lesotho tour, battlefield tours, zulu culture with Acacia Africa

Day 1: Johannesburg – Greater Kruger National Park
Departing Johannesburg early morning, we drive eastwards en-route to Greater Kruger, where we stop and admire some popular highlights on the Panoramic Route; Gods Window, Blyde River Canyon, Lisbon Falls, the rare rock formations at Bourke’s Luck Pot Holes and the gigantic Three Rondavals. Arriving at our bush camp on the outskirts of Kruger Park, we enjoy two nights of bush life at our rustic lodge on the private game reserve, Guernsey.

Day 2: Kruger National Park
Entering at Orpen gate after breakfast, a morning and afternoon gamedrive in Kruger is enjoyed, whilst resting, swimming and lunching in the heat of the day at a Kruger camp.
Kruger has over 2 million hectares of unrivalled diversity of life, including the Big 5.
Prior to evening dinner, you have the option to join a night drive on a private reserve or in the National Park, after which the evening is spent sharing stories and experiences around the warm glow of a campfire.

Day 3 Kruger National Park – Swaziland – Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
Leaving camp, travel south passing farming towns and Shangaan settlements, stopping in Nelspruit, cross the Crocodile River and the Swaziland border, winding through lush, mountain passes, passing craft markets, visit to the famous Ngwenya glass factory, afterwhich we enter the Mlilwane Wild Life Sanctuary, where we spend two nights at a rustic bush lodge experiencing true Swazi hospitality.

Day 4 The Kingdom of Swaziland
After breakfast, touring through the sanctuary we enter the Swazi Royal Enclosure
discovering history and culture about the last monarchy controlled country, and a guided walk through a traditional village, browse street side markets, lunching back at the Santuary, and leisure time to participate in various activities; horseback trails, mountain bike riding, guided walks or take a swim. Enjoy the mystical evening with downers, admiring the view overlooking the hippo pool while our crew prepares a delicious dinner.

Day 5 Swaziland – Hluhluwe / Zululand
Departing the Sanctuary we visit a unique Swazi candle factory, cross border into KwaZulu-Natal, a province of South Africa. Travelling further south, through Zululand, we arrive at small forest farming town Hluhluwe, settling in at our lodge before a comprehensive tour of a Zulu village. Returning to camp during the early evening, we explore surroundings, spot nocturnal bush babies and interesting creepy insects going about their business.

Day 6 Hluhluwe – St Lucia
An early breakfast, depart for Hluhluwe National Park, hosting the famous “big five” and many other wild life species. After which we head for St Lucia, a renowned Zululand beach resort, enjoy a late afternoon river cruise viewing hippo, birdlife and crocodiles. After dinner, we have the opportunity to walk into town visiting some of the local cosy pubs or relax in the gardens gazing up into the clear southern hemisphere sky, star watching

Day 7 St Lucia – Durban / Tekweni
The morning is free to enjoy many marked hiking trails, or soak up the sun on the beach. Departing before noon for Durban, uShaka Marine World will be our first stop. We enjoy the night at a beach front lodge, in an upmarket Northern suburb, where we have the opportunity to venture out for a walk along the beach or explore the night life using taxis for transport.

Day 8 Durban – Dundee
Leaving Durban travelling up country to Botha’s Hill overlooking the Inanda valley (valley of a thousand hills) we join a traditional Zulu village guided tour, including a dance show by children and village leaders and a guided tour of a reptile farm. Lunch at a rustic valley restaurant. Continuing inland to Dundee, gateway to battlefield sites, involving the English, Zulu and Afrikaner settlers. The evening is spent at a quaint lodge on the outskirts of the agricultural town, once occupied by the British forces.

Day 9 Dundee – Battlefields – Drakensberg
This morning, joined by a passionate local guide, we explore Blood River, Talana Hill and Rorke’s Drift battlefields. Pressing on travelling via Ladysmith, relevant to the Boer war, through to the foot of the Drakensburg Mountains admiring the sheer magnitude we retire to our bush lodge in preparation for a full day hike tomorrow, witnessing the second highest falls in the world.

Day 10 Drakensberg – Tugela Falls
After a light breakfast and day packs ready to go, we board an all terrain vehicle carrying us over rough roads, finally reaching a spectacular altitude of 2500 meters. This is the most famous hike in South Africa, accessing the highest escarpment in one day and witnessing the highest waterfall in Africa. After absorbing the view of the crystal waters gushing miles below us, we start our two hour decent by carefully climbing down the rock face ladders and foot paths. This evening is enjoyed relaxing in the stillness of the Drakensberg sharing stories over a wholesome dinner.

Day 11 Amphitheatre / Drakensberg – Malealea
After an early breakfast, an informative guided hike, discovering Royal National Park exploring ancient bushman paintings,rock art and the Amphitheatre. Continuing through parts of Golden Gate National Park, stopping at some beautiful viewpoints, we cross the border into Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, heading for the breathtakingly beautiful Malealea, remotely situated in Western Lesotho, experiencing traditional Basotho life. The evening brings the smell of wood fires as dinner is prepared,enjoying the serenity of Basotho land.

Day 12 Malealea
After breakfast morning is spent visiting a traditional local Basotho village, a school with pupils in class, a church house and exploring handmade crafts and beaded jewellery, and the rest of the day is free for us to choose selected hiking trails, visiting nearby waterfalls or bushman paintings around the great Maluti Mountains, or engaging with the village Sangoma. The night is spent with various Basotho children’s choirs and local Basotho bands demonstrating their homemade instruments who entertain us around an open fire.

Day 13 Lesotho / Malealea – Johannesburg
Today we saddle up on a guided Basotho pony trek following narrow trails weaving through rural mountainous terrain, absorbing the pure splendour of Basotholand. Returning for lunch we finally follow the windy roads to the capital city, Maseru, crossing the border back into South Africa. Cutting through the land of windpomp (windmills), the Free State, a rural farming province, our expedition ends in the heart of the City of Gold; Johannesburg.

Transport