Note: There have been some changes to this tour for 2025. Please contact us for the 2025 itinerary.

A walking focused safari exploring a variety of scenic and cultural destinations within South Africa, including a visit to the beautiful Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland). This is an active holiday and the day walks range from leisurely to challenging, and provide a unique adventure for those interested in a walking holiday. Highlights include visits to the old mining town of Pilgrims Rest, the game reserves of Zululand and Kruger, the Dundee battlefields and the majesty of the Drakensberg.

Day 1 - 2 MPUMALANGA [chalet Bx1 LD]
[B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]
We depart Johannesburg and head east to Mpumalanga. During the afternoon we visit the gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest, and the viewpoint over God’s Window. Stretch our legs on a short walk from Mac Mac Pools and then make our way to our chalets on the edge of the escarpment.

We are up early the next morning for our first long walk at the Blyde River. We walk from the rim of the escarpment down into the canyon with views over the Three Sisters and the river below, before making our way back up the escarpment again. After lunch we spend the afternoon exploring the forests and waterfalls which make Mpumalanga a beautiful destination. An exciting optional activity is the Graskop Gorge Lift, which lowers you down for a walk through the lush Afromontane forest below (own expense).

Leisurely – Mac Mac Walk – short easy walk to stretch your legs.  2-3km, less than one hour. On a foot path with very limited altitude change.

Moderate – Blyde River Canyon – 3.5hr walk on good paths with some rocky sections.

Day 3 - 4 KRUGER  PRIVATE GAME RESERVE [chalet BLD]
An early breakfast and we make our way to the Kruger National Park.  We enter the national park and spend the day on an exciting game drive in an open safari vehicle.  Your guide will interpret the signs of the bush as we hope to see elephants, rhino and possibly the elusive leopard.  We stop for a picnic lunch before completing our game drive in the late afternoon as we exit the park and make our way to our private game lodge in the Greater Kruger area.

A highlight of our tour is the early morning game walk with a local ranger.  Quietly we venture into the bush, learning the tracks and other signs of wildlife we hope to find on foot. 

Leisurely – Big 5 game walk - early morning 3 – 4 hr bush walk with ranger to spot game.

 Day 5 - 6 KINGDOM OF eSWATINI (SWAZILAND) [chalet BLD]
We enter the Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland) and travel through a lush fruit farming area before heading into the mountains of Swaziland. We spend 2 nights on the outskirts of Malalotja Nature Reserve with a full day to walk through this seldom explored mountainous reserve. The Swazi people have a rich cultural heritage and we will visit the craft and medicine markets on day 7 as we pass through the capital, Mbabane.

Challenging – 4 - 6hr walk through undulating hills of Malalotja Game Reserve to a beautiful waterfall.  Uneven paths and this walk has sections of steep gradients.

 Day 7 - 8 ZULULAND GAME RESERVES [tented lodge BLD]
Crossing into South Africa we head towards our lodge on a private game reserve situated on the Msinene Nature Reserve. We take a walk with our local walking guide who will point out some of the 540+ bird species found in the area, and track the shy Nyala antelope in the riverine vegetation of the Msinene River. The following morning, we visit Hluhluwe Game Reserve, a key area for rhino conservation. Enjoy sunset and the sounds of the bush before a hearty dinner at the lodge.

Leisurely – 2-3hr gentle walk on the conservancy

 Day 9 - 10 ZULULAND BATTLEFIELDS [lodge BL-]
We leave the coastline and make our way through the scenic hills and valleys of Zululand to the small town of Dundee. Here battles were fought between the Zulus, British and the Boer troops - war cries still resound in the hills. We spend time at the informative Tulana museum before we settle into our lodge and have some free time in the afternoon.
The following morning we explore the Islandlwana battlefield before we embark on an exciting 4-5hour hike tracing the steps of the two British fugitives through the undulating hills of Zululand to the Buffalo River. Later in the day we visit Rourkes Drift before returning to the lodge.

Challenging – 4-5hr Fugitives Drift trail through Zululand on uneven paths.  It has strenuous sections with some steep gradients.  Complete hike is dependent on the Buffalo River water level crossing.

