Tour Description
9 Day Incredible South African Safari and Drakensberg Adventure
Embark on a 9-day journey through South Africa’s most iconic landscapes and unforgettable wildlife encounters. Start by exploring the breathtaking sights of the Blyde River Canyon, one of the world’s largest green canyons. Then, venture into the heart of Kruger National Park for an exhilarating full-day Big Five safari, capped off by an enchanting dinner under the stars. Cruise through the scenic St. Lucia estuary, home to hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife. Finally, immerse yourself in the dramatic beauty of the Drakensberg Mountains with a hike to the majestic Amphitheater. This adventure blends wildlife, natural wonders, and cultural experiences into a trip of a lifetime!
9 Days / 8 Nights
Tour Duration
R47 450.00 pps
Tour Price
Min 2 Adults. Discounts apply for 4 or more people.
Highlights
Trip
• Explore Blyde River Canyon sights
• Dine under the stars in Kruger Park
• Enjoy a full day Big 5 safari
• Cruise through St. Lucia estuary
• Hike to Drakensberg’s Amphitheater
Full Tour Breakdown
Tour Overview
Tour Includes
Tour Excludes
What To Bring
The following is included in the tour price:
All accommodations
Professional guide
Guided transfer to and from Johannesburg
Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Full Day Private Open Vehicle Game Drives
St Lucia Cruise
Entrance fees to Kruger, Blyde Canyon, Drakensebrg and St Lucia
Drinking water (On all days)
Limited refreshments at breakfast
Blyde River Canyon sightseeing tour
The following is not included in the tour price:
Gratuities for any service received, guides, wait staff ETC.
Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
Meals where indicated
Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
Alcoholic drinks
- You will need both warm and cold weather clothing, if it’s winter some areas will be very warm and in others, you will need a big jacket, maybe even a beanie. Summer is the rainy season so a waterproof windbreaker is a good idea.
- A bathing costume of sorts.
- Sunscreen and hat.
- Towel for swimming.
- Walking shoes of some sort, mainly for moving around camp at night.
- Insect repellent is a good idea. (Especially Summer). We are a low-risk malaria area.
- Binoculars are great to have.
- A camera is a must.
What To Look Forward To
Day By Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrivals - Kruger National Park
Meet and greet your friendly Endless Summer Guide for your exciting safari and head toward the Kruger Park. Your guide will enthrall you with information of the ever changing landscape, history and culture of the area.
We stop midway for lunch and take a short detour to view the mighty Blyde River Canyon, a Quick stop to see the main sights, God’s Window, Lisbon falls and the 3 Rondavels. Then it is onto the Kruger, arriving late afternoon. A short game drive is on offer as you make your way to your camp inside the Kruger National Park.
Dinner is served under the stars in true South African style, with the sounds of the surrounding bush adding excitement for what lies ahead tomorrow.
Day 2: Full-Day Safari
Full Day Safari Wake before sunrise to get a head start on things, this is the best time to view game as the nocturnal animals are still active and the other animals use the cool of the morning to move to the watering holes. After a few hours of game viewing your guide will find a comfy spot to stop and have coffee/tea and some traditional biscuits (Rusks). Take in the sites and the smells as you enjoy Africa in its finest!
Move along before stopping for breakfast which is prepared outdoors at a picnic site, with magnificent view of the surrounding bushveld. During the heat of the day relax by the pool or under the garden trees as you identify the many birds found here. Then set off on your afternoon game drive, again your guide will find a great spot to have a couple of sundowners and afternoon snacks, as you gaze over the vast savannah! Return to camp to freshen up before meeting around the campfire to share the stories of the day. Have a wonderful supper, again prepared by your guide in true South African style, on open coals and under the African stars. End it all off with a walk to the fence to try see some night creatures, with your nightcap of choice……
Day 3: Full Day Safari and Optional Activities
Full Day Safari & Alternate Activities Start this day much like the day before, an early rise to catch the worm (or lion) and a four hour game drive. You’ll drive to another section of the park for some variety and have a bush breakfast at a picnic spot along the way. For the more adventurous of you, substitute the game drive for a bush walk with the Park Rangers (carries a small surcharge).
Again the heat of the day is enjoyed back at camp, where you can enjoy a swim, do some shopping or sit in the shade watching the passing game. In the afternoon set our on game drive, carry on at a leisurely pace and find a cool spot to relax and take in the sights. Snacks will be served along the way, cheese and biscuits and traditional South Africa biltong. Then make your way back towards camp as the sun seeps and enjoy your last sunset in the African bushveld. Supper will be served under the stars again!!
Day 4: Kruger Departure and Travel Day
Enjoy one last early morning drive, a shorter one, as we need to return to camp to have breakfast and check out. Then we’ll have a small drive through the park as we make our way towards the exit gate and hopefully get one last glimpse of something special.
