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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
21 DAYS
COMFORT
STYLE
LANGUAGE
RATING
  •  Visit 4 African countries
  •  Explore Kruger National Park
  •  Visit Maputo, the capital of Mozambique
  •  Visit the Kingdom of Swaziland
  •  Participate in Swazi culture at Umphakatsi
  •  Game viewing in Itala Game Reserve, Zululand
  •  Explore the Royal Natal National Park
  •  Visit the Kingdom of Lesotho
  •  See the Valley of Desolation in the Karoo National Park
  •  Explore Tsitsikamma Coast National Park
  •  Drive the Garden Route
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Hiking
Other: Waterfalls, sightseeing, World Heritage Sites, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, indigenous tribes, Local Culture
$7395USD
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ONGOING PROMOTIONS
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Applies to Departures Between:
4/25/2012 and 1/1/2013
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From 4/25/2012 To 6/1/2012
TRIP MAP
See the locations you'll visit!

Kingdoms of Southern Africa

Superb game viewing, fascinating tribal cultures, stunning scenery and visits to four southern African countries make this journey a truly unique adventure. Learn about the Swazi, Zulu and Basotho tribes.
Superb game viewing, fascinating tribal cultures, stunning scenery and visits to four southern African countries make this journey a truly unique adventure. Learn about the Swazi, Zulu and Basotho tribes. Travel through South Africa, Mozambique and the Kingdoms of Swaziland and Lesotho, and visit South Africa’s most famous national parks teaming with wildlife.

Beginning in Pretoria, we visit the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre before we travel to the world-famous Kruger National Park. Search for the “Big Five” — lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos. Travel to the seldom-visited country of Mozambique to explore its capital, Maputo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visit the Kingdom of Swaziland, with its mountainous grandeur, lush forests and game viewing in Royal Hlane National Park. Spend an afternoon with a Swazi lady chief and learn about their culture, including the energetic Sibhaca Dance.

In the Kingdom of Lesotho, visit a Basotho Cultural Village and hike to the beautiful Botso’ela Waterfall. Drive into the “Karoo” and the town of Graaff-Reinet, known for its national monuments. Hike to the viewpoint of the awe-inspiring Valley of Desolation before overnighting in Karoo National Park. Drive through Tsisikamma Coastal National Park and along the Garden route, including a boat trip from Knysna to the Featherbed Nature Reserve. From Cape Town, visit Robben Island and enjoy the view atop Table Mountain, reached by cable car.

Our four-country journey concludes in stunning Cape Town, the perfect place to raise a glass of South African wine with a toast to this superb adventure.
Day 1: Arrive in Johannesberg, South Africa
Meet on arrival at Johannesburg International Airport and transfer to our hotel in Pretoria. We meet this evening for dinner and orientation. Overnight in Pretoria.
Day 2: Pretoria city sights, De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre
We enjoy Pretoria’s sights before heading to the De Wildt Cheetah Centre. We spend the day at the De Wildt Cheetah Project. De Wildt has an extensive community outreach and education programme and a strategic breeding plan. The Trust conducts research on wildlife disease and nutrition and in South Africa it has implemented a national plan for the conservation of free roaming cheetah. Dinner and overnight at De Wildt Cheetah Project.
Day 3: To Kruger National Park

After breakfast, we have a special treat as we can view cheetahs running full speed. Three cheetahs will each chase a small decoy designed by the sanctuary. The cheetahs accelerate and run in excess of 100 kilometers per hour. We depart De Wilt, cross the Lowveld and head towards Kruger National Park. Enroute, we stop for a picnic lunch.

We will reach Kruger National Park in the afternoon. This evening we enjoy a game drive to search for the Big Five! Overnight at Nkambeni lodge, Kruger National Park.


