Eco-Zone Explorers

DETAILED ITINERARY
19 Day World in One Country – Mpumalanga Panorama Route, Game Drives in Kruger National Park, Kingdom of Swaziland, Cultural Experience and Game Drives in Zululand, Walking in the Drakensberg Mountains, Lesotho 4×4 Route, Garden Route, Cango Caves & Karoo, Cape Town

A semi-participation safari from Johannesburg to Cape Town through South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho.

Meal Key:
B – Breakfast L – Lunch D – Dinner

Itinerary
DAY 1: Johannesburg to Mpumalanga, South Africa LD
Departing from Johannesburg at 06h30 we head east towards Mpumalanga. A landscape characterized by mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests. We spend the night just outside the old gold rush town of Pilgrims Rest, a living museum dating back to 1873. We explore the quaint town and visit the Mac Mac falls.

Distance: 500 km
Accommodation:Crystal Springs Mountain Lodge (chalets with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 2 – 3: Kruger National Park, South Africa BLD
This morning we stop at the “God’s Window” viewpoint before heading to the Kruger National Park. Big game country – exciting game drives provide us with excellent game viewing. Spot lion, elephant, rhino and other animals in one of the last African wildernesses. Early morning & afternoon game drives get us close to the wildlife.

Distance: 200 km
Accommodation: Berg en Dal Camp (Bungalows with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 4: Kingdom of Swaziland BLD
The mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland, lead by King Mswati III, is one of 3 monarchies in Africa. Swazi’s are proud of their traditional lifestyle & cultures. Hlane is a home to white rhino, zebra, giraffe, elephant, ostrich, crocodile, wildebeest and impala as well as small populations of lion, cheetah, leopard and hyena.

Distance: 150 km
Accommodation: Ndlovu Camp (Huts with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 5-6: Zululand, South Africa BLD, BLD
After visiting a craft market en route, we re-enter South Africa. Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve is a safe haven for the white rhino. We have an afternoon and the following morning to do game drives in our vehicle and stop at hides and waterholes to watch game come down to drink. The first afternoon we visit a local Zulu village to learn about their culture, traditions and lifestyle.

Distance: 350 km
Accommodation: Hluhluwe Hilltop Camp (chalets with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 7: Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa BLD
Moving further south to the base of the Drakensberg (Dragon Mountains). We spend one night here allowing time for walking along beautiful mountain stream paths the next morning.

Distance: 450 km
Accommodation: Underberg Region (Cottages with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 8: Sani Pass, South Africa BLD
Early this morning we explore the picturesque Drakensberg Mountains on a short guided walk. Afterwards we make our way up the scenic Sani Pass in direction of Lesotho. The Sani Pass is a spectacular mountain road that is a well-known entry point into Lesotho from South Africa. It is the gateway to the ‘Roof of Africa’ scenic route that links the spectacular scenery of the Drakensberg with the mountains of northern Lesotho.

Distance: 100 km
Accommodation: Sani Top Chalet (Rooms with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 9 & 10: Lesotho BLD
Today we cross the border into Lesotho and make our way down the Sani Pass along an adventurous 4×4 route towards the western border of Lesotho. After a long day we arrive at Malealea Lodge, where we spend two nights. Malealea is situated in a remote part of Western Lesotho that is breathtaking in its beauty. This is a chance to experience traditional Basotho life. On Day 10 we enjoy pony trekking through the magnificent landscapes that Lesotho has to offer.

Distance: 520 km
Accommodation: Malealea Lodge (Rooms with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 11: Cradock, South Africa BLD
We leave the beauty of Lesotho behind us and cross the border back into South Africa. We drive to the historical Karoo town of Cradock. Founded in 1814 as a frontier stronghold, the town is an important agricultural centre with traditional Karoo hospitality, situated close to natural sulphur springs.

Distance: 395 km
Accommodation: Die Tuishuise (rooms with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 12-13: Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa BLD
A conservation success, Addo Elephant N.P. offers a unique wildlife area, famous for the Addo elephants. We head out on game drives in search of elephant, black rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard. Evening viewing at the floodlit waterhole allows us to watch the nocturnal animals.

Distance: 600 km
Accommodation: Addo Elephant Campsites (Bungalows with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 14-15: Tsitsikamma, South Africa BLD, BLD
Indigenous Tsitsikamma forests surround the campsite at Storms River mouth, and there are walks up the Storms River Gorge and along the rocky coastline. There is an option of world’s highest bungi jump (own expense). Whale watching in season (July to November).
Distance: 260 km
Accommodation: Storms River Campsite (Bungalows with en-suite bathrooms)

DAY 16: Karoo, South Africa BLD
After visiting ‘The Heads’ in Knysna, a town nestled on a tranquil lagoon we travel over the Outeniqua Mountains into the Little Karoo. In Oudtshoorn we visit the famous Cango Caves. We camp outside Oudtshoorn and enjoy our final night under Africa’s starry skies.

