12 Days | Meet South Africa's abundant wildlife, diverse cultures and dramatic scenery
Travel through South Africa and Eswatini (Swaziland), combining cultural and wildlife experiences on this 12-day family adventure. The trip starts with an introduction to South Africa’s most famous township, Soweto, before heading out into the wilderness. Search for the Big Five in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, kayak around Kosi Bay and head north into the vast expanses of Hlane National Park. Venture into Kruger National Park for more unbelievable wildlife watching, participate in village life at a community homestay and get to see the stunning colours of Blyde River Canyon.
Trip overview
- Start
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Finish
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Theme
- Family
- Destinations
- South Africa, Eswatini (Swaziland)
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Basix
- Ages
- Min 10
- Group size
- Min 2 - Max 16
- Trip code
- UWFS
- Visit a great spread of Southern African game reserves, putting you and your family right in the midst of the mighty 'Big Five' game of Africa.
- Camp at Kruger National Park under the African night sky. Experience the sights and sounds of the wild, perhaps the roar of a lion as you and your family drift off to sleep.
- Meet local families and learn about different South African cultures on an immersive and enriching homestay experience at Phiring village.
- Beautifully lit by candles and paraffin lanterns, your spacious campsite in Hlane National Park is just a stone's throw from a floodlit waterhole frequented by elephants and rhinos.
- Explore Kosi Bay by kayak – the kids will love paddling around the mangroves and learning about traditional fish traps.
- This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
- This is a participatory camping trip, and while you’ll have a dedicated support crew travelling with you, it makes for a better experience if everyone embraces the team spirit by helping with camp setup, food prep and cleaning. You will be putting up and taking down your tent as you move from place to place
- Malaria is a risk in some of the areas visited on this, so it's essential to consult a doctor about relevant medication prior to your trip.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 March 2025
Inclusions
11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners
Overland truck, 4X4
Hotel (1 night), Camping with basic facilities (6 nights), Chalet Lodge (4 nights)
- Soweto - Cycle Tour
- Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park - Game drives
- Kosi Bay Lodge
- Kosi Bay - Kayaking
- Hlane Royal National Park - Guided 4x4 Sunset Game Drive
- Kruger National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive
- Kruger National Park - Full Day Game Drive
- Phiring Village homestay experience
- Panorama Route - Three Rondavels
- Panorama Route - Bourkes Luck Potholes
- Hlane Royal National Park - Guided Walking Safari - ZAR200
- Hlane Royal National Park - Game Drive - ZAR335
- Kruger National Park - Night Game Drive - ZAR290
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
2. Minimum age for children on this trip is 10 years old.
3. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children under 17 years of age at time of travel.
4. This trip starts at noon on Day 1 and ends at approximately 3pm on day 12 at Johannesburg international airport. Please do not book any flights until after 8pm.
5. Travelling with children: Children travelling on a valid passport with one or both parents are no longer required to present a birth certificate, parental consent letter and other supporting documentation. To check the requirements for other situations, such as legal guardianship or unaccompanied travelling minors, visit the South African Department of Home Affairs.
6. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer to have your own room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
7. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and towel.
8. Border crossing delays in the region have been sporadic and difficult to predict. What takes an hour one day may take four hours the next. This may affect the order of activities in the itinerary. We understand this uncertainty can be frustrating, and we strongly recommend packing a bit of patience and flexibility.
9. On occasion, especially during the peak months of May to September and December we are not able to secure campsites within the Kruger National Park. In this instance we will camp at a backpackers outside the park.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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