarking on a self-guided safari also has its perks, like choosing your own routes, setting your own pace, and enjoying the tranquillity of the African bush.
Head out on a short Kruger safari drive this morning or hit the road to Eswatini. Today you travel across the border into mountainous Eswatini, formerly Swaziland. This is a small landlocked country, ruled by King Mswati III, making it one of only three remaining monarchies in Africa.
Explore the traditions and culture of the Swazi nation, which includes seven different cultural groups. In Eswatini, you'll encounter a more traditional African way of life, presenting interesting cultural experiences. Take the opportunity to visit the Ngwena Glass Factory, producers of many different and wonderful glass creations including miniature animals and themed wine glasses.
Return to South Africa, crossing the border into the northern reaches of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, where you will continue to Ghost Mountain Inn, situated at the foot of the eponymous Ghost Mountain.
With this as your base, you’re welcome to participate in several optional game-viewing excursions, including an open vehicle game drive in Mkhuze Game Reserve, guided walks, excursions to cultural attractions, and a boat cruise. Enjoy the freedom of creating your own program of activities and setting your own pace.
Next, your South Africa Tour takes you southwest through the emerald Kwa-Zulu hinterland to iSimangaliso Wetland Park, just outside the picturesque coastal resort of St Lucia. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first-ever World Heritage Site, offers you the chance to embark on a boat cruise across the St Lucia estuary, where you will get up close and personal with the crocodiles and hippos that call the lake their home (optional).
From St Lucia, take an incredibly scenic drive through the rolling hills and sugar cane plantations of the North Coast to Durban, where you’ll be entertained by a plethora of attractions or simply relax on the golden sands of the city’s many wonderful beaches.
After breakfast on day nine of our Self Drive South Africa Tour, it is time to depart for King Shaka International Airport. Here you hand over your rental vehicle in time to catch your onward flight, bringing this scenic self-drive safari in South Africa and Eswatini to a close.
Please take note of the following travel information and requirements:
This South Africa self-drive tour encompasses vehicle rental of a VW Polo Vivo or similar (Avis Car Hire Group B). This includes Premium Insurance, which covers theft and collision damage waiver, personal accident insurance, unlimited mileage, location surcharge, third party liability insurance, general public liability insurance, tourism levy, VAT and claims admin fee, tyre, rim and hubcap damage, windscreen damage/repair, sandblasting damage, water, and undercarriage damage.
This insurance does not include fuel, refundable rental deposit, rental contract fee, one-way drop-off charges and equipment charges, delivery and collection fees, traffic fine administration fee, additional driver, child safety seats, GPS navigation, additional spare tyre rental, or deposit.
We utilize mid-market or standard African lodge accommodation on this self-drive package. There will be a variety of safari lodge types, which will come with en-suite bathrooms. Some also feature restaurants, bars and entertainment areas, and swimming pools.
Breakfast will be available in the restaurants or dining areas of the accommodation establishments. If you have any special dietary requirements, please notify us ahead of time.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have applied for and received in good order any visas you may require to legally enter South Africa and Eswatini before your tour departure date.
Kindly note that travel and cancellation insurance is a mandatory requirement for all guests and obtaining this insurance is your sole responsibility. You must ensure that you arrange insurance with protection for the entirety of your trip covering personal injury, damage, and loss of personal items, such as but not limited to cameras and other electronic items and accessories, loss or theft of luggage, medical costs, repatriation costs, etcetera. For more information see our Travel Insurance guide or talk to one of our travel experts for assistance with obtaining suitable travel insurance.
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