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8 days

Kruger & Swaziland Experience

Kruger & Swaziland Experience

Wildlife safari in Greater Kruger National Park

Blyde River Canyon - the largest green canyon in the world

Swaziland’s craft markets

Trip rating

  • Overview

    Beginning in Johannesburg, this incredible adventure takes you through the beautiful Kruger National Park to the colourful Kingdom of Swaziland. The thrill of the search for elusive wildlife like the leopard and black and white rhinos will stay with you for life.

     

     

    Why we love it

    • Meet the locals, including zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, a variety of antelope, elephant, buffalo and hopefully, the Big Five!
    • Cosy accommodation, including our own private camp sleeping in comfortable chalets with en suite facilities; a private guesthouse and a rustic country inn complete with English pub!
    • Plenty of opportunity to stretch your legs and enjoy the fresh air, with a number of hikes, horse riding, boating, trout fishing and golf (all optional of course!)
    • Two nights at Hlane Royal National Park, which covers an area of 30,000 hectares and is the largest park in Swaziland
    • A trip to the Ngwenya Glass Factory, where we see the talented local glass blowers at work. Their work is created from 100% recycled glass that has been collected by locals as part of a nationwide recycling initiative

    Itinerary

    Day 1 - Johannesburg

    • On arrival in Johannesburg you’ll be met at the Arrivals Information Desk (at the international terminal) and transferred to your hotel, where you’ll have the rest of the day to settle in and spend at your leisure.
    • Please note, this is just an arrival day, but your accommodation tonight is covered and has already been booked for you.
    Falstaff Hotel or similar

    Day 2 - Timbavati Game Reserve (Greater Kruger National Park)

    • We’ll meet our guide between 7.00am and 7.30am before we head off on our journey.
    • When we arrive at Timbavati Game Reserve, part of Greater Kruger National Park, we’ll enjoy a late lunch at the delightful bush camp.
    • Once we’ve settled into our accommodation, we’ll go on a late afternoon/early evening game drive for our first chance to glimpse the local wildlife. A pre-dinner drink will await us on our return, served under the stars around a blazing fire in an open-air boma.
    • A sumptuous South African dinner awaits us in the intimate dining area of the camp. This is a private camp and our overnight accommodation is in comfortable chalets, complete with en suite facilities.
    Umlani Camp (Or Alternative)
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 3-4 - Timbavati Game Reserve (Greater Kruger National Park)

    • Two full days in the reserve allows for morning and afternoon wildlife activities, with time for relaxing back at camp during the warmer middle hours of the day. As well as game drives, we also offer a walking safari accompanied by a highly experienced, armed guide. This is a fascinating and unique way to experience the African bush.
    • We depart with our local resident guides on morning and afternoon drives in open 4WD vehicles, searching for zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and a variety of antelope. We may see elephant, buffalo and, hopefully, some of the predators too. There’s a good chance of seeing all of the 'Big Five', including the endangered rhinoceros.
    • On the afternoon game drive, a “sundowner” drink is usually served before our return to camp. On the drive back to camp we use spotlights, to try and catch a glimpse of some of the many nocturnal animals that are seldom seen during the day.
    Umlani Camp (Or Alternative)
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 5 - Blyde River Canyon - Hazyview

    • This morning we leave Timbavati behind and travel to the nearby Blyde River Canyon area. This is the largest green canyon in the world and our drive offers spectacular views of the breathtaking gorge from different vantage points.
    • We stop at the Three Rondavels viewpoint, explore Bourke's Luck Potholes and peer out through God's Window, before checking into our cosy private guesthouse near Hazyview where we’ll enjoy a delicious sunset dinner.
    Chestnut Country Lodge or similar
    Breakfast | Dinner

    Day 6-7 - Hlane Royal National Park

    • After breakfast, we depart for the mountainous Kingdom of Swaziland, our base for the next two nights. The scenery here is breathtaking - from mountainous highveld to the rolling grasslands of the middleveld and the bushlands in the lowveld.
    • We spend our nights in Hlane Royal National Park. Covering an area of 30,000 hectares, this park is the largest in Swaziland and is set up near the former royal hunting grounds.
    • The Hlane is home to lions, elephants, white rhinos and abundant bird life, including the highest density of nesting white-backed vultures in Africa. We’ll take a morning guided walking safari in the Hlane, with the aim of getting up quite close to some of the rhinos!
    • In the afternoon we visit the colourful, local handicraft markets and the renowned Ngwenya Glass Factory, where we see the talented local glass blowers at work. Some of their creations include a range of images of enchanting African animals. The glassblowers’ work is created from 100% recycled glass collected by the locals as part of a nationwide recycling initiative.
    Hlane Game Reserve or similar
    Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

    Day 8 - Johannesburg

    • After breakfast we make our way back to the city of Johannesburg. You can choose to be dropped off at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport or at our joining hotel in the suburb of Sandton.
    • If you are departing from Johannesburg today, please do not book a flight to depart before 8pm.
    Johannesberg Airport
    Breakfast
    Download detailed trip notes

  • Details

    What to Know

    What's Included

    • An experienced, English-speaking local Peregrine leader and local specialist guide at some sites
    • Entrance fees and game activities at all National Parks
    • Authentic accommodation
    • Most meals (except those specified in your itinerary)
    • Transport, including in open 4WD vehicles on safari
    • Arrival transfer

    Not Included

    • International flights
    • Airport departure taxes
    • Departure transfer
    • Visas
    • Meals unless specified in the itinerary
    • Insurance
    • Laundry - but there will be opportunity to do some hand-washing in the camps where we stay for two or more nights.
    • Optional tours or activities during free time
    • Tips - this is something to consider, and it might be worthwhile speaking to your group about making a group contribution at the end of the trip

  • Map

    Map Itinerary

  • Reviews

    Past Travellers' Ratings & Comments

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Trip at a glance

Trip Code PFKS
Group size 4 - 10
Start City: Johannesburg
End City: Johannesburg

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