Day 11 - 12 DRAKENSBERG [chalet BLD]
Witness the grandeur of the Drakensberg Mountains or uKhahlamba “Barrier of Spears”. We overnight at the base of the “berg” (alt. 1,600m) and spend a full day walking the mountain trails before taking an invigorating dip in the clear mountain streams of the Royal Natal National Park. The crisp mountain air is refreshing and our lodge is a fantastic place to relax and enjoy the splendour of the mountain views. 

Moderate – 5.5hr walk up the Tugela gorge on good paths with some rocky sections, boulder hopping.

Day 13 DRAKENSBERG [chalet BL-]

We start the day with an early breakfast and make our way to Witsieshoek at the foot of the magnificent Sentinel Peak. At the end of a rough gravel road we start our trek, including a short chain ladder section, to the top of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre and the beautiful Tugela Falls (alt. 3,000m), offering unparalleled views down into KwaZulu-Natal. After our walk we make our way to the lodge perched high in the mountains (alt. 2,300m) overlooking the Mont-Aux-Sources mountain range.

Challenging – 5-6 hrs walk on uneven paths to the top of the Amphitheatre with a short section of chain ladders.

Day 14 JOHANNESBURG - TOUR ENDS [BL-]
A leisurely start to the day, with the chance to spot the endangered bearded vulture soaring overhead, before we make our way back to Johannesburg. Tour ends at +/-17:00.

Highlights

	Mpumalanga Panorama Route - sight seeing
	Private Game Reserve - game walk
	Kruger National Park – game drives
	Swaziland – mountain walks
	Zululand – game drives & historic battlefields
	KwaZulu Natal - walk, game drive and museums
	Drakensberg Mountains – mountain walks

 

 

 

This tour departs at 06h30 from the pre-tour accommodation hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. You will therefore need to fly into OR Tambo International airport (JNB) in Johannesburg the day before the tour starts.

(Depending on your flight arrival time, you can book an own expense, optional afternoon excursion to either SOWETO or Maropeng, bookable and payable on arrival in Johannesburg.)

The tour ends at approximately 17h00 at the hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. Please note that we do a free airport drop-off on day 14 at approximately 16h00 so that you can book an outward flight (departing after 19h00) for the last day of the tour.

If you would like to book any pre-tour or post-tour accommodation, please indicate your required airport transfers and the number of nights required when you submit your enquiry below.

Johannesburg Hotel:

Rivonia Road Lodge
Cnr Rivonia Rd & 10th Ave, Rivonia, Sandton
Double room (b&b)  € 38 per person sharing 
Single room (b&b)  € 67

Please slide side-to-side to see more info

REPEAT TRAVELERS SPECIAL DISCOUNT:

If you have travelled with Sunway before and would like to return to Africa and do another safari with us, we can offer you a repeat Sunway travellers discount of 5% on any scheduled tour booked.

This discount is also available if you book through your original travel agent again. When you make your booking please make sure you tell your agent the date of your previous tour.

Safari Grade: Accommodated

Overnight: 13 nights on safari we stay at small, intimate and often private lodges (including tented camps), with en suite facilities.

Meals: 13 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 10 dinners are included. Of which 9 breakfasts & 8 dinners are provided by the lodges. The remaining included meals are provided by the Sunway crew, prepared at the vehicle and eaten around the boma or campfire.

Transport:  we use custom-built Sunway Safari truckswith 12 forward facing seats. These vehicles are comfortable for cruising with large sliding windows and front hatches giving everyone a good view; or (on 10% of tours) Mercedes Sprinter minibuses with 12 seats and air conditioning (with a trailer for equipment and gear).

Limited Participation: An essential part of your safari is some participation. From carrying your own bag to your room and day packs and water bottles on hikes, to packing the truck in the morning – it’s all part of your adventure. Where the tour leaders provide meals we ask that clients help (on rotation) with the washing up. When everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly and efficiently ensuring it is enjoyable for all involved

The Walking Grade

Leisurely – 1 – 3hrs.  Walks for reasonably fit people with at least a little country walking experience. May include unsurfaced rural paths. A pleasant morning or afternoon walk . Relatively flat without much change in altitude (<200m).

