Walking South Africa safari

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.

Leisurely – Mac Mac Walk – short easy walk to stretch your legs. 2-3km, less than one hour. On a foot path with very limited altitude change.

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).

Moderate – Blyde River Canyon – 3.5hr walk on good paths with some rocky sections.

Sisältyy: Day 1: Breakfast is not includedDay 2: Breakfast provide by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 1-2: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 1-2: Dinner will be provided by the lodge

Kruger Private Game Reserve

An early breakfast and we make our way to Kruger National Park. We enter the national park in our open safari vehicle and spend the day on an exciting game drive. Your guide will interpret the signs of 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. The following day we have a pre-dawn start, entering Kruger National Park in the hopes of catching the early day light game viewing. Returning to the lodge in the afternoon we venture out on a short bush walk, learning the tracks and other signs of the wildlife we hope to find on foot.

Leisurely – Late afternoon 1 hr bush walk around the lodge.

Sisältyy: Day 3: Breakfast provide by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 4: Breakfast will be a set meal provided by the lodgeDay 3-4: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 3-4: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge

Kingdom of Swaziland

We enter the Kingdom of Swaziland/ eSwatini 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.

Challenging – 4 – 6hr walk through undulating hills of Malalotja Game Reserve to a beautiful waterfall. Uneven paths and this walk has sections of steep gradients.

Sisältyy: Day 5-6: Breakfast will be provided by the lodgeDay 5-6: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 5-6: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge

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. Enjoy sunset and the sounds of the bush before a hearty dinner at the lodge.

Leisurely – 2-3hr gentle walk on the conservancy

Sisältyy: Day 7-8: Breakfast will be provided by the lodgeDay 7-8: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 7-8: Dinner will be a set meal provided by the lodge

Zululand Battlefields

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 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 Islandlwana 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.

Challenging – 4-5hr Fugitives Drift trail through Zululand on uneven paths. It has strenuous sections with some steep gradients. Complete hike is dependent on the Buffalo River water level crossing.

Sisältyy: Day 9-10: Breakfast provide by the lodgeDay 9-10: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 9-10: Dinner will be an own expense meal at a local restaurant

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. 

Moderate – 5.5hr walk up the Tugela gorge on good paths with some rocky sections, boulder hopping.

Sisältyy: Day 11: Breakfast provided by the lodgeDay 11: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 11: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 12: Breakfast provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 12: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 12: Dinner provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group

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.

Challenging – 5-6 hrs walk on uneven paths to the top of the Amphitheatre with a short section of chain ladders.

Sisältyy: Day 13: Breakfast provide by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 13: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the groupDay 13: Dinner will be an own expense meal

Johannesburg - Tour Ends

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.

Sisältyy: Day 14: Breakfast will be provided by the lodgeDay 14: Lunch provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group