20-day South Africa, Lesotho Eswatini Explorer Camping Tour by Acacia Africa

20 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

16 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 75 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

Pretoria, South Africa

Ends

Cape Town, South Africa

Highlights

Panorama Route

2 days, Kruger National Park, Game Drives *

Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary

Royal Enclosure/ Swaziland Village

St Lucia Boat Cruise *

Sani Pass Excursion *

Battlefields

Royal Natal National Park

Drakensburg Mountains

Mountain Zebra National Park Game Drive

Addo Elephant National Park, Game Drives

Garden Route

Cango Caves, Visit*

Cape Agulhas

Wine Tasting

Sani Pass Excursion *

Battlefields

Royal Natal National Park

Drakensburg Mountains

Mountain Zebra National Park Game Drive

Addo Elephant National Park, Game Drives

Garden Route

Cango Caves, Visit*

Cape Agulhas

Wine Tasting

Itinerary

Set out on a 20-day journey through South Africa, Lesotho, and Eswatini with a national parks focus on the Explorer Camping tour. Starting in Pretoria and ending in Cape Town, this small group adventure covers Sani Pass, Malealea, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, and thirteen additional destinations. With camping accommodation, transport, and meals included, families can immerse themselves in nature and diverse cultures. The chance to explore three countries in a single, expertly guided tour package is what makes this trip truly special.

day 1 - Pretoria to Hazyview Greater Kruger

Heading out from the city we take the road to Mpumalanga Province and the bushveld town of Hazyview. Along the way, we stop off at various points of interest on the famed Panorama Route where youll soon see why this scenic area was named so. Tonight we set up camp at Hazyview on the outskirts of the Kruger National Park wildlife area.

day 2-3 - Hazyview Greater Kruger to Kruger National Park

This morning we wake early and pack our gear onto 4x4 game viewing vehicles, meet our resident guides and head for the wilds of the Kruger National Park. The day is spent exploring this magnificent wildlife reserve in search of not only the Big 5, but also the many other interesting and exciting wildlife endemic to the area.Kruger National Park is home to over 505 species of birds, 148 species of mammals and many reptiles which we enthusiastically search for during the morning and afternoon. The impressive atmosphere of the park enables you to understand why it is held in such high esteem among wildlife lovers from all over the world. We avoid the hot midday sun and enjoy the peacefulness the rest camp has to offer. There are many facilities available for game viewers such as restaurants, souvenir stores and swimming pools. We return to our camp in the late afternoon, and enjoy an evening chatting about our exciting adventures.

day 4 - Hazyview Greater Kruger to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Eswatini Swaziland

Travelling south we continue our adventure tour, heading to the Kingdom of Swaziland Eswatini where, after border formalities, we travel over the hilly countryside to our camp in the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary is Swazilands oldest protected area located in the stunning Ezulwini Valley, Valley of Heavens.

day 5 - Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary

A short drive through the Mliwane Wildlife Sanctuary brings us to the Royal Enclosure where we discover an abundance of history and culture of this monarchy-controlled country. A local Swazi guide walks us through a traditional village explaining many of the customs and rituals. After our visit, we have some leisure time to browse street-side markets and trying our hand bartering with crafters, before we find our way back to the sanctuary for lunch.

day 6 - Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary to St Lucia, South Africa

Leaving this amazing sanctuary behind us, we travel south through the Swazi countryside before crossing the border and re-entering South Africa via the KwaZulu Natal province. We head to the small coastal town of St Lucia, set among the wild beaches and a tropical estuary. This afternoon, we join the river cruise on the St. Lucia Lagoon viewing many Hippo pods, lazy crocodiles, and numerous bird species on the sandy banks, or cooling down in the water for a refreshing swim.

day 7 - St Lucia to Umhlanga near Durban

This morning is yours at leisure to explore the town and the numerous shops and markets stalls or simply relax in the campsites stunning settings. We leave St Lucia mid-morning and drive through pine forests and sugar cane fields to one of Africas largest commercial ports, Durban. The afternoon is yours at leisure to enjoy what this city has on offer from stunning beaches and a vibrant night life.

day 8 - Umhlanga / Durban

Today is a free day to explore Durban. Head to the Durban beachfront, known as the Golden Mile and visit the colourful flea markets and the stretch of numerous quality restaurants with a view. A must is to try a delicious local dish, the Durban Curry. Visit uShaka Marine World, Africas biggest marine theme park boasting the largest collection of sharks in the Southern Hemisphere. You may choose to partake in scuba diving or find your thrill on the water slides. For the more adventurous, why not take a leap from the big swing at the Moses Mabhida stadium which offers 360 degrees views over the city.

day 9 - Umhlanga to Southern Drakensberg

After a leisurely morning, we head inland and drive to the Southern Drakensberg and the small settlement of Underberg. Nestled in the hills and valleys at the foot of the Drakensberg Mountains, we spend the evening at our camp preparing for our Sani Pass tour tomorrow.

