Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival Johannesburg - Overnight in Nelspruit
After arrival at Johannesburg airport, pick up your luggage and our South African representative will meet up with you right after customs. Our representative will take you to the 4WD rental office, not far from the airport. While at the rental office be sure to check your 4WD and camping equipment to make sure it's all working properly. After all of the required formalities are finished, you're all set for your 'great adventure'! The first leg of your trip will take approximately 4 hours. Drive over the N4 past Witbank to your first accommodation near Nelspruit and close to Kruger Park. To help you recoup from your day, we've already set up tents for you in this beautiful area. This gives you enough time to enjoy the campfire during your first evening here. Your stay here is based on full board.

Total distance on Day 1 is approximately 350 km.

Day 2

Nelspruit and surrounding area Today you'll have a quiet day so that you can recoup from yesterday's drive. You could, for instance, drive out to the northern part of the Drakensberg mountains and at the same time get used to driving a 4WD. This area was specifically added to this itinerary because of it's ideal location for an introduction to 4WD driving. If you feel a little insecure driving a 4WD, then this is your chance to practice driving through water crossings and deep potholes. If you're interested, John or Shaun can let you in on all of the in's and out's of 4WD driving. If you've already mastered 4WD driving, this would be the perfect day for a horseback ride through the rugged terrain.

Our local contacts can inform you on the best places to stock up on supplies and also warn you where not to buy supplies. This will save you time and money when you get back on the road.

Day 3

Nelspruit - Kruger National Park
After a hearty breakfast you'll drive on to the Kruger Park entrance gate. You'll have most of the day to go on your own game drives. The roads are in excellent condition and you'll encounter all kinds of different animals during your drive. Stop at one of the many camps or rest stops along the way to stretch out for a bit. Drive over paved and unpaved roads until you reach one of the smaller camps in Kruger. This is where you'll set up your roof tent on top of your 4WD and spend the night with the sounds of the animals sending you off into a deep and dreamy sleep.

Before heading off to dreamland, be sure to hide away any food in a place where animals can't reach it.

Total distance on Day 3 is approximately 250 km.

Day 4

Kruger National Park - Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve (Greater Kruger)The following morning you'll take down your tent after your first self-made breakfast. Now it's time for some serious safari activities. Wake up early so that you can experience a game drive in your own car on your way to Kruger's Orpen gate. You'll drive over sandy roads to your next accommodation: a small farm in the middle of the bush; lunch will be waiting for you when you arrive. The lodge is beautifully located in the bush and you'll stay in a nicely decorated room with a wonderful bath. From the veranda you'll be able to look out over the bush waterholes.

Around 16.00 in the afternoon you'll leave your own 4WD behind and take part in a professional game drive in an open land rover. A local game tracker with years of experience in tracking wild animals will lead you in the search for the Big 5. There aren't any gates in this area; therefore you're more likely to spot wild animals roaming the grounds..... you may even spot a very brazen lion in camp. When you return to camp after your exciting game drive adventure, dinner will be waiting for you.

Total distance on Day 4 is approximately 100 km.

Day 5

Free time - Sabi Sands
This morning will be spent on another game drive in an open jeep. The bush is at it's most beautiful in the morning and this is also when you're most likely to encounter animals. Lions, impalas, elephants: everytime you'll see different animals. Back in the lodge, a warm breakfast will be waiting for you and you'll time to relax and cool off in the swimming pool. If you want to know more about the animals you spotted in the morning, slide into a comfy chair by the pool and enjoy the view or visit the the wildlife library for one of the many books on the area.

In the afternoon you'll be able to participate in another game drive or walking safari and in the evening the campfire will be waiting for you.

Day 6

Sabi Sands - Blyde River Canyon
After a morning game drive and a hearty breakfast you'll head off to the well known Blyde River Canyon. This is the third largest canyon in the world and the panorama views are spectacular. Don't forget to take a few rest-stops along the way, for instance for a pick nick at one of the many waterfalls. From Blyde River Canyon you'll have a view of the Three Rondavels, God's Window en Wonder view. The park is approximately 26.000 acres and the canyon itself is 30 kilometres long with panoramic views along the entire length of the canyon. You'll spend the night at a spacious holiday resort camp site with a swimming pool, bar/ restaurant and a supermarket.

