Tour 21 Day Explorer | Visit South Africa

Guide

Private professional guide

Accommodation

Dorm room accommodation with bedding (upgradable to en-suite)

Others

● Entrance into National Parks ● One tree planted with Precious Tree Project per person to offset carbon emissions ● Safari in a private reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park area ● A full day in the Kruger National Park ● A bush walk in the Guernsey Private Nature Reserve ● Lobamba Village Tour/ Ezulwini Valley - eSwatini (lunch included) ● Tugela Falls hike to the second highest waterfall in the world (lunch included) ● Hole in the Wall Hike in the Transkei (lunch included) ● Storms River Mouth tour at Tsitsikamma National Park with a waterfall hike ● Horse interaction at Outeniqua Moon Percheron Stud & Guest Farm (fully catered) ● 3x Traditional African braais (barbecue)

Transport

Transport throughout the week

Not included:

Insurance

Travel insurance excluded

Meals

Meals excluded unless stipulated in the itinerary

Optional

Skydiving Rock Climbing Mountain Biking Kloofing / canyoning Abseiling Horse riding Fly-fishing Oribi Gorge swing Bungy jumping, and more!

Others

Optional extra activities (see poster or website) Airport transfers Room upgrades to private single rooms

Flights

International or domestic flights excluded

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Hoedspruit/ Kruger National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Hoedspruit/ Kruger National Park

At the crack of dawn we leave the City of Gold (Johannesburg) and the Highveld area of Gauteng province.

We depart from Curiocity Backpackers nice and early at 5am and start our journey north in the direction of

Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park. On the way we will pass Long Tom Pass, Pilgrim’s Rest, God’s

Window and of course Blyde River Canyon.

Hidden in the bushveld of Mpumalanga, in-between Thornybush and Timbavati Nature Reserve, lies Thornhill

Safari Lodge where we will stay for the next two nights. All African round-style cottages are en-suite and our

meals - breakfast, lunch and African dinner - will be prepared for us. The daytime and parts of the night will

be filled with Big Five game drives, bush walks and the general spotting of big and small game. In-between

that you can jump in the cool pool with a beer from the bar or sit back and relax with a fantastic view of the

Drakensberg Escarpment!

Included: breakfast, lunch, dinner, Big5 Safari, full day Kruger Park safari, bush walk.
Day 2 Day 3: Ezulwini / Kingdom Of Eswatini
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Ezulwini / Kingdom Of Eswatini

Off we go, out of South Africa and into the Kingdom of eSwatini. After a last relaxed breakfast at the Safari

Lodge, we leave at 9am in the morning and head south through the African bushveld towards the city of

Nelspruit. We drive through the Barberton Nature Reserve, Mountainsland Nature Reserve and pass through

the Songimvelo Nature Reserve until we arrive at Ngwenya border post, into the Kingdom of eSwatini. After

passing the capital Mbabane, we will arrive at our next destination – Lidwala Backpacker Lodge.

Situated on the slopes of the Ezulwini Valley, this stylish backpackers is surrounded by massive boulders

and situated under indigenous trees. This is a fully-eco-run place (solar heating system, own vegetable

garden, strict recycling etc.).

Day 4 offers local education from and with our local friends: The Lobamba Village Tour will teach us about

the local history, show us the National Museum of the Kingdom and the royal residence of the King of

eSwatini. The rest of the day is up to you, to explore the surrounding area or do whatever you feel like doing.

The next morning we will return to South Africa and head for the majestic Drakensberg Mountains.

Included: Lobamba Village Tour.
Day 3 Day 5: Royal Natal National Park / Drakensberg Mountains
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Royal Natal National Park / Drakensberg Mountains

At 8am we will leave Ezulwini and the Kingdom of eSwatini in a south-westerly direction towards the

escarpment of the Drakensberg Mountains. Our next stop is Amphitheatre Backpackers - a freestanding

hostel in an exceptional location. The range of optional activities is amazing: a short distance away there is

Tugela Falls – the highest waterfall in Africa, rock climbing, horse riding, mountain biking and fly-fishing; at

the hostel you can try your luck at the climbing wall or jump into the jacuzzi near the bar or chill with other

travellers at the pool area. An absolute highlight is our included Amphitheatre Hike (Tugela Falls) which of

course is not compulsory if you don’t like hiking. In case you have other plans for the day (but let’s be honest here, you don’t want to miss this) you are more than welcome to stay at the hostel and go for another fun

optional activity.

After successfully conquering the mountains it’s always nice to end the day at the rec area - swimming pool,

Satellite TV, barbeque (braai) area, climbing cave and the BAR!

