14 days – Walking South-Africa

[B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]
After the tour briefing at 06:30am, we depart Johannesburg and head east towards Mpumalanga. During the afternoon we visit the gold mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest, and the viewpoint over God’s Window. Stretch our legs on a short walk from Mac Mac Pools and then make our way to our chalets on the edge of the escarpment.

We are up early the next morning for our first long walk at the Blyde River. We walk from the rim of the escarpment down into the canyon with views over the Three Sisters and the river below, before making our way back up the escarpment again. After lunch we spend the afternoon exploring the forests and waterfalls which make Mpumalanga a beautiful destination. An exciting optional activity is the Graskop Gorge Lift, which lowers you down for a walk through the lush Afromontane forest below (own expense).

Leisurely – Mac Mac Walk – short easy walk to stretch your legs. 2-3km, less than one hour. On a foot path with very limited altitude change.
Moderate – Blyde River Canyon – 3.5hr walk on good paths with some rocky sections.

Blyde River canyon is our first long morning walk as we make our way from the rim down into the canyon with views over the Three Sisters and the river below.
After lunch we make our way to a private game reserve in the Lowveld, and enjoy an afternoon game drive leading into a night drive with a spot light. Tonight our tented lodge is an opportunity to experience the wilds of big game country around a campfire. A highlight of our tour is the early morning game walk with a local ranger. Quietly we venture into the bush, learning the tracks and other signs of the wildlife we hope to track on foot.

The Walking Grade: Moderate
Blyde River Canyon – 3.5hr walk on good paths with some rocky sections.

The Walking Grade: Leisurely
Big 5 game walk – early morning 3 – 4 hr bush walk with ranger to spot game.

We enter eSwatini (the Kingdom of Swaziland) and travel through a lush fruit farming area before heading into the mountains of eSwatini (Swaziland). We spend 2 nights on the outskirts Malalotja Nature Reserve with a full day to walk through this seldom explored mountainous reserve. The Swazi people have a rich cultural heritage and we will visit the craft and medicine markets on day 7 as we pass through the capital, Mbabane.

The Walking Grade: Challenging
4 – 6hr walk through undulating hills of Malalotja Game Reserve to a beautiful waterfall. Uneven paths and this walk has sections of steep gradients.

Crossing into South Africa we head towards our lodge on a private game reserve situated in the Msinene Nature Reserve. We take a walk with our local walking guide who will point out some of the 540 bird species found in the area, and track the shy Nyala antelope in the riverine vegetation of the Msinene River. The following morning we visit Hluhluwe Game Reserve, a key area for rhino conservation and visit a Zulu village to learn more about their culture. Enjoy sunset and the sounds of the bush before a hearty dinner at the lodge.

The Walking Grade: Leisurely
2-3hr gentle walk on the conservancy.

We leave the coastline and make our way through the scenic hills and valleys of Zululand to the small town of Dundee. Here battles were fought between the Zulus, British and the Boer troops – war cries still resound in the hills. We spend time at the informative Tulana museum before we settle into our lodge and have some free time in the afternoon.
The following morning we explore the Islandlwana battlefield before we embark on an exciting 4-5hour hike tracing the steps of the two British fugitives through the undulating hills of Zululand to the Buffalo River. Later in the day we visit Rourkes Drift before returning to the lodge.

The Walking Grade: Challenging
4-5hr Fugitives Drift trail through Zululand on uneven paths. It has strenuous sections with some steep gradients. Complete hike is dependent on the Buffalo River water level crossing.

Witness the grandeur of the Drakensberg Mountains or uKhahlamba “Barrier of Spears”. We overnight at the base of the “berg” (alt. 1,600m) and spend a full day walking the mountain trails before taking an invigorating dip in the clear mountain streams of the Royal Natal National Park. The crisp mountain air is refreshing and our lodge is a fantastic place to relax and enjoy the splendour of the mountain views.

The Walking Grade: Moderate
Blyde River Canyon – 3.5hr walk on good paths with some rocky sections.

The Walking Grade: Challenging
2-3hr gentle walk through sand forests and along the estuary shoreline.

We start the day with an early breakfast and make our way to Witsieshoek at the foot of the magnificent Sentinel Peak. At the end of a rough gravel road we start our trek, including a short chain ladder section, to the top of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre and the beautiful Tugela Falls (alt. 3,000m), offering unparalleled views down into KwaZulu-Natal. After our walk we make our way to the lodge perched high in the mountains (alt. 2,300m) overlooking the Mont-Aux-Sources mountain range.

The Walking Grade: Challenging
5-6 hrs walk on uneven paths to the top of the Amphitheatre with a short section of chain ladders.

A leisurely start to the day, with the chance to spot the endangered bearded vulture soaring overhead, before we make our way back to Johannesburg. Tour ends at /-17:00.

We have chosen this African partner for their commitment to sustainable and responsible African safari tourism. This is reflected in their low impact travel style and as an African company, they have the grass roots contacts to make a real difference in the lives of the people whose communities you will visit. They have over 25 years’ experience and offer only small group tours with no single supplements (there is only an extra charge involved if you insist on the accommodated tour to have your own hotel room).

What is different to other tours
-Small group to max 12 people
-Small 12-seater overland truck with big windows
-No personal lockers
-Single supplement available
-They use open sided 4WD vehicles with local guides for game drives

Sustainable Tourism
Several times a year this local partner operates a trip for underprivileged children from SOS Children’s Village to visit Pilanesberg Game reserve, introducing the children to the wildlife, the importance of conservation and helping broaden their horizons. SOS Children’s Villages focus on neglected and abandoned children and orphans, as well as disadvantaged families. We believe that they are Africa’s future and that environmental education is important opportunity allows them to see for themselves wildlife, nature conservation at work, and also show them the many unique employment opportunities that are available in the conservation or tourism industry.