14-Day Walking Safari in South Africa and Swaziland

After leaving Johannesburg, we travel eastward to Mpumalanga. We visit Pilgrims Rest, a town known for its gold mining, and the God's Window viewpoint in the afternoon. After a quick stroll from Mac Mac Pools, we stretch our legs and head to our chalets perched on the brink of the escarpment.

The next day we get up early for our first extended hike to the Blyde River. From the escarpment's edge, we stroll into the canyon, where we can see the Three Sisters and the river below, and then we head back up the escarpment. We explore the forests and waterfalls that make Mpumalanga a popular travel destination after lunch. The Graskop Gorge Lift is a thrilling extra activity that takes you down to stroll through the verdant Afromontane forest below (at your own expense).
Accommodation: Mogodi Lodge

We head to Kruger National Park after eating an early breakfast. After entering the national park, we go on an exhilarating game drive for the entire day. While we search for elephants, rhinos, and even the elusive leopard, your guide will decipher bush signals. We leave the park in the late afternoon and head to our private wildlife lodge in the Greater Kruger area, stopping for a picnic lunch en route.

Our early morning wildlife walk with a local ranger is one of the tour's highlights. In silence, we go into the woods and study the tracks and other telltale indicators of the species we expect to come across.
Accommodation: Makuwa Safari Lodge

We pass through a verdant fruit farming region as we enter the Kingdom of Swaziland and proceed into the highlands. With a full day to trek through this rarely visited alpine reserve, we spend two nights on the borders of Malalotja Nature Reserve. On the seventh day, as we travel through Mbabane, the capital, we will stop at the artisan and medicine markets to learn more about the rich cultural legacy of the Swazi people.
Accommodation: Hawane Resort

Returning to South Africa, we make our way to our lodge situated within the Msinene Nature Reserve, a private game reserve. Our knowledgeable walking guide will lead us on a stroll along the Msinene River's riverine vegetation, where we can spot some of the region's 540+ bird species and follow the reticent nyala antelope. We visit Hluhluwe Game Reserve the next morning, which is important for rhino protection, and we also go to a contemporary Zulu village to discover more about their way of life. Before a filling meal at the resort, take in the sounds of the bush and the sunset.
Accommodation: Zululand Lodge

We go from the shore and travel to the small town of Dundee via the picturesque valleys and hills of Zululand. War screams still echo in the hills where Zulus, British, and Boer armies engaged in combat. After visiting the educational Talana Museum, we check into our lodge and have the afternoon to ourselves.
The next day, we see the Islandlwana battleground before setting off on an exhilarating four to five-hour journey that follows the paths used by the two British fugitives as they wind through Zululand's rolling hills toward the Buffalo River. We will explore Rourkes Drift later in the day and then head back to the resort.
Accommodation: Dundee Battlefields Lodge

Take in the splendor of the uKhahlamba Mountains, also referred to as the "barrier of spears" in the local dialect. After spending the night at the foot of the berg (elevation 1600 meters), we hike the mountain trails for the entire day and then cool off in the crystal-clear mountain streams of the Royal Natal National Park. The crisp mountain air is invigorating, and our lodge is a great spot to unwind and take in the breathtaking mountain vistas.
Accommodation: Thendele Camp

After an early breakfast, we head to Witsieshoek, which is located at the base of the majestic Sentinel Peak. We begin our hike, which includes a brief climb up a chain ladder, at the end of a rugged gravel road. Our goal is to reach the top of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre and the stunning Tugela Falls (altitude 3000m), which provides unmatched views down into KwaZulu-Natal. Following our stroll, we travel to the lodge, which is positioned at an elevation of 2300 meters and offers a stunning view of the Mont-aux-Sources mountain range.
Accommodation: Drakensberg Mountain Retreat

Enjoy a relaxed start to the day with the opportunity to see the critically endangered bearded vulture soar overhead before returning to Johannesburg. The trip comes to a conclusion at about five o'clock.