Day 1: Arrive in Johannesburg
Arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa. You will be picked up from the airport and taken to our accommodation to meet your new travel mates for the next 21 days! We will enjoy a nice dinner and get rested for our upcoming all-inclusive expedition through South Africa.
Day 2: Onwards to Kruger National Park
Wake up bright and early and start making our way towards Kruger National Park in our spacious vehicle after breakfast. We will drive to our Northern-most point of the expedition and slowly make our way South. As we enter Kruger National Park in the early afternoon, we will start the search for our first spotting of wildlife. We end the day at one of the rest camps inside the park in private Rondavels.
Day 3 - 7: Tracking the Big 7 Safari
Over the next five days, we will explore Kruger and scout for the Big 7: Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Cape Buffaloes, Rhinos, Wild Dogs, and Cheetahs across various rest camps.
We depart after an early breakfast, when the camp gates opens at 06:00. We will spend the early morning on the road, with a lunch break during the hottest hours, and return before the camp gate closes at 18:00. After a hearty dinner, recharged, you are able to review all your pictures and identify all the animals on your wildlife checklist to prepare for the next day in the comfort of your private Rondavel.
Every late evening, a night drive will be included to view nocturnal wildlife that we are unable to see during the daytime.
Day 8: eSwatini or Swaziland?
Before we say our goodbyes to Kruger, we will have one last early morning walk in the Bush with the local guides in search of the elusive Black Rhino. Afterwards, we will have a late breakfast before heading South to eSwatini's Hlane National Park. Here, we will stay in a private lodge overnight and enjoy our last moments with the majestic land animals before heading towards the coast of Sodwana Bay, one of the best diving locations in South Africa.
Day 9 - 10: Beach time in Sodwana Bay!
After a brief half-day drive towards the Indian Ocean, we arrive in Sodwana Bay and settle into our private lodge with sea view. We will relax and enjoy the slow beach lifestyle - just like the locals.
We will explore below sea-level with your choice of snorkeling or scuba diving. No diving certification? No problem! There are certified dive instructors that will show you the world underwater safely through a Discovery Dive.
Day 11 - 12: Shark Diving in Aliwal Shoal
The beautiful corals of Sodwana will leave you wanting more underwater action, but no worries, we're making our way down the coast to Aliwal Shoal - famous for its world class shark diving amongst other marine life in the local reefs. Here, again, you have a choice of snorkeling or scuba diving. If you're lucky, you may find a shark tooth or two to take home as souvenirs.
After a few days of water activities, we can rest up in our private villa before making our way back inland towards the beautiful Drakensberg mountain range.
Day 13 - 15: Horse-Trek to Kingdom in the Sky
Leaving the sea breeze behind, we drive towards Lesotho, the Kingdom in the Sky, the only country in the world that lies entirely above 1,000 meters above sea level.
We will start exploring our unforgettable Southern Drakensberg off-road, off-grid, on horse-back in Underberg. As we ascend Bushman's Nek mountain pass and arrive in the heart of Sehlabathebe National Park, we will spend the next two nights in the village of Ha Thamatu in Rondavels. The local village is simple and lives without electricity, but provides an authentic look into the Basotho way of life.
Day 16 - 17: Abseil world-record Semongkong
Ever wondered what it would be like to scale down the world's longest commercial single-drop abseil? Well, look no further! We will have the opportunity to do so at the 204-meter Guinness World Record Maletsuyane Falls! A training session will be provided on a 25-meter cliff next to our Lodge the evening before. If you decide that heights are not for you, you can opt in for a Basotho pony trek instead.
At the end of the day, we will gather together and enjoy a Donkey Pub Crawl while we congratulate our new record holders.
Day 18 - 19: Highlands of the Free State
After a beautiful drive in the Maloti mountain range past small Basotho villages, we will journey back into the South African Highlands.
Here, we will spend two nights in the quaint town of Clarens in Gypsy-style caravans while we explore the cliffs of Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the waterfalls of Royal Natal National Park.
Day 20 - 21: Final Goodbyes
We slowly make our way back to Johannesburg, where we reflect on the accomplishments of our expedition in the creature comforts of a big city. After a night cap or two, we say our goodnights before flying home the following day.
Until next time!
