South Africa: Walking & Wildlife

0044 1606 720199

Make an enquiry
  • Holiday code
    W14SA
  • Holiday type
    Guided walking
  • Duration
    14 nights
  • Accommodation
    hotel-to-hotel
  • Activity level
  • From $4050per person, tour only
  • Departure months
    JFMAMJJASOND
  • What's Included?
  • All breakfasts, 11 lunches, 7 dinners
  • All accommodation (see below)
  • All transport and listed activities
  • Tour leader throughout
  • Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
  • Key Information
  • This holiday is operated by our sister company, Exodus
  • 9 days walking
  • Mixture of wildlife spotting and walking
  • Altitude max 2900m, average 1250m
  • Group normally 4 to 12, plus local leader. Min age 16 yrs
  • 11 nights log cabins and chalets and 3 nights permanent tented camp

South Africa:

South Africa - Walking & Wildlife

  • Operated by our sister company, Exodus
  • Embark on several days hiking in the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains Explore Royal Natal National Park and the amazing rock formation, the Amphitheatre Walk through the mountainous terrain of Eswatini (Swaziland) Take morning and afternoon game drives in Kruger National Park Enjoy a game walk and drive in a private game reserve

Rising high above the veld, the Drakensberg, which translates as Dragon Mountain, forms an imposing, dramatic and quintessentially South African scene, perfect for exploring on foot. Along with the fantastic walking opportunities, we take time to discover the amazing wildlife of the country, hoping to see elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, cheetahs and much more. Complementing our journey are more walks and visits to Eswatini (Swaziland), St Lucia and the Battlefields.



We're here to help

If you have any questions about this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199, use our live webchat or email sales@headwater.com



We're here to help

If you've any questions about this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 , or email sales@headwater.com

Day 1: Start Johannesburg; to Graskop

We meet at the start hotel before collecting the rest of the group from the airport. We then transfer to the town of Graskop, which perched on the edge of the Mpumalanga escarpment. It is a long drive but we stop at regular intervals to take in the spectacular scenery and to visit the well-known Mac Mac Falls. En route we travel through the highest town in South Africa, Belfast (6,465ft/1,970m), and the scenic Long Tom Pass. We also take the opportunity to stock up on supplies such as drinks and snacks. Accommodation: Mogodi Lodge (or similar)

Day 2: Explore the Panorama Route; walk the Leopard, Guineafowl and Kadishi-Tufa trails

We drive through some beautiful countryside this morning, starting with the stunning views at God's Window. If we are lucky, God's Blanket may be down, a majestic cloud inversion that gives you the feeling of being on top of the world. We visit the fascinating rock formations at Bourke's Luck Potholes, before stopping for breathtaking views over Blyde River Canyon, the third-largest canyon in the southern hemisphere. In the afternoon, we enjoy our first walk of the itinerary, a loop that includes the Leopard, Guineafowl and Kadishi-Tufa trails. Along the way, we have further views on Blyde River Canyon, walk through forest and stop at Tufa Waterfall. Most of the trail is on a good path, but there are some sections of small rock steps, roots and a few small stream crossings. Accommodation: Blyde Canyon Forever Resort (or similar)

Day 3: Drive to a private game reserve; afternoon game drive

After breakfast, we drive to a private game reserve in the Greater Kruger area, our base for the next two days. We have time to relax and enjoy the views from camp before heading out for an afternoon game drive in search of the resident buffalo, zebra, elephant and the elusive leopard. Accommodation: Makuwa Safari Lodge (or similar)

Day 4: Morning game walk; free afternoon

We have an early start this morning, as we drive 40 minutes from our accommodation and meet out specialist guide in Hoedspruit. It's then a short drive to Pridelands, a wildlife-rich private reserve that forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park and is open to the Kruger. Here we spend three hours, at least two of these walking and the rest of the time on an open game drive, searching for the iconic wildlife of Africa. The walk is likely to be around 3mi (5km) but this changes from trip to trip. We walk in the early morning before the heat of the day but it can still get hot in the African Bush. Wear proper walking shoes and trousers (pants). The afternoon is free to relax or go an optional game drive. Accommodation: Makuwa Safari Lodge (or similar)

