Kruger and Swaziland in Style

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Pretoria

Arrive in Pretoria and catch the shuttle to your hotel in Pretoria. Attend a pre-departure group meeting with your tour leader scheduled for the evening.

Days 2 Graskop (B)

Approximate distance: 360 kmEstimate travel time: 4 HoursWake early and depart for Mpumalanga in our air-conditioned touring vehicle. Look out the window to view a wonderful landscape complete with mountains, panoramic passes, valleys and waterfalls. Enroute, visit Bourkes Luck Potholes. Named after the Tom Burke, a gold digger who staked claim to the area, the Potholes are the beginning of the world famous Blyde River Canyon. Believed to be the third largest canyon in the world, the Blyde River Canyon - "River of Joy" Canyon - runs through the Mpumalanga part of the Drakensberg Mountain Range with cliffs rising nearly 800 meters. After our visit, keep your eyes on the passing telephone poles and dead trees to see raptors, crowned eagles, snake eagles or falcons. Take the opportunity to purchase some trinkets from the local vendors found along the route.The town of Graskop is perched on a spur of the Mauchsberg at an altitude of 1,493m and dates back to 1837 when Andries Potgieter passed through with the Great Trek of the Voortrekkers in search of greener pastures in the north. In the 1850’s the Graskop area was a farm owned by Abel Erasmus, and adventurous character in hunting, prospecting and imposing law. He was also known among the local tribes as Dabula Duzi “he who shoots at close range”

Day 3-4 Manyeleti Game Reserve (2B,2L,2D)

Approximate distance: 150 kmEstimated travel time: 2 HoursDepart for the lodge in the Manyeleti. Enter the reserve and check into the accommodation. Be prepared to spend the day in the bush, viewing Africa’s "Big 5". Take part in some the optional activities or just enjoy viewing the animals and birds that are part of this reserve. If you are feeling a bit bushwhacked, relax in the sun, join the group around the pool or take an afternoon siesta in order to recharge. Sleep tight in the rustic huts and listen to the haunting sounds of the African night.The name Manyeleti, means 'Place of the Stars' in the local Shangaan language and guests have the opportunity to watch the magnificent Southern Constellation. Manyeleti is situated away from the mainstream tourist areas and guests can experience the tranquility of the African Bush in absolute seclusion.Manyeleti Game Reserve is situated between the Timbavati Private Reserve, the Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sands Game Reserve and is home to the big five and many other species of wildlife.

Day 5 Kruger National Park (B)

Approximate distance: 150 kmEstimated travel time: 2 Hours (excluding time during game drives)Welcome to big game country! The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Spot lion, elephant, rhino and many other animals in one of Africa’s greatest wildlife areas. Enjoy the afternoon game drive where you will have a chance to search out some incredible wildlife. Established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld (low-lying bush land), this national park of nearly 2 million hectares. Kruger National Park is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. Notably as well is its mixed biological, historical and archaeological significance.The Kruger National Park is truly the flagship of the South African National Parks, and it is home to a huge array of plants and animals. With over 145 species of mammals, it is possible to see all the classical African big game, including elephant, black and white rhino, hippopotamus, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog and many antelope species. Large carnivores include lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and spotted hyena. There are also many smaller mammals equally enticing species.Some of the bird life here cannot be found elsewhere is South Africa, as 507 species reside in the park. Hornbills, Starlings, Vultures, Rollers, Bee-eaters and Shrikes typify the ubiquitous avi-fauna, and birders can look forward to pursuing the big 6 (Saddle-billed Stork, Kori Bustard, Martial Eagle, Lappet-faced Vulture, Pel’s Fishing Owl and Ground Hornbill). Eagles are common: Bateleur, Martial, Black-breasted Snake, Brown Snake, African Hawk, African Fish and Tawny are all regularly seen, and in summer: Wahlberg’s, Steppe, Lesser Spotted. The Park’s numerous water points make for excellent birding, while the rest camps and picnic sites are exceptionally rewarding for birders.The interaction between man and bush is evident in the Kruger National Park, from the bushman rock paintings to the majestic archaeological sites like Thulamela and Masorini. This is also regarded and preserved as a treasure, as they represent the cultures, people, and events that played a big role in the history of the Kruger National Park.With Kruger being so vast it naturally has a tremendous botanic diversity. Simplistically the park can be divided into 16 macro eco-zones. The northern half of the park, north of the Olifants River is predominantly mopane veld, while south of the Olifants the ecozones are thornveld. There are 336 tree species in the park.On 26 March, 1898, South African President Paul Kruger signed a proclamation for the founding of a government game park in the Eastern Transvaal, between Crocodile and the Sabie Rivers. As a large animal habitat, this area was at the time an extensive hunting grounds, but mosquito and Tsetse fly populations however, prevented human settlement in the area. The area stayed untouched until after the Anglo-Boer, when the new British administration accepted the idea of a game sanctuary and appointed a warden for what was called Sabie Game reserve. They appointed Major James Stevenson-Hamilton, who was the first to raise the idea that the area should be opened for animal viewing by the public, instead of the proposed plan of opening it for hunting.The first road in the newly named Kruger National Park was laid down from Sabie bridge to the Olifants River, the second from Sabie Bridge to Pretoriuskop and the third from Sabie bridge to Crocodile bridge. The first three tourist cars entered the park in 1927, using the entrance at Pretoriuskop. Among the passengers was a seven-year old, Douglas Jackaman, who was so impressed by what he saw that he later became a camp manager in the park.No accommodation was provided for the visitor, they made their own camps in thorn-bush enclosures. Visitors also carried weapons for their protection. In 1944 a cordon system was introduced between the park and local farms to decrease the impact of foot and mouth disease on the parks wildlife. Stevenson-Hamilton retired through the years of the Second World War, through which time the park was closed. The park was again opened to the public in 1946 under new control.