You will then begin your travel day, where you can enjoy some epic scenery as you head to the KZN east coast region. Firstly though, you will enter the country of Swaziland as we use it as a transit route to shorten the journey to Hluhluwe. You will stop for lunch (own account, don’t worry they will accept Rand) and spend a bit of time enjoying the cultural difference.
We then exit Swaziland and continue the last 1.5 hour to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve. Much like the Kruger section of the trip, you will be accommodated in the awesome camps right inside the reserve. The camp is called iMpila in the southern section and unlike Kruger, has no fences so a multitude of wildlife can be seen just sitting at camp!
Freshen up before joining your guide around the camp fire whilst a braai (BBQ) dinner is prepared. Hopefully some night animals will come around for a visit, hyena and bushbabies being regulars…
Day 5: Hluhluwe-IMfolozi Full Day Safari
Full day Big 5 Safari It is an early rise as you embark on another game drive, after a hot cup of coffee and tea. Early game drives, when the sun is just peaking over the savanna is the ideal time to catch the night time predators still moving about. Depending on the season this drive is about 4 hours, but also depends on how much is being seen!! Mid-drive we stop for tea/ coffee and snack break just to help those grumbling tummies. Then the drive continues as the sun warms up the bushveld and the day animals zebra, giraffe, elephant and other antelopes begin to move about. We return to camp for a scrumptious brunch, cooked for you by your guide. Then the next few hours are your own to do as you please. Take a walk around camp and enjoy the birdlife and all the common animals that like to feed on the manicured lawns. Sit and enjoy the views or even have a small ‘siesta’. Then once again enjoy an afternoon game drive hopefully to keep adding to your now ever increasing game viewing list. Enjoy another beautiful sunset and then some more camp fire stories and a traditional South African meal. Look upwards to the stars, the lack of artificial light lends itself to amazing star gaxzing and your guide will help you to indentify the various constellations.
Day 6: Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park and St. Lucia
Wake early again to the smell of fresh coffee and off on your final game drive, your guide will be intent on finding what is left to see. Return to camp for breakfast before packing your bags and checking out. We drive across to the St. Lucia Wetland and estuary, home to the largest population of hipoo and nile crocodile in Africa. After checking into your accommodation enjoy a 2 hour boast cruise on the estuary and up into the Reserve. Expect to see hippo and crocodile, with a myriad of bord species, as well as antelope and other animals.
Do an afternoon drive of the Wetland reserve, exploring the beautiful unspoiled beach of Cape Vidal. Return as the sun sets and enjoy a dinner out in the quaint little town of St. Lucia (own account). After which jump onto a game drive vehicle and go for a night drive in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (optional extra). This will afford you a fantastic opportunity to see some nocturnal wildlife. Search for hyena, bushbabies, chemeleons and the elusive leopard!! after the night drive it is off to bed for a much needed sleep…
Day 7: Departure and Travel Day
Todays start will not be as early, enjoy a walk around town, down to the estuary mouth or just have a lie in. There are some optional activities to partake in but after breakfast we check out and we then leave St. Lucia and make our towards Durban. We then leave the coast and head inland toward the mighty Drakensberg mountains.
As we aproach the foothills of the Drakensberg we enter an area knows as the Midlands. A beautiful area of hilly farmlands and quiant villages. Here we will stop for a lunch (own account) allowing you to soak up the atmosphere. Then it is the final leg onto the Drakesberg.
We arrive shortly before sunset, so you get to watch the sun dip over the infamous Amphitheater. Once again, we stay inside the actual Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, so you are right at the foothils of the mountain range. After a long day, freshen up and enjoy dinner in the restaurant.
Day 8: Full Day Exploring the Berg
Today is a very exciting one. We hike to the bottom of the Amphitheater and get to witness the magnificent sight of the world’s second highest waterfall, 910m. There is not much else to say really, it is a long hike, but not very tough at all. We take food and drink along the way and just enjoy some quality time in nature, with incredible views all around.
We should arrive back at camp late afternoon, so you get some time to put your feet up and breathe in the mountain air until supper later that evening. Some stargazing is definitely a worthy pursuit for those still with energy reserves…
Day 9: Departure and Travel Day
Today you can enjoy a nice lie in or choose to wake early and enjoy a cup of coffee as the sun rises higher and illuminates the mountain peaks. After a hearty breakfast, we check out, but have one last surprise. A quick walk, with one of the local guides to some genuine and authentic rock art. This was painted thousand of years earlier by the indiginenous Bushmen people.
Lastly we head for Johannesburg where we began 9 days earlier, with memories to last a lifetime!!
Where We Are Going
The Map Of Your Adventure
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