South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho Mozambique Circuit

South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique 23 Days Circuit

This circuit will be action-packed with some of the world's most stunning scenery, a true
adventure in southern Africa. You will see the wildlife in Kruger National Park, relax on
the golden beaches from of Gulf of Kosi, you will visit the Zulu tribe and many, many
more. South Africa is blessed with immense natural beauty and this trip seeks to reveal
the most spectacular tourist attractions in this region.a

Day 1 - Johannesburg
Welcome to South Africa. The first day we will spend in Johannesburg, a city of contrasts. After the pick up from the airport and  check inn at the hotel, we’ll go to visit the largest city in South Africa.
Accommodation: hotel (1 night)

Day 2 - Kruger Park
After breakfast we’ll leave Johannesburg and head to the Kruger National Park. It will be a long route, about 11-12 hours, but along the way we will travel across great landscapes. We will cross the Mpumalanga Province and the well-known Panorama Route, named like this due to the fabulous landscapes offered by the Drakensberg massif, cut by the Blyde River. Objectives such as God's Window and Wonder View are some of the best known in the area. Also worth mentioning “the Pinnacle” a huge quartz column rising majestically from the bottom of the canyon, “the Three Sisters” three huge dolomite spirals, with the side walls covered with orange lichens and the heads covered with vegetation. The fauna of the reserve includes five species of primates and the waters of Blyde River are hosing hippos and crocodiles and numerous species of aquatic birds.
Kruger, our destination, is one of South Africa's largest parks, sheltering over 500 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles and 150 mammals species, including wild African dogs (an endangered species) and the Big Five Animals of Africa: lion, african elephant, wild buffalo, leopard, and rhino.
Accommodation: camping (with facilities: hot and cold water) (1 night)

Day 3 - Kruger Park
We will wake up early and after breakfast, we’ll get into the cars and drive through the reserve, to hunt with the camera the many birds and animals present here, stopping in various panoramic points to enjoy the view.
Upon request, with a guide, we can do this walk also after dark, looking for animals and nocturnal birds. Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night).

Day 4  Hlane Royal National Park / Swaziland
Today we will leave Kruger Park and, after travel about 6-7 hours, we will reach the Royal Hlane National Park. Here, we will travel to the southeast, and enter the Kingdom of Swaziland, which is located between Mozambique, northern Zululand and Mpumalanga.
Spread across a vast landscape with a predominantly hard-wood trees, Hlane Royal National Park is one of the largest shelters for Swaziland's  wildlife herds. Accommodation: camping in Hlane Royal National Park (with facilities) (1 night)

Day 5 - Mozambique
Today we will leave Hlane National Park and head for Mozambique. We will leave Swaziland at the Golela border point and head to Maputaland (South Africa). From here, we have about 2 more hours drive to Mozambique. Once across the border in Mozambique, we’ll head towards the Ponta Malongane camping, our oasis of relaxation for 2 days.Beside enjoying the beach, snorkeling and scuba diving can be done here. Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Day 6 - Mozambique
Today we’ll be relax on one of the most special beaches of Mozambique. Scuba diving enthusiasts have several reefs to explore, one of it’s being just 300m from the shore. You can borrow snorkelling equipment and explore the blue waters. An optional activity can be a boat cruise, looking for the dolphins. In the afternoon you can simply relax on the beach drinking a coconut juice and swiming in the Indian Ocean. Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Day 7 - St. Lucia Estuary
After breakfast we’ll leave Mozambique and head towards Lake St. Lucia (Zululand). It will be a journey of only 4-5 hours. Being part of World Heritage since 1999, the St Lucia Estuary shelters thousands of species of birds, mammals and reptiles, but he most popular inhabitants are the hundreds of hippos and crocodiles.
We will have the opportunity of a boat trip on St. Lucia Estuary, to explore the diversity of this ecosystem.
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Day 8 - Zululand
After breakfast we’ll head for the Valley of the Thousand Hills, in the heart of Zululand. The road will take about 5-6 hours. Here we’ll have unforgettable experiences. We’ll interact with the Zulu people and try to understand their culture. We’ll taste their traditional dishes, listen to their songs and dance their traditional dances. And for more authenticity, we won’t spend the night at a hotel but in a traditional Zulu house.

Day 9 - Durban
Today we’ll head to Durban, the second largest city in South Africa, a city that attracts a lot of tourists because of it’s fine sandy beaches, but also because of its active nightlife. One of the main attractions is the Golden Mile beach, a beautiful stretch of fine sand, bordered by waves and surfers, and on the other side, fancy shops, restaurants and coffee shops.
Accommodation at a 3* hotel.

Day 10 - Drakensberg
After breakfast we’ll leave Durban and head to the majestic Drakensberg, the largest mountain range in South Africa (3482m). The transfer will take about 6 hours. This mountain range is very fertile and is having a rich flora and fauna. Drakensberg is part of the border between South Africa and Lesotho and is meaning “the Dragon Mountains”.
Accommodation: lodge (1 night)

Day 11 - Drakensberg
This day will be dedicated to hiking.
Accommodation: lodge (1 night)

Day 12 - Lesotho
Today we’ll leave behind Drakensberg and we’ll head to Lesotho (about 7-8 hours). Small island in the middle of South Africa, Lesotho is known as the "Kingdom of Heaven". Being a predominantly mountainous country, even the plains being about 1000 meters altitude, Lesotho also has a lot of hiking trails.
On our way to Lesotho we will pass through the Highlands Gate National Park, which is renowned for its special sandstone formations. The park also house for Eland antelopes, zebras, mangoes and hundreds of bird species, which can be seen on our way.
Accommodation: lodge (1 night).