Moderate – 3 – 5hrs. Walks for reasonably fit people with at least a little country walking experience.  May include some steep paths unsurfaced paths, open country and may be at a brisk pace.  Moderate altitude change (200-400m).

Challenging - 4 – 6hrs.  Walks for people with a good level of fitness. May include steep unsurfaced paths, open country, and may be at a brisk pace. People in doubt about their fitness should contact the organiser or tour leader in advance to assess difficulty. Significant   altitude change (>400m) and/or walking above altitudes  above 2,500m above sea level.

There are 8 amazing walks on this tour and they range from easy to challenging. We walk on mountain paths so light hiking boots are sufficient (ankle protection is required). All walks are weather dependent especially in the Drakensberg.

Thomas - Mar23

I returned safely and I'm back to work - more than I'd like. Everything worked out wonderfully, so I was able to enjoy the trip to the fullest and can only recommend it.
I filled out the feedback form, but I would like to mention my 3 highlights at this point:
• Hike Blyde River and Canyon -> A landscape that I would not have expected. It was varied and there was a lot to experience with all your senses.
• Early morning game walk (Kruger Private Game Reserve) -> It's a very different, more intense experience to walk. The perspective is different than in the car, the animals seem to be much closer.
• Hike to the top of the Drakensberg/Tugela Falls -> A unique hike in every respect, at the end of which you will be rewarded with a priceless view.
Thomas, Switzerland

Elli - Sep22

Dear Sunway Team,
I've just come back from a 14-day trip with Phumi and I'm overwhelmed by the experiences and the fantastic pictures. Phumi guided our small group of 5 travelers excellently, took us to the most beautiful places and the most wonderful animals. He has a great knowledge of the fauna & flora, culture and life in South Africa and even all of Africa. He's a really great person. He cooked for us fantastically for the 14 days, was able to give us competent answers no matter what question we had and is a humorous person. We had great fun with him. I got the impression that he never rests. He is a really patient, kind and competent guide. Such a journey stands and falls (German proverb) with the guide. I'm really looking forward to my next trip in 2023 with hopefully him again as a guide!
Best Elli from Nuremberg, Germany

Ulli & Thomas - Sep19

Great safari, bush walks and hiking!
Our hiking tour through South Africa, Swasiland an Zululand was wonderful. Our guides Colly and Cloud from Sunway did a fantastic job spotting moving rocks as animals from far away, sharing all their huge knowledge about wild animals, history and living conditions with us and showing us very beatiful scenery on our hiking tours. They are very kind guys, well organised, excellent cooks and deal with all upcoming questions in a way everybody can feel well.
The accomodations were fine, it´s a good idea to stay two nights and than move on to the next. The small group of five made the bus to our mobile living room.
Thank you so much for the gorgeous experience!

Ann & David - Nov18

Dear Tara-Lee
David and I have just returned from our holiday in South Africa, which as you know,we travelled with Sunway Safaris. I wanted to let you all know that we had a wonderful time.We have had time to reflect on the trip in its entirety and realise there were many things/experiences that had slipt our minds when filling in the feed back form.
I don't feel the feedback form can convey precisely how much we enjoyed our experiences and appreciated the efforts of our guides: Tawanda and Moses.
Thanking you again for the most amazing experience. Regards from the UK

Brigitte Leitner- Feb16

This was an amazing tour, Thandele in the Drakensberg is a must see. Brigitte, Austria

Heinrich Ackfeld- Feb16

This was my best tour ever!! Well organised and all the accomodation is very good. Heinrich, Germany

Kenji Ozwawa- Nov15

Wonderful contruction of the tour. A lot of activities and information. Kenji, USA

Liz Ware - Sep15

A good, varied itinerary with some excellent walks - especially in the Drakensburg. Liz, New Zealand

Hilary - Feb15

Loved the variety. Well organised. Our 2 guides were an absolute credit to your company (rated gold!). Fantastic group.

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