Total distance on Day 6 is approximately 250 km.

Day 7

Blyde River Canyon You'll spend the entire day in this area. Rest out and relax a bit and then leave for a day trip through the surrounding area around mid-morning. A must-see during your day trip is Bourke's Luck Potholes. The potholes can be found where the Blyde River and the Treur River meet. Currents and whirlpools at this spot in the riverbed have created round holes in the surrounding rock formations. It's quite a sight to see! You may also want to stop by the town of Sabie and the former mining town Pilgrim's Rest with its' charming small cafés and historic houses. This would be a great place to stop for lunch. At the end of the day you'll return to the holiday resort's campsite.

Total distance on Day 7 is approximately 150 km.

Day 8

Blyde River Canyon - Swaziland
Next up on this itinerary is Swaziland. You'll cross the border through a special 4WD route. At the simple border crossing you'll receive a stamp in your passport and from then on you'll be travelling through the kingdom of Swaziland. The beautiful mountain trail makes for quite an enjoyable 4WD ride. From Piggs Peak you'll drive over paved roads to the capital of Mbabane; a hectic and somewhat chaotic city. You can stop here for a visit to the local markets and to stock up on supplies. Then you'll leave the city and head towards the Ezulwini Valley and the Mlilwane National Park. You'll spend the night at a campsite with a bar, restaurant and a swimming pool. In the evening you can sit back and relax by the campfire.

Before the sun sets you could also have a look at the beehives, the traditional Swazi-huts or visit one of the Zulu villages in the area.

Total distance on Day 8 is approximately 350 km.

Day 9

Swaziland - Mkuze Game Reserve
If you don't mind waking up early this morning, go on a short horseback ride through the park (reservations must be made a day in advance; this is also a fun ride for beginners). Horseback riding through the park at sunrise is an unforgettable experience. If you're not much of a fan of horses, you can also choose to rent a mountain bike for a ride through the park.

Today you'll leave Swaziland by way of the Lavumisa border crossing. Then you'll travel on to the small town of Mkuze and the Mkkuze Game Reserve, which lies at the border of St. Lucia Park. There are an incredible amount of unique birds in this area, as well as crocodiles, hippos, elephants and rhinos. Once you've reached the park, sometime in the afternoon, drive down one of the fun 4WD routes through the southern part of the park. You'll spend the night at the park campsite.

Total distance on Day 9 is approximately 200 km.

Day 10

Mkuze Game Reserve - Cape Vidal, St Lucia
Today you'll be able to explore the park by 4WD once again, in search of large or small wild animals. After breakfast you'll leave the park and continue on towards Cape Vidal, the coastline behind St. Lucia Park. The coastline is made up of (enormous) sand dunes that border on the Indian Ocean. It's a great location for swimming, snorkelling and climbing sand dunes (see picture).

You can only drive a 4WD in this area if you have a special permit and these are hard to come by. We suggest exploring the dunes by foot. You'll spend the night and morning at the Cape Vidal campsite.

Total distance on Day 10 is approximately 160 km.

Day 11

Free day at Cape Vidal (St Lucia) The beaches at Cape Vidal are so beautiful and inviting that you could easily stay there all day long. However, there's so much more to see in this area such as nearby Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park. St. Lucia Lake is home to an abundance of flora and fauna and features four different eco-systems within an area of 40 km: swampland, wetlands, bush lands and grasslands. During your visit to the lake you'll see crocodiles, hippos, flamingos, pelicans and many fish-eating birds. A flat-bottom boat leaves from St. Lucia twice a day for a two hour cruise over the lake. These cruises can easily be booked on location.

If you're interested in seeing more natural parks you can choose to visit Hluhluwe Park, which is 60 km west of St Lucia.

Day 12

Cape Vidal - Central Drakensberg
Today you'll go on a long, yet beautiful, drive to the middle of Drakensberg and then on to Champagne Castle, at 3377 metres its peak is the second highest in the country. You'll spend the night at the Injisuthi camp site, near Cathin Peak and Monks Cowl. This park is beautiful, yet not as frequently visited as other parks in Drakensberg. You'll spend another night at the camp site with a small store for stoking up on supplies.

