14-Day Southern African Magic Accommodated Small Group Safari from Pretoria

14-Day Southern African Magic Accommodated Small Group Safari from Pretoria

Embark on a 14-day adventure highlighting the best in Southern Africa, connecting to African grass routes, incorporating the panoramic sights of Mpumalanga and the Big 5 of Kruger and much more! Make the best of your stay while in South Africa!

Itinerary

Day 1: Pretoria – Hoedspruit

Stop At: Hoedspruit, Hoedspruit, Limpopo Province
Departing from South Africa’s administrative city, Pretoria, we drive across the scenic Mpumalanga province and enjoy the spectacular mountain vistas. We stop at the Blyde River Canyon to view the odd looking Three Rondavels rock formations perched at the edge of the Blyde River Canyon and enjoy the crisp air and picturesque views. The Blyde River Canyon is revered as an unusual sight owing to the fact that it is a ‘wet’ canyon, making it different from the wind-carved dry canyons found in desert regions elsewhere. After lunch we continue our journey making our way to accommodations, set in attractive gardens situated an hour or so drive from Kruger National Park. After dinner relax and enjoy the first night on tour.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Nsele Lodge, Hoedspruit, South Africa

Day 2: Hoedspruit – Kruger National Park

Stop At: Kruger National Park, South Africa
Waking early, we board 4x4 game viewing vehicles for an intense but rewarding day in Kruger National Park. Your professional guide will point out items or interest as we go, and we hope will help the day to be a wonderful opportunity to learn something of the varied and world-renowned Kruger. The park is home to over 505 species of birds and 148 species of mammals as well as good numbers of reptiles and abundant flora. The park has a good network of roads allowing relatively easy access – essential given its size – but has clear rules about encroaching on the animals’ space ensuring conservation is given a high priority, which perhaps helps explain why Kruger is held in such high regard amongst travellers worldwide. We game drive morning and afternoon with a break during the middle of the day to enjoy the peace of the rest camp and wait out the hottest part of the day (when wildlife is usually less active). If you have questions about the wildlife you see, or about the park itself, please ask your resident guide who will be happy to explain the ins and outs of animal behaviour and other interesting sights in Kruger. Eventually we leave the park to return to our accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Nsele Lodge, Hoedspruit, South Africa

Day 3: Hoedspruit – Polokwane

Stop At: Bakone Malapa Open-Air Museum, Chuenespoort Road, Polokwane 0699 South Africa
After breakfast we leave the Kruger area and travel across undulating country-side to the northern town of Polokwane. The journey takes us over some beautiful scenic mountain passes and through flourishing citrus plantations nestled along the valleys of the Limpopo Province. Previously known as the Northern Province, this is a land of myths and legends and is also highly rated as a southern Africa Eco-tourism destination. Arriving in Polokwane, we head off to learn more about the local Bakone culture.

This interesting open-air museum allows us to learn about traditional methods of the Bakone tribe who were settled in this area from historic times to the present day. Learn how they made fire, harvested and prepared the staple mielie meal, and about the interesting decorations that adorn their dwellings. We later make our way to our accommodations nearby.

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight Destiny's Inn, Polokwane, South Africa

Day 4: Polokwane – Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Stop At: Bulawayo, Bulawayo, Bulawayo Province
This morning we make our way north crossing out of South Africa and into Zimbabwe. Immigration formalities at the busy Beitbridge border may be lengthy as this is South Africa’s busiest land border, but once completed we continue to Bulawayo, a pleasant city with broad tree lined avenues and wide-open spaces. The area around the city offers much in the way of historical, geological and natural interest. Several national parks are nearby including the well-known Matobo (sometimes written Matopos) which we shall visit. Our accommodation for the evening is in a quiet garden setting on the outskirts of town.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Travellers Guesthouse, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Day 5: Bulawayo – Matobo National Park

Stop At: Matobo National Park, Matopos road, Bulawayo Zimbabwe
We rise early to meet our guides for our visit and game drive into the Matobo National Park. Situated a short distance outside of Bulawayo, the wind-sculptured Matopos Hills are the site of numerous Bushman paintings and the area holds a special cultural and spiritual significance to the indigenous people here. The reserve has the largest concentration of Black and White Rhino in Africa and if conditions are suitable, guides will lead us on foot to some of the more concealed places for a close view of these magnificent animals.

The park also has dense populations of the elusive leopard and black eagle and we shall hope to glimpse either (or both) at some point during the day. The Matobo hills are also the location of the grave of Cecil John Rhodes, the 19th century colonialist. The grave is not visited as part of the half day park visit but can be seen on the full day upgrade (arranged locally).

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Travellers Guesthouse, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Day 6: Bulawayo – Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Stop At: Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North Province
Departing Bulawayo, we continue north to Victoria Falls. We usually arrive at Victoria Falls by early afternoon. This is a relatively small town built along the southern banks of the Zambezi River and is Zimbabwe’s primary tourist centre. The Victoria Falls themselves are only a short walk and the town has a variety of markets, shops, cafes within easy distance. Your tour leader will arrange a briefing to explain the numerous optional excursions typically available here.

We end our day joining a peaceful sunset dinner cruise on the Zambezi River. Soak up the African ambience with drink in hand as you cruise slowly up and down and look out for elephant, buffalo, buck, hippo and birdlife along the shallow muddy banks of one of Africa’s great rivers. We return to our accommodation for overnight or to try some of the local nightlife.

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Cresta Sprayview Hotel, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Day 7: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Stop At: Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North Province
Rising early, we visit the Victoria Falls National Park itself to witness one of Africa’s most enduring sights. Please take care when wandering along the pathways inside the reserve - the Falls are almost 100 metres deep and the drops are sheer!

