Adventure Truck trip: ‘Scenic Route’

B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner

Day 1: Johannesburg – Mpumalanga (L, D)
At 06.30 you will depart from Johannesburg to the east to the province of Mpumalanga. You drive through a characteristic landscape with high mountains, deep valleys, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests. An overwhelming first introduction to South Africa. Today you visit the former gold digger village of Pilgrim’s Rest. Today this town is a kind of open-air museum where time has stood still since 1873. You get to know the town and visit the Bourke’s Luck Potholes and have a fantastic view from the God Window viewing point (approx. 5 hours, 350 km).

Accommodation: Campsite near Pilgrim’s Rest (tent)
Included activity: visit to Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window

Day 2 – 3: Kruger National Park (2x B, 2x L, 2x D)
The coming days are all about wildlife spotting. You go out early in the morning and at the end of the day to see the most wildlife. The game drives last about three hours and that time is really needed to find the ‘Big Five’ (elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard). Kruger Park was created in 1898 to protect wildlife. With an area of almost 2 million hectares, it offers a place for around 145 different mammals and more than 500 different bird species. In addition, there are also 336 different types of trees to be found here, count it! Optionally you can make a spectacular night game drive in the evening. In the dark you find yourself in a completely different world and see animals that you do not see during the day (approx. 2 hours, 150 km).

Accommodation: campsite in or near Kruger National Park (tent)
Included activity: morning and evening game drive
Optional activity: night-drive in Kruger in open game vehicle.

Day 4: Kingdom Eswatini (B, L, D)
You drive for another 2-3 hours through the Kruger Park, which will surely reveal some animal life. After this you drive to the mountainous kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) where King Mswati III is in charge. Eswatini is one of the three kingdoms in Africa and has a rich and traditional culture. We cross the border at Jeppes Reef and they usually take the time for the border formalities.

Accommodation: Malolotja Game Reserve (cabin with shared bathroom)
Included activity: walk Malolotja Game Reserve

Day 5 – 6: Zululand (2x B, 2x L, 2x D)
In the morning you will visit the craft market of Mbabane, where you can buy some nice handicraft souvenirs. Then you cross the border again to South Africa. You are approaching the Mkuzi Game Reserve which is a safe haven for the endangered black rhino.

The days here are dominated by elephant, giraffe, wildebeest, warthog, but also the various antelopes and the much rarer hyena, cheetah and leopard can be spotted here. And then we haven’t even mentioned the more than 400 different species of birds … in short, a true paradise in which you have arrived. Here you will again make a number of game drives. You make stops at water pools to see which game is coming to drink … (4 hours, 300 km).

Accommodation: campsite (tent)
Included activity: game-drives

Day 7 – 8: Drakensberg (2x B, 2x L, 2x D)
The southern side of the Drakensberg will be your home base for the next two nights. The Drakensberg or Ukhahlamba the name of the Zulu, means “Barrier of Spears” and it will soon be clear why this mountain range has this name. Rock formations, grassland, valleys with fast flowing rivers, a place where you might encounter the “bearded vulture” threatened with extinction.

You will stay at the foot of the major Drakensberg Mountains. As it can get very hot in the afternoon, you can go for walks in the morning and in the afternoon. Temperatures can change quickly in this area, so take a warm cardigan or jacket with you. But also protection on the head against the sun should not be missing.

Accommodation: campsite (tent)
Included activity: morning and afternoon walk

Day 9 – 10: Lesotho (2x B, 2x L, 2x D)
Today a long trip on the program. Even though there are fewer kilometers to cover, you will take longer today. Drive through the red sandstone cliffs through Golden Gate to Lesotho. You reach the border crossing through charming villages and towns. The Kingdom of Lesotho is surrounded by South Africa. This ‘Kingdom in the Sky’ is a beautiful area with high mountains, an overwhelming beauty and hospitable friendly residents.

The ride continues via the capital Maseru to Malealea. Due to the enormous differences in height, the temperature can fluctuate considerably. The road, on the other hand, causes very different fluctuations …
You head south towards Lesotho, where you will spend the night in the chalets of Malealea. This lodge in the mountains will be your place to stay for the next two nights. We advise you to go to bed early tonight because early tomorrow morning you will go out with a local guide and several ponies to explore the rugged landscape.

Accommodation: Malealea Lodge (double hut with shared bathroom)
Included activity: different stops, walk with a pony guide

Day 11: Karoo (B, L)
After all the greenery you will now discover a completely different area of South Africa: the Karoo a semi-desert. A country that is characterized by the many windmills, sheep and ostriches. After all the mountains it is now the eternal plain and that is wonderfully beautiful! (8 hours, 370 km).

