This tour is the ultimate South African experience as it includes a visit to Lesotho and Eswatini too! It’s time to discover the Rainbow Nation!
Enjoy a 20 day Rainbow Nation tour through South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho where you will enjoy a variety of people, places and amazing animal encounters! Your tour kicks off with a visit to Kruger National Park. Experience the thrill of being on safari, observing the big five as well as zebras, giraffe and rhinos in the largest game reserve in South Africa (Kruger is larger than some small countries in Europe). You guides will drive the various roads that link the Kruger National Park, in search of the wildlife that roam free. There will be early morning nature walks and evening game drives that will allow you to experience the bush before sunrise and after sunset, when the nocturnal animals are at their busiest. The sights of the Panorama route offer us a day of scenic delights. We will visit the highlights of Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels and God’s Window. Your journey then winds through the rolling emerald hills of Eswatini (formerly called the Kingdom of Swaziland) and up to the highlands of Lesotho where you have the opportunity to go pony trekking. Your game viewing experience continues in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary and at Hluhulwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, one of the last strongholds of the endangered Rhinoceros where we will enjoy a game drive in 4×4 open safari viewing vehicles. We enjoy an afternoon river cruise in the small town of St Lucia as we keep our eyes open for some hippo and crocodile. As we make our way south, we meander through the majestic Drakensberg mountains and through the open plains of the Karoo. We will encounter the wildlife charms of the Addo Elephant National Park which is one of South African’s famous National Parks for its elephant population. We continue with our tour to the Garden Route, a treasure trove of beautiful beaches and forest walks. Before we arrive in Cape Town we visit the Cango Caves in Oudtshoorn and venture down to the Cape Whale Coast, starting at the Southern most tip of Africa, with an over night in Stanford, before heading to Hermanus and Bettys Bay for a spot of whale and penguin watching.
2 Crew
20 Passengers Max
Adventure Truck
2 Days and 1 Nights
1 Breakfast 2 Lunch 1 Dinner
Victoria Falls to Johannesburg
• Zimbabwe • Botswana • South Africa
20-day Journey from South Africa Explorer
Day 1 Johannesburg → Greater Kruger National Park
Leaving the city of Johannesburg behind us we make our way east through the coalfields of Mpumalanga. Our journey today follows in the
footsteps of the old trade-routes to the Lowveld and the Kruger National Park. This afternoon there will be an opportunity to join an optional
Sundowner drive. Booking is essential and your guide can assist on departure this morning.
Day 2 Kruger National Park →Kruger National Park
Rising early this morning we enter the Kruger National Park to enjoy a full day of game viewing. The abundance of wildlife presents us with
opportunities for excellent sightings and the Kruger is also home to the famed members of Africa’s Big-5. Truly the flagship of the South African
national parks, Kruger is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals.
Our Game drive through the park is in an open-sided 4×4 vehicle.
Day 3 Kruger National Park →Kruger National Park
While those who elect to do the optional morning walk will have an earlier start, we set out a little later today and travel the short distance to the
Panorama Route. Strung along the escarpment that divides the central plateau and low-lying bushveld of the Kruger, the sights of the Panorama
route offer us a day of scenic delights. We will visit the highlights of Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels and God’s Window before
returning to camp in the late afternoon.
Day 4 Kruger → Eswatini
We start the day early with some coffee and traditional rusks before setting off through Kruger on our way to Eswatini. Our truck offers an
excellent platform for game viewing as we make our way south. We exit the southern end of the park and travel the short distance to Eswatini
border, our route this afternoon winds through the mountains and forests of this landlocked kingdom. Our destination for today is the Ezulwini
Valley just south of the capital Mbabane.
Day 5 Eswatini – Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary → Eswatini – Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
Endless hours of self-guided exploration within the small 4560ha Mlilwane sanctuary are possible due to the relative absence of dangerous game.
This morning our guide will lead us out on a nature walk to explore the “Nature Trail “, which provides interpretation of historical and
environmental information of the area.
Day 6 Eswatini - St Lucia → Eswatini - St Lucia
Endless hours of self-guided exploration within the small 4560ha Mlilwane sanctuary are possible due to the relative absence of dangerous game.
This morning our guide will lead us out on a nature walk to explore the “Nature Trail “, which provides interpretation of historical and
environmental information of the area.
Day 7 Hluhluwe – Umfolozi Game Reserve →Hluhluwe – Umfolozi Game Reserve
We set out early this morning for a game drive in the nearby Hluhulwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, one of the last strongholds of the endangered
rhinoceros.
While rhinoceros are the most famous of the parks inhabitants, the park also provides a home to many other species, including the Big5 that we all hope to see.
Returning to our lodging for a siesta, we freshen up for an afternoon boat cruise on St Lucia estuary.
Day 8 Kwa Zulu Natal Coast – UKhahlamba Drakensberg →Kwa Zulu Natal Coast – UKhahlamba Drakensberg
Running the length of the Kwazulu-Natal province, the Ukuhlamba Drakensberg Park is a UNESCO recognised world heritage site. Whether you go
by the Zulu name uKhahlamba, meaning ‘barrier of spears’, or the Afrikaans name Drakensberge, meaning ‘dragon mountains’, these towering
mountains will be our backdrop for the next two nights. On our way we make a stop to view the scenic Howick Falls and a visit to the nearby site
that marked the capture of South Africa’s most famous man, Nelson Mandela.