Day 5: Transfer to Kruger National Park; afternoon game drive

We head to Kruger National Park, justifiably one of the most famous wildlife parks in the world. It is also one of the oldest, established by the South African president Paul Kruger in 1898. It has arguably the greatest variety of animals of any park in Africa, with lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, black and white rhino, plus cheetah, giraffes, hippos and many species of antelopes and smaller plains game. We game drive (in our vehicle) through the park where we have an excellent chance of seeing a wide variety of wildlife. We arrive at our Kruger campsite in the late afternoon just before the camp gates close to maximise our game-viewing chances. Accommodation: Skukuza or Pretoriuskop camp (or similar)

Day 6: Morning game drive in Kruger; transfer to Eswatini (Swaziland)

We get up before sunrise for a game drive at, arguably, the best time of day for game-spotting. We return to camp for breakfast and to pack up before moving onto a new country: Eswatini (Swaziland). We leave the park at around lunch time and have a short stop to resupply before crossing the border into Eswatini (Swaziland). We drive (three hours) to the hilly Malolotja Nature Reserve, where we spend a relaxing evening in the cabins ready for a long walk tomorrow. Accommodation: Malolotja Cabins (or similar)

Day 7: Full day walk in Malolotja

There is superb flora here and we take a daywalk on one of the picturesque walking trails. More than 280 bird species have been spotted in this reserve, as have many antelope species. You will have great views and the chance to spot various eagles or even the very rare bald ibis. The Nkomati River cuts a gorge through the park and flows east in a series of falls and rapids before it meets the lowveld. Our walk takes us to the Malolotja falls viewpoint and then to the upper Majolomba falls and a great lunch spot. Accommodation: Malolotja Cabins (or similar)

Day 8: Visit craft market; to St Lucia

Today we head out of Eswatini (Swaziland) and back into South Africa. On the way, we visit Ezulwini Valley Craft Market before heading south through rural Eswatini (Swaziland). Upon leaving Eswatini (Swaziland), we move on to St Lucia. The small town of St Lucia is both by the Indian Ocean and by lake St Lucia and is known for its crocodile and hippo populations (hippos are sometimes seen wandering in town). The lake itself is the largest estuary in Africa and a haven for birds. The proximity to the ocean means it is possible to go swimming and even whale watching (June to November). Accommodation: Shonalanga apartments (or similar)

Day 9: Morning boat cruise; afternoon visit Cape Vidal

Getting up early, we head down to the dock and board a boat on the nearby lake. We spend two hours exploring by boat with an excellent chance of seeing some of the many resident hippos, crocodiles and fish eagles. We return to our apartments for breakfast and then pack a picnic lunch for the short drive to Cape Vidal, a long stretch of beach along the Indian Ocean. Along the way we stop at bird hides and there’s a small chance of spotting rhinos. We spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach or walking to Mission Rocks. Accommodation: Shonalanga apartments (or similar)

Day 10: Transfer to battlefields; hike the fugitive trail

Leaving the coast behind, we head 185mi (300km) towards the battlefields where the British and Zulus fought in 1879. After lunch, we go on a four-hour hike along the fugitive trail, which follows the route taken by the British survivors from the battle of Isandlwana. The British and colonial force was armed with rifles, mountain guns and rocket battery and were facing 20,000 Zulu warriors armed with spears. By the end of the battle, there were only 65 British and Colonial survivors. After our hike, we transfer 31mi (50km) to our lodge for the night. Accommodation: Amabutho Warrior Lodge (or similar)

Day 11: To Royal Natal National Park; afternoon walk

We continue our journey to the beautiful Royal Natal National Park, known from being home to the distinctive natural Amphitheatre. The Drakensberg is a basalt escarpment forming the border between Kwa-Zulu Natal and Lesotho and continuing into the Free State. It means Dragon Mountains, but the Zulu named it Quuathlamba (the Barrier of Spears) - a more accurate description of the sheer, forbidding, jagged escarpment. This afternoon, we go for walks in the local area from our lodge where we are staying. There are several walks we can chose from such as to Policeman’s Helmet or to some bushmen paintings. Accommodation: Thendele Chalets (or similar)