Accommodation: Cradock Tuis Huis Guesthouse (double room with own bathroom)

Day 12: Addo Elephant NP (B, L, D)
You have of course seen elephants but it has made Addo Elephant NP famous. A park full of gentle giants, where you can get reasonably close. This beautiful reserve was created in 1931 to protect the last 11 elephants in this area. Today there are more than 600 elephants, but you can also find the buffalo, black rhino and all kinds of antelope species here. The small, special dung beetle threatened with extinction also deserves attention.

Accommodation: campsite (tent)
Included activity: game-drives
Optional activity: night game-drive

Day 13 – 14: Tsitsikamma (2x B, 2x L, 2x D)
The native forest, surrounded by the Storms River Mouth campsite. This is the place where you set up the tent for the next 2 nights. You can take fantastic walks along the mouth of the river or along the rocky coastline of the Indian Ocean. Enjoying African fynbos, a unique vegetation, you may see baboons, other species of monkeys and countless birds. If the view from the rocks does not make you dizzy enough, you do not feel the blood flowing fast enough, you can make a bungee jump at the Bloukrans bridge. This is the most spectacular and highest bungee jump in the world (not included).

The Tsitsikamma National Park is located between land and sea, from Nature’s Valley to Storm’s River mouth, where very old forests meet the spectacular waves of the Indian Ocean. A beautiful place for walks and spotting animals. Also spectacular is the spotting of the whales that can be seen here from July to November. You can just stay on the ground with two feet and they will jump! Very beautiful and special is a trip through the tops of the trees of the Tsitsikamma, this is also an optional activity. (3 hours, 220 km).

Accommodation: campsite on the Storms River Mouth (tent)
Included activity: entrance fees Tsitsikamma National Park
Optional activity: bungee jumping, whale watching, treetop canopy tour

Day 15: Western Cape (B, L, D)
Today you have another long journey of about seven hours ahead. You drive to the wine countries of the Western Cape. But first you will pay a short visit to Knysna. In this cozy coastal town you go to 1 of the ‘Heads’, the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon.

On the way from the coast to the inland you pass through agricultural fields and hills before you approach the mountains again. You will camp on the edge of the Cape winelands. (7 hours, 510 km).

Accommodation: campsite (tent)
Included activity: visit Knysna Heads

Day 16 – 17:Cape Town (B)
You will visit the historic town of Stellenbosch for a wine tasting and a tour through the wine cellar. You then continue your way to the mother city of South Africa; Cape Town. A beautiful metropolis where you can do and see everything. You will visit Cape Point with Cape of Good Hope, follow the beautiful route of Chapmans Peak along one of the most beautiful beaches of Houtbay and visit the V&A Waterfront. Of course, enthusiasts can also visit Robben Island (not included). Lunch and dinner are for your own account during the days in Cape Town. (2 hours, 160 km).

Accommodation: Sweetest Guesthouses (double room with own bathroom)
Included activity: wine tasting and cellar tour, visit to cape point, entrance fees Boulders Beach penguins
Optional activity: Robben Island, Shark cage diving, visit to sea lions colony in Hout Bay

Day 18: Sightseeing Cape town and the end of the trip (B)
After breakfast you climb Table Mountain. The effort is richly rewarded when we arrive at the top, the view is fantastic. The afternoon can be spent shopping for souvenirs or relaxing on the beach before we say goodbye around 6 pm, the end of a wonderful journey.

Included activity: Climb from Table Mountain.

Note: With this trip it is mandatory to take out travel insurance. Read more about travel insurance here

Luggage conditions: Soft bags, no more than 12 kg i.v.m. the limited space on board the truck.

Traveling alone:
If you are traveling alone, it is also possible to book based on layout. You then pay the double price, without surcharge. This must be requested when booking and is subject to availability.

Meals
Meals are mainly prepared by the group management with help from guests where necessary (washing dishes and the like). At some of the accommodations, breakfast and / or dinner is provided by the lodge. You usually spend the night in 2-person chalets. Are you traveling alone? You will then be classified with another traveler of the same sex or you can opt for a private room at an additional cost. Said accommodations can be replaced based on availability with accommodations of the same quality. You travel with an Adventure Truck equipped with 12 seats or in exceptional cases a van is used.

At the start of this trip you pay a local payment of USD 300 per person. You pay this amount to your guides and this is used for payments during the trip that can only be done in cash.

If you need advice or more information please contact us click here: contact

18 days/17 nights

2019:
August17*D, 24*
September no departures
October 5 D, 12
November   23, 30
December21

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