Day 9 UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park →UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park
We set out this morning for a lengthy hike. While we encourage everyone to make the most of the day in mountains, we may offer separate
options depending on the activity level of the group. With a number of trails available we can ensure that we cater to every need, the most
important aim is to ensure everyone enjoys this mountain paradise at their own pace.
Day 10 Lesotho – Malealea →Lesotho – Malealea
Our journey today begins with a mountain pass and an opportunity to visit a Vulture restaurant where we hope to view these fascinating birds. Our
route winds its way through the magnificent cliffs off the Golden Gate National Park before we enter Lesotho in the afternoon, we pass the capital
city of Maseru as continue the climb to our base high amongst the mountain peaks.
Day 11 Lesotho – Malealea →Lesotho – Malealea
The clean air of the mountains accompanies us this morning as we explore the mountains on foot, our hike concludes with a village visit and the
opportunity to gain insight into the community that calls these mountains home. The Basotho are famous for their traditional hats, blankets and
their sturdy ponies. Basotho ponies are renowned for their surefootedness in the mountains and you have the opportunity of an optional pony
trek this afternoon to experience this first-hand. This activity is not for the inexperienced or faint-hearted.
Day 12outh Africa – Graaff Reinet →outh Africa – Graaff Reinet
Returning to South Africa, we descend the mountains and take aim across the Great Karoo. The semi-arid Karoo represents the heartland of rural
South Africa and presents a stark contrast to the mountains we leave behind. Our overnight stop is set in the historic town of Graaff-Reinet, the
fourth oldest town in the country. We cross the mighty Orange (Gariep) River today as we journey through the vast countryside of the Karoo. This
evening you will have the opportunity to join a sundowner excursion to the Valley of Desolation. This unique valley offers a panoramic view over
the town and the wide open plains stretching out below. Kindly note that during the winter months, this activity will become a Sunrise excursion to
the Valley of Desolation the following morning
Day 13Greater Addo Elephant National Park area →Greater Addo Elephant National Park area
Setting course for the coast once again, we pass through the open plains of the Karoo and the wildlife charms of the Addo National Park. Upon
arrival in the greater Addo region, we set up camp and head to the National Park to enjoy an afternoon game drive in our Nomad truck, in search
of the famous elephants that call Addo home.
Day 14Greater Addo Elephant National Park area →Greater Addo Elephant National Park area
This morning we will make the short drive to the windy city of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), before heading into Addo Elephant National Park for our
afternoon game drive. Recent expansion has seen Addo grow to become the third largest of South Africa’s National Parks. The unique vegetation
of Addo supports a wide variety of wildlife and we will spend the afternoon in search of the animals.
Day 15 Tsitsikamma National Park → Tsitsikamma National Park
Setting out early this morning we make a brief visit to the surfing mecca of Jeffreys Bay. Most famous for its waves this little town is also home to
a small Surfing Museum. We then turn west to the Tsitiskamma region where we set up for the next two nights and where the wonders of the
Garden Route await.
Day 16 Tsitsikamma National Park → Tsitsikamma National Park
Setting out early this morning we make a brief visit to the surfing mecca of Jeffreys Bay. Most famous for its waves this little town is also home to
a small Surfing Museum. We then turn west to the Tsitiskamma region where we set up for the next two nights and where the wonders of the
Garden Route await.
Day 17 Oudtshoorn → Oudtshoorn
After a stop in the town of Knysna, we make our way inland, crossing the Outeniqua Mountains and descend to the town of Oudtshoorn. We head
to the famous Cango caves to enjoy a guided tour where we marvel at the astonishing formations that have formed in these impressive limestone
caves.
Day 18 Route 62 - Barrydale →Route 62 - Barrydale
After a stop in the town of Knysna, we make our way inland, crossing the Outeniqua Mountains and descend to the town of Oudtshoorn. We head
to the famous Cango caves to enjoy a guided tour where we marvel at the astonishing formations that have formed in these impressive limestone
caves.
Day 19 Africa’s Southernmost Tip →Africa’s Southernmost Tip
After passing through some quaint Overberg villages, we reach the De Hoop Nature Reserve where you will have time to walk and explore a small
section of the reserve. After having stretched our legs, we visit the southernmost tip of the African continent, where the Atlantic and Indian
oceans meet, Cape Agulhas. We will overnight in the town of Stanford.
Day 20 The Cape Whale Coast Route →
Made up of a collection of villages, farms, rivers, bays, coves and valleys, the Cape Whale Coast is a pristine stretch of the South African coastline
which runs from the town of Rooiels for roughly 150km, to the east. Beginning early, we will have a short time to stroll along the boardwalk in
Hermanus in search of the southern right whales that frequent the shores in the months of July to November. Next we stop at the largest breeding
colony of the African Penguin, Stony Point Nature Reserve before travelling along the coast to a well wine farm for a wine tasting experience. Your
tour comes to an end upon arrival in the city centre of Cape Town.
