South Africa, Eswatini & Lesotho

Pretoria - Hazyview. Departing South Africa's administrative capital of Pretoria aboard our overland truck, we head through the scenic Mpumalanga region and along the iconic Panorama Route. We stop to admire Blyde River Canyon before reaching Kruger National Park. Fences in the area were removed several years ago to create the Greater Kruger ecosystem, one of Africa's best wild places. We'll enjoy dinner around the campfire tonight before we head into the park tomorrow.

Please note: Please arrive in Pretoria at least one night before your tour. There will be a pre-departure meeting at 18:00 on the evening prior to departure and the tour departs at 7am on day 1. Refer to the Joining Instructions for more information. We can book an airport transfer from Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport and Pretoria pre-tour accommodation upon request.

We wake early in order to enter Kruger National Park as soon as the gates open. We'll be enjoying our safari in specialist 4X4 vehicles, for an optimal game viewing experience.

Kruger is home to all of Africa's iconic Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, black and white rhino and buffalo, as well as a host of other species including giraffes, crocodiles, hippos, cheetah, African wild dog and zebra. There are also more than 500 bird species recorded in the park. We hope to see many of these creatures on our morning and afternoon game drives, escaping the midday sun for lunch back at our campsite.

If you haven't had your safari fill, you can book an optional night game drive. Some species such as leopards and lions become more active after dark, so you have a greater chance to spot them.

We spend another full day on safari, heading out shortly after sunrise in search of the many species which call Kruger National Park home. With cameras and binoculars at the ready we'll head down bumpy dirt tracks in our 4X4 safari vehicles, keeping our eyes peeled for the Big Five and other species. In the evening you can relax at camp, or enjoy another optional night time game drive.

Hazyview - Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary (Eswatini). Departing this morning, we skirt along the edge of Kruger National Park and pass through Shangaan settlements and citrus farms to reach the border with Eswatini, an independent landlocked country between Mozambique and South Africa. We reach Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Eswatini's oldest protected area.

We awaken this morning to the sounds of grunting antelope and chirping birds, before heading out to explore after breakfast. We drive through the sanctuary to the Royal Enclosure and enjoy a walk through a local village with a Swazi guide, who will be able to explain many of the local rituals and customs. This afternoon there is free time to join optional activities including game walks in search of the resident wildlife - hippos, honey badgers, zebra and ostrich to name a few. You can also enjoy optional bird watching, horse riding or simply relax by the pool at our camp.

Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary - St Lucia (South Africa). This morning we cross the border back into South Africa and arrive in coastal St Lucia, home to a biodiverse estuary and wild beaches. Enjoying a cruise on the St Lucia Lagoon, we look out for crocodiles and hippos before enjoying a relaxing evening at camp.

St Lucia - Durban. The morning of day 7 is at leisure to explore St Lucia before we depart for South Africa's third largest city - Durban. With a population of 3.4 million and a vibrant nightlife, you'll want to head into the city in the evening to explore.

Day 8 is also free. We recommend a stroll along the 'Golden Mile' beachfront, a visit to uShaka Marine World or an adrenaline-fuelled leap from the big swing at Moses Mabhida Stadium, where you can also enjoy panoramic views of the city.

In Durban we are not camping, but staying in twin share accommodation with ensuite facilities.

Durban - Underberg. Leaving Durban behind, we head inland, passing through mountainous countryside to our campsite near the town of Underberg, and close to the border with the Kingdom of Lesotho. The campsite is located at the foot of the Sani Pass, which is the only navigable route over the Drakensberg escarpment into Lesotho. There is free time this afternoon to head out on some of the numerous walking trails in this picturesque region.

Underberg - Lesotho - Underberg. Today we enjoy a full day excursion into the mountainous kingdom of Lesotho with a local guide, travelling in specialised 4X4 safari vehicles. We cross the spectacular Sani Pass (2,874m) and visit a local village to meet the Shepherds who make a living up here.

We then drive to the Black Mountain, the second highest pass in Lesotho at 3,240m. - it's a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch! And we're not done climbing yet. We take a short walk to Thabana Ntlenyana, which at 3,482m is the highest point in southern Africa. And there's one more accolade to collect as we return to camp - we make a stop at Sani Mountain Lodge for a beer or soft drink in Africa's highest bar. Whoever is tallest in the group will be the highest bar-goer on the continent!