Included: Amphitheatre Hike, African braai dinner.
Day 4 Day 7: Durban
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Durban

After mountainous, dry and dusty territories we will now be on the way to a more... wet environment: the

Indian Ocean. After sleeping-in a little, we will leave around 10am and make our way to our next stop,

Durban. It might be a good idea to have a little nap during the drive in the morning to recover from the night

before. We will head straight to the big city which lies right at the ocean with a subtropical flair and we’ll stay

for one night at Happy Hippo Backpackers.

After we arrive you can spend the rest of the day inhaling the city air, or go with the flow (beach, shopping,

Waterfront, see the Stadium or chill at the hostel’s rooftop bar). Nightlife in Durban happens mainly along the

famous Florida road with its many bars, clubs and restaurants which offer amazing local flavours and

international cuisine. You can of course also stay at the backpacker’s kitchen and cook yourself a delicious

dinner.

We will leave at 9am the next morning, so there’s nothing standing in the way of a little party night in Durban.

Next stop is paradise!

Included: N/A.
Day 5 Day 8: Umzumbe
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Umzumbe

After driving for about an hour we arrive at one of our top spots on the south coast – Mantis and Moon

Backpackers! Imagine a tropical jungle-like garden with a stunning rock pool in the centre. The en-suite

rooms are tree houses and the jacuzzi is waiting for you. The bar is extended into a little casino which gives

you the chance to win some cash from your fellow travellers. The beach is located 2 minutes away from the

backpackers, so it’s super convenient to quickly check the surf.

On Day 9 we offer you an optional tour to Oribi Gorge which is just 25 km away and is home to one of the

deepest gorge swings in the world. The Umzimkulwana river shaped a 27 km long and 1km wide gorge over

thousands of years, which is surrounded by untouched bushveld, wildlife and breathtaking views. But even if

you’re not in the mood for that, there are plenty of activities like beaching, surfing, diving, fishing etc.

available. And of course, there is still the sundeck from where you can spot dolphins or whales with a cold

beer in your hand.

After a really exhausting day in paradise we will offer you a fantastic African dinner once more (we cater for

vegetarians as well as for omnivores). Umzumbe is the starting point of our route back along the Indian

Ocean - we will find the most beautiful sunsets, endless kilometers of deserted beaches and ice cold beer in

unique jungle bars.

Included: African braai dinner.
Day 6 Day 10: Coffee Bay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Coffee Bay

We will now move to the heart and soul of the old South Africa, to a region which is locally called the

Transkei; back in the days of apartheid this part of the country was under self-administration by the local people. Since those days the region kept its rural charm with soft hills which stretch right to the Indian

Ocean. It literally means to take off your shoes, relax and get in touch with the abundant nature and the rich

culture around you!

We leave Umzumbe at 8am in the morning and drive further down the east coast, heading south. Final

destination: Coffee Shack Backpackers in Coffee Bay. This is one of the leading backpacker hostels when it

comes to sustainable tourism and Fair Trade on the east coast and it’s located directly at the Bomvu River

Mouth, right at the beach. It’s truly AFRICAN TIME in Coffee Bay: We will explore, surf, relax and mission over

the soft hills along the oceanside to spend time with the local Xhosa people who have lived here for

centuries. Once in a while you will spot a pod of dolphins making their way up the coast.

Day 11 or 12 can be used for an amazing hike to the Hole in the Wall along the Indian Ocean, which is

included, but that’s of course up to you. Otherwise, chill in the hammock with songs of Bob Marley in the

background and stare at the ocean. Or try one of the plenty activities that are offered at Coffee Shack. OR

just do nothing and relax!

Included: Hole in the Wall Hike.
Day 7 Day 16: Jeffrey’S Bay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Jeffrey’S Bay

We’ll leave Buccaneers bright and early at 8:30am, after a last delicious breakfast on the sundeck with the

view over the Indian Ocean. Our next stop is the surf mekka of South Africa – Jeffrey’s Bay. We will stay right

at the beach again, at Island Vibe Backpackers which has the typical laid back surfer style. Jeffrey’s Bay

offers various surf outlet factory shops ranging from Billabong to Quicksilver to Roxy etc. so you can use the

rest of the day for shopping or surfing

Included: N/A.
Day 8 Day 17: Storm’S River (Tsitsikamma National Park)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: Storm’S River (Tsitsikamma National Park)

We’ll leave J’bay after breakfast, around 9am, and cruising along the Garden Route. We’ll retreat to the lush

area of the Evergreen Forests and the Tsitsikamma National Park. Our next stop is Storms River Village –

Tube ’n Axe Backpackers.

