6 day Kruger to Coast Highlights Classic

Johannesburg, also known as Egoli, the City of Gold, is alive with adventure. Beginning as a tent city during the gold rush, its eclectic mixture of diverse cultures reflects the uniqueness of South Africa. You'll soon get used to the sound of hooting taxis and chatter of street vendors rising against the distinctive, modern city skyline. Enjoy the day at leisure or take an optional, guided afternoon tour of Johannesburg and Soweto's highlights (at your own expense). Discover the history of Johannesburg, the city of gold and experience the vibrant and upbeat, Soweto. Visit Constitution Hill which is home to the Constitutional Court and the site of Johannesburg's Old Fort Prison, Kliptown Open Air Museum, Hector Pieterson Memorial, view the iconic Soweto towers and experience Vilakazi Street and an authentic street market. Return to the hotel late afternoon. Meet your tour guide at the hotel for the tour briefing at 18h00. Enjoy dinner (at your own expense) either at the hotel or in the Sandton City complex with its giant statue of Mandela in the Square. Overnight at Protea Hotel by Marriott Balalaika Sandton or similar - Breakfast

After breakfast, we leave the city and head towards the scenic Panorama Route. Passing rolling grasslands and small towns, the road eventually climbs an escarpment of the Drakensberg Mountains to enter a scenic wonderland. Blyde River Canyon, the world's largest green canyon, filled with waterfalls and ancient geological features, will take your breath away. Spot the Three Rondawels - three conical peaks resembling African huts. Stand on the bridges over the Bourke's Luck Potholes, where millennia of swirling water have carved giant holes into the sandstone. Get your cameras ready for the panoramic vistas of Wonder View, the highest point of the day. The town of Graskop (grassy peak), established in the 1880s at the height of gold rush, is now part of the local timber industry. Visit one of its famous pancake bars and then browse the many curio shops to find unique artifacts. The scenic drive to Hazyview winds through rolling hills and dense forests. Take a breath and soak in the outstanding natural beauty of Mpumalanga as we head for your hotel. Overnight at ANEW Resort Hazyview or similar - Breakfast

After an early breakfast, a full day of adventure awaits you in the world's premier safari destination. The Kruger National Park will immerse you in the world of the 'Big 5': lion, rhinoceros, leopard, buffalo, and elephant. The Park, sprawling over 20,000 km2, is slightly smaller than Belgium and supports a staggering variety of fauna and flora - including rare bird species. The slow pace of the touring vehicle and the focus on the bush will take your mind to a place as quiet as an elephant's footfall. Enjoy lunch (at your own expense) at one of the park's rest camps, before continuing on the bush adventure. An optional full day safari in an open safari vehicle with an expert guide is available (at your own expense, excluding lunch). We exit Kruger National Park and head back to the hotel to freshen up and enjoy pre-dinner drinks before dinner (both at your own expense). Overnight at ANEW Resort Hazyview or similar - Breakfast

After a good night's rest, enjoy an early breakfast before spending a second day in the park, as we drive from Phabeni Gate to exit at Malelane Gate in the south. If you want to feel the air of adventure on your face, pre-book the optional full day safari in an open safari vehicle (Optional Excursion Package own expense and excluding lunch). Be ready to add to your game and bird viewing list and look out for unique flora. There's a lot to look for, with 336 tree, 49 fish, 34 amphibian, 116 reptile, 507 bird, and 147 mammal species. For birders, there is the chance to find a lifer. Use the lunchtime spent in a rest camp to look for one of the 'Little 5': the ant lion, the buffalo weaver, the elephant shrew the leopard tortoise, or the rhino beetle. One of those would be a find! Our time in the park ends in the late afternoon as we exit at the Malelane Gate. The overnight accommodation is situated on the border of the famous Park. You will be able to enjoy drinks on a deck overlooking the Crocodile River and watch the animals come down to the river to drink as the sun sets on the experience of a lifetime. Overnight at Pestana Kruger Lodge or similar - Dinner and breakfast

After an early breakfast, the adventure will continue as you depart for Hluhluwe via the often misty mountains of the Kingdom of Eswatini and into the Ezulwini Valley. The valley is aptly named - Ezulwini means 'place of heaven' - and provides panoramic views of the Kingdom and access to several notable wildlife sanctuaries. Craft markets, overflowing with carvings, beadwork and colourful materials, provide wonderful shopping opportunities. Sample local food specialties, such as Buganu, a marula fruit drink, or Sishwala porridge, served with a meat stew or vegetables. Swazi cuisine is a celebration of traditional ingredients and cooking. Continuing a magical tour of three different regions in a day, you will re-enter South Africa via KwaZulu-Natal. There will be a stop for lunch on the way to Hluhluwe, where you will arrive at your hotel in the early evening in time for a Zulu cultural experience and dinner (at your own expense). Overnight at ANEW Hotel Hluhluwe & Safaris or similar - Breakfast NOTE: When entering the Kingdom of Eswatini, guests must ensure that they have a valid passport and for nationals of applicable countries, multi-entry visa regulations apply.

There is an opportunity to go on a morning open safari vehicle game drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve (time permitting and at own expense). After breakfast, we visit the coastal town of St Lucia, at the heart of South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Go on an optional boat cruise on the St Lucia Estuary (at your own expense). The Estuary, with its island-like setting, is one of the largest estuaries in Africa and a recognised natural wonder. This rich wetland is home to a mind-boggling 2,180 plant species, over 1000 Nile crocodiles, more than 800 hippos and many prehistoric-looking monitor lizards. With over 400 species of birds, it is a watery paradise. Gliding over the water will be a very different experience from the Kruger safari but equally exciting. Load up with snacks before we leave St Lucia, as there will be a late lunch (at your own expense) at Salt Rock Hotel. Take a short stroll on the beach before your onward transfer to the airport or another hotel/guest house (at your own expense and own arrangements).

ENTRANCE FEES INCLUDED Blyde River Canyon Bourke’s Luck Potholes Wonder View Kruger National Park conservation fee Hotel Porterage

3 and 4-star hotels

5 breakfasts and 1 dinner. Other meals are own expense.