Travel through the Kruger Park, eSwatini and along the coast of Kwazulu Natal

After arrival at the airport of  Johannesburg You will be met by a driver who will take you to your accommodation near the airport.

You stay in  Safari Club SA based on bed and breakfast.

After breakfast you will be taken to the airport where you can pick up your rental car for the next two weeks. For this trip we have reserved a category M rental car from Europcar (type Ford Ecosport or similar) for you. This type of car is a bit higher and therefore better resistant to unpaved roads and you have a better view. Prefer a different type of rental car or a vending machine? Let us know and we will adjust this for you.

Today you have a good distance to drive and you should definitely not leave too late. The ride from the airport to your accommodation in the Krugerpark is 460 kilometers and will take approximately six hours. Along the way you can already enjoy the African landscape and you can make a brunch or lunch stop in White River for example of Hazyview.

It is also possible to first go to an accommodation near the Panorama Route to drive if you would like to visit this area before entering the Kruger Park. Ask us about the possibilities.

Your accommodation for the coming night is  Rhino Post Safari Lodge, a small-scale luxury lodge among the wild animals. The spacious suites are made of wood, canvas and reed and have a double bed, en-suite bathroom with bathtub, private terrace overlooking the river bed and an outdoor shower. You can check in from 13:00 and an extensive High Tea is available at 15:30. You make an afternoon / evening game drive in an open 4×4 safari vehicle including a drink and sundowner snacks. Along the way the guide can answer your questions about this area and the wild animals that live there. In the evening at 8:30 pm dinner is served at the lodge (times depend on the season, in the winter months everything can take place earlier).

Plains Camp is a very exclusive camp with only four luxury safari tents (maximum of eight guests in the camp and during safaris). This camp is the starting point for bush walks and game drives for the coming days. Each tent has a ceiling fan, electricity, en-suite bathroom with shower and toilet and a terrace in front of the tent. In the camp there is a shared lounge and dining room and a small swimming pool to cool off on a warm day. You also have a view of a water hole where animals regularly drink.

During your stay at Plains Camp daily bush walks are included and in the afternoon / evening a game drive-bush walk combination is included. You will always be guided by very knowledgeable guides and the activities can be adjusted according to the wishes of the guests.

A day at Plains Camp looks like this: get up early for a cup of coffee or tea and a snack before the morning bush walk starts (sunrise). Anyone with an average condition can participate in these nature walks. The distance that is covered is usually between 5 and 12 kilometers (3-5 hours), over largely flat terrain. The guide will take into account the fitness of the group. Comfortable walking shoes or other sturdy footwear is needed. Wear as many clothes as possible in natural colors, wear a hat or cap against the sun and long trousers protect against tall grasses and thorn bushes. In the winter months it can be cold in the early morning and in the evening, so make sure you have a warm jacket or cardigan. After a walk in the footsteps of African wildlife you will return to the lodge (around 10:00 a.m.) and an extensive brunch will be waiting for you. Afterwards you can take a nap, relax in the lounge, observe the water hole or take a dip in the pool. A High Tea is served at 15:30 with sweet and salty delicacies, coffee, tea and fruit juice. Then it’s time for a (short) bush walk combined with a game drive. When the sun is almost down, stop for a snack and a drink while enjoying the view. You return to the lodge where you can freshen up. Snacks are served in the bar and a delicious dinner is served around 8:30 PM, followed by a cup of coffee or tea. Water, soft drinks, and local alcoholic drinks (beer, wine, cider) are included in the camp.

It is also possible to choose a night for a sleep out. These open platforms are equipped with mattresses, sleeping bags and a tent and offer you the opportunity to sleep under the starry sky. Participation in a sleep out depends on the weather and you

Again early on so that you can make a bush walk before it gets too hot. At 10:00 it is time for a last brunch in this special camp in the middle of the Kruger Park. At 11:00 you will be returned to Rhino Post Safari Lodge where you can continue your journey with your rental car.

You enter eSwatini (Swaziland) via the border post at Jeppe’s Reef. Your accommodation for the night is  Phophonyane Falls and is close to Pigg’s Peak. You spend the night here in a so-called beehive based on bed and breakfast. Hiking trails lead from this property to the 80-meter high Phophonyane waterfall, which is named after this nature reserve. You can hear the soothing sound of running water everywhere and this is an excellent place to relax after your ride today. At the restaurant you can dine (including traditional Swazi dishes) and enjoy the view.

Although today you only drive 155 kilometers, you must take into account a journey time of at least 3.5 hours and the border crossing will also take some time.

Today you will travel through eSwatini and you will get a good impression of this small kingdom along the way. The route takes you past Pigg’s Peak, Ngwenya (here you can deviate slightly from the route to visit the glass factory where glass is blown in the traditional way), Mbabane, Manzini and Big Bend to the Golela border post at Lavumisa. Your accommodation is located in South Africa in the north of the province Kwazulu Natal. Day distance approximately 255 kilometers.

Shayamoya Tiger Fishing & Game Lodge

After a quiet breakfast it’s time to travel on to your next destination het Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve  where the Big Five walks around. The fastest route is via the N2 highway towards the village of Hluhluwe. From there head west to the Memorial Gate where you enter the park. Via a winding road through the bush you drive while searching for wild animals to your accommodation: Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge.

