Adventure Truck reis: ‘Heeltemal Pragtig’

The itinerary as described below is based on the program, including the purchase of the activity package. If you do not book an activity package, the travel schedule will thus deviate from the travel schedule described below. We recommend that you purchase the activity package prior to your trip (upon booking) in order to avoid disappointment on the spot. When you book the activities in advance, you are assured of participation.

This trip will do the following provinces and countries: Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng.

Travel schedule:

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Day 1: Winelands
At 07:00 you start your adventure in the center of Cape Town. During a tour with a local guide you will learn more about the history of the city and visit a number of cultural highlights (included in the activity package). Travelers who do not participate in this tour meet their travel companions after this excursion at noon in the center of Cape Town.

The journey really only starts when you drive towards the well-known vineyards of Stellenbosch. At one of the local wine farms you can enjoy a wine and cheese tasting. The student city of Stellenbosch is the second oldest European settlement in the Western Cape after Cape Town. You have the opportunity to explore the Eikenstad, as Stellenbosch is called, on foot. After this visit you will continue to the final destination of today; Paarl.

Day 2: Oudtshoorn (B, L, D)
Via a beautiful route through the Hottentots-Holland Mountains you drive today via part of the famous Route 62 to Oudtshoorn. Along the way, a stop at Ronnie’s Sex Shop just outside Barrydale is not missing. In this shop no sex articles, but a bar to eat or drink something. The inscription was officially ‘Ronnies shop’, but friends of owner Ronnie added ‘sex’ to it. Now tourists from all over the world stop here to drink and take a picture.

Camping: Kleinplaas or similar (tent)
Accommodation: Kleinplaas, or similar (double room with private bathroom)
Included activity: Visit ostrich farm

Day  3: Plettenberg Bay (B, L)
Early on for a visit to the wonderful Cango Caves. A local guide will tell you everything about the four-kilometer-long caves. Through the Outeniqua Mountains, you drive to the heart of the Garden Route today. This route along the coast, mountains, rivers, lagoons, beaches and the indigenous forests of the Tsitsikamma National Park is one of the most beautiful on the south coast of South Africa. In the coming days you will have the opportunity to make beautiful walks / hikes in this area, relax on the beach or make use of the many optional activities.

Camping & Accommodation: Fairy Knowe, or similar (double room with private bathroom)
Activity Package: Cango Caves basic tour
Optional activity: Dinner

Day 4: Tsitsikamma National Park (B, D)
Today the opportunity to visit some beautiful places along the Garden Route and to undertake optional activities. In the morning you can relax on the beach and afterwards the truck drives a number of rounds along the sights so you can choose how long you want to stay somewhere before you drive with the truck to another place. Optional activities include: bungee jumping at Bloukrans, visit the bird park ‘Birds of Eden’ or Monkeyland. In the afternoon you can take a walk or relax on the beach at the beautiful Natures Valley.

Day 5: Tsitsikamma (B, L, D)
Today you will explore the Tsitsikamma National Park on foot. Adventurers take part in the Waterfall Trail, an intensive but beautiful hike! This route winds along the beautiful coastline and ends at the waterfall where you can take a refreshing dip. Would rather be quieter? Then use the hiking trail to the mouth of the Storms River where you can make beautiful pictures of the rugged coastline. Optionally you can participate in the Treetop Canopy Tour where you can experience the park from the eyes of the many birds that live here.

On the way to Addo is stopped in Jeffrey’s Bay, a small place known for its excellent surfing and beaches. Here you can drink a cup of coffee with a view of the sea, make a beach walk, visit the small surf museum or even try to surf. In the afternoon, you make the truck, from where you have a beautiful view because you are sitting high, a game drive in the Addo Elephant National Park.

Camping: Kudu Ridge Campsite, or similar  (tent)
Accommodation: Kudu Ridge Lodge, or similar (permanent two-person tent with private bathroom)
Included activity: visit Jeffrey’s Bay, afternoon game drive in the truck

Day 7: Addo Elephant N.P. (B, L, D)
In the morning you have the option of visiting Port Elizabeth (optional). After lunch you again make a game drive in Addo National Park.