Day 6 Hectorspruit / Komatipoort Area (B,D)

Approximate distance: 25 kmEstimated travel time: 30 minutes (excluding time during game drives)After an early morning game drive (own vehicle) in Kruger, we drive to Nelspruit for a sunset open vehicle game drive at Masgobe Private Game Reserve.Situated on a game farm, the lodge is just 9km from the world famous Kruger National Park, and can cater for 15 visitors. Guests are accommodated in traditional Swazi huts, which have been modernised with en-suite bathrooms and air-conditioning. There is a deck for outdoor evening meals and a swimming pool on site.

Day 7-8 Swaziland (2B,2D)

Approximate distance: 180 kmEstimated travel time: 2 Hours (excluding time during game drives)Depart early in the morning to the kingdom of Swaziland and head to Hlane Game Sanctuary, Swaziland’s largest protected area. The sanctuary covers 30,000 hectares and is comprised in the eastern region of the country. Hlane is home to lions, elephants, cheetahs, and white rhinos, and an abundance of bird life. Spend the next two days on an open vehicle game drive, optional bush walks, or relaxing at your hotel. The Kingdom of Swaziland is a small, landlocked country in southern Africa (one of the smallest on the continent), situated on the eastern slope of the Drakensberg mountains, embedded between South Africa in the west and Mozambique in the east. The country is named after the Swazi, a Bantu tribe.

Day 9-10 Zululand (2B,2D)

Approximate distance: 310 kmEstimated travel time: 3.5 HoursToday we depart for the beautiful Zululand area, re-entering South Africa into one of its most diverse regions. The area has the scarce Suni (Livingstone’s Antelope) and red duiker, the African Broad Bill, Pink throated Twinspot and the striking Narina Trogan as prime species. Early morning or late afternoon walks are rewarding experiences, with the chance to get unusually close to game, perhaps even glimpsing a bush baby that only makes its presence known by a raucous night cry.The St. Lucia Wetlands is a huge expanse of estuaries which is dominated by Lake St. Lucia, the largest estuarine body of water in South Africa. The St. Lucia Marine Reserve, which extends roughly from Sodwana in the north to Mapelane in the south, contains no less than five different ecosystems, and is home to complex body of vleis (wetlands), pans, swamp forests and grasslands. These include the lake itself, a wilderness area known as Mfabeni and Tewati, a marine conservation area, the reed and papyrus wetland of the Mkuze swamps and western shores, and a fossil shoreline more than 25,000 years old.This was the first game reserve in South Africa. Today the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park stands as a beacon to the efforts for conservation in South Africa.After the crushing defeat in the Battle of Blood River, where an estimated 3,000 warriors fell, the Zulu retreated across the Tugela River into the region known as Zululand. In 1879, the ruler Cetshwayo refused a British ultimatum, and aBritish army invaded from Natal (Durban). The Zulu annihilated a British force in the Battle of Isandlhwana, and only in 1887 was the war ended and Zululand annexed by Britain. In 1897 it was incorporated into the greater Natal region. Two rebellions - in 1888 and 1906 - were suppressed.