Total distance on Day 12 is approximately 400 km.

Day 13

Central Drakensberg - Sani Pass
Today you'll reach the summit of this most spectacular 4WD trip - literally! You'll drive on a winding sandy road that connects the kingdom of the Zulu with that of the Lesotho. Having a 4WD is definitely a necessity in this area and you'll be able to experience its full potential while driving in this along this path. Forget your worries, try not to hurry and take time to enjoy the view'; you'll only be travelling a short distance today. At the end of the day, you'll spend the night in a chalet at the top of the mountain pass. During the chilly evenings, you'll really enjoy your heated chalet. Dinner and breakfast are included in the price of your trip. There aren't any stores in this area.

Total distance on Day 13 is approximately 50 km.

Day 14

Sani Pass - Lesotho
From the top of the mountain pass, drive into the former homeland Lesotho towards Maseru, the capital. Stop at Semongong to see the Lebihan waterfalls, the highest of the southern part of Africa. Tonight you'll stay at a traditional farm house at approximately 2000 m in the mountains in the south-western part of Lesotho. This part of the country with its' villages and waterfalls is also called Valley of Paradise. Your basic yet comfortable accommodation with restaurant, bar, studio and store was once transformed, by it's present owners both born and raised in Lesotho, from a lodge to it's current state. In total, there are approximately 40 rooms. You'll stay in either the farm house rooms or the new cottages, all of them have private bathrooms. There is a generator available for electricity from 18.00-22.00, therefore a flash light is always a necessity.

Total distance on Day 14 is approximately 375 km.

Day 15

Lesotho - Mount Zebra National Park
Today you'll drive out of Lesotho by way of the southern Telebridge border crossing and head towards the Mount Zebra National Park. The park isn't far from the town of Craddock and was once founded to protect the nearly extinct Cape Mountain Zebra. Luckily their numbers have increased and today there are more than 350 of these animals roaming the park. Aside from the zebra, you'll also spot black rhino's and buffalos in this park. The park is perfect for 4WD driving and lends itself for great game drives. You'll spend the night at the park campsite and you'll have access to a small store and restaurant if you arrive at the campsite on time.

Total distance on Day 15 is approximately 457 km.

Day 16

Mount Zebra National Park - Addo Elephant National Park Today you'll head south towards Addo Elephant Park which lies in a densely covered bush field of the Sundays River Valley at the Eastern Cape. The park was declared a 'national park' in 1931 when there were only 12 elephants remaining. These days the eco-system has been restored. There are more than 350 elephants, 300 buffalos, black rhinos and all kinds of antelopes roaming the park. At the end of the day you'll set up your roof top tent on top of your 4WD at the park campsite. There is a bar, restaurant and a store nearby. If you would like to join a game drive in the evening, make reservations ahead of time or book the game drive at the park.

Total distance on Day 16 is approximately 220 km.

Day 17

Addo Elephant National Park - Tsitsikamma National Park
Today you'll travel further south towards the coast and on to Tsitsikamma National Park. The park is completely bordered by sea on one side and it is unlike any other park you may have seen in the past. The park has a rugged coastline with massive cliffs created by relentless pounding waves. There is also a more gentle side to this remarkable coastline; secluded beaches, waterfalls and fynbos in river valleys. You may even spot a few dolphins playing around in the surf if you look closely. If you arrive at the right season (July through November) you could even spot whales here. The possibilities in this area are endless, for instance you could go on a number of fun hikes through the area. The Otter Trail is especially popular here. However you can also go kayaking, diving, snorkelling, walking on tree tops or black water tubing. In the evening, when the entire world becomes quiet, you'll hear the unmistakeable peaceful sound of the surf. This park also has a store and a restaurant.

Total distance on Day 17 is approximately 340 km.

Day 18

Tsitsikamma National Park
By spending two nights in this park you'll be able to see more of the surrounding area, such as Plettenberg Bay. On your way to the bay you'll pass the Bloukrans Bridge, the largest bridge in Africa. If you're thrill-seeker, you may enjoy bungee jumping from this bridge. If you're looking for less of an adrenaline rush, enjoy the amazing view while walking over the bridges walkway. Plettenberg Bay is a fun place to visit with lots of fun clubs, restaurants and bars. During whale season(July through November) you can also go on a whale cruise. From Tsitsikamma you can also visit an elphant refuge centre where you can walk amongst these animals and feed them.