Camping: Kudu Ridge Campsite, or similar (tent)

Accommodation: Kudu Ridge Lodge, or similar (permanent two-person tent with private bathroom)
Included activity: afternoon game drive in the truck
Optional activity: visit to Port Elizabeth

Day  8: Graaff Reinet (B, L, D)
Today you drive to the historic village of Graaff Reinet, the fourth oldest village in South Africa. On arrival in the afternoon, take a walk along the beautiful old buildings and tell a local guide about the history of this ‘Pearl of the Karoo’. You can then optionally make a sundowner tour to the Valley of Desolation (in the South African winter months this is a sunrise tour in the morning on day 9). This beautiful valley gives you a unique view over the fields and the small village and this is an extra nice picture when the sun starts to fall.

Camping: Profcon Resort, or similar (tent)
Accommodation: Profcon Resort, or similar (double room with private bathroom)
Included activity: Graaff-Reinet Historical Tour
Activity Package: Valley of Desolation Sundowner Tour

Day  9: Lesotho – Malealea (B, L, D)
A beautiful route today over the mighty Orange River to the border with Lesotho. Lesotho is one of the highest located countries in the world (over 1000 meters above sea level) and consists of a magnificent landscape of mountains and hills. This small country surrounded by South Africa is also called, quite appropriately, “Kingdom in the Sky”. You stay in a beautiful location high in the mountains.

Camping: Malealea Lodge, or similar (tent)
Accommodation: Malealea Lodge, or similar (double room with own bathroom)

Day 10: Lesotho, Malealea (B, L, D)
This morning you make a walk in the mountains, where you can enjoy the fresh, pure mountain air, the beautiful view and you visit a local village. Here you get to know the daily life of the residents. The Basotho people are known for their traditional hats, blankets and mountain ponies. These ponies are extremely well adapted to the mountainous area and you have the opportunity to make a ride on the back of a pony to experience this yourself.

Camping: Malealea Lodge, or similar (tent)
Accommodation: Malealea Lodge, or similar (double room with own bathroom )
Included activities: Lesotho Village Visit, morning walk through the mountian
Optional activities: Pony trekking, extra hiking options

Day  11: Drakensberg, Zuid-Afrika (B , L, D)
We drive back to South Africa and through the beautiful Golden Gate National Park with its sandstone rocks, you drive to the Drakensberg. If time permits, you stop en route at a ‘vulture restaurant’ where you can hopefully see the big vultures enjoying a nice snack. Via beautiful mountain passes you finally reach the Royal Natal N.P. that is part of the Drakensberg, South Africa’s highest mountain range with peaks of 3000 meters and more. You can go hiking and see rock paintings, or cool off in the mountain rivers in warm weather (day distance ± 370 kilometers).

Camping: Monks Cowl, or similar (tent)
Accommodation: Monks Cowl, or similar (double room with own bathroom)
Included activities ride through the Golden Gate N.P., visit  vulture restaurant, Oliviers Hoek Pass

Day  12: Drakensberg (B, L, D)
On the second day in the Drakensberg you can take a walk / hike under the guidance of your guide with the possibility to visit San rock drawings en route with a local guide. Based on the wishes and physical condition of the group, it can be decided to offer different routes that you can choose from. Today’s main goal is for everyone to enjoy the beautiful surroundings at their own pace.

Camping: Monks Cowl, or similar (tent)
Accommodation: Monks Cowl, or similar (double room with own bathroom)
Included activities: Hike with own guide
Optional activities: Extra hiking

Day 13: Kwa-Zulu Natal Coast – Durban (B , L)
We leave the mountains and hills behind and drive to the coast of Kwazulu Natal province. Along the way there is a stop at the place where Nelson Mandela was arrested on August 5, 1962. There is now a special work of art on this site. You will also visit the waterfall of Howick. The journey then continues to South Africa’s largest port city and popular surfing place: Durban. A bustling trading city and a melting pot of nationalities and the accompanying traditional dishes. Tonight you will probably choose Indian cuisine here (day distance ± 265 kilometers).