Use the directions of the lodge (‘directions from Swaziland via the N2’), otherwise your GPS will send you in the wrong direction.

In the summer months a High Tea is served for guests at 3:30 PM and in the winter months at 2:30 PM. Make sure you arrive at the accommodation before or around this time. After the High Tea the first game drive starts with an expert ranger.

Your stay includes: breakfast, high tea and dinner, tea, coffee and game drives (early morning and afternoon). Light lunch is possible in the restaurant for your own account. In good weather, the evening meals are served under the starry sky around the campfire. The dinner consists of a changing three-course menu.

Every afternoon and early in the morning your ranger takes you for a game drive (no children under 3 years). In the summer months the game drives depart at 6 a.m. in the morning and 4 p.m. in the afternoon. In the winter the departure times are 6:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The game drives take place in an open 4×4 safari vehicle. These safaris are the main attraction in this 96,000-hectare area that has become known for successfully protecting the endangered rhino.

If you are not driving a 4×4 car, you will be picked up in Manguzi by a staff member from your next accommodation. This will take you to an open 4×4 vehicle Kosi Forest Lodge

Upon arrival you will be guided to your Forest Room and you will have time to unpack everything before it is time for the first activity (depending on the time you arrive). In the evening you can enjoy a delicious dinner on the deck under the starry sky.

Kosi Forest Lodge is located in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve (part of the iSimangaliso Wetland park). This lodge in the middle of the wilderness offers the unique opportunity to explore the pristine wetland with a vehicle, boat or by canoe with guide. The Kosi Lakes are a series of interconnected lakes that extend over approximately 18 km. The best way to see the area is from the water. Kosi Forest Lodge guests are accommodated in beautiful suites made of wood and located among the forests. All beds have a mosquito net. The unique open-air thatched bathroom with bath and shower is seen by many guests as a special experience. Each room also has a covered shower to accommodate the less adventurous traveler.

In the morning you will wake up surrounded by the beautiful sand forest, a haven for many bird species. After a nice breakfast, the activities can begin! There are a number of options and you can indicate your preference on site with the guides.

One of the possibilities, and for many the highlight during a stay at Kosi Forest Lodge, is making a canoe trip on the Kosi Lakes. The best time for this activity is in the early morning and the trip lasts about two hours. Guides guide you by canoe along the Sihadla Channel where many birds can be found and a beautiful landscape awaits you. You return for a delicious lunch and you can rest before you start your afternoon activity.

Another activity at Kosi Forest Lodge is taking a boat trip, an excellent way to explore the area. The day excursion by boat departs after breakfast and takes you through the network of lakes and rivers. The guide stops en route to explain the traditional fish traps and the traditions of the Tsonga community. A picnic lunch is served on the shores of the beautiful lake. After your meal, continue to Bhanga Nek beach, where you can enjoy a last swim before returning to the lodge. Please note: extra costs will be charged for this day activity.

After breakfast and possibly a morning activity it is time to check out at Kosi Forest Lodge and return to the pick-up point in Manguzi (use the transfer at 10:00 or drive your own 4×4). Drive further south to Coastal Forest Reserve and across the dirt road to Coastal Cashew Factory where you will be met by someone from Thonga Beach Lodge who will take you further to the lodge (total time from lodge to lodge about 2.5 hours). These transfers depart at 12:00 and 15:00. Please note: this transfer is not included in the price of this package.

In the afternoon you can undertake activities such as hiking, kayaking, diving, snorkeling (you can use snorkeling equipment for free), cultural tour or book a relaxing spa treatment (for your own account). Seasonal options also exist for turtle walks in the dark (November-February). Enjoy a cocktail at the bar before enjoying a delicious meal under the stars in the evening.

Diving at Mabibi is phenomenal. The professional diving team at Thonga Beach Lodge is here to guide you (also for beginners). For those who do not want to dive, there is the Open Ocean Experience. An exciting trip to a world of dolphins, whales and many other creatures. The warm Indian Ocean contains an enormous amount of fish species and other underwater life. Guests can sometimes swim with dolphins, whale sharks or snorkel with Manta rays and giant turtles. Extra costs are charged for diving and the Open Ocean Experience. In the summer (+/- November – late February), there are nocturnal walks and you drive along the beach in search of turtles that lay their eggs here.

During your stay at  Thonga Beach Lodge the following is included: two nights in a Forest View Room (upgrade possible for an additional charge), all meals, coffee / tea, use of snorkeling equipment, guided walks, kayaking, cultural tour and night walk to the turtles (seasonal, November-February) .

After breakfast you can check out at Thonga Beach Lodge (10:30 am) and return to the Coastal Cashews where your car is parked. Tonight you will spend the night again Shayamoya Tiger Fishing & Game lodge, a nice stopover on the way back to Johannesburg. Today you drive for nearly three hours and therefore still have enough time to relax at Shayamoya and to view the special plants in the garden.

After breakfast it’s really time to drive back to Johannesburg, a journey of about 5 hours (about 440 kilometers). You drive via the N2 towards Piet Retief where you can possibly make a short stopover. The N17 takes you further towards Springs and you will already be close to the airport. You hand in your rental car and fly back home. You can of course extend your trip, ask us about the possibilities.