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This Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari combines idyllic Mozambican beaches with a Kruger National Park Safari and the scenic mountains of former Swaziland.
Start with exploring beautiful wilderness areas in Eswatini - go game viewing in Hlane Royal National Park, explore Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary on foot, and visit a local village. Then travel to Mozambique to unwind on the sandy tropical beaches at Vilanculos and take a sailing day trip to Magaruque Island in the pristine Bazaruto Archipelago. Go snorkelling with whale sharks and manta rays in Tofo, relax on Barra Beach and discover historic Inhambane. Visit bustling Maputo en route back to South Africa and Kruger National Park, one of Africa's best safari destinations. End your small group tour of Africa with an exceptional Big 5 safari in Kruger and sightseeing on the stunning Panorama Route.
This two-week Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari departs from the dynamic city of Johannesburg in South Africa. From Johannesburg, we travel east into neighbouring Eswatini, formerly called Swaziland. The Kingdom of Eswatini is a small landlocked country surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique. One of Africa's smallest countries, Eswatini is also one of the few remaining absolute monarchies in the world.
Crossing into the Kingdom of Eswatini, we drive to the scenic Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. Mlilwane is the oldest game park in Eswatini, covering 46 square kilometers of unspoiled wilderness on the slopes of the beautiful Ezulwini Valley. Tonight we stay in en-suite huts inside Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.
Day 2 of our Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari begins with a nature walk in the scenic Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. The game reserve features a network of nine interconnected walking trails, and this morning, your safari guide takes you to explore. As you walk through the bush, your guide tells you more about the local environment and history, pointing out interesting sights along the way.
After lunch at the lodge, you can explore the Ezulwini Valley area on your own or join some of the numerous optional activities on offer. This beautiful area is also known as the Valley of Heaven, with the name Ezulwini meaning the 'place of heaven'. Optional activities include self-guided hikes and walks in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, which is safe for walking due to the absence of dangerous predators. If you prefer wheels, you can hire a mountain bike and go cycling in the nature reserve or join an optional game drive in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.
To gain insight into Swazi culture, you can visit a rural community in the area. Walk through a Swazi village with a local guide. This interactive tour offers a chance to participate in some of the day-to-day activities of village life, from grinding maize to carrying water.
This morning we travel to the nearby Hlane Royal National Park, the oldest protected area in Eswatini. Situated in the northeast of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Hlane Royal National Park hosts a rich variety of large mammals and birds. Hlane is home to lions, elephants, and endangered white rhinos, as well as seasonal herds of wildebeest, impala, and zebra. Vegetation in the flat, low-lying Hlane Park consists of hardwood trees, grasslands, and shallow pans. The game park also hosts abundant birdlife, including various vultures and eagles.
In the afternoon, we embark on a game drive in Hlane Royal National Park. We'll explore the bush in 4x4 safari vehicles, looking out for rhinos and other wildlife and birds. After our rewarding game drive, we head to our next safari lodge inside the Hlane Royal Park or return to our lodge in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary.
Day 4 of our Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari sees us leave the African bush and Eswatini behind. Our tour takes us into our next country, Mozambique, on the East Coast of Africa, where the warm Indian Ocean waters await. Once border formalities are complete, we drive through the lush rural landscapes of Mozambique, past rural villages where you get a glimpse of local life.
Our route skirts around the capital city of Maputo and continues north to our stopover for the night in the beautiful beach village of Xai Xai (pronounced 'shy-shy'). We arrive late afternoon, the road taking us through lush vegetation dotted with traditional thatched huts to our seaside lodge. Take a stroll along the unspoiled sandy beach that stretches as far as the eye can see, and enjoy a refreshing dip in the Indian Ocean.
Today, our Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari continues north along the coast to Vilanculos, our next Mozambican beach stop. The lively seaside town of Vilanculos serves as our base for exploring the idyllic islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago, lying just off the mainland of Mozambique.
Vilanculos is a delightful town where colourful markets line the streets, with locals selling everything from fresh seafood to local handicrafts. Along the coast, traditional wooden dhow sailing boats dot the shoreline. We will stay at a comfortable lodge in Vilanculos for the next two nights. After arriving at the lodge late this afternoon, your guide will brief you about our trip to the beautiful Bazaruto Archipelago tomorrow.
Today we take a day trip to the dazzling Bazaruto Archipelago, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. This cluster of five unspoiled tropical islands is considered one of the most beautiful places in Africa. Mozambique’s only marine reserve, Bazaruto, is world-renowned for its superb diving and snorkelling due to the abundant sea creatures inhabiting its intact reefs. Marine life includes an impressive variety of tropical fish, whales, and dolphins, as well as the rare Dugong (sea cow). Some aquatic creatures sighted on dives include whale sharks, manta rays, turtles, lobsters, barracuda, clownfish, Moorish idols, and mackerel.
