OVERVIEW
Lesotho, Eswatini & Kruger - Premium Lodge Small Group Tour
Travel from the "City of Gold" to the heart of the bush landscape and the eastern coast of South Africa, with views over six national parks and visits to breathtaking regions such as Lesotho and Eswatini, as well as the Valley of Despair and the Panorama Route.
Safari adventure in the Greater Kruger National Park
Leave the buzz of Johannesburg behind as you drive east through Mpumalanga, towards the plains of the sun-drenched Greater Kruger National Park.
In the fiery light of the dawn, we enter the park for a full day of safari sightings. Search the Lowveld for animals of all shapes and sizes, from the elegant leopards among the trees to the antelope grazing on open fields.
A change of scenery, but not of wonder, is next on the agenda. The Panorama Route takes you along colossal cliffs, offering phenomenal views of geographic landmarks like Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels and God’s Window.
Step into the landlocked kingdom of Eswatini, a small but powerful kingdom nestled in the mountains. Wind your way through rising hills to the Ezulwini Valley, whether by bike or on foot, where cultural richness and natural beauty merge seamlessly.
We continue our journey south to Zululand, where the tales of Zulu warriors whisper through the savannah. Setting off early, you will explore the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve on a safari, the park renowned as a sanctuary for endangered rhinos.
In the afternoon, we take a trip to the estuary of St Lucia for the sunset, which reflects the orange light of the sun over the hippos peek out of the water.
Traveling into the subtropics, ascend into the Drakensberg Mountains, where the mist wraps around the rugged peaks. Here, you visit the Mandela Capture Site and admire the Howick Falls before hiking through highland meadows surrounded by time and rain-sculpted rock formations.
Lesotho awaits as the next destination, our convoy ascends into the cloud-covered mountains, where riders are often encountered. Visit hidden waterfalls and ancient rock paintings or travel as the locals do while riding on ponies through valleys untouched by modern noise.
Descending from the mountainous terrain, we pass through the dry Karoo, stopping at colonial towns and watching the sunrise over the basalt columns of the Valleys of Desolation.
In the afternoon, we reach the Addo Elephant National Park and search for the resident elephants and wildlife among the acacias, filled with birdsong.
We conclude our tour in Gqeberha, enjoying yesterday's safari and reflecting on all the amazing views we have experienced.
Daily program: Overland through the hilly landscapes of South Africa
Day 1 – Great Kruger National Park
Leaving the city of Johannesburg behind us, we set off east through the coal fields of Mpumalanga. Our journey today follows the trails of the old trade routes into the Lowveld and the Kruger National Park.
Day 2 - Kruger National Park
After waking up early this morning, we enter Kruger National Park to enjoy a full day of wildlife watching. The abundance of wildlife offers us opportunities for excellent sightings, and Kruger also hosts the famous members of Africa's Big Five. Truly the flagship of South African national parks, Kruger is home to 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.
Day 3 - Kruger National Park
While those choosing the optional morning walk have an earlier start, we will set off a little later today and travel the short distance to the Panorama Route. Along the slope that separates the central plateau from the lower bushveld of Kruger, the sights of the Panorama Route offer us a day full of picturesque delights. We will visit the highlights of Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels, and God’s Window before returning to camp in the late afternoon.
Day 4 – Kruger to Eswatini
We start the day early with some coffee and traditional rusks before we make our way through Kruger towards Eswatini. Our vehicle provides an excellent platform for wildlife observation as we drive south. We leave the southern end of the park and travel the short distance to the Eswatini border, our route in the afternoon winding through the mountains and forests of this landlocked state. Our destination for today is the Ezulwini Valley, directly south of the capital Mbabane.
Day 5 – Eswatini
Offiziell als das Königreich Eswatini bekannt, ist Eswatini ein Binnenland, was bedeutet, dass es keine Küste hat und vollständig von Südafrika umgeben ist. Einige wichtige Swazi-Sätze, die Sie ausprobieren können, sind: Hallo: “Sawubona” oder Ja: “Yebo”. Heute haben Sie die Möglichkeit, Ihre Umgebung zu erkunden.
Day 6 - Eswatini - St Lucia
We bid farewell to Eswatini and enter South Africa again as we travel south to the regions of Zululand, once the realm of the mighty King Shaka, who united the Zulu clans.
Day 7 - Hluhluwe – Umfolozi Game Reserve / iSimangaliso Wetland Park
We are setting off early this morning for a game drive in the nearby Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, one of the last refuges of the endangered rhinoceros. While rhinoceroses are the most famous inhabitants of the park, the park also offers a home to many other species, including the Big 5, which we all hope to see. Back at our accommodation, we take a nap and freshen up for an afternoon boat tour on the St. Lucia estuary.
Day 8 - Kwa Zulu Natal Coast – UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park
Running along the length of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, the Ukuhlamba-Drakensberg Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Whether you use the Zulu name uKhahlamba, meaning "spear barrier," or the Afrikaans name Drakensberge, meaning "Dragon Mountains," these majestic mountains will be our backdrop for the next two nights. On our way, we will make a stop to visit the picturesque Howick Falls and a visit to the nearby site that marked the arrest of South Africa's most famous man, Nelson Mandela.
Day 9 - UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park
We set off this morning for a long hike. While we encourage everyone to make the most of the day in the mountains, we can offer separate options depending on the group's activity level. With a variety of available trails, we can ensure that we cater to every need; the most important goal is to ensure that everyone enjoys this mountain paradise at their own pace.
Day 10 - Lesotho
Our journey today begins with a mountain pass as our path winds through the majestic cliffs of Golden Gate National Park before we enter Lesotho in the afternoon. We pass the capital Maseru as we continue the ascent to our base high among the mountain peaks.
Day 11 - Lesotho
The clean air of the mountains accompanies us this morning as we explore the surroundings, which offer a unique and adventurous landscape on foot, and we will embark on the path that takes a few hours.
Day 12 - South Africa - Graaff Reinet
When we return to South Africa, we descend the mountains and aim across the great Karoo. The semi-arid Karoo represents the heartland of rural South Africa and presents a stark contrast to the mountains we leave behind. Our overnight stop is planned in the historic town of Graaff-Reinet, the fourth oldest town in the country. Today we cross the mighty Orange (Gariep) River as we travel through the vast landscape of the Karoo.
Day 13 – Gqeberha / Greater Addo Region
This morning you have the opportunity to participate in a sunrise excursion to the Valley of Desolation. This unique valley offers a panoramic view of the city and the vast plains that stretch out below. On the way to the coast, we cross the open plains of the Karoo once again and head to the famous Addo Elephant National Park, where we will enjoy a half-day game drive in our vehicle, in search of the famous elephants that call Addo their home.
Day 14 – Gqeberha
This morning after breakfast, your tour will end in the city of Gqeberha.
PRICE
from€2859.00 / person✓ Trip includes
✕ Trip does not include
- Meals as listed in the itinerary – 13 breakfasts 0 lunches 11 dinners – Accommodation
- Provided vehicles: 12-seater minibus 4x4 safari vehicle
- Qualified personnel
- Transport in a 12-seater minibus or bus
- The highlights included in the itinerary
