World in One Country – 20 days

Departing from Johannesburg we head east towards Mpumalanga. A landscape characterized by mountains, panoramic passes, valleys, rivers, waterfalls and forests. We spend the night in the town of Graskop, a small forestry town situated on the Drakensberg Escarpment at the start of the Panorama route and the gateway to the Kruger National Park.

Today we cross the border into the mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland, led by King Mswati III, and one of 3 monarchies in Africa. You will explore the traditions and discover the culture of which the Swazis are so proud. We spend two nights in the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Swaziland’s pioneer conservation area situated in the “Valley of Heaven”. Apart from abundant bird life, there are a number of animal species to be seen including hippo, giraffe, zebra, and a variety of antelope, which we hope to spot on a guided walk in the afternoon. The next day we visit the Umphakatsi Chief’s homestead, for an interactive experience where you will get to try your hand at grinding maize and plaiting mountain grass or join the children in Swazi song and dance. An offering of a taste of local food is made but forget about your cutlery and try it the Swazi way… with your hands!

After visiting a craft market en-route, we re-enter South Africa via Northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. We arrive at our lodge in the late afternoon. The following day we explore the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, during a game drive in our tour vehicle. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is the oldest game reserve in Africa and is a safe haven to both the endangered black and white rhino. In the afternoon we make our way to The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, which was listed as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site. Here we enjoy a boat cruise on the St Lucia estuary, getting up close to the hippos and crocodiles that inhabit the lake.

Moving further inland, we spend the next two nights in Northern Drakensberg which is an area known for its magnificent scenery of towering mountains, indigenous forests, and cool berg streams. At 3,482 metres in height, The Drakensberg, known in Zulu as uKhahlamba or the “Barrier of Spears”, is South Africa’s highest mountain range, stretching its rugged form roughly 1,000 km from south-west to north-east. Time will be spent exploring this picturesque World Heritage Site on guided walks.

Today we cross the border into the Kingdom of Lesotho, the southernmost landlocked country in the world, rich in natural beauty, flora, fauna and cultural heritage. Malealea is situated in a remote part of Western Lesotho that is breath-taking in its beauty. We have the chance to experience traditional Basotho life, a nation with solid traditions, beliefs and customs. No visit to Lesotho would be complete without a pony trek and the next day we take a ride on the transport of choice for most Basotho, as these sturdy animals handle the narrow trails better than any 4×4 can!

We leave the beauty of Lesotho behind us and drive to the historical town of Cradock, known for spectacular starry nights and traditional Karoo hospitality. Founded in 1814 as a frontier stronghold, the town is an important agricultural centre for cattle, dairy and fruit farming. Cradock is a place of literary legends and the original part of the town is graced with some of the finest old buildings.

A benchmark conservation success, Addo Elephant National Park offers a unique wildlife habitat, famous for the Addo elephants and the remaining population of the flightless dung beetle. We spend the afternoon on a game drive in our tour vehicle, in search of elephant, black rhino, lion, buffalo and leopard. Additional game drives conducted in open game-viewer vehicles are available at an extra expense. An evening spent at the floodlit waterhole allows us to watch the nocturnal animals and listen to their calls.

This morning after breakfast our journey takes us to a region of startling beauty along South Africa’s southern coastline, known as the Garden Route. We spend two nights in the Storms River Village, at the heart of the Tsitsikamma Forest. We will take a leisurely hike along one of the short trails, which allow you to explore the coastal bush and rocky shoreline. There is also an option to plunge off the world’s highest bungi jump at the Bloukrans River (for own expense).

After visiting ‘The Heads’ in Knysna, a town nestled on a tranquil lagoon, we will enjoy an interactive and educational oyster tasting experience. We continue our journey, travelling over the Outeniqua Mountains into the Little Karoo arriving in the town of Oudtshoorn. We take a trip to the famous Cango Caves, with their impressive ancient stalagmites and stalactites before overnighting in the ostrich capital of the world. During your stay, you will have the opportunity to partake in an interactive interpretative nature walk, focusing on biodiversity, adaptation, the importance of organisms, interdependence and the need for conservation.

On our way to Cape Town, we enter the town of Robertson where you have the chance to blend your own wine at the Excelsior Manor Guesthouse. Experience the tradition of blending red varietals, bottle, cork and label and take home a little piece of the Cape. Once in Cape Town, enjoy the afternoon at leisure. The next day, explore the many attractions Cape Town has to offer on a Cape Peninsula tour. Travelling along the Atlantic Seaboard via Sea Point, Clifton and Camps Bay, we stop at Maiden Cove look-out point before continuing to Hout Bay. Here you have the option to take a boat trip to Seal Island (seasonal and not included in the cost). We carry on over Chapman’s Peak, one of the world’s most breath-taking coastal drives, to Cape Point and the Good Hope Nature Reserve. In the afternoon we travel on to Simon’s Town, a village with charming Victorian architecture, a naval base and a large penguin colony at the beautiful Boulders Beach. Kindly note the reserve entrance fee at Boulders Beach carries an additional cost.

Spend the final day at leisure. Weather dependent there is the chance to take the cable car up Table Mountain (own expense) and enjoy one last view of the Cape of Good Hope before your transfer to the airport.

The World in One Country is a best of South Africa guided tour including, Swaziland and Lesotho. It includes a Kruger National Park safari, a tour of Drakensberg mountains and a Garden Route tour!

Day 1: Safari Club, Johannesburg or similar
Day 2: Graskop Hotel, Graskop or similar
Day 3 & 4: Berg en Dal Camp, Southern Kruger or similar
Day 5 & 6: Mlilwane Rest Camp, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary or similar
Day 7 & 8: Ezulwini Lodge, Hluhluwe or similar
Day 9 & 10: The Cavern, Northern Drakensberg or similar
Day 11 & 12: Malealea Lodge, Malealea or similar
Day 13: Die Tuishuise, Cradock or similar
Day 14: Addo Elephant Rest Camp, Addo Elephant National Park or similar
Day 15 & 16: Tsitsikamma Village Inn, Stormsriver or similar
Day 17: Mooi Plaas Guesthouse, Oudtshoorn or similar
Day 18 & 19: Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Cape Town or similar
Day 20: Tour ends

View Full Itinerary below

Click here to view the full itinerary for the World in One Country Tour, a South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland tour.