Camping & Accommodation: Garden Court South Beach Hotel or similar (double room with own bathroom)
Included activities: visit Howick waterfall and Capture site Nelson Mandela
Optional activities : Diner at a local restaurant

Day  14: Zululand (B , D)
The morning starts quietly and whoever wants to can take a beach walk or take a dip in the ocean. In the afternoon you leave the city behind and drive along the coast to the part of Kwazulu Natal province known as Zululand. In the evening you take part in a Zulu cultural evening where you learn more about the language and traditions of this people. You can also taste Zulubier made from the Ilala palm.

Camping & Accommodation: Shonalanga, or similar (double room with own bathroom)
Included activities: Zulu cultural evening

Day 15: Hluhluwe – Imfolozi game Reserve (B, D)
You have another day full of nature and wildlife ahead. This morning you will drive early to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve. Thanks to a large-scale conservation project, the park has the largest population of white rhinos in the world. During the game drive you will look for the famous Big Five and other beautiful animals and birds. In the afternoon you return to St. Lucia where you have time for a siesta or to explore the village yourself. Later you take a boat cruise in the St. Lucia Estuary (part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park), where hippos are regularly seen.

Camping & Accommodation: Shonalanga, or similar (double room with own bathroom)
Activity Package: Game-drive in Hluhluwe Imfolozi NP, boatcruise St. Lucia

Day 16: Eswatini – Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary (B, L, D)
Again you leave South Africa, this time for a visit to the kingdom of Eswatini. Today’s destination is the Mlilwane Game Reserve. Mlilwane is located in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley, also called ‘Valley of Heavens’. Because there are no dangerous predators here, you can explore the area on foot. You can also choose to visit Chief’s Village or mountain bike through the reserve (day distance ± 335 kilometers and a border crossing).

Camping: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary or similar  (tent)
Accommodation: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary or  similar  (Beehive hut with own bathroom)
Optional activities: Game drives, bush walks, mountainbiking , visit to Chief’s Village

Day 17: Swaziland – Kruger National Park (B , L, D)
After a morning walk in nature, it is time to travel further. Before you cross the border, you will visit a craft market. Swaziland is known for the many handmade items and you can probably buy nice souvenirs at the market. You will spend the night on the edge of the Kruger National Park.

Camping: Nkambeni Safari Camp, or similar (tent)
Accommodation: Nkambeni Safari Camp, or similar  (permanent double tent with own bathroom )
Included activities: morning walk  with your guide, visit  craft market

Day  18: Panoramaroute (B , L, D)
For those who want to take an optional morning walk, under the supervision of an experienced ranger, the day starts early. If you prefer to start the day more calmly, meet your guide and fellow travelers a little later.
After the walk or after a quiet breakfast, you will leave for the Panorama route for a short drive. In clear weather you can take beautiful pictures at the Three Rondavels, God’s Window and Bourke’s Potholes. The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in Africa and its cliffs rise some 600 to 800 meters next to the river bed. Water erosion has created particularly shaped rocks and gullies. In the afternoon you return to your camping place.

Camping: Nkambeni Safari Camp, or similar (tent)
Accommodation: Nkambeni Safari Camp, or similar  (Permanent double tent with private bathroom)
Included activity : Panoramaroute
Optional activity: Morning bush walk (subject to availability)

Day  19: (Greater) Krugerpark (B, D)
Time for a real Krugerpark safari! With an area of almost 20,000 km², this is the largest game reserve in South Africa. Your tour guide will take you all day to see as many of the 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians, 507 species of birds and 147 different mammals as possible. From the adventure truck with its large windows you have a beautiful view of the landscape. Today will be all about searching for the famous Big Five! In the evening there is the possibility to make an optional Sundowner drive.

Camping: Nkambeni Safari Camp, or similar (tent)
Accommodation: Nkambeni Safari Camp, or similar  (permanent two person tent with private bathroom)
Included activities: Full day  game drive in the  adventure truck
Activity Package:Full day  4×4 game drive in the  Kruger NP
Optional activities : Sundowner game drive

Day  20: Johannesburg (B)
Enjoy a game drive this morning before you drive to Johannesburg. You will arrive in Johannesburg at the end of the afternoon. You say goodbye to your guide and traveling party or postpone this until after dinner. There is an optional South African braai (bbq) at the lodge in the evenings at your own expense.

Included activities: morning  game-drive in Kruger NP
Optional activities: BBQ at lodge in Johannesburg