The South African Explorer camping trip takes an unusual route down to Cape Town. This South African Explorer takes you to areas not often visited, the remote, rural, with incredible scenery and experiences.
South African Explorer activities available on this tour:
Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre
St. Lucia boat cruise
Hluhluwe game drive
Lesotho junior school visit
Tsitsikamma National Park Entrance
Cango Caves basic tour
Wine tasting and Cheetah Breeding Project
Day 1 South Africa – Panorama Route
Leaving Johannesburg we travel towards the Panorama Route one of South Africa’s most scenic drives. The Panorama route consists of Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon including God’s Window and Three Rondavels. This evening we will enjoy a traditional Shangaan Dinner with dancing.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight: Panorama route: God’s Window, Blyde River Canyon, Bourkes Luck Potholes
Traditional Shangaan Dinner with dancing
Day 2/3 Kruger National Park
We get up early to visit Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre where injured or lost animals are rehabilitated to be released back into the wild. This is a wonderful opportunity to see some very special species up close, as well as learn about the positive achievements being accomplished here.
Later we enter the world famous Kruger National Park and immediately start with an afternoon game drive in the truck. The next day is a full day’s game viewing from the advantageous height of our wonderful truck.
Day 2
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Activity package: Visit to Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Included Highlight: Kruger afternoon game drive.ruck
Day 3:
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Included Highlight:Full day game drive.
Day 4/5 Swaziland – Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
The Kingdom of Swaziland is a landlocked country bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. We spend the next two nights in the Mlilwane Nature Reserve.
Exploring the area on foot allows you to appreciate the scenery as well as the animals; there are no dangerous predators here.
Optional Activities: Guided birding walk, Game Drive, Village visit
Day 4
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight: Morning Kruger Game drive ,stop at local markets, explore area on foot
Day 5
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 South Africa – Isimangaliso (Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park
We leave Swaziland and take a scenic drive towards the warm Indian Ocean coast, re-entering South Africa. Soon after our arrival at iSimangaliso Wetland Park we board a boat for a sunset cruise on the lagoon for some bird and hippo viewing!
This UNESCO recognised area is extremely varied and includes: lakes, beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, woodlands, coastal forests and grasslands together supporting an astounding diversity of animal, bird and marine life.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activity package: St. Lucia boat cruise
Day 7 Hluhluwe – Umfolozi Game Reserve and Durban
This morning we drive to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve for a game drive in open 4×4 vehicles. The park is the only state-run park in the province of KwaZulu-Natal where all the Big Five occur.
Due to conservation efforts, the park now has the largest population of white rhino in the world. In the late afternoon we arrive at Durban, South Africa’s largest marine port and well-known surfing destination.
The evening can be spent enjoying authentic Indian cuisine as Durban is also home to the largest population of people of Indian descent outside of India. Optional Activity: Dinner out at local restaurant
Meals: Breakfast
Activity package: Morning game drive in open 4 x 4 vehicles – Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
Day 8/9 UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park
We leave behind the beautiful beaches of KwaZulu Natal and travel inland to the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg or Royal Natal National Park, part of the huge and incredibly scenic Drakensberg Escarpment.
The Drakensberg is South Africa’s highest mountain range with peaks at over 3000 metres. Hiking is the most popular activity here and your guides will take you on a lovely hike if you are not already busy with other optional activities. Optional activities: Horse riding, Hiking
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight:Hike with your guide in Royal Natal National park (entrance fee and Bushmen painting visit included).
Day 10/11 Lesotho – Malealea
It’s a visually impressive drive up to the Lesotho border, where the popular pony trekking excursion (optional) requires an early morning start.
On the optional overnight trek Lesotho villagers will guide you along remote trails where there are spectacular views. You can also remain at the lodge and relax, or experience an optional shorter ride.
Before we depart we visit the local village and primary school. Optional Activities: Pony Trekking Excursion, Hiking.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activity package: Local junior school and village visit (except during school holidays)
Day 12/13 South Africa – Cintsa
Leaving the ‘Kingdom in the Skies’ behind us we travel south to Cintsa. You can choose to relax, or participate in one of the optional activities available! Optional Activities: Xhosa village visit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14 Addo Elephant National Park
This unique Eastern Cape park is home to one of the densest concentrations of African elephants on earth as well as boasting the ‘Big Seven’(elephant, rhino, lion, buffalo, leopard, southern right whale and great white shark) as Addo is a land and marine park.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Highlight: Afternoon game drive in Nomad Truck
Day 15/16 Tsitsikamma National Park
This morning we will take a quick stop at Port Elizabeth’s airport and arrive in the afternoon at Tsitsikamma. The name means ‘place of abundant water’ and it does not disappoint, with its indigenous forests and dramatic coastline.
This area is home to the famous multi-day Otter Trail hike and the first few hours of this hike is included in your Activity Package. Optional Activities: Bungee jumping (highest in the world), treetop canopy tours, blackwater tubing (min 4 clients)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Day 15 only), Dinner
Activity package: Tsitsikamma National Park Entrance Fee
Day 17 Knysna / Plettenberg Bay
It is a short distance to Plettenberg Bay. In the afternoon you can choose between remaining to relax at the resort or taking a short excursion into nearby Knysna to explore.
Optional Activities: Elephant Encounter, Township Tour, Monkey town, Birds of Eden, lagoon cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18 Oudtshoorn
Today we travel through the magnificent Outeniqua Mountains towards Oudtshoorn where we visit the world-famous Cango Caves.
The caves contain spectacular halls and grand limestone formations, and a local guide will tell you all about the cave system, which extends for over 4km.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Activity package: Cango Caves Standard Tour
Day 19 Stellenbosch Wine Route
We take a scenic drive to Stellenbosch taking in some of Route 62 and a possible stop at Ronnie’s Sex Shop, not a sex shop at all, but a rather interesting country pub… We will have the opportunity to explore Stellenbosch which forms the heart of the Western Cape’s wine region and second oldest European settlement in the Western Cape.
As this is the last night on tour we head to a local restaurant for dinner.
Optional Activity: Ostrich Farm Visit, Dinner Out.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included highlight: Possible stop at Ronnie’s sex shop
Day 20 Cape Town
After a leisurely breakfast, we visit the Cheetah Breeding Project to meet these beautiful animals up close. Afterwards, we head to the Spier Wine Estate to taste some of South Africa’s finest wines and finally, the tour ends in Cape Town.
Meals: Breakfast
Activity package: Wine tasting, Cheetah Breeding Project entrance fee