Trip Info
-
Hiking/walking & overland safari truck
-
Suitable for single travelers and groups
-
Additional accoThis tour starts and ends in Johannesburgmmodation before and at the end of the tour can be arranged for an extra cost
-
Scheduled departures
-
Shared tour
-
English
-
Meals included
-
12
Overview
Join an unforgettable 14-day South Africa Walking Safari & Swaziland adventure, combining thrilling bush walks with rich cultural experiences. Explore South Africa’s iconic landscapes and track wildlife on foot in renowned reserves, guided by expert rangers. Then, journey into the heart of Eswatini (Swaziland) to discover vibrant traditions, scenic mountains, and welcoming communities. This immersive tour blends nature, wildlife, and culture, offering a unique and active way to experience Southern Africa.
You will spend this safari discovering different spots in South Africa by foot, ending up in the Kingdom of Swaziland. You’ll be walking on this tour, with some treks leisurely and others tougher, so people who love to hike will enjoy it. You should not miss Pilgrims Rest, the exciting reserves of Zululand and Kruger, the Dundee battlefields and the stunning Drakensberg.
Highlights
- Scheduled departures
- Shared tour
- Mid-range tour
Itinerary
From Johannesburg, we set out towards the Mpumalanga province. After lunch, we go to Pilgrims Rest and take in the view from God’s Window spot. After stretching, we walk a little ways from Mac Mac Pools and head to our chalets on the escarpment’s edge.
Main Destination: Mpumalanga Province (South Africa)
Accommodation: Mogodi Lodge
- Mid-range lodgein Graskop (Panorama Route, South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- All the meals are part of the package.
- Drinks are not included in the price.
Our first big hike takes us to the Blyde River and we get up early for this activity. We start at the top of the escarpment and walk into the canyon, seeing the Three Sisters and the river as we walk down. Once done, we climb back up the escarpment to our cars. In the afternoon, we go into the forests and check out the waterfalls that attract many to Mpumalanga. An exciting optional activity is the Graskop Gorge Lift, which lowers you down for a walk through the lush Afromontane forest below (at your own expense).
Main Destination: Mpumalanga Province (South Africa)
Accommodation: Mogodi Lodge
- Mid-range lodgein Graskop (Panorama Route, South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- All the meals are part of the package.
- Drinks are not included in the price.
After eating early in the morning, we go to Kruger National Park. We drive into the park and spend the day on a fun game drive. As we hope to encounter elephants, rhinos and leopards, our guide will identify what has happened in the bush. At about lunchtime, we rest for a picnic before continuing with the game drive to the end of the afternoon, leaving the park and transferring to our lodge which is even deeper into the Kruger area.
Main Destination: Greater Kruger (South Africa)
Accommodation: Makuwa Safari Lodge
- Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Kruger NP (South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- All the meals are part of the package.
- Drinks are not included in the price.
Exploring the park during a morning game walk with a ranger is a top experience on our tour. We carefully walk into the bush, looking at the marks and other traces of animals we may see on our feet.
Main Destination: Greater Kruger (South Africa)
Accommodation: Makuwa Safari Lodge
- Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Kruger NP (South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- All the meals are part of the package.
- Drinks are not included in the price.
After we enter Swaziland, we skirt past rich fruit forests that go up into the mountains. We camp outside Malalotja Nature Reserve for two nights, then we walk inside the mountainous reserve that isn’t often visited. Strong cultural roots are found among the Swazi and we plan to stop at the craft and medicine markets in Mbabane on day seven.
Main Destination: Malolotja Nature Reserve (Eswatini)
Best Time To Go: May to September (Dry season)
High Season: Dec to Jan (It never gets very busy)
Accommodation: Hawane Resort
- Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Malolotja NR (Eswatini)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- All the meals are part of the package.
- Drinks are not included in the price.
For our second and third days, we set up camp just outside the Malalotja Nature Reserve and explore it on one full day. Strong cultural roots are found among the Swazi and we plan to stop at the craft and medicine markets in Mbabane on day seven.
Main Destination: Malolotja Nature Reserve (Eswatini)
Best Time To Go : May to September (Dry season)
High Season: Dec to Jan (It never gets very busy)
Accommodation: Hawane Resort
- Mid-range lodge located less than 1hr drive from Malolotja NR (Eswatini)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- All the meals are part of the package.
- Drinks are not included in the price.
Once in South Africa again, we drive to our lodge on a private game reserve in the Msinene Nature Reserve. With our local walker, we set out on a tour to see some of the over 540 bird species known here and follow the tracks of the shy nyala as they pass through the Msinene River area.
Main Destination: Zululand (KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa)
Accommodation: Zululand Lodge
- Mid-range tented camp located outside Hluhluwe-iMfolozi GR (South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- All the meals are part of the package.
- Drinks are not included in the price.
First, we travel to Hluhluwe Game Reserve to see where rhinos are protected and later we visit a modern Zulu village to learn about their lifestyle. Watch the sunset and listen to the bush around you before enjoying your dinner at the lodge.
Main Destination: Zululand (KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa)
Accommodation: Zululand Lodge
- Mid-range tented camp located outside Hluhluwe-iMfolozi GR (South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- All the meals are part of the package.
- Drinks are not included in the price.
We leave the sea and cross through the pretty hills and valleys of Zululand before reaching Dundee. Wars between the Zulus, British and Boers happened here and you can still hear the war cries echoing over the hills. First, we visit the Talana Museum to learn about the area’s history and after that, we go to our lodge and take the rest of the day off.