Day 12: Tugela Gorge hike

Today, we follow the Thukela River, past protea trees (the national flower of South Africa as well as the name of their cricket team), indigenous yellow wood forest and mountainous grasslands to the natural Amphitheatre and Thukela Waterfall viewpoint. The walk takes us into the heart of the Royal Natal National Park and offers stunning views of the dramatic northern Drakensberg Mountains. Accommodation: Thendele Chalets (or similar)

Day 13: Full-day hike to Witsieshoek

As the bus takes our luggage to our next lodge, we head along trails by foot. The start of our trail follows a contour line and takes us via Tiger Falls and Gudu Falls. We then head up as we walk through the Mahai Valley crossing the river and walking via the crack past the Mahai Falls, eventually reaching the Basuto Gate and our destination. The hike should take about six hours including stopping for lunch. Accommodation: Witsieshowk Lodge (or similar)

Day 14: Hike to Tugela Falls, the second tallest waterfall in the world

In the morning, we drive 9mi (15km) to the trek start point at the Sentinel Gate. From here, we trek along the edge of the mountains, possibly chaperoned by mountain baboons or, if we are lucky, by the resident bearded vultures, up to the ladders, which take us to the top (9,515ft/2,900m). We then follow the Thukela River to the edge of the waterfall and enjoy views across the amphitheatre and our previous day’s route. We then walk back to the vehicle and transfer 9mi (15km) to our lodge. The hike should take about six hours including stopping for lunch. Accommodation: Witsieshowk Lodge (or similar)

Day 15: Drive through Golden Gate National Park en route to Johannesburg; end Johannesburg.

There is an optional three-hour final morning walk in these wonderful mountains, with a local guide, before driving back to Johannesburg in time for our flight this evening. The trip ends upon arrival in Johannesburg. Please note: If you are organising your own flights, these should not be earlier than the group flights due to the distance we need to travel back to the airport.

Where you stay

During your holiday you stay at the following hotels. If you'd like to extend your time at any of these or, if you'd like to enhance your stay with an upgraded room, just let us know at the time of booking.

To find out more call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199, use our live webchat or email sales@headwater.com

Chalets

All nights will be in chalets, log cabins and four nights in a permanent tented camp. Some of the accommodation is en suite though in Eswatini (Swaziland)and St Lucia we usually stay in cabins of 2 rooms sharing a bathroom and a lounge whilst in Thendele we usually stay in cabins of 3 rooms sharing 2 bathrooms and a lounge. The permanent tented camp in the Letaba River Game Reserve is made up of large tents with beds and an en suite bathroom. In the Kruger Park we stay in a permanent tented camp with shared ablutions. It is possible to get laundry done in Eswatini (Swaziland).

Wifi is available most nights but is not always very reliable.

Single rooms are available throughout. Please note that on the nights in the Drakensberg and in Eswatini (Swaziland) you might share a chalet/cabin with other members of the group. However, you will still have a single room to yourself.


Meals

All breakfasts, 11 lunches, 7 dinners included.

In the itinerary we state which meals are included on which day. The list below provides an indication of what these will consist of: Breakfast - cereals, coffee, tea and toast, the occasional cooked breakfast. Lunch - cheese, cold meats, salads, bread or rolls. Dinner - potjies (stew), braais (barbecue), stir fries, pasta. Most generally cooked on the open fire. Please be aware that we need at least two weeks notice to deal with special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian or allergies.) For this reason if you did not indicate these on your booking form please advise the Exodus office as soon as possible. The tour leaders do all the shopping, meal planning and cooking for each group. He/she will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. Each tour has 2 cool boxes for meats and fresh produce and 1 cool box for cold drinks. We will supply the following drinks: fruit squash served with breakfast and tea or coffee served with breakfast and dinner. All other beverages will be at your own expense. We do not supply bottled drinking water although it is available at many shops on tour if you want to buy it yourself at +/-R10.0 / lt. (£0.60). For meals not included, dinners can cost on average £12‐18 ($20‐30) per person and lunches from £5 to £8 ($8 to $13). Please note on days when the group are on morning game walks or drives we will have an early morning cup of tea or coffee and rusks followed by the walk. Once we return to camp we will have a large brunch at around 11am. In the early afternoon we will have a snack style lunch and dinner will be served after completion of the optional game drives.