Day 19

Tsitsikamma National Park - Wilderness
On Day 19, you'll continue your journey on towards Cape Town, passing the popular town of Knysna along the way. While in Knysna, visit Knysna Heads, the gateway to the sea or visit the shopping mall near the sea. After a while you'll reach the Wilderness Park where you'll spend 2 nights at a campsite.

Total distance on Day 19 is approximately 120 km.

Day 20

Wilderness ParkThe park is located in beautiful wetlands and is the habitat of the Knysna Loerie, a beautiful green and red bird. There are also plenty of outdoor activities to take part in, such as mountain biking, hiking or going on a boat ride. The beach is approximately 500 metres away from the campsite, so you could even choose to relax and unwind on the beach. You might even spot the same dolphins you met while you were in Tsitsikamma.

Day 21

Wilderness - Oudtshoorn
You'll only travel a short distance today to the town of Oudtshoorn, in the middle of the semi-desert region of the Karoo. Here you'll find the country's centre of ostrich farming. If you're interested in learning more about this unusual animal, you could visit one of the many farms in the area. While you're in this area, you should most definitely try to drive through the Swartberg Pass. Some people say it's the most beautiful mountain pass in Sough Africa..... and we agree with them! While you're driving up winding unpaved roads to the summit of the mountain you'll have the most magnificent view of the area. If you have some time left over after your drive, you may want to visit the Cango caves. There are tours every hour. There's lots of crawling involved, so claustrophobics may find it hard going. You'll spend the night at a campsite near the caves; stores and restaurants located in town.
Total distance on Day 21 is approximately 80 km.

Day 22

Oudtshoorn - Cape Town
This morning you'll head out on your last long drive of this itinerary: the road to Cape Town. You'll drive straight through the Karoo along the Route 62 to Cape Town, ‘The Mother City'. The last few days of your trip will be spent in a friendly guest house in the Sea Point district. The guest house has a great central location close to the centre of town, the waterfront and Table Mountain. The guest house also has a pool for you to cool off in. A delicious breakfast is included in the price of this trip.

Total distance on Day 22 is approximately 425 km.

Day 23

Cape Town
Cape Town is a lively city with so much to offer that you'll never have to be bored. For instance you could drive the Champan's Peak Route today. You'll start out on the route in Cape Town from where you'll drive to the harbour town of Hout Bay. This small town lies in a valley and is surrounded by a number of mountains. You may want to park the car for a while here and go on a seal tour. Next you'll head on towards the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve which is home to the most south-western point of the African continent. The last major stop on the Chapman's Peak Drive is Boulders Beach at Simon's Town; a true pinguin strand. Wooden tiles lead you through this beach where entire colonies of penguins will waddle past you. These penguins are also referred to as Jackass penguins. There are more than 3000 (!) penguins in the area at the moment.

Day 24

Cape Town - End of itinerary
Before you say goodbye to your 4WD, there are a few interesting attractions in Cape Town such as the Table Mountain, that you shouldn't miss. Along with Mount Everest, this is probably the most frequently written about mountain in the world and the heart of this city. Once you're at the top, you'll be able to enjoy a wonderful view of Cape Town. However, at times you may be less lucky... there are also mist banks around the top, known affectionately as the 'Tablecloth'.

You can also visit Robben Island, the jail where Nelson Mandela was kept captive for more than 27 years. Additionally, you can also visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Then, when the time comes, you'll drop off your car at Cape Town airport and you'll fly home.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Single or double cab 4WD, camping equipment, unlimited kilometres, camp site allocation, 2 nights in a game lodge - full board and game activities included, 1 night in a chalet Sani Pass half board, road maps, information and border documents

Exclusions -

Kruger entrance fees (per entry approx. R150 per person) all other park entrance fees, drop-off expenses, fuel, toll, border expenses and, if applicable additional game drives,. Purchase of safety deposit and international flights. Complete safety deposit can be purchased prior to departure - ask us for our all-in rates.

Extras -

£1197 per person is based on 4 people

£1443 per person is based on 2 people