Kruger & Swaziland Experience

(Driving time: approx 6 hours) We are met by our guide between 7.00am and 7.30am and are soon off on our journey. Upon reaching Timbavati Game Reserve, which is part of Greater Kruger National Park, we are served a late lunch at the delightful bush camp. After settling into our accommodation we depart on a late afternoon/early evening game drive for our first chance to glimpse the resident wildlife. Upon our return to camp, a pre-dinner drink is served around a blazing fire under the stars, in an open-air boma. Following this, a sumptuous South African dinner awaits us in the intimate dining area of the camp. This is a private camp and our overnight accommodation is in comfortable chalets, complete with ensuite facilities.

(Driving times: two safaris per day - times variable) Two full days in the reserve allows for morning and afternoon wildlife activities, with time for relaxing back at camp during the middle hours of the day. In addition to game drives, walking safaris are offeres. Accompanied by a highly experienced, armed guide; this is a fascinating and very different way of experiencing the African bush. We depart with our local resident guides on morning and afternoon drives in open 4WD vehicles, searching for zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and a variety of antelope. We may also see elephant, buffalo and, hopefully, some of the predators. There is a good chance of seeing all of the 'Big Five', including the endangered rhinoceros. On the afternoon game drive, a sundowner drink is usually served before our return to camp. On the drive back to camp we use spotlights, which may enable sightings of some of the many nocturnal animals of the bush that are seldom sighted during the day. A very special feature of this camp is the tree house, which is set approximately two kilometres away from the main camp and overlooks a dam. The camp staff can set up bedding for you in the tree house so that you can spend a night sleeping there (please note there are no bathroom facilities). You are dropped off at the tree house after dinner and collected in the morning, before the game drive. A two-way radio is provided so that you may contact the camp staff at any time should you wish to return to the main camp. A spotlight is also provided to allow you to watch for any animals coming to drink at the waterhole during the night. This tree house experience is offered at no extra cost, but needs to be booked in advance. It is also dependent on weather and is therefore not guaranteed.

(Driving time: approx 8 hours including sightseeing excursions) This morning we leave Timbavati behind and travel to the nearby Blyde River Canyon area. This canyon is the largest green canyon in the world and our drive around this region offers us spectacular views of this breathtaking gorge from different angles. We stop at the Three Rondavels viewpoint, explore Bourke's Luck Potholes and peer out through God's Window, before checking into our cosy private guesthouse near Hazyview where we relax and enjoy dinner that evening while watching the sunset.

(Driving time: approx 6 hours including border crossing; game drive times variable) After breakfast, we depart for the mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland, our base for the next two nights. The scenery here is a delight, varying from mountainous highveld to rolling grasslands of in the middleveld and bushlands in the lowveld. We spend our nights in Hlane Royal National Park. Covering an area of 30,000 hectares, this park is the largest in Swaziland and is set up near the former royal hunting grounds. The name 'Hlane' means 'wilderness' and was given by King Sobhuza II. It is home to many species including lion, elephant, white rhino and abundant bird life, including the highest density of nesting white-backed vultures in Africa. We enjoy a morning guided walking safari, with the aim of getting reasonably up-close to some of the rhinos! In the afternoon we visit the colourful, local handicraft markets and the renowned Ngwenya Glass Factory, where we see the talented local glass blowers at work. Some of their creations include a range of images of enchanting African animals. Another amazing aspect is that their work is created from 100% recycled glass that has been collected by the local as part of a nationwide recycling initiative.