Included in the Tour:

• 16 nights accommodation in a variety of guesthouses and lodges
• Daily breakfast, 5 lunches and 10 dinner
• Half day Soweto tour by bicycle including transfers
• 4 game drives in Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe Game Reserve in open safari jeeps with ranger
• Guided hikes in the Drakensberg Mountains
• 15 day car rental group B (VW Polo or similar), including unlimited km and maximum insurance
• Personalized travel book with route descriptions and information

Itinerary 17-day self drive tour

Day 1-2: Johannesburg

Arrive at Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport where you are welcomed by a representative from the guesthouse. After a good nights’ sleep you explore the famous township of Soweto on a guided tour per bicycle! Riding the bike allows you much more interaction with locals while you see all the highlights and taste your first African food.

Accommodation suggestion: Lucky Bean Guesthouse in Melville

Day 3-5: Kruger National Park

Get your rental car and travel to the Greater Kruger Park area. Arrive at your wonderful safari lodge, on the edge of Kruger. Enjoy various safaris during your stay including a full day game drive, a morning drive and an evening safari with a traditional braai. In an open safari jeep with ranger you get up close and personal with elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra and much more. The boat safari gives you a different perspective and for the adventurous we even include a walking or mountain bike safari!

Accommodation suggestion: Unembeza Boutique Lodge in Hoedspruit

Day 6-7: Panorama Route

Why not dig for a little gold, during your holiday? Travel to the little mining town Pelgrim's Rest, full of yesteryears’ atmosphere, while heading for the Blyde River Canyon, the only true canyon in South Africa. Incredible rock formations can be seen at Bourke's Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels and The Pinnacle with many spectacular waterfalls. The highlight of this area has the obvious name "God's Window". On a clear day views stretch as far as Mozambique.

Accommodation suggestion: Rissington Inn in Hazyview

Day 8-9: Swaziland

Swaziland is a diminutive kingdom, embedded between South Africa and Mozambique. The Kingdom is small in size but offers a wide range of possibilities; mountain biking, walking trails, rafting, bird watching, horseback riding, canopy tour ....take your pick! Swaziland offers picturesque scenery, friendly people and lovely handmade arts and crafts.

Accommodation suggestion: Beehive huts at Milwane Nature Reserve

Day 10-12: St Lucia

Cross back into South Africa and travel to St Lucia, a World Heritage Site. With bush, beach (turtle watching from November till February) and estuary all intermingled, there’s plenty to do. St. Lucia is interwoven with grasslands, mature coastal forests, mangrove swamps (hippo and crocodile paradise) and South Africa’s highest vegetated sand dunes which nurture a plethora of bird, animal and marine life. Its biodiversity is of the highest order and an estuary boat cruise is a must! Safari in Hluhluwe, sea kayaking at Cape Vidal and a whale-watching cruise will get you up close with the humpbacks (June-November).  Or simply enjoy some quite time sitting on a dune overlooking the ocean with dolphins playing in the waves.

Accommodation suggestion: Lidiko Lodge

Day 13: Midlands Meander

From St Lucia follow the coastline and turn inland by-passing Durban. Howick is situated at the start of the Midlands Meander, with its rolling hills, forests, meadows, pastures and quaint villages. There are countless distractions and detours to tempt you: visit a cheese farm, taste wines at The Stables Wine Estate, drink local lager, play a round of golf, admire Zulu artists at the Ceramic Art Studio. For the Sporty Spice amongst us: treetop adventure sliding, hot air ballooning, fly fishing, horse riding, mountain bike or hiking.

Accommodation suggestion: Granny Mouse Country House

Day 14-16: Drakensberg Mountains

Travel to the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains. The ‘Berg’ has many spectacular places to see such as the Amphitheater, well preserved Bushmen Rock Art sites, caves, waterfalls and more. The stunning scenery invites you to set out on foot on the numerous hiking trails you will find in the area. Enjoy the quietness and amazing surroundings to relax and reflect on the many wonderful places you have visited in the last 2 weeks. If you get the chance, do not forget to enjoy the most impressive Milky Way starry sky when the sun goes to sleep behind the mountain peaks.

Accommodation suggestion: Montusi Mountain Lodge

Day 17: Johannesburg

Enjoy a morning walk in the fresh mountain air before starting your journey back to Johannesburg, where you hand in your rental car at the airport.