Distance: 400 km
Accommodation: Kleinplaas Campsite (Chalets with en-suite bathrooms, swimming pool & cafeteria)

DAY 17 – 18: Cape Town, South Africa B, B
Visit Stellenbosch, for wine tasting and a cellar tour. Explore Cape Town and the ‘Mother City’s’ many attractions; visit Cape Point, the Cape of Good Hope, Chapman’s Peak drive, the harbour at Hout Bay, enjoy the famous beaches and the V&A Waterfront. Optional visit to Robben Island (own expense). Meals at a variety of local restaurants (own expense).

Distance: 410 km
Accommodation: Hotel or Lodge in Cape Town (rooms with en-suite bathrooms, close to restaurants & shops)

DAY 19: Cape Town, South Africa B
We climb Table Mountain in the morning admiring the views over Table Bay and Cape Town. Spend the afternoon catching up on last minute curio shopping or just lazing on the beach absorbing the Cape’s sunshine.
Tour ends at +/-18h00 at your hotel.

Please note that there will be 2 additional hotel nights on this tour, one pre tour night and one post tour night. These will be prearranged for your convenience.

This tour is one for people looking for that once in a lifetime trip to Kenya. It is leisurely paced and suitable for any age. It is privately guided throughout. Ask about family rate.

Day 1: Nairobi
Arrival at the airport at night and transfer from the airport to La Mada or equivalent hotel in Nairobi.

Day 2, 3, 4:  Masai Mara
This tour starts with the very best of Kenya’s national parks, Masai Mara the Africa that every one dreams of. For the 3 days we will explore the open savannahs plains, the riverine forests and meandering rivers for elephants, rhinos, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, gazelles, crocodiles and hippos.

Wildlife viewing in Masai Mara is an all year-round affair and not restricted to the July-Sep period of wildebeest migration. There is a resident population of wildebeests and plains game throughout the year. The cats, which by nature are territorial, are also permanently there defending their corners. You will possibly see a wide variety of game in Mara outside the migration period as most animals move out with the high stress of the wildebeest “invasion”.

On day 4, after a game drive in the morning, Masai Morans will guide us on a soft walk in the rolling hills and grasslands, out of the park boundaries where we will have close encounters with gazelles, zebras and giraffes. En route we will visit a Masai village.

3 nights at Mara Simba Lodge / Sarova Mara Tented Camp / Keekorok / Mara Leisure Tented Camp. BLD

Day 5: Menengai Crater – Nakuru
We arrive at the Maili Saba tented camp, our base for 2 days, in the late afternoon. With 10 luxurious tents built on the edge of the dormant Menengai Crater, Maili Saba offers all what a nature traveler would want in an African holiday: silence, tranquility, one-off scenery, unique accommodation and food worth traveling for, all rendered in a level of service that is professional and non-intrusive. With a limit of only 20 guests, this is a place for anyone who wants to be away from mass tourism. BLD

Day 6:  Lake Nakuru
We will spend the day in the nearby Lake Nakuru National Park, famous for its thousands of flamingos as well as vast herds of buffaloes and tens of rhinos. There is a good chance to see cats such as leopard, cheetah and lion. Back to Maili Saba tented camp for overnight. BLD

Day 7:  Swara Conservancy
For wildlife seekers, birders, walkers as well as anyone looking for a nature based tour in Kenya, Swara Plains is ideal for all the right reasons: one-off wildlife viewing experience, guided nature walks, colorful and easily found birds.

Just 30 minutes out of the city of Nairobi, the 20,000 acres ranch is old wild Africa at its very best: wide open savannah grasslands, tall yellow fever trees, endless views.  Swara Plains is part of the Tsavo-Amboseli eco-system and with exception of elephants, rhinos and buffaloes all the other plains game found in Tsavo and Amboseli are found here. You will see big herds of oryx, elands, wildebeests, giraffes, monkeys, hartebeests, zebras, impalas, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelles, warthogs and the occasional gerenuk in total absence of mass tourism.

There is also a good number of cheetahs and leopards but unlike the cats in other national parks which are now socialized to act for visitors (a cheetah sitting on a car’s hood is not natural!) Guided walks and game drives.
Overnight at Acacia Camp BLD

Day 8, 9 & 10: Amboseli
We drive south to Amboseli national park at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. The magic of Amboseli is seeing the big game including huge herds of elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, impalas, Grant’s gazelles and elands with the backdrop of the snow-capped Kilimanjaro.

Should you be a birder Amboseli has +425 species of birds recorded. There are water birds, birds of prey as well as dry scrub birds. 3 nights at the Kibo Tented Camp. BLD

Day 11: Transfer To Nairobi
Leave Amboseli in the late morning and drive back to Nairobi and your evening flight out or onward travel. Lunch At Acacia Camp  BL

Includes: 10 nights accommodation, Guided walks and tours as described. all transfers, meals as noted (BLD = breakfast, lunch, dinner), all local taxes. Flying Doctors Evacuation cover. Can be modified to suit your time and interests. Airfares not included.