14-Days Walking Safari in South Afri...

>> We depart Johannesburg and head east towards Mpumalanga. During the afternoon, we visit the gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest and the viewpoint over God’s Window. Stretch our legs on a short walk from Mac Mac Pools, then make our way to our chalets on the edge of the escarpment.

We are up early the following day for our first long walk at the Blyde River. We walk from the rim of the escarpment down into the canyon with views of the Three Sisters and the river below before making our way back up the escarpment. After lunch, we spend the afternoon exploring the forests and waterfalls that make Mpumalanga a renowned destination. An exciting optional activity is the Graskop Gorge Lift, which lowers you down for a walk through the lush Afromontane forest below (at your own expense).

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Mogodi Lodge Mid-range lodgein Graskop (Panorama Route, South Africa)

>> After an early breakfast, we make our way to Kruger National Park. We enter the national park and spend the day on an exciting game drive. Your guide will interpret bush signs as we hope to see elephants, rhinos, and possibly the elusive leopard. We stop for a picnic lunch before completing our game drive in the late afternoon as we exit the park and make our way to our private game lodge in the Greater Kruger area.

A highlight of our tour is the early morning game walk with a local ranger. Quietly, we venture into the bush, learning about the tracks and other signs of the wildlife we hope to find on foot.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Makuwa Safari Lodge Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Central Kruger NP (South Africa)

>> We enter the Kingdom of Swaziland and travel through a lush fruit farming area before heading into the mountains. We spend two nights on the outskirts of Malalotja Nature Reserve with a full day to walk through this seldom-explored mountainous reserve. The Swazi people have a rich cultural heritage, and we will visit the craft and medicine markets on day seven as we pass through the capital, Mbabane.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Hawane Resort Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Malolotja NR (Eswatini)

>> Crossing back into South Africa, we head towards our lodge on a private game reserve in the Msinene Nature Reserve. We take a walk with our local walking guide, who will point out some of the 540+ bird species found in the area and track the shy nyala antelope in the riverine vegetation of the Msinene River. The following morning, we visit Hluhluwe Game Reserve, a key area for rhino conservation, and visit a modern Zulu village to learn more about their culture. Enjoy the sunset and the bush sounds before a hearty dinner at the lodge.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Zululand Lodge Mid-range tented camp located outside Hluhluwe-iMfolozi GR (South Africa)

>> We leave the coastline and make our way through the scenic hills and valleys of Zululand to the small town of Dundee. Here, battles were fought between the Zulus, British, and Boer troops—war cries still resound in the hills. We spend time at the informative Talana Museum before we settle into our lodge and have some free time in the afternoon.
The following morning, we explore the Islandlwana battlefield before we embark on an exciting 4 to 5-hour hike tracing the steps of the two British fugitives through the undulating hills of Zululand to the Buffalo River. Later in the day, we will visit Rourkes Drift before returning to the lodge.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Dundee Battlefields Lodge Mid-range lodgeat Isandlwana (KZN Battlefields, South Africa)

>> Witness the grandeur of the Drakensberg Mountains or uKhahlamba, locally known as the “barrier of spears.” We overnight at the base of the berg (alt. 1600m) and spend a full day walking the mountain trails before taking an invigorating dip in the clear mountain streams of the Royal Natal National Park. The crisp mountain air is refreshing, and our lodge is a fantastic place to relax and enjoy the splendor of the mountain views.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: All meals included Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Thendele Camp Mid-range self catering accommodationin Royal Natal (Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa)

>> We start the day with an early breakfast and make our way to Witsieshoek at the foot of the magnificent Sentinel Peak. At the end of a rough gravel road, we start our trek, which includes a short chain ladder section, to the top of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre and the beautiful Tugela Falls (alt. 3000m), offering unparalleled views down into KwaZulu-Natal. After our walk, we make our way to the lodge perched high in the mountains (alt. 2300m) overlooking the Mont-aux-Sources mountain range.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: Drakensberg Mountain Retreat Mid-range lodgenear uKhahlamba Drakensberg (Mountain Range, South Africa)

>> A leisurely start to the day, with the chance to spot the endangered bearded vulture soaring overhead, before we make our way back to Johannesburg. The tour ends at approximately 5:00pm.

• Time: 8-10Hrs
• Meals: Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinks not included

•  Accommodation: No accommodation (End of tour)