22 Days | Hit the coastal route to some of southern Africa's hotspots





Embark on an action-packed adventure through some of the most stunning scenery in southern Africa. In 22 days, head from Johannesburg to Cape Town on the spectacular coastal route, with plenty of epic stops along the way. Track down elusive wildlife on game drives in Kruger National Park, relax on golden beaches, visit remote Zulu to learn about tribal culture and mix it up with modern cities. From the savanna of Kruger and the lush wetlands of the St Lucia Estuary to the dramatic ocean vistas and fertile vineyards along the Wild Coast, see the best of southern Africa's blessed natural beauty, joined by a local leader with all the best advice and a group of likeminded adventurers keen to explore.
Trip overview

- Start
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Finish
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Theme
- Overland, Wildlife
- Destinations
- Eswatini (Swaziland), South Africa, Lesotho
- 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 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 22
- Trip code
- UBOSC
- Go on an epic safari with expert local guides in search of lions, hyenas and more through Kruger National Park – one of the largest National Parks in southern Africa.
- Enjoy a different perspective to traditional Game Viewing with a guided Hippo Boat Cruise on St Lucia Estuary, and a Walking Safari in Hlane Royal National Park.
- Visit the heartlands of the Zulu people and spend the night in a homestay, where you’ll be treated to traditional food and song, plus a meeting with the local healer.
- Embark on a half-day guided walk in the mighty Drakensburg Range – one of many spectacular hikes along the Garden Route that you can choose to discover in your free time.
- Rise early with your small group to watch wild meerkats wake and warm in the morning sun, before continuing south to Swellendam – South Africa’s third-oldest town.
- This is an overland trip. That means you’ll be travelling with a group in a purpose-built vehicle, visiting remote communities, setting up your own tent, occasionally roughing it in the bush with no facilities, and getting the best possible views of the Big Five. While the trucks don’t have air conditioning, they do have sliding windows which let in the breeze and make it even easier to take spectacular snaps of the local wildlife. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie. For more info on this style of travel, see our Africa overland page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/africa/overland
- This itinerary includes a homestay in Zululand. Beds can just be a foam mattress on the floor, with clean linen and pillows, and rooms can be up to six-share, of the same gender. Hot water is not available on this night.
- As the early bird catches the worm, the early camper sights the animals. There will be many early starts either to make use of the better safari time or to beat the morning traffic on long travel days.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 March 2023 - 31 December 2023
Inclusions
20 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 17 dinners
Overland vehicle
Camping with facilities (12 nights), Camping with basic facilities (2 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (1 night), Dormitory (3 nights), Lodge (2 nights)
- Black Mambas HQ - Dinner by Lantern Light
- Black Mambas HQ - Campfire Story Time
- Black Mambas HQ - Snare Walk
- Panorama Route - Blyde River Canyon Viewpoint
- Panorama Route - Three Rondavels Viewpoint
- Kruger National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive
- Hlane Royal National Park - Guided Walking Safari
- St Lucia Estuary - Safari Boat Cruise
- Cape Vidal - Beach Day Trip
- Howick - Nelson Mandela Capture Site
- Drakensberg - Day Hike
- Addo Elephant National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive
- Oudtshoorn - Cango Caves Guided Tour
- Oudtshoorn - Meerkat Experience
- Cape Town - Boulder Beach Penguins
- Kruger National Park - Night Game Drive - ZAR290
- Hlane National Park - Guided 4x4 Game Drive - ZAR455
- Hlane National Park - Umphakatsi Village Visit - ZAR153
- Durban - Art Gallery - Free
- Durban - Bay Cruise - ZAR240
- Durban - Juma Masjid Mosque - Free
- Lesotho - Bushman Painting Hike - ZAR60
- Lesotho - Pitseng Canyon Hike - 6 hours - ZAR120
- Lesotho - Village and Museum Walk - ZAR50
- Cintsa - Village Tour - ZAR235
- Cinsta - Canoe Hire - Free
- Addo Elephant National Park - Night game drive - ZAR480
- Tsitsikamma - Snorkelling - ZAR440
- Tsitsikamma - Stormsriver Mouth Hike - Free
- Tsitsikamma - Waterfall Trail - Free
- Cape Town - Table Mountain Aerial Cable - ZAR380
- Cape Town - Robben Island tour - ZAR550
- Cape Town - Harbour cruise - ZAR200
- Cape Town - Table Mountain Hike - ZAR1600
- Hermanus - Grotto Beach Walk - Free
- Cape Town - Best of the Cape Combo Tour - Full Day - ZAR2000
- Cape Town - Cape Peninsula and SUP Tour - Full Day - ZAR2100
- Cape Town - Robben Island Ferry & Table Mountain Tour - Full Day - ZAR1800
- Cape Town - Winelands Tour - Full Day - ZAR1600
- Cape Town - Winelands Tour - Half Day - ZAR1000
- Cape Town - Cape Peninsula & Table Mountain Tour - Full Day - ZAR2000
- Cape Town - Cape Malay Cooking Tour - Half Day - ZAR1200
- Cape Town - Township Experience - Half Day - ZAR965
- Cape Town - City and Waterfront Tour - Half Day - ZAR1100
- Cape Town - Cape Peninsula & Kirstenbosch Tour - Full Day - ZAR2000
- Cape Town - District Six & Bo-Kapp Cultural Tour - Half Day - ZAR965
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 8 (Homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This is a combination trip made up of two shorter trips. This means the composition of your group may change in Durban as some group members leave and new ones join you.
3. This trip finishes upon arrival in Cape Town on Day 22. Please do not book any flights until after 8 pm this evening.
4. 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.
5.The minimum age for this trip is 15 at the time of travel. Any travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian, or in lieu of a legal guardian, by an escort over the age of 18, appointed by their legal guardian. The legal guardian or their designee will be responsible for the traveller under the age of 18 day to day’s care. If a legal guardian elects to designate an escort in their lieu, they will be required to complete and sign a relevant document, to delegate their authority.
6.BORDER CROSSINGS ON THIS TRIP:
Exit South Africa - Jeppe's Reef (Day 4)
Enter Swaziland - Matsamo
Exit Swaziland – Lavumisa (Day 6)
Enter South Africa - Golela
Exit South Africa - Maseru Bridge (Day 12)
Enter Lesotho - Maseru Bridge
Exit Lesotho - Van Rooyenshek (Day 14)
Enter South Africa - Van Rooyenshek
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