Sunway Safaris Walking South Africa & eSwatini (Swaziland)

Outstanding Day Walks + Game Viewing for the Perfect Active African Holiday

A walking focused safari exploring a variety of scenic and cultural destinations within South Africa, including a visit to the beautiful Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland). This is an active holiday and the day walks range from leisurely to challenging, and provide a unique adventure for those interested in a walking holiday. Highlights include visits to the old mining town of Pilgrims Rest, the game reserves of Zululand and Kruger, the Dundee battlefields and the majesty of the Drakensberg.

Tour Details

Tour Code: JJa14
Tour Name: Walking South Africa - Affordable
Duration: 14 days
Touring Style: Small Group, Walking
Grade: Accommodated - Affordable

Price From: NZ$3,250 per person (twin share)
Local Payment? No
Starts: Johannesburg, South Africa
Ends: Johannesburg, South Africa
Includes: Entrance frees, transport, meals and accommodation as per the itinerary, professional guides, guided walks

Highlights:
Drakensberg Mountains, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, iSimangoliso Wetland Park, KIngdom of eSwatini, Kruger National Park, KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields, Panorama Route, Zululand

Gallery

Itinerary

DAY 1 - 2| MPUMALANGA

We depart Johannesburg and head east to 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 and then make our way to our chalets on the edge of the escarpment.

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

DAY 3 - 4 | KRUGER PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

An early breakfast and 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 the signs of the bush as we hope to see elephants, rhino 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 the tracks and other signs of the wildlife we hope to find on foot.

DAY 5 - 6 | KINGDOM OF eSWATINI (SWAZILAND)

We enter the Kingdom of eSwatini (formally Swaziland) and travel through a lush fruit farming area before heading into the mountains. We spend 2 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 7 as we pass through the capital, Mbabane.

DAY 7 - 8 | ZULULAND GAME RESERVES

Crossing into South Africa we head towards our lodge on a private game reserve situated on 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 Zulu village to learn more about their culture. Enjoy sunset and the sounds of the bush before a hearty dinner at the lodge.

DAY 9 - 10 | ZULULAND BATTLEFIELDS

We leave the bush of Zululand behind us 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 the Boer troops – war cries still resound in the hills. We spend time at the informative Tulana museum before we settle into our lodge and have some free time in the afternoon.
The following morning we explore the Isandlwana battlefield before we embark on an exciting 4-5hour hike tracing the steps of the two British fugitives through the undulating hills of Zululand to the Buffalo River. Later in the day we visit Rourkes Drift before returning to the lodge.

DAY 11 - 12 | DRAKENSBERG

Witness the grandeur of the Drakensberg Mountains or uKhahlamba “Barrier of Spears”. We overnight at the base of the “berg” (alt. 1,600m) 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 splendour of the mountain views.

DAY 13 | DRAKENSBERG

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, including a short chain ladder section, to the top of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre and the beautiful Tugela Falls (alt. 3,000m), offering unparalleled views down into KwaZulu-Natal. After our walk we make our way to the lodge perched high in the mountains (alt. 2,300m) overlooking the Mont-Aux-Sources mountain range.

DAY 14 | JOHANNESBURG

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. Tour ends at +/-17:00.

Inclusions:

MEALS
13 x breakfast, 14 x lunches, 10 x dinners

TRANSPORT
Safari Truck or Minibus

ACCOMMODATION
13 nights small, intimate and often private lodges (included tented camps)

INCLUDED ACTIVITIES

Mpumalanga – Panorama Route sightseeing
Kruger National Park – private lodge game drives and bush walk
eSwatini (Swaziland) – mountain walks, cultural adventure
KwaZulu Natal – walk, game drive and museums
Drakensberg Mountains – mountain walks
8 walks of varying grades – Mac Mac, Blyde River Canyon, Big 5, Swaziland, Isimangaliso, Zululand, Drakensberg, The Amphitheatre

Pricing:

Valid: 01 Jan – 31 Dec 2020
NZ$3,250 per person twin share
Single Supplement NZ$450

Detailed Itinerary & Tour Dates

2020 Sunway accommodated JJa14 Walking South Africa

Not the right tour for you?

Try the 14 day South Africa & Mozambique Beach & Bush or the 16 day Zambia & Malawi Livingstone Trail.

Sunway Safaris Walking South Africa & eSwatini (Swaziland) – 14 days

Outstanding Day Walks + Game Viewing for the Perfect Active African Holiday

Tour Details

Gallery

Itinerary

Inclusions:

Pricing:

Detailed Itinerary & Tour Dates

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