The water provided on this trip is safe and clean drinking water, normally coming from bore-holes. It is not bottled water, however. If you would rather have bottled water then this will be at your expense, though we would encourage you to make use of the safe drinking water provided as this helps diminish plastic consumption.

Travel

Our aim is to provide holidays that are unbeatable for choice and flexibility. We've listed our most popular travel options below, however you aren't limited to these - we can tailor-make virtually any holiday to suit.

To find out more about the travel options available call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or email sales@headwater.com

Transportation

Transport is by minibus fitted with forward facing seats and towing a trailer for equipment and luggage. For game drives on the private reserve we will use an open 4-wheeled-drive Land Rover.

Joining Instructions

Travelling flight inclusive from London: 17 days

The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before Day 1 of the itinerary.

Flights from London

We normally use the scheduled services of South African Airways (depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure.

Travelling land only: 15 days starting and ending in Johannesburg Airport

Your trip normally starts at the Johannesburg international airport in the morning of Day 1 of the itinerary, at the group arrival time. Details of how to reach the start point are provided in the Final Joining Instructions - sent approximately two weeks before departure. (Land only clients can be picked up at a local hotel 45 minutes before the group arrival flight and transferred to the Johannesburg International airport)

 Please note that if you are organising your own flights, your departure flight should not be earlier than the group flights as we have a long way to travel back to Johannesburg Airport on the last day.

Reviews

Here at Headwater we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can continue to develop, and where necessary improve, our services and ensure our holidays continue to be the best they can be. As this is a relatively new holiday, we don't yet have any customer reviews available from our customers, but here are the comments that have been received from previous Exodus travellers.

Quite the most incredble insight into what SA has to offer. With the help of our two brilliant leaders Clifford & Andy we were spoilt by the number of bird and big 5 sightings (these guys have eyes in the back of their heads and Xray vision!). For wildlife spotting this trip does not disappoint - elephant, giraffe, rhino, hyena, lions, warthog, so many antelope and not forgetting a 'Leopard Tortoise'all in our first week. Glorious walks abound, the Drakensberg are truely breathaking and we were expertly lead and looked after according to our skill levels. In amongst this were enlightening lessons in tribal history and culture that helped us understand the real SA. Accomodation is varied but everytime suited the location perfectly. The days were long but our leaders were tireless in their enthusiasm, kindness and skills in cooking! If you want a memorable and very varied trip in Africa this is a winner.

From the moment I stepped off the plane and met our guides Clifford and Andy the trip was exciting it comprised of such a fabulous variety of experiences and immersed you in South African culture, history, beauty and wildlife. The accommodation was varied and suited the environments we were in. The game drives were superb and we saw such a large variety of animals and birds. The hikes took us to areas of outstanding breathtaking beauty. Our guides were phenomenal nothing was to much trouble they understood our individuality and catered to our needs as the only vegetarian in the group I was given some of the most awesome meals courtesy of our guides cooking skills. I would highly recommend this trip

First group trip on some years. Superb experience and packed so much in. Saw big 5, gear locations, food and like minded company

This is a great trip for those who love both wildlife and hiking. In terms of wildlife, I thought St Lucia and Letaba were special and found Kruger a bit too commercial (like Etosha). The scenery for the hiking is fantastic, particularly in Swaziland and the Drakensberg (one of the most beautiful places I have ever been). If anything, I would like it to have been a bit more challenging as the walks were a little short for myself and other members of the group on some days. This didn't take away from a wonderful trip which I would recommend to anyone.

