Tour Overview
| Duration | 14 Days / 13 Nights |
|---|---|
| Countries | South Africa — Eswatini — Lesotho |
| Price From | $2,967 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Comfort Safari / Cultural Adventure |
| Data Source | Nomad Africa — 2026 |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Johannesburg to Kruger
Depart Johannesburg. Drive through Mpumalanga to the Greater Kruger area. Evening briefing at the lodge. Overnight near Kruger National Park.
Day 2-3: Kruger National Park — Big Five Safari
Two full days of safari. Day 2: full-day game drive in open 4×4 vehicles through Kruger’s southern sector, one of the most game-rich areas. Search for the Big Five and learn about the park’s extraordinary ecosystem from expert guides. Day 3: morning game drive followed by transfer along the Panorama Route — God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and the Three Rondavels. Overnight near the escarpment.
Day 4-5: Eswatini — Kingdom of Culture
Drive through southern Kruger to the Eswatini border. Two days in the Ezulwini Valley. Day 4: visit the Mantenga Cultural Village for Swazi dancing, traditional homes, and the story of Swazi kings. Day 5: free day for exploration — craft markets, optional hiking in the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, or simply relaxing in the valley known as the “Valley of Heaven.” Overnight in Ezulwini.
Day 6: Eswatini to St. Lucia
Cross back into South Africa through Zululand — the heartland of the Zulu nation. Arrive in St. Lucia, a charming town surrounded by the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Evening at leisure. Overnight in St. Lucia.
Day 7: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi & St. Lucia Estuary
Morning game drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, the oldest nature reserve in Africa. This is where the white rhino was saved from extinction in the 1950s and remains one of the best places to see these magnificent animals. Afternoon: sunset cruise on the St. Lucia Estuary — hippos, crocodiles, and hundreds of birds. Overnight in St. Lucia.
Day 8: Zululand to Drakensberg
Scenic drive through KwaZulu-Natal. Stop at Howick Falls and the Nelson Mandela Capture Site — a powerful sculpture and museum marking where Mandela was arrested in 1962. Arrive in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park (UNESCO). Overnight in the Drakensberg.
Day 9: Drakensberg Hiking
Full day exploring the Drakensberg — “Dragon Mountains” in Afrikaans. Choose your hike: gentle valley walks to see San (Bushman) rock art (some of the oldest in the world) or more ambitious trails with spectacular views. This is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa. Overnight in the Drakensberg.
Day 10-11: Lesotho — Kingdom in the Sky
Drive through Golden Gate Highlands National Park with its golden sandstone cliffs to the Lesotho border. Enter the Mountain Kingdom — the only country entirely above 1,000 meters. Day 10: arrive at a mountain camp and meet Basotho locals in their traditional blankets. Day 11: explore the highlands — waterfall hike, optional pony trekking (the Basotho pony is legendary), and a visit to a working village. The air is thin, the sky impossibly blue, and the mountains stretch to the horizon. Overnight at Lesotho mountain camp.
Day 12: Lesotho to Graaff-Reinet
Descend from Lesotho and cross the Karoo semi-desert to Graaff-Reinet, South Africa’s fourth oldest town. This beautifully preserved 18th-century town is surrounded by the Camdeboo National Park. Overnight in Graaff-Reinet.
Day 13: Valley of Desolation & Addo Elephant Park
Sunrise at the Valley of Desolation — a geological wonder of dolerite pillars rising from sheer cliffs with 360-degree views over the Karoo plains. Drive to Addo Elephant National Park for an afternoon game drive — elephant herds, lions, zebras, and the unique flightless dung beetle. Continue to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Overnight in Gqeberha.
Day 14: Depart Gqeberha
Breakfast and transfer to airport. Tour ends.
Inclusions
- 13 nights (permanent tents, lodges, guesthouses, hotel)
- 13 breakfasts + 11 dinners
- Kruger National Park full-day safari (open 4×4)
- Hluhluwe-Imfolozi game drive
- St. Lucia Estuary sunset boat cruise
- Drakensberg hiking with guide
- Lesotho mountain exploration and village visit
- Valley of Desolation sunrise tour
- Addo Elephant Park afternoon game drive
- Transport in air-conditioned minibus
- 2 experienced staff (English/German available)
- National park entry fees
Why This Safari
- Kruger + Addo — two premier South African parks in one journey
- Lesotho pony trekking — ride the legendary Basotho ponies through mountain trails
- Valley of Desolation sunrise — an unforgettable South African spectacle
- Hluhluwe-Imfolozi — walk where the white rhino was saved
- 14 days, 3 countries, a lifetime of memories