Day 4: Kruger National Park
After breakfast we go for a guided morning walk to learn more about the flora and fauna in the area. There is free time after lunch to visit the research centre. This evening, we have a game drive along the route to Lower Sabie, which follows the well-wooded back of the Sabie River. Overnight at Skukuza, Kruger National Park.
Day 5: To Maputo, Mozambique
After breakfast, we depart for Mozambique and arrive into Maputo in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at our hotel, Maputo.
Day 6: Maputo city sights, Catemba Peninsula
We take a city tour of Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, where the influence of the Portuguese culture is very visible. We visit old railroad, handicraft market, the iron house and the old fort. Later in the afternoon we will travel to the outskirts of the city for dinner at a waterfront seafood restaurant.
Day 7: To the Kingdom of Swaziland, Royal National Park
Today we depart Mozambique as we travel into the Kingdom of Swaziland. Our first destination is Hlane Royal National Park, famous for its abundant rhino population. This is easily one of the best opportunities to see rhinos at close range. The juvenile rhinos are very curious and can often approach our vehicles. We explore these former royal hunting grounds by vehicle after lunch. Late afternoon, we travel south to Mlilwane Reserve. Overnight Mlilwane.
Day 8: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Bush Walk and Visit to Swazi Chief
This morning we take a safari walk to explore this tiny Kingdom. And in the afternoon we visit the Umphakatsi Chief’s homestead which is a hands-on experience run by the lady chief, Inkhosikati, in her homestead. Your guide, who will hand the ladies in your party traditional Swazi cloths to wrap around their waists, greets us at Mlilwane’s main gate. The Inkhosikati has a vibrant, energetic and infectious manner and not only talks us through how the huts and traditional items are made but also teaches us the Siswati words for them.

This evening we gather around the campfire for an evening of traditional Swazi dancing. Overnight at Ndlovu Camp.
Day 9: Return to South Africa — Zululand, Itala Game Reserve
This morning we travel back into South Africa and into the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, the heartland of the Zulu people. We spend the day in Ithala Game Reserve, located in the northern end of the Zululand.The park is mountainous which gives it a very different feel to most game reserves which are flat savannah. We can enjoy a sunset drive in the park before returning to our lodge. Overnight at Ntshondwe Camp, Itala Game Reserve.
Day 10: Drakensberg Range, to the Royal Natal National Park
We enjoy a morning game drive in the park before continuing our adventure into the Drakensberg Range. We stop for some sightseeing around Bergville, including sights such as the Upper Tekela Blockhouse and Blood River. We continue on to the Royal Natal National Park and arrive late afternoon. Overnight in Little Switzerland.
Day 11: Royal Natal National Park
Royal Natal National Park is ideal for hiking with stunning vistas. There are several spectacular guided hikes available from our resort ranging from easy to challenging. Overnight in Little Switzerland.
Day 12: The Kingdom of Lesotho, Basotho Cultural Village
We travel into the Kingdom of Lesotho and stop at the Basotho Cultural Village. The museum introduces visitors to the South Sotho (Basotho) nation, from its inception through its history to the present. After the tour we make our way to our overnight accommodation. Overnight at Malealea Lodge.
Day 13: Malealea, Botso’ela Waterfall
Malealea lies at 1,800 meters above sea level, with magnificent views across the plateau towards an endless panorama of misty mountains as high as the Alps in Europe. We will visit a Basotho village and school after breakfast. For hiking enthusiasts, you can go to the Botso’ela Waterfall or to see ancient bushman cave paintings. Overnight Malealea Lodge.
Day 14: Return to South Africa via “The Place of the Wind
We have an early morning departure to return to South Africa. Before driving across the border, we stop in Quthing, “The Place of the Wind”, to visit the Masitise Cave House and the Dinosaur footprints, which are believed to be approximately 180 million years old. We continue on to Aliwal North, a spa town noted for its mineral baths and hot springs and we arrive early evening. Overnight in Aliwal North.
Day 15: Graaff-Reinet, Valley of Desolation in the Great Karoo
Today we drive to the town of Graaff- Reinet. On the way we stop at the Taal Monument and the Afrikaans Language Museum in Burgersdorp. We spend time exploring the town of Graaff-Reinett, arguably one of the most charming and historic towns in all of South Africa. We explore Graaff-Reinet on foot. 

