Kruger Park & The Kingdoms Safari
For a holiday excursion that combines a visit to the Kruger National Park to see the Big Five with a cultural and historical tour of the surrounding kingdoms, this Kruger and Kingdoms tour cannot be beaten. There is even a boat cruise on Lake St Lucia to complete this multi-faceted holiday experience. Highlights of this tour include:
Itinerary
Day 1: Pretoria and Mpumalanga
Monday: Your Kruger and Kingdoms tour begins at 7:30 am with departure from Johannesburg. We will head to Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa, where we will experience a brief orientation tour. We continue on to Mpumalanga, descending several hundred feet into the Lowveld region, an area characterised by its lush sub-tropical vegetation and grasslands. We journey through Witbank, Dullstroom and Lydenburg (towns of historic importance), over the Long Tom Pass and on to Sabie. We shall spend the afternoon exploring Pilgrim’s Rest – a small mining village where gold was first discovered. Accommodation is at The Royal Hotel or similar venue. Dinner is included.
Day 2: Pilgrim’s Rest and the Kruger National Park
Tuesday: This morning we travel to God’s Window where you can enjoy the breathtaking view of forested mountain slopes and fertile valley plains. From here we visit Blyde River Canyon, one of Africa’s natural wonders, and then on to Graskop, a quaint forestry town on the edge of the Drakensburg. We will arrive at our hotel mid-afternoon. Accommodation is at Perry’s Bridge Hotel or similar venue. Breakfast and dinner are included.
Day 3: ‘Big Five’ Game Viewing in the Kruger Park
Wednesday: This morning we rise early and set off before breakfast for a game drive. In open safari vehicles our view is optimised, giving us greater advantage of spotting the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant. The Kruger is also home to a variety of game-, bird-, plant- and other wildlife species. Accommodation is at Perry’s Bridge Hollow or similar venue (same as Day 2). Breakfast is included.
Day 4: The Kingdom of Swaziland
Thursday: Today we will drive to the Kingdom of Swaziland, a small landlocked country located in the north-east of South Africa. It is a former British Protection Territory and is now ruled by King MsWati III. Here we will enjoy a cultural experience with the local Swazi people, and then proceed to the Ngwenya Glass Factory to watch the masters create figurines and art pieces out of the molten glass. From here we travel onward to Mbabane, the capital city of Swaziland, which is known for its bustling market places brimming with brightly coloured collectables such as woven baskets, wood carvings, as well as beaded jewellery and decorations. Accommodation is at the Lugogo Sun or similar venue. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Day 5: The Kingdom of the Zulus
Friday: Today we visit the Swazi Candle Factory where we will discover exquisite artworks in a variety of shapes and colours, and fashioned entirely from wax (apart from the wick, of course). We continue in to Zululand towards the town of St Lucia where its eponymous lake is a World Heritage site and area of spectacular beauty. Here we will find a variety of wildlife including crocodile, hippo and over 367 different species of bird. You may wish to spend the afternoon enjoying a Big Five safari game drive at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (optional extra). Accommodation is at the Elephant Lake Hotel or similar venue. Breakfast is included.
Day 6: Durban
Saturday: A delicious breakfast (included) welcomes you on your final morning, and gets us ready to greet the day with a boat cruise on Lake St Lucia. Here we will enjoy the calm waters, scenic surrounds and, of course, the magnificent wildlife. From here we head to Durban where our route will take us along the lush sub-tropical coastline of KwaZulu-Natal, an area filled with sugar cane plantations. Your Kruger and Kingdom tour comes to an end when we drop you off at the airport or at a central Durban hotel.
Pricing (quoted in ZAR)
Nov 2011 - Apr 2012 & Sep - Oct 2012
R 11 110 per person sharing
R 2 010 single room supplement
May - Aug 2012
R 10 525 per person sharing
R 1 878 single room supplement
Price Includes
* Visa conditions are applicable for Swaziland and passports are required upon entry.
Should you have any further questions about the Kruger and Kingdoms tour or Big Five safaris do not hesitate to contact a friendly African Travel Gateway representative.
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