Lesotho, Eswatini & Kruger - Camping or lodge with safari

We leave the city of Johannesburg behind and begin the adventurous journey through Africa, making our way east through the coal mining region of Mpumalanga. Today's journey follows the old trade routes into the Lowveld and to Kruger National Park. In the afternoon, a sundowner drive is on the agenda. Meals: Lunch, Dinner. Included highlights: Sundowner drive in Kruger National Park.

Today, the safari adventure begins. Early risers head out of bed and into Kruger National Park for a full day of wildlife observation. The variety of animals provides plenty of opportunities for exciting sightings. Kruger National Park is home to all the animals of the so-called Big Five of Africa. As the largest national park, it is the flagship of South African national parks and hosts an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds, and 147 mammals. Our game drive through the park takes place in an open 4x4 vehicle. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Included activity: Safari in Kruger National Park in 4x4 safari vehicles.

While those opting for the optional morning walk have an earlier start, the others set out later after a hearty breakfast. Today, we head to the Panorama Route. Along the escarpment that separates the central plateau and the low-lying bushland of Kruger, the sights of the Panorama Route offer us a day full of impressive scenic views. We visit the highlights: Bourke's Luck Potholes (holes created by the immense power of water), the Three Rondavels (large rock formations shaped like traditional African huts), and God's Window (a viewpoint with a unique and unforgettable view over the Blyde River Canyon), before heading to our camp in the late afternoon. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Included highlight: Panorama Route - Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels, God’s Window. Optional activity: Morning bushwalk (subject to availability).

We start the day early with coffee and traditional rusks for breakfast before continuing our journey through South Africa. The route leads us through Kruger to Eswatini (Swaziland). Our truck provides an excellent opportunity for wildlife spotting on our way south. We leave the park at the southern end and drive the short distance to the border of Swaziland. Our route winds through the fascinating mountains and scenic forests of this landlocked kingdom this afternoon. Today's destination is the Ezulwini Valley south of the capital Mbabane. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Included activity: Safari drive in Kruger National Park (in our overland truck).

Today, after breakfast, we head to the Mlilwane Reserve, the largest reserve in Swaziland. The 4,560-hectare Mlilwane reserve can be explored on your own for hours, as there are no dangerous predators there. In the morning, the guide takes us along the 'Nature Trail', where we learn interesting facts about the history and environment of the area. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Included highlight: Nature walk with guide. Optional activities: Safari drives, mountain biking, hiking.

The short visit to Swaziland is already coming to an end, and our African journey continues, namely to South Africa, where more safari experiences await. We head south into the regions of Zulu Land, once the realm of the mighty King Shaka, who united the Zulu clans. Today's destination is the bustling holiday town of St. Lucia on the east coast of South Africa. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

Today, we again rise early for a game drive in the nearby Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve - one of the last strongholds of the endangered rhinos. While rhinos are the most famous inhabitants of the 96,000-hectare park, it also hosts many other species of the African continent due to its subtropical location, including the Big Five, all of which we hope to see. After a siesta at our accommodation, we freshen up for a boat trip on the St. Lucia estuary in the afternoon, where we will see hippos and perhaps crocodiles. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Included highlight: Safari drive in Hluhluwe/Imfolozi National Park, St. Lucia boat tour.

The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, stretching across the entire province of KwaZulu-Natal, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether we use the Zulu name uKhahlamba, meaning 'barrier of spears', or the Afrikaans name Drakensberge, meaning 'dragon mountains', these towering mountains will be our backdrop for the next two nights. On the way, we make a short stop in the bustling city of Durban to stretch our legs before visiting the picturesque and 96-meter high Howick Falls, as well as the nearby town of Howick, where South Africa's most famous man, Nelson Mandela, was arrested on August 5, 1962. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Included highlight: Visit to the Mandela memorial site, visit to Howick Falls.

This morning, after breakfast, we set off for a hiking day to explore the Drakensberg Mountains. We encourage everyone to use the day in the scenic mountains to enhance the experiences of this adventurous African journey. Depending on the activity level of the group, we can also offer other options. With a range of hiking trails, we can ensure that we meet everyone’s needs. The main goal is for everyone to enjoy this mountain paradise at their own pace. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Included highlight: Guided hike in Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park.

Today’s day of this unforgettable journey through South Africa begins with crossing a mountain pass. Our route winds through the stunning and charming cliffs of the picturesque Golden Gate National Park before reaching the landlocked kingdom of Lesotho in the afternoon. We pass the lively capital Maseru and continue our ascent to our base high among the mountain peaks. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast, the clean mountain air accompanies us this morning as we explore the mountains on foot. Our hike takes us several hours along a trail through the adventurous and impressive landscape. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Included highlight: Trekking with visit to a waterfall and rock paintings.

Every ascent of a mountain is followed by a descent. On our way back to South Africa, we drive down the mountains and set our sights on further adventures of this unforgettable journey through South Africa, the Great Karoo. The semi-arid Karoo is the heartland of rural South Africa and offers a striking contrast to the mountains we now leave behind. We spend the night in the historic town of Graaff-Reinet, the fourth oldest town in the country. On our journey through the vast landscape of the Karoo, we cross the mighty Orange (Gariep) River (the largest river in South Africa). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.

After breakfast, we head back to the coast, where another safari adventure awaits. We cross the open plains of the Karoo and the animal charm of Addo National Park. Upon arriving in the Addo region, we head into the National Park, where we again undertake a game drive in our overland truck in the afternoon, in search of the famous elephants that call Addo home. The Addo Elephant Park is one of the most famous national parks in South Africa, home to the Big Five and known for its elephant population. Tonight's accommodation is in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth). Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. Included highlight: Afternoon safari in Addo National Park (in the overland truck).

This morning, we make the short drive to the windy city of Gqeberha (formerly known as Port Elizabeth), where our joint African journey ends. We have many unforgettable images from safari, culture, and nature in our travel luggage. Meals: Breakfast.