10 Day Tiny Kingdoms Tour

Guests are met at 07:30 at a preferred Johannesburg pick-up point. After a short briefing, your privately guided journey heads south into the Free State. The day begins with a scenic stop at Aldam for stretching and photos, followed by lunch before an afternoon game drive in Willem Pretorius Nature Reserve. Expect open plains, acacia-dotted bushveld, and good chances of spotting plains game while your guide shares context about the region’s wildlife and landscape.

During the drive, look out for black wildebeest, zebra, blesbok and springbok, with occasional sightings of giraffe or white rhino depending on conditions. Birding can also be rewarding, with raptors and grassland species often recorded. In the late afternoon, continue to Moolmanshoek Private Reserve and settle into comfortable farm-style accommodation. The evening is relaxed, with time to unwind before dinner and your first overnight in the Eastern Free State.

Today is unhurried and dedicated to enjoying Moolmanshoek’s countryside setting. After breakfast, choose from relaxed outdoor activities suited to the season and your preferred pace. Options often include gentle walks, longer hikes, or simply spending time in the reserve’s scenic valleys and sandstone ridges. The area’s wide horizons and shifting light make it ideal for photography, and your guide can suggest the best routes for views and wildlife.

Wildlife viewing may take place on day drives or night drives, where smaller nocturnal species are more active. Antelope diversity is a highlight, and you may see black wildebeest, blesbok, springbok, eland, gemsbok and other plains game. If you prefer a softer day, enjoy the lodge facilities and quiet surroundings between meals. Dinner is served at the reserve, and you remain overnight at Moolmanshoek Private Reserve.

After a later breakfast, travel south toward Ficksburg to complete border formalities and enter Lesotho. The landscape changes quickly as altitude rises and village life appears along the route. After joining the main road, continue through rural settlements and traditional farmland, with stops for photos and local perspective. Your guide explains how the mountain kingdom’s geography shapes daily life, architecture, and travel patterns in this highland environment.

From Boribeng, the road turns east into higher terrain as the Maloti Mountains close in around you. With increasing altitude and remoteness, the scenery becomes more dramatic, especially in winter when snow is possible for short periods. By late afternoon, arrive at Maliba Mountain Lodge in a protected mountain setting. Settle in, enjoy the views, and relax before dinner and your first overnight in Lesotho.

Today explores the Lesotho Highlands on a full-day drive through mountain villages, high passes, and striking alpine scenery. Your guide times stops around viewpoints and road conditions, keeping the day comfortable and flexible. Expect rugged ridgelines, deep valleys, and crisp light, with several roadside breaks for photographs. The journey itself is a highlight, offering an authentic sense of Lesotho’s remote highlands and the rhythm of travel in mountainous terrain.

A key feature is Katse Dam, part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project and an impressive engineering site. Visits typically include the information center and a guided look at the dam wall (where available), with time for lunch nearby. Depending on scheduling and availability, a short boat cruise on the reservoir may be included. Later, return to Maliba Mountain Lodge for downtime, dinner, and your second overnight in Lesotho.

This day is designed for a slower, deeper experience of Maliba’s mountain environment. After breakfast, choose activities that match your interests and fitness level, such as guided hikes, birdwatching, or horseback rides across highland scenery. Trails can range from gentle walks to more energetic routes, and your guide can recommend the best option for the season. Cultural experiences may include community or village visits that add context to local life in the mountains.

Some itineraries also offer a dinosaur footprint excursion, adding a fun and educational element to the day. If you prefer a restorative pace, spa treatments can be arranged at the lodge, ideal after active time outdoors. Between activities, there is time to enjoy the views, fresh air, and quiet atmosphere that defines this region. Dinner is served at the lodge, and you remain overnight at Maliba Mountain Lodge.

After breakfast, depart Lesotho via the Caledonspoort Border Post and re-enter South Africa. Continue to Clarens, a small village known for cafés, galleries, and a lively main street, with time to browse and stretch your legs. From here, drive into Golden Gate Highlands National Park, where sandstone cliffs and dramatic rock formations create striking scenery. Your guide points out viewpoints and explains how the landscape was shaped, while keeping an eye out for antelope.

Golden Gate is also known for important dinosaur finds in the region, including Massospondylus eggs and embryos discovered in the late 1970s. Time permitting, enjoy additional viewpoints and short scenic drives before continuing to your Drakensberg area accommodation at Three Tree Hill Lodge. Arrive in the late afternoon to settle in and enjoy the mountain setting. The evening is relaxed, with dinner and your first overnight in the Drakensberg region.

Today focuses on the Drakensberg foothills and a standout heritage experience. Travel toward the Kamberg area, where guided access to Game Pass Shelter offers insight into San rock art and the symbolic world behind the paintings. The walk is rewarding for both scenery and cultural depth, and your guide shares how researchers interpret recurring motifs and figures. Allow time for the trail, the site visit, and a relaxed return, paced to your comfort level.

If weather or timing favors an alternative, visit the Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture) hide at Giants Castle, a respected spot for raptor viewing and photography. Your guide will recommend the best option based on conditions and your interests. After lunch and scenic stops, return to Three Tree Hill Lodge for downtime and a relaxed afternoon. Enjoy dinner at the lodge and settle in for your second overnight in the Drakensberg region.

Depart the Drakensberg and travel northeast toward Eswatini (Swaziland). En route, stop at Spion Kop battlefield, where fighting took place in January 1900 during the Second Boer War. With the surrounding landscape as a backdrop, your guide introduces the context and key viewpoints, allowing time to explore at a comfortable pace. Continue through northern KwaZulu-Natal towns toward the border, with comfort breaks and photo stops as needed along the way.

After border formalities, continue into Eswatini and travel to the Ezulwini Valley region for your stay at Reilly’s Rock within Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. The lodge has a quiet heritage atmosphere, with sweeping views and opportunities for short walks. Small antelope and abundant birdlife are often seen around the grounds. Settle in, enjoy dinner, and relax into your first overnight in Eswatini.

Today highlights Eswatini’s cultural heart. Begin with a visit to the King Sobhuza II Park in Lobamba, a key national memorial site, before continuing to Mantenga Cultural Village and Nature Reserve. Here, you’ll gain insight into traditional architecture and daily life, often complemented by cultural performances where available. The setting is scenic, and your guide helps pace the visits to avoid rushing, leaving time for browsing and photos throughout the morning and early afternoon.

Time is also set aside for Mantenga Falls and the surrounding reserve scenery. Later, stop at a popular candle-making workshop to see how decorative candles are crafted, with time to browse and shop. If you wish, your guide can add a local craft market visit before returning to Reilly’s Rock. Enjoy a relaxed evening back at the lodge, with dinner and your second overnight in Eswatini.

After breakfast, begin the return journey to Johannesburg. Before leaving Eswatini, stop at Ngwenya Glass, known for producing handmade items from recycled glass since 1987. Watch artisans at work and browse a wide range of tableware and decorative pieces, often inspired by African wildlife. Your guide assists with timing so you can enjoy the visit without feeling rushed, and you’ll have a chance to pick up gifts or souvenirs before continuing to the border.

Cross back into South Africa and continue toward Johannesburg via the N4 corridor, with comfort breaks as needed. The drive provides a final overview of the varied landscapes covered on this tour, from high mountains to open plains and cultural hubs. Your guide coordinates arrival timing for onward flights or hotel drop-offs. The tour concludes in Johannesburg, marking the end of a journey combining highland scenery, heritage sites, and cultural experiences across three countries.