11 Day Kruger, Lesotho & Battelfields - South Africa Small Group Safari
Brief Itinerary
Days 1 to 3: Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre, Kruger National Park Days 4 & 5: Kruger National Park, Johannesburg Days 6 & 7: Lesotho Day 8: Drakensberg Mountains Days 9 & 10: Royal Natal National Park, Battlefields, Dundee Day 11: Valley of a Thousand Hills, DurbanTour Highlights
- Wildlife encounters in Kruger National Park
- Battlefields, 'Blood River', Rorke's Drift, Talana Hill
- Zulu and Basotho villages
- Drakensberg and Royal National Park trekking
- Kingdom of Lesotho
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre (Dx1)
Leaving behind Johannesburg we head through the scenic province of Mpumalanga and visit a cheetah rehabilitation centre, a non profit organisation, where we see the remarkable work carried out by volunteers to rehabilitate cheetah and other wildlife. Travelling onwards, we reach a private game reserve bordering the Kruger National Park and our bush lodge accommodation. These comfortable twin share, rustic rooms will ensure a good night's sleep in preparation for our early start the following day. To further help unwind enjoy the evening chatting around the fire as dinner is prepared by our crew.
Days 2 & 3: Kruger National Park (Bx2 / Lx2 / Dx2)
We rise early and transfer into our open safari vehicles for two full days in Kruger National Park. South Africa's flagship game park the 'Kruger' has over 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life forms fused with historical and archaeological sights. With cameras and binoculars at the ready, we explore the untamed wilderness on game drives, and hopefully we will see some of the Big 5 - elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo. The Kruger is home to over 505 species of birds, 148 species of mammals and many reptiles. The impressive atmosphere of the park enables you to understand why it holds such a unique place amongst the world's great game reserves. We spend two nights here and camp within the park, staying in pre erected tents with camper beds and sleeping bag (please see 'What to Bring' section below). A typical day will be to rise early for an early game-drive, return to camp for lunch and going out again later in the afternoon.
Whilst in Kruger there is usually the opportunity of taking (at own cost) an 'early evening' game drive to view nocturnal animals in their natural habitat.
Days 4 & 5: Kruger National Park, Johannesburg (Bx1)
We complete our Kruger Park experience with an early morning game drive in the tour mini-bus (not open vehicle) before we exit the park and make our way back to Johannesburg arriving late afternoon/ early evening. We have the following day at leisure in Johannesburg, This is a free day where you have the opportunity (your own expense) to book a tour of Soweto, Gold Reef city, Lion Park or even do a tour to Sun City for the day. Johannesburg has many exciting attractions, restaurants and shopping malls to visit or you may choose to relax at the lodge on this stay over day.
Days 6 & 7: Kingdom of Lesotho (Bx1 / Dx1)
We leave Johannesburg and head south to the mountainous Kingdom of Lesotho. In deeply rural surroundings we explore local villages, meet the Basotho people and experience something of the life of these traditional folk. There is the opportunity to try pony trekking or take a guided walk in the local area - an ideal opportunity to get away from it all and discover something of the local scenery and culture without the frills of the western lifestyle.
Day 8: Drakensberg Mountains (Bx1 / Dx1)
After two nights we cross back into South Africa to the Drakensberg Mountains (Barrier of Spears), a 200 km long world heritage site that separates the Kingdom of Lesotho from South Africa's Kwa-Zulu Natal province. We have time to explore on foot some of the bushman paintings, waterfalls, cliff faces, forest and riverine bush on nature paths that crisscross this area. We then head towards the Royal National Park and overnight in a nearby country lodge.
Days 9 & 10: Royal Natal National Park, Battlefields, Dundee (Bx2 / Dx2)
We enter Royal National Park in the early morning to explore the stunning picturesque surroundings. Highlights here include the Amphitheatre - a 5 km long, 100 metre high rock wall - and the Tuglea Falls, the second highest waterfalls in the world. We then continue to Dundee, gateway to battlefield sites which date from colonial wars involving the English, the Zulu and the Afrikaner settlers - Blood River (Zulu/Afrikaner), Talana Hill (British/Afrikaner), and Rorke's Drift (British/Zulu).
Day 11: Valley of a Thousand Hills, Durban (Bx1)
On our last day we travel through the 'Valley of a 1000 Hills', a stronghold of Zulu villages and culture where we have the chance to learn a little more about this proud warrior culture. Finally we make our way to the Indian Ocean coast and the beaches and bright lights of Durban, South Africa's most popular tourism beaches where the tour ends.
