Travel through South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland), combining cultural and wildlife experiences on this 12-day family adventure. The trip starts with an introduction to South Africa’s most famous township, Soweto, before heading out into the wilderness. Search for the Big Five in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, kayak around Kosi Bay and head north into the vast expanses of Hlane National Park. Venture into Kruger National Park for more unbelievable wildlife watching, participate in village life at a community homestay and get to see the stunning colours of Blyde River Canyon.
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CharlotteSawubona! Welcome to South Africa. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 12 noon. Afterwards, head out on a cycling tour of Soweto – an exciting opportunity to get an insight into contemporary life in South Africa. You’ll visit the formal migrant workers’ hostel and be introduced to conditions of male mine workers and meet the families that live here today. Cycle through the vibrant community of Meadowlands, and continue to the Hector Pieterson Memorial, the historical landmark of the 1976 student's uprising, proceed to the famous Vilakazi street where Nelson Mandela used to live.
Today is a travel day. Depart Johannesburg early this morning and travel into the heart of KwaZulu Natal. Here you will camp at an ecolodge just outside of Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, which is home to some amazing wildlife, including lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes, buffaloes and wild dogs. The rest of the day is free for you to get settled into your surroundings.
Embark on an adventure through the oldest proclaimed game reserve in South Africa. You’ll spend the day roaming around the park in an Open Safari Vehicle. While you're here, you'll have the chance to see some of the 'Big Five' – African elephant, black rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, African lion and African leopard. There will also be a good chance of spotting the white rhino, as Hluhluwe-Imfolozi has the largest population of these near-threatened creatures in the world. A series of conservation efforts has saved them from extinction and their population is once again on the rise. The park also boasts some 400 species of birds, including the African finfoot, bat hawk and white-backed night heron.
Depart the game reserve this morning and travel northeast to the coast, visit the beautiful Kosi Bay Nature Reserve. The location of the bay is amazing. On the one hand there is picturesque jungle with wild figa and monkey orange trees, and a grazing area for hippos; on the other, a mangrove and coral reef that's teeming with aquatic life. Your accommodation, Kosi Bay Lodge, will be in comfortable log chalets. Enjoy a night under the stars as you relax around the campfire.
This morning, you and the family will get to explore Kosi Bay by kayak. It is particularly famous for the traditional Tsonga fish traps built to trap fish moving in and out of the estuary with the tide. The Tsonga people, who have made this land their home for more than 1,000 years, are experts in fish traps and the construction of fishkraal. There is also the opportunity to snorkel over the coral reef in search of some colourful fish. You’ll then have the rest of the day free.
Drive north, stop to stock up on supplies then reach the small land-locked kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland), home to Hlane National Park. A vast expanse of bushveld and its ancient hardwood trees make the national park home to the largest wild herds in Eswatini. Your camp is spacious and has plenty of tree coverage, making for a nice spot to relax and be greeted by the odd inquisitive impala, warthog or nyala. If you're feeling adventurous, book a guided mountain bike trail, bird walk or game drive and explore the greater Hlane area. In the absence of electricity in Ndlovu Camp, the area is romantically lit at night with candles and parafin lanterns. It's also within easy reach of Ndlovu's semi-open-air restaurant and floodlit waterhole. Hlane Activities Center, a braai/barbeque area (with firewood provided), communal kitchen, and hot showers are all available.
Explore Hlane National Park on a game drive. This park used to be a private royal hunting ground, which gives you some idea of its calibre as a wildlife-viewing destination. It is Eswatini's largest park, spanning an impressive 30,000 hectares. Landscape-wise, it’s a flat lowland area with some grasslands and shallow pans. There's a great chance of catching sight of wildebeest, zebra and impala, especially in the drier months. Notably, cheetahs were reintroduced to the park relatively recently. The park also has an abundant and diverse array of birdlife, boasting the highest density of nesting white-backed vultures in all of Africa.
Cross back into South Africa and journey to Kruger National Park – one Africa's very best wildlife arenas. On arrival you’ll start a game drive as you head towards your overnight campsite.
Enjoy further explorations of Kruger today as you embark on a game drive in a 4x4 Open Safari Vehicle. One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park boasts more than 500 bird species, 100 reptile species and 150 mammal species. The big five and the endangered African wild dog are no exceptions. Depending on the areas you visit, you'll have the chance to see some exotic birds along the way, from the tiny bronze mannikin to the more conspicuous ostrich. Keep an eye to the sky where, if you're lucky, a giant eagle owl or martial eagle might be soaring.
Leave Kruger this morning and make your way to Phiring village for a special homestay experience. You’ll be hosted by a local family with a 'mum', who’ll make you feel part of her own family. While you’re at the village, there’ll also be the chance to take part in a range of traditional activities, including floor-making, cooking, dancing or going for a scenic walk through the surrounding mountain area. Your stay here helps to provide local women and youth with economic independence and social empowerment.
Say your farewells to the locals of Phiring this morning, then travel to Blyde River Canyon. One of South Africa's most spectacular attractions, Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world, and probably the greenest. It's an excellent place for walking. The sheer-sided walls of the canyon rise over 2,000 metres and the vegetation varies wildly, from dry rocky sections to rainforest, depending on the altitude. You will explore the stunning Bourke's Luck Potholes, where shadowy rock formations take on different colours and shadings in the changing light.
After breakfast make the journey back to Johannesburg where your trip comes to an end upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in the afternoon (usually between 2pm and 4pm). If you prefer, we can also drop you at the original joining point location. Please advise your booking agent before you depart or your leader during your welcome meeting on day 1. Please do not book any onwards flights until after 8pm this evening.
Our Important Notes and Packing List cover all essentials, from necessary equipment to inclusions, ensuring you're fully equipped and informed for this extraordinary adventure and more.
1. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you. 2. Minimum age for children on this trip is 10 years old. 3. CHILD PRICE: Children aged 17 years and under at time of travel on this trip, are eligible to receive 20% off the full adult price. 4. This trip starts at noon on Day 1 and ends at approximately 3pm on day 12 at Johannesburg international airport. Please do not book any flights until after 8pm. 5. Camping accommodation on tihs trip is mainly in two-person canvas dome tents with camping mattresses supplied. A sleeping bag is not included but is available for hire if you do not wish to bring your own. Please advise your booking agent if you would like to hire a sleeping bag. Pillows and towels are not provided when camping. 6. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer to have your own tent/room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 7. This trip includes border crossings where you may be asked to present a birth certificate for any children travelling with you. As such it is a requirement that all children aged 17 or under travel with an original or certified copy of their full, unabridged birth certificate when entering or leaving the country. Any parents who aren't travelling will need to provide a legal document giving their consent for the child to travel also. To check the requirements for other situations, such as legal guardianship or unaccompanied travelling minors, visit the South African Department of Home Affairs. 8. Border crossing delays in the region have been sporadic and difficult to predict. What takes an hour one day may take four hours the next. This may affect the order of activities in the itinerary. We understand this uncertainty can be frustrating, and we strongly recommend packing a bit of patience and flexibility.
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