The itinerary looked good but the trip exceeded expectations. Superb mix of activities, locations and accommodation. Good group who got on well and mucked in when needed. Amazing scenery and saw all the Big5 and much more besides. Blyde River Canyon, Eswatini and, of course, the Drakensburg were all stunning. Weather good although walking in 30c+ was a challenge and needed regular rehydration. Challenging walks with most of the group agreeing a moderate rating is misleading.Seeing leopards, after 2 previously unsuccessful trips, as we were almost out of the Kruger and completing the BIg5 on our last game drive at St Lucia. Otherwise the hike to Witsieshoek via the challenging Witsieshoek Crack with boulder scambling and ladders.

Another outstanding trip from Exodus. It is very cleverly consrtucted, gradually building to the climax in the Drakensberg mountains. There were huge contrasts in scenery, passing through industrial and agricultural areas, the expanses of fairly dry national parks to the much greener hills and mountains of Eswatini, the lakes and Indian Ocean at St Lucia and the stunning mountains of the Drakensberg. The wildlife watching was good, not as easy as places such as the Massai Mara in Kenya, but we did see the big 5 and a lot more besides; on all of the walks there was also the opportunity to see wildlife. If birding is your thing, this is a great trip especially at this time of year as the migrations are just starting. I particularly enjoyed the visit to Isandwala and Rorkes Drift, the scene of major battles during the Zulu Wars together with walking the Fugitive's trail between the two. Weather is never predictable and we went from close to 40C one day in the game reservers to weather and scenery that could have been Scotland the next - but it did give us a chance to make use of the open fires in our accommodation in the hills of Eswatini! (Later in the trip we also experienced the most spectacular thunderstorms I have ever seen - very impressive) The Last four nights were spent in the Drakensberg, two at Thendele and 2 at Witsieshoek. The scenery was stunning and the walk up from Thendele to Witsieshoek showed a different aspect of it - more reminiscent of the Yorkshire Dales. The views from the top are wonderful but unfortunately, as is the way with mountains the weather, it closed in for the last day and the inside of a cloud looks pretty much the same wherever you are! We were a group of 12, thrown together at the start of the trip, who rubbed along pretty well and had some great times together, so a big thankyou to all concerned.

Great trip saw lots of wildlife and great walking

This trip is a great way to See South Africa across a variety of landscapes, mainly through National Parks and game reserves. There is a range of environments from the Drakensberg mountains to the Indian Ocean beaches at St Lucia with spectacular walks. There are long drives, over 3000km in total, in a reasonably comfortable 14 passenger minibus. Travelling in May, the weather was dry, sunny and warm, except at night and the highest walks. The accommodation varied between basic and very comfortable, but always clean.

The Exodus holiday in South Africa was a wonderful introduction to African landscapes and wildlife. I have travelled widely in my life but with little experience of Africa. This holiday exceeded my expectations in two ways: the remarkable opportunities to see wildlife at close quarters in Kruger; the amazing landscapes of the Blyde River canyon, Swaziland and the Drakensurg Mountains. My enjoyment of the holiday had a lot to do with the way it was organised and led by the group leader. I have been left with many great memories.

Really excellent trip with great variety of walking and wildlife, wonderful scenery, great accommodation and fantastic guides.

This was my second trip with Exodus, and I was confident that I was going to have a good time, get good value for money, and a wonderful experience. I was not disappointed. The booking was effortless, including the add on of four days in Cape Town that I requested. All the information that I needed was in the trip notes,and I felt well prepared. Our guide, Innocent is very knowledgable, and keen to impart this to us, and for us to have as good a time as possible. JoJo, the driver/chef, is also very well-informed, and a very careful safe driver. A lot is asked of him, as he would often prepare a meal for 13 after a long day's drive, sometimes on pretty basic equipment. This he did, always cheerfully. Both were very keen to explain how we can help the local craft industries, but we never felt pressurised or uncomfortable. The variety of experience, each day something new, was a fantastic introduction to South Africa. One week essentially wildlife spotting, the second hiking in some very dramatic scenery. I strongly recommend adding on a few days in Cape Town, if you haven't been before. It is less than a 2h flight, and a beautiful, easy, interesting city, and a great contrast to the game parks and mountains.

