Example trip

South Africa the Eastern loop: mountains, bush, sea! And Cape Town!

Highlights

Water activities, safari, authentic encounters, urban culture, hiking, tropical beaches

Location

South Africa & eSwatini

Budget

from € 3,500, - p.p. excl. flight ticket

Roadtripping with the Big Five!

We start with a brief visit to bustling Johannesburg, but immediately afterwards start our road trip. Off to the bush and the Big Five! From there we travel towards the coast, but not before exploring eSwatini on an adventurous hike with overnight stay! After this hike, it's time for the coast: diving, snorkelling, boat trips, kayaking as well as cultural experiences: it's all here! So what are we missing in terms of adventure? Right, the mountains! We head to the magical Drakensberg Mountains: explore them on foot, on horseback or in your rugged 4x4! Then we will end the trip in the Cape: enjoy the metropolis Cape Town, with its culture, mountains, restaurants and of course a visit to the vineyards.

22 days in South Africa & eSwatini

Day 1

Johannesburg

You are going to visit South Africa's largest township: Soweto! Well township. Don't be surprised if you find villas during your visit, as Soweto has the highest concentration of millionaires in the country. However, much of Soweto is still characterised by poverty and the image you know of a township. But, Soweto exudes character, authenticity and love. The people are proud and will welcome you with open arms. Very special!

Day 2 - 3

Greater Kruger Game Reserve

Safari time!!! On to Greater Kruger: a beautiful area of 344000 hectares of untouched wilderness. Greater Kruger borders the Kruger but there is no fence here; so the animals can move freely between the parks. Greater Kruger is known as a ‘natural beauty’ with its thick bush but at the same time open plains, with a huge amount of wildlife: not only will you find more than 350 bird species and the entire Big 5, but you also have the chance to spot the rare white lion here! Get the cameras ready, put on your safari hat: it's safari time!

Day 4

Hazyview

On to the farming village of Hazyview on the Sabie River! Hazyview is known for its banana industry and its beautiful location near the Panorama Route. The town owes its name to the mist that often covers the area, especially in summer. The many fruit farms make the area beautiful and it is therefore nice to drive the Panorama Route from here to visit all the beautiful viewpoints.

Day 5 - 7

Ezulwini Valley & Malolotja Nature Reserve

Malolotja Nature Reserve, the largest protected area in eSwatini, offers typical Swazi scenery: vast vistas, rolling green hills, and a hundred-metre waterfall. Experience versatility with hikes, refreshing dives in potholes, and overnight stays in the middle of nature. A unique activity is on the programme: a hike with an overnight stay! You will meet the Trail Guides early and hike 7 km to the Wilderness Campsite. Enjoy a dip in the ‘Lower Potholes’ and an evening around the campfire. The next day, pack up and return to Nkomati View. Afterwards, you can relax in Ezulwini Valley or further explore Swazi culture.

Day 8 - 9

Kosi Bay

Kosi Bay, an enchanting area where six lakes converge, forms one of the best-preserved estuaries along the Indian coastline. This natural paradise offers an abundance of flora and fauna. Explore by canoe, fishing boat or swimming the diversity of wildlife, including hippos, flamingos and various bird species. A fantastic tour is on the programme! Explore the estuary by kayak and sail through a surreal mangrove channel with five different species of mangrove trees. After snorkelling in ‘the aquarium’, learn about Thonga fish kraals and local fishing techniques. Try catching your own lunch Thonga-style! Finish with a delicious local lunch on wild banana leaves. An unforgettable experience!

Day 10 - 12

Sodwana Bay

Explore Sodwana Bay, an idyllic coastal village in South Africa's oldest UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wonderful diving opportunities, pristine nature and enchanting beaches await here. Spot whales between June and October and turtles from October to March. Explore the breathtaking coral reefs of Sodwana Bay, a top global destination for divers. Discover Zulu culture during a cultural experience with the Nomasonto family. Also explore Lake Sibaya, South Africa's largest freshwater lake, for an enchanting sunset and a traditional “farmer's roll” at the lake. An unforgettable day of adventure and culture awaits you!