Days 11-13 Drakensberg Mountains (3B,3D)

Day 11: Approximate distance: 500 km; Estimated travel time: 5.5 Hours (Southern Drakensberg)Day 13: Approximate distance: 300 km; Estimated travel time: 4 Hours (Northern Drakensberg)Depart for a three night stay in the spectacular Drakensberg mountain range, originally referred to as the “Dragon Mountains” by the early settlers, but now affectionately called “Berg”. Soak up the sun, relax at the hotel or enjoy one of the optional activities available to you. The Southern Drakensberg lies a bit off the beaten tourist track and is not very well known. Here the nature lover finds alpine landscapes of dramatic beauty. Trout anglers consider the "Southern Drakensberg" to be a favorite, since the region has an abundance of crystal clear lakes and rivers. There are several nature reserves, of which particularly the Kamberg and the Loteni are worth a visit. In both reserves live the almost extinct reedbuck, blessbuck, eland, bushbuck and oribi. A wonderful circular trail leads through the Loteni Reserve.The tourist highlight of the Southern Drakensberg is the Sani Pass. It's the highest pass-road in South Africa and leads all along the upper Mkomazana River up to the border with Lesotho (2874 meters above sea-level). One frequently comes across people from Lesotho on their donkeys. At the river one can find many an idyllic picnic spot. Particularly the last part of the untarred stretch (behind the South African border post) is extremely steep and rocky and can only be managed with a four-wheel drive vehicle. But the breathtaking view of the rugged alpine landscape is a memorable reward. It is highly recommended to cross the border, because on the Lesotho side there is a little restaurant and a Basotho village. The border is open daily between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm. Provision centres for the southern part of the Drakensberg are the towns of Underberg, Himeville and Bulwer. Himeville has an excellent museum which gives mainly information about the first white settlers who came here in the 1890s already. Known to the local Zulu people as the Ukhahlamba, or "Barrier of Spears" the Northern Drakensberg is the highest part of the mountain range. The highlight is the "Amphitheatre", a rock escarpment five kilometres long and nearly a kilometer high. The escarpment is the backdrop of the Tugela Falls, the second highest waterfall in the world at 950 meters. The falls are a part of the Tugela River, the longest river in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. Popular with hikers and rock climbers, the escarpment offers many trails and cliffs to use. Each year, the trails on the Mont-aux-Source Mountain is turned into a cross-country steeple-chase of epic proportions.

Day 14 Pretoria (B)

Approximate distance: 400 kmEstimated travel time: 6 HoursHead to Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa and the third largest city, for our final stop on your tour. Pretoria itself was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers, who named it after his father Andries Pretorius. The elder Pretorius had become a national hero of the Voortrekkers after his victory over the Zulus in the famous Battle of Blood River. It became the capital of the South African Republic (ZAR) on 1 May 1860. The Boer Republics of the ZAR and the Orange Free State were united with the Cape Colony and Natal Colony in 1910 to become the Union of South Africa. Pretoria then became the administrative capital of the whole of South Africa, with Cape Town the legislative capital. Between 1860 and 1994, the city was also the capital of the province of Transvaal, superseding Potchefstroom in that role. On 14 October 1931, Pretoria achieved official city status. When South Africa became a republic in 1961, Pretoria remained its administrative capital. After the creation of new municipal structures across South Africa in 2000, the name Tshwane was adopted for the Metropolitan Municipality that includes Pretoria and surrounding towns.Pretoria previously had a negative image as "the capital of Apartheid South Africa". However, Pretoria's political reputation was redeemed with the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as the country's first black President at the Union Buildings in the same city. However, the name Pretoria still has a negative connotation to some black South Africans, and therefore a change of name to Tshwane has been proposed. This proposed change is controversial to the many inhabitants of the city, especially the Afrikaner community, to whom the name Pretoria has an important historical relevance.

Day 15 Depart Pretoria (B)

Tour ends after breakfast at approximately 08:00 am.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Comfortable hotel (6 nts), chalets (2nts), bungalows/huts (2 nts), shangaan & zulu huts (4 nts)
Departure	Departs monthly
DepEnd	Sun-Wed
Group Size	Max 18, Avg. 10
Included Highlights	- Manyeleti Game Reserve entrance with game drive (open vehicle)- Kruger National Park entrance with game drives- Masgobe Game Lodge entrance with game drive (open vehicle) and bush walk- Hlane Game Sanctuary entrance with game drive (open vehicle) - Umfolozi Game Reseve entrance with game drive- St. Lucia Estuary boat excursion- Royal Natal Park entrance- Breakfast dailiy- Arrival transfer
Local Payment	USD400
Meals Included	14 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 10 dinners.
StartFinish	ex Pretoria
Transport	Air-conditioned touring vehicle, walking
Brochure Intro	Track down the Africa's "Big 5" in a number of different parks and reserves on this 2-week journey through South Africa and Swaziland. From modern cites to coastal towns, and open savannah to drastic mountain ranges, this tour offers you the best of the region while experiencing some fabulous lodges, chalets, and hotel along the way.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-11-29	2008-12-13	7+
2008-12-27	2009-01-10	7+

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