Really enjoyed this trip even though we probably did not chose the best time of year to do this, April. Sayin that the weather was quite kind to us. Letaba Game Reserve was a lovely start to our tour, the rangers at Mtomeni Safari Camp were very knowledgeable and friendly, food, especially breakfast, was very good. Permanent tents were much better than expected. Found the safari section a little repetitive but still enjoyable. Early starts and then pretty full on all day but never felt rushed. Loved the beach at St Lucia, a relaxing few hours there was appreciated as allowed us to recharge our batteries. Battlefields tour very interesting and would suggest if possible that you try and get your guide to add in a visit to Rorkes Drift to complete the story. Drakensburg was the highlight for me, good walking and marvellous scenery.

Well, what a trip! Soaking up the sights and sounds of South Africa and Swaziland was truly an amazing experience.

We chose this holiday for the combination of walking and wildlife offerred and the areas within South Africa that it covered. We love the Kruger and were also interested in seeing the Drakensburg mountains and Swaziland. Inevitably we spent a lot of time in the minibus as we covered very long distances, but it was worth it. We saw plenty of wildlife and fantastic scenerey. We stayed in some staggeringly beautiful places. My main concern with the holiday was always the walking, and whether we would be up to it? We are both in our 70s, but consider ourselves reasonably fit, as we regularly play 3 rounds of golf a week ( walking) and always take exercise every day. In the event, we found the walking very tough. In the main the terrain was difficult: narrow steep and stoney paths with tricky footing: there was a lot of difficult clambering across rocks and a head for heights was essential! I feel that a grading of “ moderate” for the walking was misleading: it seemed much more demanding than that. The altitude is high, and this adds to the difficulty. I would have preferred to have been given the option of easier walks from time to time, so that I could look at the wonderful scenery as well as my feet! Having said this, our guide was really helpful and got me through. I am glad we went.

An interesting and varied trip, including trekking in several locations, safaris in a number of places, a trip to a beach and a boat ride to see hippos and other wildlife. I like hippos and gazelles.

This trip covers a lot of ground! I can't believe how much we managed to do in just two weeks, and needed my photos and videos to remind me. The accommodation was of an exceptionally high standard and we slept very well everywhere. Our own guides were brilliant, and the external guides at various locations were excellent and very knowledgeable about their specialist areas.

A good mix of wildlife watching in a number of areas and walking in the Drakensberg Mountains

Difficult to sum up as we were offered such a wealth of experiences on this holiday. However revelling in the wonders of the natural world, whether specifically looking for wildlife, or walking in the mountains and hills, was a constant.

A very varied holiday, filled daily with new adventures so that it felt longer than 2 weeks. The animal sightings on safari and the early morning estuary trip were thrilling and the views on the mountain walks breathtaking. The added excitement of panning for gold, the aspects of historical interest (Anglo-Zulu war) and a day at the beach whale watching made this trip truly memorable.

I had booked this holiday because of the variety of activities on offer and it didn't disappoint. My main interest was the hillwalking and this was superb in all locations, however I found the safari part of the holiday just as enjoyable. The sights we saw, such as the cloud inversion at God's Window, were also stunning.

The whole trip was fantastic. The only downside was the failure to inform the leader of my requirement for a gluten free diet. I don't think Ende had even heard of the condition, but, when it was explained to him he coped brilliantly even to the extent of preparing my main dish separately.

We booked this trip for our Honeymoon, it was something we always wanted to do and we enjoy trekking. We said we would keep a very open mind when getting to South Africa as we didn't expect to see a lot of animals or didn't know what to expect with the accommodation. Well, we were completely blown away with what we saw on this trip, within the first evening on the safari we saw Elephants, Giraffes, Buffalo, Impala and Wildebeest. The accommodation was very good, clean and tidy. Our favourite place we stayed was Mtomeni Safari camp in Letaba Ranch Reserve, this was the true safari experience for us. There was no electricity so bring your torch, sat round the fire, taken back to our tent in the evening by a guide with a riffle just in case we had an unexpected visitor!!. Waking up in the morning to site of the beautiful river with some monkey playing outside of tent was brilliant! Kruger Park was not as touristy as we thought it would be, the camp sites were really good and the showering facilities were very clean. Seeing all the animals so close to our van was incredible. It was almost like the animals were just as interested in us as we were in them! The walking comes later in the trip mainly, the mountains were breath-taking. The scenery surrounding our accommodation was amazing. Drakensberg is such a beautiful place and easily somewhere you could go back in the future for more walks.

