10 Day Wildlife & Culture

Mpumalanga / Kruger National Park

Distance

211 km (131 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 2 pm and 4pm to Sunset

Our morning is devoted to the famous Panoramic Route. The day's first stop is at God's Window, a short detour of the route. This spectacular main viewpoint is located in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and is revered for its fantastic views of the Lowveld on a clear day. The more adventurous have the opportunity to do the Forest Walk, a circular route of just over an hour that meanders through indigenous rainforest past massive ferns and offers a unique look at the biodiversity in the area. The Knysna Turaco and the blue spurfowl are birds for which to keep a lookout.

From here, we travel to the Three Rondavels viewpoint of the Blyde River Canyon, where we admire this stunning geological wonder, the third-largest canyon in the world. Along the route, your guide will stop at one of the many waterfalls that plummet from the surrounding mountainside. If time permits, a stop will also be made at the Bourke's Luck Potholes. Then it's on to Kruger National Park, where we reach our base for the next three nights mid-afternoon. The park is internationally renowned as one of Africa's finest conservation areas, with a model that sustains conservation and supports local communities that derive income from ecotourism. In the late afternoon, a first game drive is conducted in the wilderness, which has an abundance of fauna and flora.

Kruger National Park

Distance

95 km (59 mi)

Itinerary

Sunrise to 10 am and 3 pm to Sunset

Your day is once again devoted to two game drives. The area is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, with close to 150 different mammal species ranging from Brant's climbing mouse, weighing no more than a few grams, to the mighty African elephant, which can weigh up to 7000kg. There are more than 500 identified bird species in the area, and it is blessed with abundant flora, not least the giant ebony, jackalberry, and wild fig trees towering over the watercourses.

The guide's unique insight and knowledge will surely enhance one's enjoyment and understanding of the habits and behavior of the different species and the natural cycles in this part of Africa. The camp overlooks the Sabie River, one of the primary water sources flowing through the area. Between game drives, you are welcome to relax on a bench with river views, book in hand, occasionally glancing across the river into the bush beyond to spot wildlife approaching the river for a drink.

Swaziland

Distance

55 km (34 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 4 pm (Customizable)

Today is dedicated to various cultural pursuits. First on the agenda is a visit to the King Sobhuza Memorial Park in Lobamba. The memorial was established as a tribute to the late King Sobhuza II, who led Swaziland to independence in 1968. Later, we'll visit the Mantenga Cultural Village and Nature Reserve. Our visit includes a guided tour of the reserve's cultural village with authentic beehive huts, a cultural and dancing display, and a visit to Mantenga Falls. You might also see the Southern Bald Ibis at Mantenga, an endangered bird of the region.

A mid-afternoon stop is made at a popular local candle factory. Here you'll see a great variety of unusual candles of all shapes, sizes, and scents and the folks who manufacture them. Alternatively, consider taking the two-hour hike from Mbabane to Silebe Rock, the largest granite rock in the world, from where excellent views over the mountains are possible. Later a visit may be made to a local curio market before returning to your accommodations for the evening.

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve

Distance

169 km (105 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 4 pm

A morning visit is made to the DumaZulu traditional village. Recent history records the proud Zulu people as a formidable African nation. In the late 1700s, these Nguni-speaking peoples were relatively insignificant and were scattered across what we know today as Zululand, with no secure tribal authority. Under the leadership of the war-like King Shaka, however, they were united into a mighty nation, defeating or driving out all rivals and enemies. While at the village, you'll experience traditional dancing, basketry, the making of spears, shields, clay pots, beadwork, and sometimes even some Sangoma (traditional healer) bone-throwing.

Later in the day, we'll drive to the seaside village of St. Lucia, where we'll enjoy a relaxing cruise on the coastal lagoon. The cruise allows viewing the many hippo and crocodiles inhabiting the lake, a bird-watchers paradise with well over 350 recorded species. Previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, the iSimangaliso is South Africa's third-largest protected area today and conserves a stretch of coastline some 280 km (about 173 miles) in length, from the southern Mozambican border to Mapalane near St. Lucia. The park is a Ramsar World Heritage Site. Following the visit to St Lucia, the tour returns to the overnight destination.

Departure

Distance

240 km (149 mi)

Itinerary

8 am to 2 pm

Flights

• Durban - Johannesburg (50 min)

A last morning game drive in Hluhluwe is followed by a southerly journey on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, also called the Dolphin Coast. Here we will make one or two stops to admire the beautiful coastline with its warm climate, miles of beach, and summer sunshine before reaching King Shaka Airport, where guests are assisted with check-in for a flight bound for Johannesburg after a memorable tour.