Underberg - Drakensberg. We make a sobering but fascinating excursion today to the Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal. This landscape of rolling hills and grasslands in the Drakensberg area has witnessed more than 60 battles that have shaped South Africa. These battles were mainly fought in the 19th century between the Zulus, British and Boers, and conflicts to be fought here include the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, the First Boer War of 1880 - 1881 and the Second Boer War from 1899 - 1902. We visit some of the important historic sites and memorials before arriving at our campsite in the late afternoon, with free time to relax.

Today we head into Royal Natal National Park, an incredibly scenic destination boasting lofty hiking trails, mountains and waterfalls. You can pick one of the optional trails to enjoy, and our guide can help find a suitable route for you - they vary in length from an hour to a full day. We can also visit some ancient cave dwellings to see the historic rock art painted here, and you can opt for a guided hike to Tugela Falls before we return to our camp for a well-deserved rest.

Drakensberg - Malealea (Lesotho). On day 14 we drive around the northern border of Lesotho, crossing back into the kingdom and heading south-west along mountain roads to Malealea. The rest of today and tomorrow are completely free for you to engage in some of the amazing optional activities on offer. Pony trekking is extremely popular with visitors to Lesotho, with many trails to choose from, including some which visit waterfalls. You could also enjoy mountain biking, or visit a local village.

In Malealea we are not camping, but staying in twin share accommodation with shared facilities.

Malealea - Mountain Zebra National Park (South Africa). Crossing the border back into South Africa, we journey to Mountain Zebra National Park, a 284 square kilometre reserve known for its large population of more than 700 Cape mountain zebra. We'll enjoy an included game drive in the park, which is also home to buffalo, lion, cheetah and black rhino. And tonight's campsite is located in the park itself, where we can listen to the sounds of the wildlife as we drift off to sleep.

Mountain Zebra National Park - Addo Elephant National Park - Port Elizabeth. One species missing from Mountain Zebra National Park is the African elephant, but you will almost certainly see these gentle giants today as we enjoy a safari in South Africa's third largest national park. Addo Elephant National Park is home to more than 600 elephants, as well as lion, buffalo, black rhino and leopard, whilst southern right whales and great white sharks inhabit the protected waters off the coast.

After our game drive, we continue to Port Elizabeth, located on South Africa's famous Garden Route. Our campsite tonight is just outside the city, and is located a few metres from the beachfront.

Port Elizabeth - Tsitsikamma National Park - Plettenberg Bay. From Port Elizabeth we head along the Garden Route to Tsitsikamma Forest National Park. This diverse protected area is home to dramatic coastline, lush forests and rushing rivers. There is free time here to enjoy optional boating, hiking, bird-watching and even bungee jumping from the Bloukrans Bridge. We then continue to our campsite in Plettenberg Bay.

Plettenberg Bay - Oudtshoorn. After breakfast we head to the world's ostrich capital, Oudtshoorn, in the Karoo desert region. There are many farms in this area, located in the Klein Karoo between the Swartberg and the Outeniqua Mountains. Another highlight here is the Cango Caves system, home to vast caverns and impressive formations. We have an included visit to the caves before heading to our campsite.

Oudtshoorn - Hermanus. Departing for Hermanus, we make a stop at Cape Agulhas, at the southern tip of the African continent. It is here that the Indian and Atlantic oceans meet. We continue along the coast, which was historically notorious for shipwrecks and we can see some of the remnants of these unfortunate vessels.

Arriving in Hermanus, we visit the gigantic 19th century lighthouse before the afternoon is at leisure. Hermanus is South Africa's whale watching capital, and we recommend booking an optional cruise this afternoon or tomorrow morning in search of the various species of whales and dolphin which inhabit the waters off the coast.

In Hermanus, we are not camping. We stay in simple dorm accommodation with shared facilities.

Hermanus - Cape Town. A free morning in Hermanus gives you the opportunity to book a whale watching cruise or visit the Old Harbour Open Air Museum for a fascinating and interactive glimpse into Hermanus' fishing past. We then drive to a winery to sample some of South Africa's finest wines with a tasting session.

Climbing aboard our overland truck for the final time, we complete our drive to Cape Town, where our tour comes to an end at the foot of iconic Table Mountain. If it is your first time in the city then we recommend staying for a few days to explore, we can book post-tour accommodation for you.

Please note: We won't arrive in Cape Town until late afternoon, so if you are flying straight home, then please make sure not to book your flight before the evening. We strongly recommend booking at least one night's post-tour accommodation in case of delays.