Main Destination: Isandlwana Battlefields (KZN Battlefields, South Africa)
Accommodation: Dundee Battlefields Lodge
- Mid-range lodgeat Isandlwana (KZN Battlefields, South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
- Drinks are not included in the price.
In the following morning, we visit the Islandlwana battlefield before heading out on a fun 4 to 5-hour hike following the path of the two British fugitives through the rolling hills of Zululand to the Buffalo River. Following morning activities, we will travel to Rourkes Drift and go back to the lodge.
Main Destination: Isandlwana Battlefields (KZN Battlefields, South Africa)
Accommodation: Dundee Battlefields Lodge
- Mid-range lodgeat Isandlwana (KZN Battlefields, South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
- Drinks are not included in the price.
See the beauty of the Drakensberg Mountains which are locally known as uKhahlamba, the “barrier of spears.” We overnight at the base of the berg (alt. 1600m) and spend a full day walking the mountain trails before taking an invigorating dip in the clear mountain streams of the Royal Natal National Park. The fresh mountain air feels great and you can enjoy it and the views from our lodge.
Main Destination: Royal Natal National Park (Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa)
Accommodation: Thendele Camp
- Mid-range self catering accommodationin Royal Natal (Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- All the meals are part of the package.
- Drinks are not included in the price.
Walk through the mountains for another full day, then feel refreshed by wading in the clean streams of the Royal Natal National Park. The fresh mountain air feels great and you can enjoy it and the views from our lodge.
Main Destination: Royal Natal National Park (Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa)
Accommodation: Thendele Camp
- Mid-range self catering accommodationin Royal Natal (Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- All the meals are part of the package.
- Drinks are not included in the price.
We have an early breakfast and then head to Witsieshoek right at the base of Sentinel Peak. At the end of a rough gravel road, we start our trek, which includes a short chain ladder section, to the top of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre and the beautiful Tugela Falls (alt. 3000m), offering unparalleled views down into KwaZulu-Natal. After our walk, we make our way to the lodge perched high in the mountains (alt. 2300m) overlooking the Mont-aux-Sources mountain range.
Main Destination: Drakensberg (Mountain Range, South Africa)
Accommodation: Drakensberg Mountain Retreat
- Mid-range lodgenear uKhahlamba Drakensberg (Mountain Range, South Africa)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
- Drinks are not included in the price.
A smooth beginning to the day, during which we might see a bearded vulture soar above us and then we head back to Johannesburg. The tour concludes between 4:00pm and 5:00pm.
Main Destination: Johannesburg (City, South Africa)
Accommodation: No accommodation (At the end of the tour)
Order food and drink from the refueling station.
- Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
- Drinks are not included in the price.
At the end of the tour
- It’s possible to add more rooms for an additional charge.
- Return transport to the airport is offered and comes at an additional expense.
Includes/Excludes
Cost Includes
- • Park fees (For non-residents)
- • All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- • Someone trained to drive and guide a party
- • All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- • All Taxes/VAT
- • Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Cost Excludes
- • International flights (From/to home)
- • Two-way airport transfer
- • Additional housing at both the beginning and end of the tour
- • Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- • The government chose to introduce higher taxes or raise the entry fees to parks.
- • Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- • Drinks
FAQs
On this 14-Day Walking Safari, you explore 2 countries by going on walking tours, getting to know local traditions and spotting many animals. Visitors can explore the Greater Kruger, Malolotja Nature Reserve, Zululand, the important KZN Battlefields and the remarkable Drakensberg Mountains on the safari. Walk many miles each day while learning from your guides about the area’s nature, animal life and background. You spend your nights in lodges, camps or guesthouses, so you can be both comfortable and enjoy time in nature.
Participants will enjoy moderate to tough walks in South Africa and Swaziland, passing through both bushy landscape and mountain areas. Typically, the time I walk each day ranges from 3 to 6 hours to cover rest, eat and visit new places. Though you don’t have to be an athlete, you should feel comfortable on gravel paths and uneven terrain. The itinerary and tempo will be changed to match what everyone in the group can do easily.
On this 14-Day Walking Safari, you’ll be accommodated at comfortable lodges, bush camps and guesthouses. Where you stay depends on your location, with en-suite rooms available in some places and shared amenities in a wilder, group setting elsewhere. Usually, meals are included in the package and mix both local and international food. We have meals at the place we’re staying, but we usually bring packed lunch or picnic for our walks.
Guests on the 14-Day Walking Safari can enjoy great wildlife viewing in both South Africa and Swaziland. Greater Kruger has elephants, lions, leopards and antelope and birdwatchers travel to Malolotja in Swaziland because of its unique birds and rare species of antelope. You’ll see many kinds of animals in Zululand and the Drakensberg, including rhinos, giraffes, baboons and reptiles. Walking gives you better chances to check out tiny animals, follow animal tracks and go birdwatching.
You should build your walking muscles by hiking or walking regularly before your 14-Day Walking Safari in South Africa and Swaziland. Make sure to wear shoes that won’t fall apart, plus a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and a daypack to keep important things safe. Since weather is unpredictable, wear layers and take along a warm and waterproof jacket. It’s a good idea to have your medications and a water bottle on hand while you walk.
Absolutely! Traveling solo on the 14-Day Walking Safari in South Africa and Swaziland is ideal because you connect with fellow travelers on your adventures. Since the groups are small, it’s easy to create community and the guides always pay attention to everyone. Solo travelers can expect to feel safe and supported throughout the journey, with options to share accommodations or request private rooms (if available) for an additional fee.
Map