Late afternoon we go to the Valley of Desolation for sundown. A steep and narrow road leads into the mountains that surround the valley. A circular hiking trail leads to wonderful views of Graaff-Reinet and of the endless expanse of the surrounding Karoo. This trail is quite rocky and clients should wear comfortable shoes. Overnight at Graaff-Reinet at Karoo Park Guesthouse.
Day 16: Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park
We continue our journey through the Eastern Cape today, travelling to the coast. We take the scenic route, via Uniondale, over the spectacular Prince Alfred Pass to Wittedrift and then on to the Tsitsikamma. On arrival at the park, there is time to take a hike, walk on the beach or to relax at your accommodation. Overnight at Tsitsikamma National Park.
Day 17: The Garden Route
Departing Tsitsikamma this morning, we travel along the Garden Route. The scenery is beautiful, with indigenous forests, freshwater lakes, wetlands, hidden coves and long beaches. The narrow coastal plain is well forested and is mostly bordered by extensive lagoons that run behind a barrier of sand dunes and superb white beaches. The region has some of the largest patches of indigenous forest in the country, including giant yellow wood trees and wild flowers as well as commercial plantations of eucalyptus and pine.

Along the way we will stop at Knysna, joining a spectacular eco-experience in Featherbed nature reserve which includes a return ferry trip, nature drive and guided walk, ending with a sumptuous buffet lunch at the Food Forest Restaurant. 

We travel inland to Oudtshoorn, where we visit an ostrich farm. Overnight in Oudtshoorn.
Day 18: To Cape Town
A long driving day today as we travel along the Route R62 to Cape Town, enjoying the scenary enroute. Overnight in Cape Town.
Day 19: Table Mountain, Robben Island
We begin our day by ascending the famous Table Mountain by cable car. From the top we have spectacular views in every direction including: over the city, Robben Island, the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean, Mountain Ranges, ravines and the Inland Plains

After our descent we will take a tour of the Bo-Kaap area, with visits to the Malay quarter and the district six museum. This afternoon is spent on Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years. It is a world heritage site and symbol of Freedom and Perseverance of the human spirit. Overnight in Cape Town.

Please Note: Both the Table Mountain and Robben Island excursions are weather dependant. The cable car does not operate in windy conditions and the 7 km ferry ride to Robben Island does not go when the sea is rough.
Day 20: Coastal drive to Cape Point, Good Hope Nature Reserve
We travel along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, Llandudno, to Hout Bay, a quaint village and fishing harbour with magnificent views of the mountains and beach. On through Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breathtaking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve, which has magnificent fynbos vegetation, birdlife, endemic antelope species and zebra, historic lighthouses and shipwrecks. Cape Point is perceived to be the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

After lunch at a nearby restaurant, we go on to historic Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. The tour ends after a visit to the well-known Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Our farewell dinner tonight will be at the V&A Waterfront. Overnight in Cape Town.
Day 21: Depart Cape Town, South Africa
Today we say goodbye to Africa and transfer to the airport to connect with our international flights homeward.
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P. MacLaren
"I learned a tremendous amount about the people of South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho. I feel blessed to have my family, friends, health and home. I was moved to tears on more then one occasion - Thank you for helping me grow and learn and enjoy a whole new world."
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S. Wood
This was a tremendous experience and I learned so much. South Africa is a beautiful country and the needs of many are great. My eyes are now open to this and will remain so. Meanwhile I count my blessings! I look forward to learning more!"
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Sue Minas
"Thank you ElderTreks – we loved our trip."
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Wayne Clogg
"Good variety. Packed a lot into 3 weeks."
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Marilyn Koll
"We thoroughly enjoyed all of the experiences, especially the game reserves."
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TRIP INCLUDES
  • all accommodations throughout
  • all meals, starting with dinner on day 1 and finishing with breakfast on departure day (i.e. the last day of the ElderTreks tour)
  • bottled drinking water throughout the trip
  • all internal transportation; airport transfers on day 1 and departure day (i.e. the last day of the ElderTreks tour)
  • all day trips and entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary
  • tips for hotels (porterage), bus driver, restaurants and spot guides
  • services of a trip leader
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • International flights
  • tips to ElderTreks tour leader
  • national guide
  • alcoholic drinks
  • visa’s and travel insurance
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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