Tour Overview
| Duration | 19 Days / 18 Nights |
|---|---|
| Countries | South Africa — Lesotho — Eswatini |
| Price From | $4,125 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Small Group Adventure (max 14) |
| Data Source | African Star Tours — 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1-2: Johannesburg to Panorama Route
Arrive Johannesburg. Day 2: drive to Mpumalanga, gateway to the Panorama Route. Visit Bourke’s Luck Potholes — cylindrical rock formations carved by millennia of swirling water, and Blyde River Canyon — the world’s third largest canyon and largest “green canyon.” Overnight near Graskop.
Day 3-4: Kruger National Park — Big Five Safari
Two days in Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves. Full-day open-vehicle safaris searching for the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) plus giraffe, zebra, hippo, cheetah, wild dog, and 500+ bird species. Early morning game drives when predators are most active. Overnight at Kruger rest camp.
Day 5-6: Eswatini — Kingdom in the Sky
Cross into Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), one of Africa’s last absolute monarchies. Two days in the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary — guided walking safaris without dangerous predators, allowing intimate wildlife encounters. Visit a traditional Swazi village — learn about the culture, meet the chief, watch traditional dancing, and taste Swazi beer brewed in clay pots. Explore the Ezulwini Valley and shop for Swazi candles, baskets, and batik at the craft markets. Overnight in Ezulwini Valley.
Day 7-8: iSimangaliso Wetland Park — UNESCO Wonder
Return to South Africa. Two days at iSimangaliso Wetland Park (UNESCO). Day 7: game drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa and the park that saved the white rhino from extinction. Day 8: sunset cruise on the St. Lucia Estuary — hippos wallowing, crocodiles basking, and fish eagles calling overhead. Overnight in St. Lucia.
Day 9-10: Drakensberg & Sani Pass — Into Lesotho
Drive to the Southern Drakensberg mountains. Day 10: 4×4 journey up the legendary Sani Pass, one of Africa’s most spectacular mountain roads with 40 hairpin bends climbing to 2,874 meters. Cross into Lesotho — the “Kingdom in the Sky,” the only country in the world entirely above 1,000 meters. Visit a Basotho village — meet shepherds in traditional blankets, learn about the Basotho pony. Drink a Maluti beer at Africa’s highest pub. Overnight in the Drakensberg.
Day 11-13: Wild Coast & Greater Addo
Drive to the Wild Coast — South Africa’s untouched eastern shoreline. Two days of pristine beaches, dramatic cliffs, and Xhosa villages at Chintsa. Day 13: continue to the Greater Addo area via the historic Zuurberg Pass. Overnight near Addo Elephant National Park.
Day 14-15: Addo Elephant Park & Garden Route
Full-day safari in Addo Elephant National Park, home to over 600 elephants plus lion, buffalo, black rhino, and the rare flightless dung beetle. Drive the Garden Route — one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives. Day 15: Tsitsikamma National Park — ancient forests, dramatic coastline, and the suspension bridge over the Storms River mouth. Overnight in Tsitsikamma.
Day 16: Oudtshoorn — Cango Caves & Ostriches
Cross the Outeniqua Mountains to Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital. Tour the Cango Caves — one of the world’s great cave systems with vast chambers and delicate formations. Visit an ostrich farm — meet these prehistoric-looking birds up close. Overnight in Oudtshoorn.
Day 17-18: Cape Winelands & Cape Peninsula
Drive Route 62 through South Africa’s longest wine route, tasting in Robertson. Day 18: full-day Cape Peninsula tour — Chapman’s Peak Drive (one of the world’s most spectacular coastal roads), Cape of Good Hope, and Boulders Beach to see the African penguin colony. Overnight in Cape Town.
Day 19: Cape Town — Departure
Morning at leisure — optional Table Mountain cable car. Transfer to Cape Town International Airport.
Inclusions
- 18 nights (lodges, camps, hotels)
- 18 breakfasts + 3 lunches + 5 dinners
- Kruger National Park open-vehicle safaris (2 days)
- Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary entry & walking safari
- Swazi cultural village visit
- Hluhluwe-Imfolozi game drive
- St. Lucia Estuary sunset cruise
- Sani Pass 4×4 excursion into Lesotho
- Addo Elephant Park safari
- Cango Caves tour
- Cape Peninsula full-day tour
- Transport in comfortable minibus (max 14)
- Professional English-speaking guide
Why This Journey
- Three countries in one extraordinary journey
- Sani Pass — climb Africa’s most spectacular mountain road into the Kingdom in the Sky
- Eswatini — experience one of Africa’s last traditional monarchies
- Kruger + Addo — two world-class safari experiences
- The Garden Route — from elephants to penguins in 19 unforgettable days