I loved the variety of this trip. The accommodation ranged from lodges to mountain huts to tents. The activities covered day hikes and game drives. The scenery went from cool mountain plateaus to hot lowlands to lovely beaches. The organisation was streamlined.

This trip has the perfect blend of hiking and wildlife. Without exception the walks were stunning, and the game viewing in Karongwe and Kruger plentiful and awe-inspiring.

A fantastic trip which gave us a some highlights of South Africa. We really enjoyed the Drakensberg area and especially loved the chain ladders! Walking in the indigenous forest was a great experience. We enjoyed the 2 nights in Swaziland as the area was very scenic and the walking good. Visiting the Karongwe and Kruger was so worthwhile - we saw so many animals, birds and plants. Our day on the beach at Cape Vidal was great fun and we loved the big waves and the white sand, a real opportunity to relax at the half way point

Fantastic trip. Such a variation of landscape and scenery. From wide open prairie, rainforest jungle and wild bushland to golden sand beaches, the Indian Ocean and souring mountains... we had it all. Oh, and too many wild life encounters along the way to actually list here in this short review.

This trip was fantastic. The guides, David and Ende were very knowledgeable, and excellent cooks!! They had a trainee, Colly, with them who knew a lot about tracking and local knowledge. We saw so many animals. It was wonderful to see them in their natural surroundings. I really enjoyed the walks, which were varied. However, the weather, and time beat us on Sentinel Peak, which was disappointing, but it is expected as it's winter in South Africa at the moment. A truly wonderful trip. I recommend it wholeheartedly!!

This was an amazing holiday, we packed so much in and saw so much it will be difficult to choose a highlight. The guides were very good and made sure we were happy, safe, well fed and enjoyed every minute.

Having walked in every continient and completed 11 Exodus trip I feel reasonably well qualified to judge that three of the walks we did on the trip should be included in anyones top day walks of the world. Knowledgeable local staff had the language skills for me to learn more about African wildlife on this trip than two previous safaris. This trip comes very highly recommended by me.

A wonderful trip in a spectacular country, seeing a lots of wildlife and some stunning landscapes

A truly memorable holiday but be prepared for some log journeys between stops. 

We had an excellent adventure and were exceedingly well looked after by the crew. We seemed to spend a lot of time in the mini bus for a "walking safari" but it did means we saw a lot of South Africa.

A good balance of Safari and walking. Some long distances travelled on the bus which we enjoyed enabling us to see a large area of this fantastic country. With a 19 seat bus for 12 it was not cramped and with plenty of stops you do get a good flavour of the country. Don't let the bussing put you off  we had some superb walks and Safaris and were looked after very well by our guides Admire and Mathew.   

A great mix of walking and wildlife, culminating in the stunning Drakensberg mountains.

A great holiday with a mixture of walking and wildlife. After a couple of very, very, wet days the sun came out, the walking became enjoyable. We had a pretty mixed group and just about everybody enjoyed the experience.

A good mix of wildlife and walking.

A brilliant trip from start to finish.  There was so much to see and do.  Going in July/Aug  - South African winter was the perfect time for walking and seeing wild life.  A very varied and exciting experience with something new everyday. 

Fantastic trip, with great walks, awesome sights and great opportunities to get pretty close to the wildlife. This trip highlights what a diverse country South Africa is when you contrast the high lands with the lowlands. It is truly an experience that will be treasured for life.

My first trip with Exodus but I have travelled with similar companies although not including camping.I found the trip to be exactly what I was expecting and as described in the brochure. The camping wasn't arduous at all.

A wonderful holiday which really explores the east side of South Africa. Wonderful walks, great game viewing! Could not ask for more.

Great walking and excellent organisation from experienced and committed guides

Amazing experience! Great balance between walking and wildlife and a really diverse trip, you feel like you are seeing a lot of the country without being rushed. Scenery is stunning and perfect for walking. Campsites are fantastic, food amazing. Really lovely, well paced and interesting trip with fantastic opportunity to spot the big 5!

