Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga and Swaziland

NK37 Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga and Swaziland (5 days, 4 nights)

1 Passenger	R 19 080 pp
2-4 Passengers	R 14 080 pp
5+ Passengers	R 13 450 pp

Pick up is in Johannesburg or Pretoria unless otherwise arranged

ABOUT THE TOUR

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Kruger park

Established in 1898 the KRUGER NATIONAL PARK WILL OFFER YOU A WILDLIFE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME. Arguably the emblem of South African tourism – the place that delivers what most visitors to Africa want to see – scores of elephants, lions, and a cast of thousands of other game roaming the savanna. This park stretches across Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, hugging the Mozambique border. The park covers over 20 000 square kilometers – an area the size of Wales – 350km from the Limpopo River (South Africa’s border with Zimbabwe) to the Crocodile River in the north and 80km east to west. The Kruger National Park is home to an impressive 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 34 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds (some of which are not found anywhere else in South Africa) and 147 species of mammals that include THE BIG FIVE, leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

MPUMALANGA

“The land of the rising sun” or more simply put “where the sun comes from”. The province is synonymous with the Kruger National Park - one of Africa’s best game parks. This province has some spectacular scenery in the mountainous area known as the Escarpment just some few hours drive from the Kruger National Park. The Escarpment has some stunning views. God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes - the cylindrical and rather alien-looking deep potholes filled with green water are carved into the rock by whirlpools where two rivers converge- and the Three Rondavels are among the most famous places on the lip of the Escarpment. The views of the Blyde River Canyon are the most famous of them all.

This tour will take you through some of the little forestry towns like Graskop, Sabie and Hazyview. Pilgrim’s Rest - a reconstructed mining settlement from the 1870s’ gold rush days is worthy visiting. The whole little town is a museum and a national monument.

SWAZILAND

Swaziland is the second smallest country in Africa and one of the smallest countries in the world, landlocked and bordered with only South Africa and Mozambique. This small country of 17 364 square kilometers has a population of just over a million and is one of the world’s few absolute monarchies. Swaziland’s outstanding scenery makes it worth a visit. A tour of Swaziland will introduce you to everyday life in Africa’s smallest kingdom.

ITINERARY DAY ONE

Guests picked up from hotel or Airport in Gauteng at 10am. We drive through Mpumalanga Province until Swaziland through Sandlane border post. Once inside Swaziland we drive through some outstanding scenery and will pass some interesting places like the factory town of Bhunya. We check-in at a hotel or lodge in Manzini.

DAY TWO TOUR OF SWAZILAND

After breakfast, we begin the tour of Swaziland by visiting the Manzini Market which is given over to the practicalities of life, such as fresh fruit, household goods and traditional medicines and there is an upper section devoted to crafts and fabrics. After some bit of shopping and seeing at the market we then go to Swazi Candles, where you can do shopping of Swazi crafts and enjoy seeing all sorts of animals plus other things made of candle wax. From Swazi Candles we visit the King Sobuza 2 Memorial – a peaceful open space dedicated to the the much loved late king. We then stop at Mantenga Flea Market before we settle down for lunch at Swazi Sun.

After lunch we drive through the capital city of Swaziland, Mbabane, on our way to Ngwenya Glass Factory, where one of the country’s best known exports, Ngwenya Glass, is made. Their products range from attractive wine glasses, animals, and other things. These are made from recycled glass and are produced by highly skilled workers. You will have a chance of seeing the workers blowing and crafting the glass. From Ngwenya Glass, we drive towards our exit at Jeppe’s Reef / Matsumo border post. On leaving Swaziland we drive to Malelane, a small town just outside the Kruger National Park, where we will check-in at a lodge for the night.

DAY THREE

We start the day just as the gates to the Kruger National Park open and have an early morning game drive. We will have breakfast at about 10am at Sikhukhuza Camp – capital city of the Kruger National Park. Continue with the game drive and check in at our camp inside the park at late afternoon. Evening game drive in open vehicles at own account is available.

DAY FOUR

Early bird catches the worm. We have an early morning drive before breakfast. After breakfast we continue our game drive until late afternoon when we go back to our camp or check in another camp. Evening game drive in open vehicles at own account is available.

DAY FIVE

Check-out and have a morning game drive stopping for breakfast between 9am and 10am. After breakfast we drive towards the gate. We exit at Kruger Gate and drive back to Johannesburg or Pretoria via the Panorama route stopping at small historical towns of Hazyview, Graskop and Pelgrims Rest – a reconstructed mining settlement from the 1870s’ gold rush days is worthy visiting. The whole little town is a museum and a national monument. On the way we enjoy seeing very beautiful, exciting scenery of gorges, landscapes, God’s window, waterfalls and Bourke’s Luck Potholes - the cylindrical and rather alien-looking deep potholes filled with green water are carved into the rock by whirlpools where two rivers converge. We reach Johannesburg or Pretoria between 5pm & 6pm.

R 14 080 pp