13-Day Kruger Swaziland and Drakensberg Adventure Camping Tour from Pretoria

13-Day Kruger Swaziland and Drakensberg Adventure Camping Tour from Pretoria

This extraordinary 13-day adventure tour highlights some of South Africa's, Lesotho and Swaziland's finest game parks and sites. From the famous game park - Kruger; to the culture of the Swazi people; to the rugged coastline of Durban and mountains passes of Lesotho and the Drakensberg.

Itinerary

Day 1: Pretoria – Greater Kruger Park, South Africa

Stop At: Hazyview, Hazyview, Mpumalanga
Departing from South Africa’s administrative city, Pretoria, we drive across the scenic Mpumalanga province and enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery before heading to the Panorama Route where we view Blyde River Canyon. We make our way to Hazyview bordering Kruger. Fences between the National Park and surrounding private reserves were removed several years ago to form the Greater Kruger, an area of some 24000 sq km. Wildlife is free to roam the whole enormous area and it has become incredibly diverse in both fauna and flora. From the dwarf mongoose to the famed ‘Big Five’, almost every major African mammal is present. There is also prolific birdlife and over 330 varieties of trees. This evening we enjoy our first night under the African stars.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Numbi, Hazyview, South Africa

Day 2: Full Day Kruger National Park

Stop At: Kruger National Park, South Africa
Waking at sunrise, we eagerly wait for Park Rangers to open the park gates to let us enter the wilds of Kruger for an intense yet rewarding day of game tracking with our eagle-eyed guide at the wheel. Kruger is home to over 505 species of birds, 148 species of mammals and many reptiles which we enthusiastically search for during the morning and afternoon. The impressive atmosphere of the park enables you to understand why it is held in such high esteem amongst wildlife lovers from all over the world. We avoid the hot midday sun and enjoy the peacefulness the rest camp has to offer. There are many facilities available for game viewers such as restaurants, souvenir stores and swimming pools. We return to our camp in the late afternoon, happily exhausted and highly satisfied with the day’s events. For those wanting more game driving there may be the option of heading out on a night safari. Early evening, we all enjoy a lovely dinner gathered around the warm fire crackling in the stillness of night.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Numbi, Hazyview, South Africa

Day 3: Full Day Kruger National Park

Stop At: Kruger National Park, South Africa
After a light sunrise breakfast, we re-enter the Park in an open 4x4 safari vehicle for our second day’s game diving day. With cameras and binoculars on hand we spend the morning and afternoon winding along beaten tracks and marked routes encountering many species which are indigenous to this region. Kruger has over two million hectares of unrivalled diversity of ecosystems boasting an incredible concentration of wildlife and we hope to encounter some of these including the ‘Big 5’ - elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo. We return to our camp during the late afternoon.
*For travellers not making use of the Adventure Pass, alternate optional activities may be available today

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Hotel Numbi, Hazyview, South Africa

Day 4: Kruger National Park – Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Swaziland

Stop At: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, D55, Ezulwini Eswatini (Swaziland)
Leaving Hazyview, we travel south along the edge of the Kruger National Park, passing many farming towns and Shangaan settlements. After a short stop in Nelspruit, the road takes us through lush citrus farms before crossing the Crocodile River and into the Kingdom of Swaziland, a land-locked country snuggled between Mozambique and South Africa. Arriving at Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary, our base for the next two nights is Swaziland’s oldest protected area located in the stunning Ezulwini Valley, 'Valley of Heavens’.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Swaziland

Day 5: The Kingdom of Swaziland

Stop At: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, D55, Ezulwini Eswatini (Swaziland)
Waking to the sounds of grunting antelope and wild exotic birds, we enjoy breakfast soaking up the natural beauty of our surroundings. A short drive through the sanctuary brings us to the Royal Enclosure where we discover an abundance of history and culture about the last African monarchy-controlled country. A local Swazi guide walks us through a traditional village explaining many customs and rituals. After leisure time browsing street side markets and trying our hand bartering with crafters, we find our way back to the sanctuary for lunch. This afternoon we recommend you participate in some of the many activities offered in the sanctuary such as horseback trails, game drives, mountain bike riding, and guided walks or just enjoy some rejuvenating time-out sun tanning around the cool swimming pool with a good book. There are over forty species of animals found here including the exotic species such as Honey Badger, Dwarf Mongoose, Aardwolf, Striped Polecat and the more common including Hippo, Ostrich, Kudu, Zebra and Baboon. Enjoy cool sun downers and admiring the view overlooking the hippo pool while our crew prepares a delicious dinner.

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Swaziland

Day 6: Swaziland – St Lucia, South Africa

Stop At: Saint Lucia Estuary, Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, St Lucia 3936 South Africa
Leaving this amazing sanctuary behind us, we travel south through the Swazi countryside before crossing the border and re-entering South Africa via the KwaZulu-Natal province. We head to the small coastal town of St Lucia, set amongst the wild beaches and a tropical estuary. This afternoon, we join the river cruise on the St. Lucia Lagoon viewing many Hippo pods, lazy crocodiles, and numerous bird species on the sandy banks, or cooling down in the water for a refreshing swim.