Dates and prices

You can be confident that our pricing includes all the standard requirements of your holiday and many additional extras. Always ensure that you are comparing like for like when booking your holiday.

This 14 night guided walking holiday includes:

All breakfasts, 11 lunches, 7 dinners

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)


How to book:

To book this holidays speak to our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'book now' or 'check availability' button below.

To book this holiday call our sales team on 0044 1606 720199 or click on the appropriate 'Book now' or 'check availability' button below.

  • Aug 2024
  • Sep 2024
  • Oct 2024
  • Nov 2024
  • Jan 2025
  • Feb 2025
  • Mar 2025
  • Apr 2025
  • Jun 2025
  • Jul 2025
  • Aug 2025
  • Sep 2025
  • Oct 2025
  • Nov 2025
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
17th Aug 2024 WAS US$4350
US$4050
Save US$300
US$795 Tour only: Now US$4050 (was US$4350)
Single supp: US$795
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
21st Sep 2024 WAS US$4425
US$4275
Save US$150
US$795 Tour only: Now US$4275 (was US$4425)
Single supp: US$795
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
12th Oct 2024 US$4500 US$795 Tour only: US$4500
Single supp: US$795
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
16th Nov 2024 US$4500 US$795 Tour only: US$4500
Single supp: US$795
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
11th Jan 2025 US$4725 US$878 Tour only: US$4725
Single supp: US$878
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
22nd Feb 2025 US$4725 US$878 Tour only: US$4725
Single supp: US$878
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
15th Mar 2025 US$4725 US$878 Tour only: US$4725
Single supp: US$878
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
26th Apr 2025 US$4725 US$878 Tour only: US$4725
Single supp: US$878
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
28th Jun 2025 US$4725 US$878 Tour only: US$4725
Single supp: US$878
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
26th Jul 2025 US$4725 US$878 Tour only: US$4725
Single supp: US$878
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
16th Aug 2025 US$4725 US$878 Tour only: US$4725
Single supp: US$878
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
20th Sep 2025 US$4725 US$878 Tour only: US$4725
Single supp: US$878
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
18th Oct 2025 US$4725 US$878 Tour only: US$4725
Single supp: US$878
Check availability
Check availability
DepartingTour only Prices   Single supplement
15th Nov 2025 US$4725 US$878 Tour only: US$4725
Single supp: US$878
Check availability
Check availability

The prices quoted for each individual departure supercede those published in our current brochures. Air prices are subject to change and we advise early booking to obtain the best prices. Please see our Planning your holiday and What's included in the price? pages for additional information.

Key information

This holiday is operated by our sister company, Exodus

9 days walking

Mixture of wildlife spotting and walking

Altitude max 2900m, average 1250m

Group normally 4 to 12, plus local leader. Min age 16 yrs

11 nights log cabins and chalets and 3 nights permanent tented camp

Transportation

Transport is by minibus fitted with forward facing seats and towing a trailer for equipment and luggage. For game drives on the private reserve we will use an open 4-wheeled-drive Land Rover.

Joining instructions

Travelling flight inclusive from London: 17 days

The group flight from London is an overnight flight departing the day before Day 1 of the itinerary.

Flights from London

We normally use the scheduled services of South African Airways (depending on availability). As flight timings and schedules change regularly we recommend you call one of our specialist sales staff or your agent to confirm up‐to‐date timings. Please note timings may change at a later date and cannot be confirmed until approximately two weeks before departure.

Travelling land only: 15 days starting and ending in Johannesburg Airport

Your trip normally starts at the Johannesburg international airport in the morning of Day 1 of the itinerary, at the group arrival time. Details of how to reach the start point are provided in the Final Joining Instructions - sent approximately two weeks before departure. (Land only clients can be picked up at a local hotel 45 minutes before the group arrival flight and transferred to the Johannesburg International airport)

 Please note that if you are organising your own flights, your departure flight should not be earlier than the group flights as we have a long way to travel back to Johannesburg Airport on the last day.