The green valley of Drakensberg in South Africa

Group of trekkers in the Drakensberg Ranges

Chain ladders on the Amphitheatre ascent - not for the faint hearted! | Gesine Cheung

Spotting a mother and baby cheetah on a wildlife safari

A lioness and her cub cuddling up close during a game viewing safari

South Africa Walking Adventure

A walking adventure that blends epic landscapes, rich cultures and close up wildlife encounters.

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9 reviews

14 Days from

$2990 USD

Trip Code: SAW

View dates to Book Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Single Supplement 2025

$560 USD

Single Supplement 2026

$550 USD

Duration

14 Days

Activities

8 day walks

Accommodation

11 nights hotel/lodge/guesthouse
2 nights permanent safari camp

Meals

10 Dinners
14 Lunches
13 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading

4 / 10

Introductory to Moderate

Carbon Footprint

66kg of CO₂-e PP per day

(854kg of CO₂-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

Walk with expert guides in Kruger National Park, tracking game on foot, and spotting wildlife on a classic vehicle safari
Climb to the top of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre, one of South Africa’s most iconic hikes, with views over Tugela Falls, the world’s second highest waterfall
Discover the rich cultural heritage of Swaziland (eSwatini) with visits to vibrant craft markets and walks through mountainous nature reserves
Stay in comfortable lodges with nature on your doorstep

Overview

This vibrant journey brings together South Africa’s remarkable wildlife, rich cultures and compelling history. From the Blyde River Canyon and big game of Kruger to the battlefields of Zululand and the soaring escarpments of the Drakensberg Mountains, you’ll walk through some of the most varied and soul stirring landscapes in southern Africa.

Led by expert local guides, you'll hike forested gorges, river valleys and rolling grasslands. Track wildlife on foot and ascend to the top of the Amphitheatre to gaze over the Tugela Falls - the second highest waterfall in the world. There’s time too for cultural encounters, from the craft markets of eSwatini to bird walks along the Msinene River and a stay on a community run reserve.

Chalet and lodge accommodation throughout means you’ll end each active day with a hot shower, a hearty meal, and stunning views. Designed for those who love nature, walking and wildlife, and enjoy the company of like minded explorers, this is an unforgettable way to experience southern Africa up close.

Itinerary

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After the tour briefing at 06:30am, we depart Johannesburg and head east towards 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 for overnight. Walk grade/time: Easy; 1 hr. On this tour, breakfasts and lunches will be provided by the tour leaders with the help of the group, with most dinners at the lodge. Dinner is at your own expense, at the lodge on nights 9 & 13.

Meals: L,D

Blyde River Canyon is our first long morning walk as we make our way from the rim down into the canyon with views over the Three Sisters and the river below. After lunch we spend the afternoon exploring the forests and waterfalls which make Mpumalanga a beautiful destination. Overnight chalet. Walk grade/time: Moderate; 3.5-4 hrs. Ascent/descent: +331m; -331m.

Meals: B,L,D

After an early breakfast, we make our way to Kruger National Park. This is Big game country, where we spend the day in search of the elusive leopard, the majestic lion and the mighty elephant. We enter the national park and spend the day on an exciting game drive through the reserve as your professional guides will impart their extensive knowledge of ecology, fauna and flora. In the late afternoon 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 the next day (3-4 hrs). Quietly we venture into the bush, learning the tracks and other signs of the wildlife we hope to track on foot. Overnight lodge. Walk grade/time: Easy; 3-4 hrs.

Meals: B,L,D

We enter the Kingdom of Swaziland (eSwatini) and travel through a lush fruit farming area before heading into the mountains. We spend 2 nights on the outskirts of Malalotja Nature Reserve with a full day to walk through this seldom explored mountainous reserve to a beautiful waterfall. The Swazi people have a rich cultural heritage and we will visit the craft markets on day 7 as we pass through the capital, Mbabane. Overnight mountain chalet. Walk grade/time: Strenuous; 4-6 hrs. Ascent/descent: +572m; -573m. NOTE - Driving distance/time (330 kms, 5-6 hrs) excludes 2-3 hour morning drive out of Kruger National Park, shopping stop in Malelane, Jeppes Reef border formalities & stops for meals, sightseeing etc.

Meals: B,L,D

Crossing back 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 the sunset and the sounds of the bush before a hearty dinner at the lodge. Overnight permanent safari camp. Walk grade/time: Easy; 2-3 hrs. NOTE - Driving distance/time (320 kms, 6 hrs) excludes border formalities & stops for meals, sightseeing etc.

Meals: B,L,D

We 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. On Day 10, we explore the Islandlwana battlefield before we embark on an exciting 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 our accommodation. Overnight chalet. Walk grade/time: Strenuous; 4-5 hrs. Ascent/descent: +129m; -200m.

Meals: B,L

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 up the Tugela gorge, before taking an invigorating dip in the clear mountain streams of the Royal Natal National Park. The crisp mountain air is refreshing and our accommodation is a fantastic place to relax and enjoy the splendour of the mountain views. Overnight chalet. Walk grade/time: Moderate; 5.5 hrs. Ascent/descent: +859m; -856m.

Meals: B,L,D

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 two short chain ladder sections, 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 our accommodation perched high in the mountains (alt. 2,300m) overlooking the Mont-Aux-Sources mountain range. Overnight chalet. Walk grade/time: Strenuous; 5-6 hrs. Ascent/descent: +789m; -794m.

Meals: B,L

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. Our tour ends at approximately 18:00 in Johannesburg. Please note: we can do a free drop off at OR Tambo Johannesburg Airport at around 17:00pm so you can book your flight out for the last day of the tour.

Meals: B,L

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Ready to start your adventure?

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What’s included?

Included

13 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 10 dinners
11 nights in comfortable hotels, lodges and guesthouses on a twinshare basis
2 nights in permanent safari camps on a twinshare basis
Game drives, day walks and excursions as listed in itinerary
English speaking local guide
National park fees and site entrance fees as listed in itinerary
Private transport in minibus / safari truck

Not included

Flights
Travel Insurance (compulsory)
Visas
Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks
Items of a personal nature including optional activities
Airport arrival and departure transfers
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Tips