Kingdoms of Southern Africa - South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho

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Day 1: Arrive in Johannesburg, South Africa

Upon your arrival at the Johannesburg International Airport, you will be met and transferred 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 cheetahs as well as Wild Dogs, the second most endangered carnivore in Africa. 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. This evening, we have another game drive, in search of elephant, lions, cheetah, rhino, buffalo, giraffe and the magnificent wildlife roaming South Africa's most famous game park. Overnight at Nkambeni lodge, 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

We take a city tour of Mozambique's capital, Maputo, where the influence of the Portuguese culture is clearly 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. Later in the 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, Ithala Game Reserve.

Day 10: Drakensberg Range, to Didima Valley

We enjoy a morning game drive in the park before continuing our adventure into the Drakensberg Range. We stop at Blood River to see the Blood River monument, where we will also have lunch. We continue on to the beautiful and mountainous Royal Natal National Park. Overnight in Didima Valley.

Day 11: Cathedral Peak, Didima Valley

Cathedral Park with its magnificent Didima Valley, is ideal for hiking with stunning vistas and known for its San rock art. There are several spectacular guided hikes available from our resort ranging from easy to challenging. Overnight in Didima Valley.

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 200 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 visit 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 very 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 in the Tsitsikamma Area.

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, 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 scenery 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, from here we visit 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 continue our journey 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. Tonight we will enjoy our group farewell dinner. Overnight in Cape Town.