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7 Day Tour
Kruger, Panorama, eSwatini
Nature/Culture immersion
This tour is ideal for those who would like a more relaxed itinerary, with comfort and time to enjoy the destinations of call and shorter stretches of driving
Embark with us on a 7-day journey that will take you to experience the world renowned Kruger National Park, one of the last real wilderness refuges left to the famous Big Five (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo) as well as the majestic landscape of the Blyde River Canyon in the heart of the Panorama Route and the fascinating culture of eSwatini, Africa’s last pure monarchy.
Day 1
Leaving the sprawling metropolis of Johannesburg behind us, the city is soon replaced by wide stretches of farmland where free-range cattle roam in the grasslands. The landscape stays relatively unchanged until we turn off from the main road and reach Dullstroom where we will spend the rest of the afternoon perusing this beautiful fly-fishing region with its arty styles. This region is known for its abundance of birds of prey, and we will visit the Dullstroom Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Centre which promotes awareness of the vulnerability of many endangered species.
Day 2
After breakfast we head towards the Panorama Route with its awe-inspiring beauty, a landscape that whispers of monumental geological upheavals of a long-forgotten era in our Earth’s history.
Our first destination is a quaint little place called Pilgrim’s Rest, a historic gold-mining village with tin-roofed houses that have been lovingly restored as a national monument. We will take a walk through town with one of the locals to hear some of the stories that conjure up the risks and sufferings of a simpler time when fortune-seekers arrived on mules and ox-wagons to stake their claim in an eventful period when South Africa was divided by the forces of the English and the Boers. The less fortunate never found a nugget and drank away their sorrows in one of the many bars of the time. Hear about the thief that has been buried in the robber’s grave never to see another sunrise or the ghosts that are reputed to haunt the place at night.
Our imagination thoroughly awakened, we continue on our journey to reach the nearby town of Graskop that used to be an old mining camp before most locals turned to Forestry.
We spend our first night at Graskop Hotel, a quirky boutique hotel that draws guests with the catchy phrase of “the art gallery you can sleep in”. After we refreshed ourselves we get together for a sundowner in the restaurant while waiting for our delicious home-cooked 3-course menu.
(Note: Should Graskop Hotel be fully booked, we will be staying at the Pilgrim’s Rest Hotel within the same region.)
Day 3
Our next stop on this day of exploration will be at “Bourke’s luck Potholes”, a geological erosion phenomenon at the confluence of two rivers: the river of sadness and the river of happiness. Your guide will tell you about the origin behind these names and the fascinating story of the Voortrekkers in search of a route to the nearest harbour town of Lourenço Marques, now Maputo, to finalise their breakaway from the English.
A little drive further, we take a short walk up a hill to reach a miniature rainforest where the view opens to an immense vista over the Lowveld, aptly named “God’s Window” where the sheer cliffs drop over 700m into the valley plains. (Sometimes though, God has decided to pull the curtain over the window, excuse the pun, as you’re standing in the mist belt of this region in which case your view has become obscured by clouds.)
Set amongst banana fields and other tropical fruit and nut farms, Hazyview is a convenient stop to stock up our supplies in the supermarket and organise a little lunch snack before we reach one of the gates to the world-renowned savanna wilderness of Kruger National Park. The park boasts an immense variety of animal- and plant life and virtually never disappoints anyone that leaves the hustle and bustle of civilization behind to enter the sanctuary of this nature’s wonderland that instantly calms our society conditioned minds. Bubbling excitement and a hushed reverence intertwine as we drive into the park in our tour vehicle in search of wildlife. But don’t be fooled – this park has the size of Wales and feels sheer immense, so this is real wilderness and thus no safari sightings can be guaranteed. All our senses engaged and on alert, we concentrate on peering into the Bush to spot anything that moves or stands out. It takes a while to adjust your eyes to safari viewing. Treat each sighting as a gift that this unique Nature’s synergy wants to bestow on you, whether it is one of the more common antelope species, a rare and colourful bird, the iconic zebra or giraffe or one of the sought after Big Five. There’s so much to discover that we take our time cruising along and stopping for each sighting to take photos and videos or just admire what we discover until we reach our destination at one of the camps in the Southern part of the park.
After settling into our chalets, a special treat awaits. We will drive out in open vehicles with one of the park’s field guides in the late afternoon which takes away yet another layer between us and the Bush. Set under the starry night sky, we will enjoy a South African braai (the South African equivalent of a barbeque) and reminisce about all the adventures of the day around the inviting crackle of the fire, surrounded by the night sounds of the African Bush.
Day 4
By now, everyone can usually feel the “safari high”, it’s like one just can’t get enough of the excitement of discovering new creatures in the Bush and every Safari presents something new to add to our growing list of memories.