Surrounded by the majestic mountains and deep forest gorges, we find Storms River Village in an area which

is still blessed with indigenous forest that existed long before the first settlers set foot on the African

continent (the famous Big Trees are just around the corner). We will visit the provincial border from the

Eastern to the Western Cape at the highest bridge Bungee Jump in the world (Bloukraans Bridge). Ziplining

tours, snorkeling, mountain biking etc. can also be organised if you don’t fancy jumping 216m off a bridge.

We’ll take you into Tsitsikamma National Park on Day 18 and hike parts of Otter Trail along the rocky shore

coastline to a waterfall that drops into the Indian Ocean. If you don’t feel like hiking, just wander around the

deep forest trails or relax and chill at Tube ’n Axe. To refill energy levels, we’ll throw another legendary

African braai for dinner - yummmm!

Included: African braai dinner, Storm’s River Mouth tour and waterfall hike, Tsitsikamma National Park.
Day 9 Day 19: Oudtshoorn
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 19: Oudtshoorn

We’ll leave Storm’s River Village at 9am in the morning after breakfast. We’ll travel further along the coast

and the Garden Route until we make a slight right-turn and enter a completely different vegetation zone – the

Little Karoo, a semi-desert – and the town of Oudtshoorn (the unofficial international capital of the Ostrich).

We’ll stay for one night at Backpackers Paradise. From there you can either use the day to explore the world

famous Cango Caves or visit an Ostrich Farm. If you want to have a cage dive to make yourself familiar with

crocodiles in a close environment - not a problem! The backpacker is in the centre of Oudtshoorn so

restaurants, movies, bars and banks are literally down the road.

Included: Transfer only to Cango Caves and Ostrich Farm.
Day 10 Day 20: Ruiterbos / Mossel Bay
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 20: Ruiterbos / Mossel Bay

At 8:30am we’ll leave Oudtshoorn and drive through the desert landscape of the Little Karoo, straight

towards the Outeniqua Mountains. We’ll drive over Robertson Pass and enter a completely different area

again, one which can best be described as a Lord of the Rings landscape. It’s another favourite spot of ours

that we have chosen for our last night – Outeniqua Moon farm.

As at the beginning of the tour, we fully cater for you here around the clock. Peter and Christine Watt have

committed themselves to save the last great giants in Africa – the Percheron heavy draft horses. They run

this Guest Farm and Percheron Stud farm with dedication and a spirit which is amazing. We promise that you

have never seen such strong and beautiful horses in your life.

Our stay here is the perfect time to sit back and relax at the pool with the view of the Outeniqua Mountains in

the background and mellow down a little after the last weeks of fun and action in Africa. All the rooms are

en-suite and are fully catered by Chrissie and her cooking skills. We also offer you a personalised horse

experience with the giants and the little ones, if you are keen.

In the evening we’ll sit around the fireplace and enjoy a home cooked dinner with the sunset over the

mountains and chat about the last weeks of our adventure together. The next morning we’ll leave for the

Mother City – Cape Town.

Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, Horse Experience.
Day 11 Day 21: Cape Town Via Stanford And Hermanus
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 21: Cape Town Via Stanford And Hermanus

We’ll leave Outeniqua Moon at 9am sharp and drive along the Outeniqua and Swartberg Mountains in the

direction of Cape Town. A little detour will take us to Hermanus to spot some whales (in season from May – December), so sharpen your eyes. We’ll have a quick look at the penguins at Stony Point in Betty’s Bay before

we drive along Clarens Drive, past False Bay and towards Cape Town.

From here it’s a mere 45 minutes before we hit the Mother City. Our tour ends in an area called Gardens, in

the city centre, with the more-than-impressive Table Mountain right in your face. Our final stop is at Ashanti

Backpackers.

This legendary backpackers is the place to stay in the Mother City. We recommend that you extend your stay

in Cape Town by at least another three days so that you can enjoy the metropolitan vibes of this unique city -

at the very least, a sunset from the top of the mountain is a must.

Ashanti Backpacker has a travel center at their reception and the staff will help you with any requests for

trips and tours to wherever you want go in and around Cape Town.

Included: Breakfast.

21 days tour

21 Day Explorer

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip 21 Day Explorer

Day 1: Hoedspruit/ Kruger National Park

Day 3: Ezulwini / Kingdom Of Eswatini

Day 5: Royal Natal National Park / Drakensberg Mountains

Day 7: Durban

Day 8: Umzumbe

Day 10: Coffee Bay

Day 16: Jeffrey’S Bay

Day 17: Storm’S River (Tsitsikamma National Park)

Day 19: Oudtshoorn

Day 20: Ruiterbos / Mossel Bay

Day 21: Cape Town Via Stanford And Hermanus

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