day 10 - Sani Pass, Lesotho

Today, we meet our local guides and join a guided tour of Lesotho via the spectacular gateway of the Sani Pass 2874 m. Travelling in 4x4 vehicles through the rugged cliffs of the Drakensberg Mountains well enjoy tales of the history and sights of the area. We drive further into Lesotho and visit a small household and a shearing shed in Shepherds village. Next, on the list, we ascend the Black Mountain, the second highest road pass in Lesotho, for a picnic lunch overlooking the majestic views. After lunch, we meet the shepherds of the area who spend the summer months tending to their flocks before taking a short walk to view Thabana Ntlenyana. Rising 3482m, this is the highest point in Southern Africa. We return to our camp for the night, stopping en-route for a beverage at the highest bar in Africa at the Sani Mountain Lodge.

day 11 - Southern Drakensberg to Battlefields - Northern Drakensberg

We continue on our journey at the foot of the great Dragon Mountain and travel to the Battlefields of KwaZulu Natal. We visit sites of the infamous wars between the British, Boers and Zulus that took place here. In the late afternoon, we make our way to our camp in the northern Drakensberg Mountains where we spend the night enjoying the fresh mountain air once more.

day 12 - Northern Drakensberg

We wake to the sight of the mountains and after a tasty breakfast, we make our way to the Royal Natal National Park. This leading KwaZulu Natal reserve offers wonderfully scenic views, lofty mountains and waterfalls in a prime location within the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. There are many optional trails to explore on foot. Walkers and hikers can enjoy short journeys which take about an hour, or longer excursions over a half or full day. This is a great way to explore the stunning picturesque surroundings at the foot of the Drakensberg, including the well-known Amphitheatre rock face.

day 13 - Northern Drakensberg to Malealea, Lesotho

Driving through the Golden Gate National Park, part of the Drakensberg, we make our way into the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho where we base ourselves for the next 2 nights. Located high in the mountains, Malealea is an ideal base from which to explore the surrounds and get to know the local Basotho culture.

day 14 - Malealea

Today is free to explore! Take a pony trek and travel the traditional way along the mountain tracks on the sure-footed ponies, or alternatively stretch your legs and head out on foot on a guided hike of the area or grab a bicycle and explore the open scenes, villages and countryside.

day 15 - Malealea to Mountain Zebra National Park, South Africa

We bid farewell to the mountain kingdom and wind our way back down to South Africas Karoo and to the Mountain Zebra National Park. Home to over 700 species of animals including rhino, bat-eared fox, eland, lion, cheetah and buffalo this magnificent park hosts over 700 mountain zebra of which the parks name derives from. We game drive in our Acacia vehicle in search for these magnificent animals en-route to our camp for the evening located inside the park.

day 16 - Mountain Zebra National Park to Addo Elephant National Park - Gqeberha Port Elizabeth

We wake early and drive to the Addo Elephant National Park. Addo can exclusively claim to be the only national park in the world to conserve the Big 7 the traditional Big 5, as well as the southern right whale and great white shark off the Algoa Bay coast. This wonderful park is a sanctuary to over 600 elephants, lion, buffalo, black rhino, spotted hyena, leopard, as well as a variety of antelope and zebra species so you are sure to spot many animals during your time here! After an enjoyable days safari, we make our way to our camp on the coast just outside of Gqeberha Port Elizabeth.

day 17 - Gqeberha Port Elizabeth to Storms River - Tsitsikamma National Park - Plettenberg Bay

We travel along the coastline to the picturesque Tsitsikamma in the Garden Route National Park. Explore the winding walkways and views from the suspension bridge, or head out on a short hike on the first steps of the famed Otter Trail. Alternatively just enjoy the ocean views, the fresh salty air and the relaxing scenery. After an adventurous day, we head to our camp in Plettenberg bay.

day 18 - Plettenberg Bay to Oudtshoorn

After a morning at leisure, we make our way to Oudtshoorn where we head to the underground world of the Cango Caves - Africas largest show cave system. Marvel at the underground formations that have taken thousands of years to form.

day 19 - Oudtshoorn to Hermanus Area

From the Ostrich capital we continue on our journey this time heading to Africas southern-most tip at Cape Agulhas - where the Indian and the Atlantic Oceans meet. From the rocky coast, we continue on to Hermanus where we spend our last night under canvas. Hermanus was once a small fishing town, however today is more famous for the congregation of whales that gather here in the Winter months - when the bay offers a natural refuge to mothers and their calves.

day 20 - Hermanus to Cape Town

To wrap up our adventure tour through South Africa, we head along the scenic coastal road, passing through the smaller Overberg towns and stop off for some wine tasting along the way. The Cape Winelands span a diverse area including the coastal belt from Hermanus to Somerset West, the Overberg area from Botrivier to Elgin and the Somerset West, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, Durbanville, peninsula and Constantia area.

20-day South Africa, Lesotho Eswatini Explorer Camping

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What's Included

Accommodation

14 nights twin share camping in dome tents, 2 nights twin share room with en suite facilities(Durban), 2 nights twin share room with shared facilities (Malealea), 1 night dorm (Hermanus)

Meals

19 Breakfasts, 16 Lunches, 16 Dinners

Transport

Fully Equipped Acacia Safari VehicleAll Road Tolls and Vehicle TaxesAll Ground Transportation

Guide

Services of Two Crew

Others

Camping And Cooking EquipmentSleeping Mattress

What's Excluded

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Highlights

Itinerary

day 1 - Pretoria to Hazyview Greater Kruger

day 2-3 - Hazyview Greater Kruger to Kruger National Park