After a few hours drive in our own tour vehicle we’ll come back to camp and treat ourselves to a tasty brunch before we do what the animals in the Bush would do at this time of day: enjoy a bit of a siesta in the lazy midday slump.
What better way to wake up for our next round than to have a swim in the refreshing pool before getting ready to head out on Safari in an open vehicle again, feeling the sun and wind on our skin while searching for animals.
Our safari takes us into the “golden hour” of late afternoon when the Bush starts to light up fantastically for our photos and the then rapidly fading sunlight of dusk invites the early risers among the nocturnal creatures to make an appearance if we’re lucky. This is the time for hyenas and wild dogs…
Back at camp, we end the day with a meal in the restaurant.
Day 5
We’ll spend our first evening in Hlane Royal National Park, which used to be the king’s hunting grounds and which is now held in trust for the nation by his majesty King Mswati III.
Hlane aptly means “wilderness” and here, a very special Nature immersion awaits you. We will drive out into the Bush with one of the local guides in search of one of the most endangered species of our times: the rhinoceros. If luck is on our side, we will be able to get out of the vehicle and approach the rhino on foot.
It is an indescribable feeling to get within metres of these gentle giants that have been so relentlessly poached for their horn; with the indescribable sounds and silence of a world we don’t easily connect with anymore. Later, when back, we can discuss in detail the war being fought behind the scenes to rescue this animal from extinction. The rhino is but a sad flagship poster child for conservation and the national parks and other reserves but tiny islands of rapidly vanishing wilderness in our human modern world. Just another reason to open our senses even wider and to take in and savour all the sounds, sights and tastes of this unspoilt nature retreat. With our contact and care we can go from steps to strides in being part of the solution.
Dinner time awaits in the open restaurant next to the waterhole where rhinos and other animals can often be spotted drinking.
Day 6
Your guide will tell you a lot of stories about the Swazi monarchy and the interesting festivities that are celebrated nationally each year to strengthen the unity of the clans. It’s not unusual to see a group of women dressed in their traditional outfits while we’re driving past villages and smallholdings where maize is planted and cattle are held to enable the men to pay the traditional “lobola” or bride price. Swazi people are very sincere about their culture. After a stop at the market in Manzini we visit a nearby craft market that specialises in fair trade products and features the famous Swazi candles, perfect souvenirs to take back home. They also sell beautifully handcrafted bags and other products proudly made in eSwatini. Grab one of their fantastic coffees and stock up on the renowned Swazi chilli sauce “black mamba”. Now it’s time to behold the spectacle of tribal song and dance with your own eyes while we visit a cultural village, a replica of a mid-19th century Swazi village, where we find out more about the traditions of old and how much of these are still practiced in modern times.
Afterward, we take a stroll to the magnificent Mantenga waterfall, eSwatini’s largest waterfall by volume that is found nearby in this nature reserve.
We spend our last night on this tour at Mantenga lodge at the foot of Sheba’s breasts, a rock formation made famous by adventure novelist H.Rider Haggard’s “King Solomon’s Mines”. Our dinner terrace overlooks the mythical hill “execution rock”, yet another place that fuels the imagination with tales of long-forgotten times.
The speciality for our farewell evening is a traditional Swazi dish called “Iyasha inyama”, meaning “the meat on fire”, flame-grilled the Swazi way, so to speak.
(Note: Should there be no availability at Mantenga Lodge, our alternative accommodation is either at Forester Arms with an equally enchanting farewell surprise dinner or at Mlilwane Game Reserve all in the same region.)
Day 7
After breakfast, we visit the capital Mbabane, and its markets before it’s time to hit the road via Piggs Peak towards the border at Jeppes Reef.
Back in South Africa, we take the straight route back to Johannesburg where it’s time to say farewell. What a memorable shared adventure it has been…
Note:
For those guests so inclined, this short tour can be easily transitioned into an extended self-guided tour with our information package filled with recommendations and insider tips into the Cape regions, where the infrastructure is more user-friendly, as opposed to touring the Northern region of South Africa which is best explored with a guide.
Included in this Package
- Pick up and drop off at your hotel in Johannesburg or O.R.Tambo int airport
- Visit of historic Pilgrim’s Rest
- Blyde River Canyon
- Bourke’s luck Potholes
- God’s Window
- Conservation fees Kruger National Park
- 3 Safaris in our tour vehicle
- Night drive in an open vehicle with a Bush braai
- Afternoon/sunset safari with open vehicle
- Rhino excursion at Hlane National Park
- Cultural village visit in eSwatini
- Visit of Manzini’s and Mbabane’s markets
- Meals include all breakfasts and 4 dinners (1 set menu, 1 South African Bush “braai”, 1 buffet and 1 traditional Swazi dinner)
(all lunches are for your own account, on day 3 brunch and dinner are for your own account)
