Itinerary

Day 1 Johannesburg
Sawubona! Welcome to South Africa.
Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm on Day 1.
You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting; please ask the hotel reception where it will take place. If your flight arrives too late, we recommend that you consider arriving a day early and book a night's accommodation prior to the trip so you are able to attend. If you are going to be late please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your kitty, insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have all details on hand to provide to your leader.
Johannesburg is a sprawling city of remarkable contrasts. In the townships, mansions stand alongside tin shacks and there are as many green parks on the outskirts of the city as there are conglomerations of concrete in the centre. This is a good place to spend a couple of days to get an insight into South Africa's history, and it's a great base for exploring the rest of the country.



Days 2-3 Kruger National Park
Leave Johannesburg and travel through the Mpumalanga Province, journeying along the famous Panorama Route through some of the most stunning scenery South Africa has to offer. The sights en route include God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels (Sisters) and the magnificent Blyde River Canyon (600km, approx 8-10 hrs).
One of the largest game reserves in Southern Africa, Kruger National Park is home to over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog.
Our wildlife experience begins as soon as we enter the park. We head straight into prime game viewing areas where we hope to catch a glimpse of some of the amazing animals found here.
Rise early and have a light breakfast of coffee and rusks before embarking on a morning game drive. Most of the day will be spent game viewing, bird watching and stopping at various waterholes and viewpoints.
Take an additional night drive with the park guide to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even a night-time predator or two.
Our campground within the park has shared facilities and hot and cold water.

Included Activities
Blyde River Canyon viewpoint
Game drives

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)

Day 4 Swaziland/Hlane Royal National Park
Take a final slow game drive of between 20 and 70 km before exiting the park mid-morning.
Travel south-east and enter the Kingdom of Swaziland - nestled snugly between Mozambique, Northern Zululand and Mpumalanga. The border crossing between South Africa and Swaziland is generally very smooth, but there may be some delays at certain times of the year (370 km, approx 9-10 hrs).
A vast expanse of bushveld and its ancient hardwood trees make Hlane Royal National Park home to the largest wild herds in Swaziland.
Take the amazing opportunity to explore the park on a guided game walk, hopefully tracking white rhinos on foot.
Camp inside the national park.

Included Activities
Rhino walking safari
Craft market and candle factory visit

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)

Days 5-6 Mozambique Beach Camp
Departing from Hlane, head to the Golela border post and into Maputaland. Continue on and enter Mozambique at Kosi Bay (320 km, approx 6-7 hrs).
After crossing the border, leave our truck behind and jump into some 4x4s to travel on to the seaside village of Ponta Malongane.
One of the many unspoiled beaches of Mozambique, Ponta Malongane has plenty to do - from snorkelling, scuba diving and dolphin boat cruises to just relaxing on the beach sipping on a coconut juice.
Our campsite is basic with share facilities.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (2 nts)

Day 7 St Lucia Estuary
Depart southern Mozambique, making our way to Zululand and Lake St Lucia (260 km, approx 4-5 hrs).
Declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, St Lucia Estuary is home to thousands of varieties of birds, mammals and reptiles - with its most popular residents being the hundreds of hippos and crocodiles.
Take a boat cruise on the St Lucia Estuary where you have the chance to spot hippos and crocodiles basking on the banks, not to mention some amazing bird watching.
Stay at a basic campground with shared facilities.

Accommodation
Camping (with facilities) (1 nt)

Day 8 Zululand
Make an early departure to the Valley of a Thousand Hills, the heartland of the Zulu nation (260km, approx 2-3 hrs).
Gain an insight into the daily life of the rural Zulu people by spending the night in a traditional homestay, where you'll be treated to some traditional food, song and dance.

Meals Included
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner

Accommodation
Homestay (1 nt)

Day 9 Durban
Travel on to Durban (100 km, approx 2-3 hrs).
Durban is South Africa's second most populous city and a tourist magnet thanks to its wealth of golden, sandy beaches and glitzy nightlife. One of its main attractions is the Golden Mile, a stretch of fine sands bordered by frothy surf on one side and an attractive beachfront of shops, restaurants and cafes on the other.
Take the opportunity for a final evening meal with your group and enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere of this wonderful city.
No accommodation is provided for tonight, but we are able to book you additional accommodation in Durban. Please ask at time of booking.

Included

Accommodation: Participatory camping (7 nts)

Max Group Size: No more that 16 passengers

Blyde River Canyon - enroute to Kruger National Park
Game drive - Kruger National Park
Craft market and candle factory visit - Swaziland
Rhino walking safari - Hlane Game Reserve
Game drive - Hluhluwe Game Reserve

Excluded

Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg - ZAR75.00
Art gallery, Johannesburg - ZAR50.00
Gold Reef City and Heritage mine tour, Johannesburg - ZAR300.00
Museum Africa, Johannesburg - ZAR25.00

Night game drive, Kruger National Park - ZAR180.00
Morning safari walk, Kruger National Park - ZAR220.00

Boat cruise, Ponta Malongane - ZAR220.00
Dolphin cruise, Ponta Malongane - ZAR220.00
Scuba diving, Ponta Malongane - ZAR550.00
Snorkelling, Ponta Malongane - ZAR220.00

Boat cruise, St Lucia Estuary - ZAR160.00

Art gallery, Durban - Free
Bay cruise, Durban - ZAR200.00
Juma Masjid Mosque, Durban - Free
Surf lesson, Durban - ZAR220.00
Sea World, Durban - ZAR110.00
Wet & Wild, Durban - ZAR110.00
Wet & Wild and Sea World combo, Durban - ZAR150.00

Departures

Starts: Johannesburg - Finishes: Durban
Sat 21 Jan 2012 - Sun 29 Jan 2012
Sat 24 Mar 2012 - Sun 01 Apr 2012
Sat 21 Apr 2012 - Sun 29 Apr 2012
Sat 05 May 2012 - Sun 13 May 2012
Sat 19 May 2012 - Sun 27 May 2012
Sat 02 Jun 2012 - Sun 10 Jun 2012
Sat 16 Jun 2012 - Sun 24 Jun 2012
Sat 30 Jun 2012 - Sun 08 Jul 2012
Sat 14 Jul 2012 - Sun 22 Jul 2012
Sat 28 Jul 2012 - Sun 05 Aug 2012
Sat 11 Aug 2012 - Sun 19 Aug 2012
Sat 25 Aug 2012 - Sun 02 Sep 2012
Sat 08 Sep 2012 - Sun 16 Sep 2012
Sat 22 Sep 2012 - Sun 30 Sep 2012
Sat 06 Oct 2012 - Sun 14 Oct 2012
Sat 27 Oct 2012 - Sun 04 Nov 2012
Sat 03 Nov 2012 - Sun 11 Nov 2012
Sat 24 Nov 2012 - Sun 02 Dec 2012
Sat 01 Dec 2012 - Sun 09 Dec 2012
Sat 22 Dec 2012 - Sun 30 Dec 2012

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