18 Days Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari Tour

Your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari adventure begins with early morning pickup from Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport for a 4-hour drive (390km) to the spectacular Blyde River Canyon. This first day of your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari includes stops at iconic viewpoints such as God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and the Three Rondavels. The Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari experience continues with an afternoon nature walk along the canyon rim before overnight accommodation at a lodge overlooking this natural wonder.

Day two of your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari tour begins with a 2-hour drive (120km) to Kruger National Park's Orpen Gate, entering the iconic reserve by mid-morning. The Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari journey takes you through the game-rich central plains surrounding Satara Rest Camp, known locally as "Ngala" (lion). Your afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari game drive explores the S100, one of Kruger's most legendary roads for big cat sightings, before settling into your camp as night falls over the bushveld.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari continues with an early morning game drive through the diverse habitats of central Kruger, heading north toward the Olifants River (90km, approximately 3 hours with wildlife viewing). This productive day of Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari exploration focuses on the unique topography where granite plains meet basalt soils, creating diverse ecosystems. The afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari activity includes a guided sunset drive along the Olifants River, where elephants, hippos, and crocodiles gather in impressive numbers.

Today's Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari adventure takes you further north to Letaba, meaning "river of sand" in the local Tsonga language, approximately 60km (2 hours) from Olifants. The Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari experience here highlights the riverine forests and floodplains that attract diverse wildlife, including elephant herds and elusive leopards. Your afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari includes a visit to the Letaba Elephant Museum before a sunset game drive through mopane woodlands teeming with buffalo and antelope species.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari journey continues to Kruger's northern reaches around Mopani Rest Camp, situated 75km (2.5 hours) from Letaba along wildlife-rich roads. This distinctive Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari area features the impressive Pioneer Dam, where water birds and mammals congregate, especially during the dry season. The afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari activity includes a special guided bush walk with an armed ranger, offering intimate insights into the ecosystem's smaller creatures and plant life.

Today's Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari takes you south to Skukuza, the park's largest rest camp, covering approximately 140km (4 hours) through changing landscapes. The Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari experience in this region features the convergence of the Sand and Sabie Rivers, creating biodiversity hotspots rich in predator activity. Your afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari includes exploration of the famous H4-1 road along the Sabie River, renowned for some of Africa's highest leopard densities.

The final full day of your Kruger Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari focuses on the southeastern section near Lower Sabie, approximately 45km (1.5 hours) from Skukuza. This premier Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari region features the legendary Sunset Dam and expansive grasslands supporting abundant plains game and their predators. Your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari concludes with a memorable sunset at Nkuhlu picnic site overlooking the Sabie River, where wildlife gathers in the golden afternoon light.

Crossing into the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari continues at Hlane Royal National Park, approximately 180km (3 hours plus border procedures) from Kruger's Crocodile Bridge gate. This exclusive Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari experience showcases Eswatini's premier wildlife sanctuary, home to the largest herds of game in the kingdom. Your afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari includes a guided rhino drive and the opportunity to witness traditional Swazi cultural performances at the lodge.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari journey returns to South Africa, traveling approximately 150km (2.5 hours) to uMkhuze Game Reserve within the UNESCO World Heritage iSimangaliso Wetland Park. This diverse Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari destination features rare sand forest habitats, pans, and the stunning Lebombo Mountains. The afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari activity includes visiting the famous Kumasinga hide, where wildlife congregates at the waterhole, offering exceptional photography opportunities.

Day ten of your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari is dedicated to exploring uMkhuze's varied ecosystems through game drives and walking trails. This Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari experience highlights the reserve's remarkable 420 bird species and diverse mammal populations that thrive in this transitional zone. Your afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari includes a visit to the Fig Forest boardwalk, home to ancient sycamore figs and a variety of forest-dwelling species rarely seen elsewhere.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari continues to the historic Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, approximately 90km (1.5 hours) from uMkhuze. This renowned Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari destination represents Africa's oldest proclaimed nature reserve and the birthplace of rhino conservation. The afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari drive explores the southern iMfolozi section, once the exclusive hunting ground of Zulu King Shaka, now home to impressive populations of both black and white rhino.

Today's Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari focuses on the unique wilderness corridor connecting the reserve's northern and southern sections, approximately 30km (1 hour) of driving through pristine habitats. This special Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari area features the confluence of the Black and White Mfolozi rivers, creating diverse micro-habitats supporting abundant wildlife. Your afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari includes tracking predators along the meandering river systems where lions often hunt buffalo in the dense riparian vegetation.

The final day of your Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari explores the northern Hluhluwe section, characterized by rolling hills and dense woodland covering approximately 25km (1 hour) of diverse terrain. This productive Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari region is known for its high concentration of white rhino and the elusive nyala antelope found in wooded ravines. Your afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari includes a visit to a historic game capture center that played a crucial role in "Operation Rhino," saving the species from extinction.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari journey continues to the coastal Maphelane Nature Reserve within iSimangaliso Wetland Park, approximately 120km (2 hours) from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi. This unique Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari destination features towering coastal dunes, pristine beaches, and the convergence of the Mfolozi River with the Indian Ocean. The afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari activity includes exploring the estuary system by boat, where hippos, crocodiles, and numerous water birds create a dynamic ecosystem unlike any other on your tour.

Day fifteen of your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari offers a change of pace with coastal exploration of Maphelane's diverse marine and estuarine environments. This distinctive Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari experience includes guided walks along Africa's highest vegetated sand dunes, rising dramatically 180 meters above the ocean. Your afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari features a cultural visit to a local Zulu community where you'll learn about traditional fishing techniques and the sustainable use of coastal resources.

Your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari adventure shifts to the majestic uKhahlamba Drakensberg Mountains, approximately 280km (4 hours) inland from the coast. This breathtaking Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari region, known to the Zulu people as "Barrier of Spears," features dramatic basalt cliffs and ancient San rock art sites. Your afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari includes a gentle hike to a nearby waterfall, offering spectacular views of the amphitheater and surrounding peaks that form South Africa's most impressive mountain range.

The penultimate day of your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari explores the central Drakensberg region, approximately 60km (1.5 hours) from the northern section through scenic mountain passes. This diverse Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari area features the renowned Cathedral Peak and Champagne Valley, home to some of the most spectacular scenery in Southern Africa. Your afternoon Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari activity includes visiting a protected San rock art site with a specialist guide who interprets these ancient paintings dating back thousands of years.

Your extraordinary Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari concludes with a scenic 240km (3 hour) drive from the Drakensberg to King Shaka International Airport near Durban. This final day of your Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari journey passes through the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, known for its rolling hills and artisanal food producers. Your memorable Southern Africa Safari and Eswatini Safari tour ends at the airport in time for your departure flight, carrying with your unforgettable images of Southern Africa's diverse landscapes and wildlife.