We board a traditional dhow sailing boat and set sail for the beautiful Magaruque Island. Enjoy a day in the sunshine, explore this idyllic island on foot and snorkel the colourful reefs, the best way to enjoy this aquatic wonderland. We return to our lodge in Vilanculos, sun-kissed and content.
We're up early and back on the road this morning, heading south to the Inhambane Peninsula surrounded by azure oceans. Our long drive takes us through coconut, cashew, and sugar plantations and the lush rural countryside of Mozambique, dotted with small villages.
The next destination on our Africa Tour is a beach lodge at Barra Beach, near the charming town of Inhambane. Settle in and stroll on the palm-fringed beach or enjoy a dip in the ocean. For the next three nights of our Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari, we stay in en-suite rooms at a lodge on Barra Beach, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the idyllic beaches of the Barra Peninsula.. Tonight we are treated to a special Neptune’s Dinner.
The next two days are free for you to enjoy the tropical beaches of Mozambique and sign up for some optional activities, from watersports like scuba diving and ocean safaris to land-based adventure activities like horse riding or quad biking. You may wish to explore the historic town of Inhambane, one of the oldest settlements on the East Coast, where Arabic, Indian, African and European influences blend in an interesting mix.
On Day 9, your tour guide takes you to the beach town of Praia do Tofo, to browse the market, sample local foods, try some optional activities, or lounge on the beach. Once a sleepy fishing village, today Tofo is one of the most popular beach destinations in Africa, considered the diving capital of the country, and one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks. Snorkelling with whale sharks and manta rays, on the Ocean Safari (own account) in Tofo, is a not-to-be-missed highlight, so take the dive!
Relaxed and well-rested, we bid Barra Beach farewell this morning. Next, our Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari travels back south along the pretty coast of Mozambique. Take in the rural scenery of mango trees dripping with fruit, cashew nuts, and fruit sellers along the roadside, small villages, and roaming livestock.
Our last overnight stop in Mozambique is the vibrant capital city, Maputo, where we will stay in a comfortable, centrally located hotel. After settling in, your guide leads a walking tour of the city to give you a taste of its exotic fusion of African, Portuguese, and Arab cultures, from bustling markets to grand old colonial architecture. The city is known for its vibrant nightlife and world-class seafood.
Our Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari leaves Mozambique today, heading west and crossing back into South Africa. Our next safari destination is the world-renowned Kruger National Park in South Africa, one of Africa's top game parks covering an area of approximately two million hectares, roughly the size of Israel or New Jersey.
For the next three nights, we will stay at a safari lodge in a private wildlife concession area within Kruger National Park. This evening, we enjoy a sunset game drive through the reserve, keeping a lookout for wildlife. Kruger National Park protects an unrivalled diversity of plant and animal species, including around 336 tree species, 49 fish species, 34 amphibian species, 114 reptile species, 507 bird species, and 147 mammal species.
Today we explore Kruger National Park in open 4x4 safari vehicles - a great way to soak up the sights, sounds and smells of nature. The open 4x4 vehicles are designed to offer excellent visibility, ideal for photography.
Kruger National Park contains 16 ecosystems, each supporting a unique combination of flora and fauna. Our full day of game viewing takes us in search of abundant wildlife, including the Big 5 of Africa (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, and buffalo).
In the late afternoon, we return to the lodge, and you can join an optional sunset game drive in the private wildlife concession area for a scenic sunset and wildlife spotting after dark when nocturnal animals start to emerge. Booking is essential for the optional sunset game drive and can be arranged through your guide in the morning.
Day 13 of our Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari begins at a leisurely pace with breakfast at the safari lodge in Kruger Park. Then we travel along the scenic Panorama Route, which travels up and follows the edge of the scenic Drakensberg Escarpment, stopping to admire the views along the way.
Panorama Route highlights include the eroded rock formations of Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the hut-shaped hills of the Three Rondavels, and the impressive Blyde River Canyon, one of the world’s largest canyons and one of the few ‘green’ canyons full of vegetation. We also stop at God’s Window lookout point to take in the sweeping panoramic views over the Lowveld of Mpumalanga.
Returning from our Panorama Route exploration can include an optional sundowner game drive.
On our final day, we leave the South African bushveld behind and drive back to Johannesburg, where our epic Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari finishes.
We recommend arriving the day before your Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari departs and only booking flights for the day after the safari ends. We can help arrange accommodation for before and after this Africa Lodge Safari on request.
There would be a slight Itinerary change for departures after July 2025. Please contact us for more information
Transport on this small group Eswatini, Kruger & Mozambique Safari is in a small overland vehicle
For more details, contact African Budget Safaris
For up-to-date and confirmed pricing info for optional items, please drop us an enquiry.
South Africa Activities
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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