After dinner, we have the opportunity to relax in the camps gardens gazing up into the clear southern hemisphere sky, star watching.

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Monzi Camp, St Lucia, South Africa

Day 7: St Lucia - Durban

Stop At: Durban, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
This morning is yours at leisure to explore the town and the numerous shops and markets stalls or simply relax in the campsite’s stunning settings. We leave St Lucia mid-morning and drive through pine forests and sugar cane fields to one of Africa’s largest commercial ports, Durban. The afternoon is yours at leisure to enjoy what this city has on offer and a vibrant night life.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Road Lodge, Umhlanga, Durban

Day 8: Durban

Stop At: Durban, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Today is a day of leisure to explore the beauty Durban has to offer. Head to the Durban beachfront, known as the Golden Mile and visit the colourful flea markets and the stretch of numerous quality restaurants with a view. A must is to try a delicious local dish, the Durban Curry. Visit uShaka Marine World, Africa’s biggest marine theme park boasting the largest collection of sharks in the Southern Hemisphere. You may choose to partake in scuba diving or find your thrill on the water slides. For the more adventurous, why not take a leap from the 'big swing' at the Moses Mabhida stadium which offers 360 degrees views of Durban.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Road Lodge, Umhlanga, Durban

Day 9: Durban – Underberg Area

Stop At: Underberg, Underberg, Drakensberg Region, KwaZulu-Natal
Today we head inland and drive via Pietermaritzburg and the lush mountainous countryside to our camp for the next two nights at Sani Lodge. This magnificent place is situated at the foot of the Sani Pass, the gateway to the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. Once a mule track for trading blankets, clothing and maize meal for wool and mohair. This stunning pass is the only vehicle access road over the Drakensberg escarpment. This afternoon is yours at leisure to enjoy the spectacular views and the many amazing walking and hiking trails.

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Sani Lodge, Underberg Area, South Africa

Day 10: Underberg Area – Sani Pass

Stop At: Sani Pass, Sani Pass, Mokhotlong District
Today, we meet our local guides and join a guided tour of Lesotho via the spectacular gateway of the Sani Pass (2874 m). We travel in 4x4 vehicles through the rugged cliffs of the Drakensberg Mountains listening to the tales of pioneering of the route, history of the area and the stunning wildlife that dot the sloping mountains. We drive further into Lesotho and visit a small household and a shearing shed in a Shepherds village. We experience a local way of life and depending on the season and shearing times, we may get to view an angora goat or a sheep been sheared by hand. Next on the list we ascend the Black Mountain, the second highest road pass in Lesotho rising 3240m for a picnic lunch overlooking the majestic views. After lunch we meet the shepherds of the area who spend the summer months tending to their flocks before taking a short walk to view Thabana Ntlenyana. Rising at 3482m, this is the highest point in Southern Africa. We return to our camp for the night stopping en-route for a beverage at the highest bar in Africa at the Sani Mountain Lodge
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Sani Lodge, Underberg Area, South Africa

Day 11: Underberg Area – Battlefields - Drakensberg

Stop At: Drakensberg Mountains, Drakensberg Region South Africa
Today we take in some history and take a drive to the Battlefields. Soaked with the blood of thousands of British, Boer (Dutch-speaking farmers) and Zulu soldiers, the Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal hold a deep-seated silence that speaks to the many lives lost here. We stop off at some of the historic sites. We retire to our lodge in the late afternoon where we can enjoy some table tennis, foosball, pool or chill in the nearby rock pool.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Amphitheatre Lodge, Drakensberg, South Africa

Day 12: Drakensberg

Stop At: Royal Natal National Park, Thendele Upper Camp Bonjaneni South Africa
We pack up our day packs ready to go and travel the short distance to the Royal Natal National Park entry gate. This leading KwaZulu-Natal reserve offers wonderfully scenic views, lofty mountains and waterfalls in a prime location within the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. There are many optional trails to explore on foot and on horseback with a comprehensive guidebook available for visitors. Walkers and hikers can enjoy short journeys which take about an hour, or longer excursions over a half or full day. This is a great way to explore the stunning picturesque surroundings at the foot of the Drakensberg, including the well-known Amphitheatre rock face. We also get to visit some ancient cave dwelling and witness bush rock art sights. Satisfied and with our muscles stretched for the day, we enjoy the stillness and crispy clean air of the Drakensberg over a wholesome dinner.

Note: This day may alter to an alternative hiking trail due to poor visibility or severe weather conditions

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Amphitheatre Lodge, Drakensberg, South Africa

Day 13: Drakensberg – Pretoria

Stop At: Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng
This morning we’ll have a last group breakfast before we make our way back to the city of Pretoria by means of a shared shuttle transfer (shuttle departs late morning). The tour will end upon arrival into Pretoria in the late afternoon.
*On occasion the shared shuttle may be replaced by a public bus service and timing may differ from the description above.

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.