Day 13

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi

Heading to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, one of South Africa's oldest parks, known for its vast terrain and dedication to rhino conservation. Here you'll find an abundance of wildlife, including rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, black rhinos, giraffes and zebras, as well as an impressive array of birds. Go exploring! Drive your own 4x4 through the beautiful hills of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, or book a Game Drive with a ranger on site. Along the routes you will find several refuges, where you can enjoy sheltered observation of wildlife coming to drink and play at the rivers. Enjoy the beautiful wildlife of this park today!

Day 14 - 16

Southern Drakensberg

Explore the breathtaking Drakensberg Mountains on horseback, an experience you won't soon forget! Begin your adventure at Khotso, where more than a hundred horses roam freely. Gallop across grassy plains, clamber over rocks and admire the beautiful scenery! The legendary Sani Pass is the only route that reaches the top of the Drakensberg Mountains and connects KwaZulu-Natal to Lesotho. Once a donkey trail, it is now passable for 4x4s, but still challenging. At 2873 meters you will discover the land of the “people of the blanket,” where time seems to stand still. Enjoy breathtaking views from Africa's highest pub!

Day 17 - 19

Cape Town

What makes this metropolis so special? It just has it all! It is a unique feeling you will experience when you visit the city. Its charming, colorful and multifaceted appearance makes it one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is a city with many faces characterized by a rich history. Besides the vibrant city life, you will find white sandy beaches, colorful flower fields and impressive mountains. There is so much to do around Cape Town.... Do you feel like dining out? Or to climb a mountain? We are happy to help you plan a great activity in Cape Town. Try us!

Day 20 - 21

Stellenbosch

It's wine o'clock! On to idyllic Stellenbosch, the “capital” of South African wines, where wineries are located in beautiful surroundings: vast estates with rolling vineyards, mountains and valleys. Here you will enjoy delicious star-level restaurants at a good price. From Cape Town it takes about an hour's drive to get here, so plenty of time to start tasting fine wines right away. Today you can explore the vineyards of Stellenbosch by bike, or just relax at your accommodation. Either way, take it easy!

Day 22

Departure

Everything comes to an end, including this wonderful adventure through South Africa. With a nice healthy colour on your cheeks, you board the plane and with your eyes closed and your seat reclined, you dream away about the cool adventures you've experienced. Unspoilt nature, lush wildlife, inspiring people & vibrant cities. You now have plenty of stories to recount to your family and friends later by the fireplace. Welcome home! An adventure over, but another set of experiences richer.

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What our travellers say about us

What a fantastic honeymoon we had with Charlie’s Travels! In just 19 days, we visited three countries: South Africa, Swaziland, and Mozambique. We spent a few nights sleeping under the stars in our personal camper and a few nights in luxury accommodations. Everything was wonderfully organized!

Martin
Lovebirds
South Africa

We definitely recommend Charlie’s Travels! They organised a great self-drive for us through South Africa, Mozambique and Eswatini. Communication before, during and after the trip was smooth: everything was very clear and they responded very quickly. We had a fantastic trip!

Coco
Travel with friends
South Africa

Together with Charlie’s Travels and my fellow board members, I discovered South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique in 2.5 weeks. Sleeping in tents on the beach or in the wilderness, hiking through Swaziland, Ocean Safari, Game drives, this trip had it all. I recommend everyone to let Charlie’s Travels help you find the perfect trip! 

Lieke
Travel with friends
South Africa

Travelling around South Africa with a group of girls has never been easier. Thanks to Charlie’s Travels, our trip consisted of the perfect balance of relaxation, adventure and good food to suit our needs and, also important for students, our budget.

Emma
Travel with friends
South Africa

Charlie’s Travels is an excellent tour operator for a trip to South Africa. What also appealed to us was their policy of mostly doing business with local entrepreneurs. We highly recommend Charlie’s Travels to anyone looking for a unique travel experience.

Danny
Travel with friends
South Africa

For our honeymoon, we wanted something special. We came across Charlie’s Travels’ website, and were immediately sold. The promises were great, and during our trip, expectations were exceeded. We can highly recommend Charlie’s to anyone wanting a spectacular, amazing experience!!!

Jannelize
Lovebirds
South Africa

We went with the family to South Africa and that was fantastic! With our input and wishes. Anna only needs half a word and knows the regions and accommodations well. We would arrange our next trip to Africa with Charlie’s again!

Leonie
Family Travel
South Africa

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