Day 13 - Lesotho - day of hiking
After breakfast, depending on the level of preparation of the group, we will choose one of the many hiking trails to explore this area that will surely give us unforgettable views. Optionally, we can visit some caves, home of ancient  paintings that are dated about 27000 years ago, or we can explore Pitseng Canyon.
Accommodation: lodge (1 night)

Day 14 - Cintsa
Early in the morning we’ll head to the splendid Wild Coast of South Africa and after a journey of around 10-11 hours we stop in the small town of Cintsa, where we’ll stay overnight. The charming town of Cintsa and its surroundings are inhabited by the people of Xhosa, a people whose lifestyle is deeply rooted in the tribal traditions. We’ll meet friendly people who can give you a wonderful perspective on rural life in South Africa.
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Day 15 - Cintsa
Today, free time to visit the city, relax at the beach or other optional activities (hiking, swimming, mountain biking, surfing, kayaking).
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Day 16 - Addo Elephant National Park
After breakfast we’ll drive (about 7-8 hours) to Addo Elephant National Park, the third largest in South Africa. This Park was made in 1931 to protect the last eleven remaining elephants in the region. Today there are more than 450 elephants in the park, as well as African buffaloes, black rhinos, antelopes, etc. If time allows, today we will do a short gane drive.
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Day 17 - Garden Route - Tsitsikamma National Park
On the next few days will cross the most beautiful part of the Garden Route. Today we’ll wake up early for another game drive in Addo Elephant Park. After this will proceed to Tsitsikamma National Park (about 4-5 hours). Tsitsikamma National Park is the third most visited park in South Africa. tsitsikamma means: place with plenty of water. The park covers over 80 km of coast and up to 5 km into the ocean through coral reefs. In the park's forests there are trees of an impressive height and thickness. The park has many trails that you can hike.
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Day 18 - Tsitsikamma National Park
Today we will continue exploring the Tsitsikamma National Park. The park boasts a rich and diverse fauna, with baboons and other monkeys and countless species of birds, African otters, dolphins, turtles and whales. Snorkelling or walking is optional. The Mouth Trail is the most popular walk in Tsitsikamma and starts from Sandy bay, crossing the indigenous forest and ending at the mouth of the Storms River. Here, visitors can cross the famous suspended bridge and see the Storms Cave (Khoisan Heritage Site). For the most energetic (being a steep climb), the route continues across the bridge and leading to a superb viewing spot.
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)

Day 19 - Oudtshoorn
Today we’ll cross the Karoo region, an arid but photogenic region, heading for Oudtshoorn (about 4-5 hours). On our way there, we’ll make a short stop at Knysna to explore this small town with its wonderful lagoon. Then we’ll go to explore the Cango Caves, with the strange but wonderful formations (like Cleopatra's Needle, about 9m tall and at least 150,000 years old. Then we’ll continue our route, heading tor Oudtshoorn, known as the ostrich capital. Today there are thousands of ostriches here.
Accommodation: camping (with facilities - hot water showers and toilets) (1 night)

Optional activities Day 19:
- visiting the ostrich farm

Day 20 - Swellendam
Today we’ll travel from Oudtshoorn to Swellendam (roughly 4-5 hours) on the scenic Route 62. Along the route we’ll cross through some of the most beautiful alpine landscapes of Langeberg. We’ll arrive around noon, we’ll mount the tents and then prepare ourselves rafting. Breede River has an easy degree of difficulty, being suitable for all levels of experience. As we’ll descend on the boats, we’ll admire the picturesque landscapes along the river and with some luck, the fauna of the area.
Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Activities Included:
Rafting in the afternoon

Day 21 - Cape Agulhas - Hermanaus
We’ll wake up early to head to the southernmost point of Africa, Cape Agulhus (about 5 hours). We’ll travel along the famous wine route R320, visit two or three wine factories along the road, before arriving in Hermanus.
Accommodation: camping (with common facilities) (1 night)

Day 22 - Hermanaus - Cape Town
Today we’ll leave Hermanus and head for Cape Town.
With a stunning coastline, spectacular mountains on the background and a modern urban architecture, Cape Town is one of Africa's most beautiful cities.
It is a great place to end our trip.
Hotel accommodation (1 night).

Optional activities Day 22:

- The Bo-Kaap Museum
- The Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
- The Robben Island Tour
- The South African Museum
- Hiking on the mountain

Day 23 - End of the trip
Drop off at the airport. End of services.

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The price includes: • Transport + transfers • English speaking guide • Accommodation in double rooms at hotel, hostel, lodge,tent. • Activities specified in the program

The price does not include: • Visa fees • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages • Meals • Single room supplement 400 USD • Any other optional services required by tourists but not specified in the program • Entrance fees in reservations • Optional activities. • Tips