The rest of the day is at leisure giving you the opportunity to explore and Victoria Falls. The Zambezi boasts one of the world’s highest rated rivers for white river rafting with its many challenging rapids. Alternative options include canoeing, scenic flights, bungee or (more relaxed) afternoon tea at the colonial styled Victoria Falls Hotel.

Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight at Cresta Sprayview Hotel, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Day 8: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – Chobe National Park, Botswana

Stop At: Chobe National Park, Chobe National Park, North-West District
From Victoria Falls we travel the short distance to the Botswana border and cross into the small town of Kasane, and on to our lodge. This afternoon we head out onto a game drive and boat cruise in the Chobe National Park. Chobe is widely known for its populations of elephant, but the park also contains lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe and a host of antelope and birdlife. The Chobe floodplains and Chobe River provide a sensitive eco system which attracts much of the wildlife of the region especially in the dry season when it is not uncommon to see between 500 and 2000 elephants on the floodplains at one time. One highlight of Chobe is the combination of wildlife, birdlife and reptiles seen along the banks of the Chobe River. We take the afternoon cruise for a unique perspective of river-side wildlife. This evening we relax and overnight at the lodge.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Thebe Lodge, Kasane, Botswana

Day 9: Chobe National Park – Gweta

Stop At: Gweta, Gweta, Central District
Following breakfast, we depart for Gweta. Driving south we may be lucky to encounter elephant or buffalo alongside (or on) the road, often strays to the migratory herds which roam freely throughout the area in search of pasture and water. We stop in the small settlement of Nata for lunch or snack before continuing to Gweta. Try the optional Baobab Forest tour to see these great natural giants. The night is spent at the lodge.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Gweta Lodge, Gweta, Botswana

Day 10: Gweta - Maun

Stop At: Maun, Maun, Ngamiland East, North-West District
After an early breakfast we join a guided walk through a local Tswana village to learn something of the life of the community, from schools and doctors to trading and traditions. We then depart and head west to Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. Maun has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is a bustling provincial centre. Options here include scenic flights and horse riding, but our priority is to prepare for our excursion into the Okavango Delta. Our accommodation in Maun is simple guesthouse/lodge/hotel. The afternoon is at leisure to relax with a cool beverage and pack for the Delta excursion for the following day.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Delta Rain's Sitatunga Camp, Botswana

Day 11: Maun –Okavango Delta

Stop At: Okavango Delta, Maun, Ngamiland East Botswana
Heading out early after breakfast we begin our excursion into the Okavango Delta. The first part of the journey is by 4x4 over rough sandy paths to the ‘mokoro’ station, where the river level reaches. Here we are introduced to the local Tswana ‘polers’, our guides for the excursion and transfer our luggage and equipment to the mokoros (dug-out canoes). We travel by these shallow canoes amongst giant lily pads, tall grasses and labyrinthine channels to our camp on the edge of the Okavango. From our camp we venture out on guided walk in search of some of the prolific birdlife and larger mammals that inhabit the reserve. The whole area is a natural wetland spreading over some 1,600,000ha of northern Botswana offering a perfect habitat for the wildlife that roams here freely. The Okavango River rises in Angola (far to the north) and flows south dividing repeatedly to form an intricate floodplain of channels and swamps which then spreads out into a broad flat inland delta – the only one of its kind in the world. We enjoy the afternoon wilderness experience and for many people the feeling of being at camp overnight is an unforgettable experience.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Elephant Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Day 12: Okavango Delta – Maun

Stop At: Maun, Maun, Ngamiland East, North-West District
This morning we explore the surrounds on a nature walk where you have the thrilling experience of being out in the natural wilderness. This is a great way to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the wilderness and enjoy nature as it wakes for the day. After the bush we enjoy breakfast and then pack up again onto our mokoros, leaving nothing behind but footprints. Returning to our 4x4 and bidding our polers farewell, we return to Maun. The afternoon offers the opportunity to join the guide for a trip into town for a little shopping. Another popular activity here is an optional scenic flight over the ‘Delta’ for a bird’s eye view of the wilderness you have just explored by mokoro and on foot. Prices depend on number of people interested but seeing the vastness of the Okavango from the air gives a further appreciation of the beauty of this part of Africa. We return to our lodge for dinner and overnight.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Delta Rain's Sitatunga Camp, Botswana

Day 13: Maun – Khama Rhino Sanctuary

Stop At: Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Serowe Botswana
Another early rise for our long journey skirting the greater Kalahari, where we may glimpse in the distance the vast salt pans of central Botswana to the Khama Rhino Sanctuary which we normally reach by late afternoon. In 1989 a group of local people wished to convert the Serowe Pan, previously a hunting area, into a conservation region for the rhino that inhabited the area. The ‘Pan’ was chosen because of its rhino-friendly habitat (and for its proximity to the Botswana Defence Force base for 24-hour protection against poachers). Khama is a prime habitat for white rhino, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe and with its community-based wildlife project, allows the local people to benefit from tourism. We take a game drive to catch sight of some of the rhino with guides often pointing up interesting facts about the local fauna and flora. Our last night on safari is spent at the Stevensford private nature conservancy situated on the Limpopo River in Botswana’s Tuli Block. At 3500 ha, this reserve is home to many species of antelope, crocodile, hippo, zebra, giraffe and a plethora of bird species.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Stevensford Game Reserve, Botswana

Day 14: Martins Drift – Pretoria, South Africa

Stop At: Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng
Our last morning sees us joining the main route along Martin’s Drift border post. Crossing the mighty Limpopo River into South Africa, we take in the scenic views and notice changes to vegetation, infrastructure and populated areas. We arrive in Pretoria where our tour ends normally by mid to late afternoon.
Duration: 1 day

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