Experience the thrill of tracking the Big 5 on foot, get up close with your very own ranger in closed 4x4. Explore Swaziland's culture, fly to Barra & enjoy the remote coastline tropical of Mozambique
Price:
ZAR (S.A. Rand) R28,995 /person
Airfare:
Included in price from Maputo to Inhambane and return to Johannesburg
Supplement:
Plus ZAR (S.A. Rand) R6,995 for a single person booking
Explore the Kruger National Park by 4x4 and on foot, then head to Mozambique to enjoy the fantastic Manta Ray Coast, stopping along the way to experience the wonders of Blyde River Canyon and Swaziland. Enjoy the thrills of approaching Big Game with trained professional Rangers, experience close encounters with dangerous animals from the safety of your air-conditioned 4x4 with your own private guide. Travel through Blyde River Canyon and stand in awe of the 3rd largest Canyon in the world. Slowly meander through Swaziland as you engulf yourself in their cultures and customes. Laze on the secluded beaches of Barra and Tofo. Wander the streets of Maputo and stare in awe at the beautiful vistas of Blyde River Canyon. An awesome experience for the wild at heart.
Rates (31/08/2009 31/10/2010): Adults Sharing: R 28,995 (ZAR) Single Supplement: R 6,995 (ZAR)
The Safari at a glance:
Duration: 12 Nights and 13 Days Tour starts in Phalaborwa, Limpopo (South Africa) and ends in Johannesburg, Gauteng (South Africa) 1 night in the Kruger National Park (South Africa) accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis 3 nights in the Kruger National Park (South Africa) accommodation at one of several Wilderness Trails Camps on a full board basis (excluding drinks) 1 night, 4 star accommodation in Blyde River Canyon (South Africa) on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis 2 nights, at Mlilwane Sanctuary (Enzulwini Valley, Swaziland) on dinner, bed and breakfast basis 1 nights, 4 star accommodation in Maputo (Mozambique) on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis 4 nights, 3 star accommodation in Barra (Inhambane, Mozambique) on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis Local flights from Maputo to Inhambane, and Inhambane to Johannesburg All ground transport in an air-conditioned 4x4 while on Safari, and return airport transfers to your Lodge The services of a fully qualified safari guide while on Safari
Optional Activities: Walk with Elephants experience, open-vehicle game drives, Animal Rehabilitation Centre, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Horse Riding, Kayaking and Dhow Sailing
Day 1: Phalaborwa and into Kruger (Kruger National Park, South Africa)
You will be met in Phalaborwa by your Safari Guide. After brief introductions and a quick stop for last minute suppliers, we enter the world famous Kruger National Park, where Game viewing opportunities should present themselves almost immediately in this vast 2-million hectare game sanctuary. Hopefully we will see several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest and maybe even giraffe before we reach camp.
The Kruger Park offers a choice of several camps, each situated in a different section of the park with its own unique flora and fauna. Our favorites being: Skukuza, Letaba, Olifants, Lower Sabie, Pretoriuskop, Satara and Berg-en-Dal. Accommodation is in simple but comfortable thatched game park bungalows, with each camp having a restaurant.
Y our knowledgeable guide will provide you with insight into the different species and ecological phenomena you come across. Your daily routine will include early morning and late afternoon game drives with your guide, the hotter mid-day periods will be spent relaxing at camp reading, bird watching, swimming or just taking a cat-nap in the shade of a tree.
Days 2, 3, & 4: Kruger National Park (South Africa)
Today, you will meet up with your Trails Ranger and other members of your trail group. After saying “Good-Bye” to your guide, you will then depart in an open safari vehicle for you rustic camp deep in the Kruger wilderness. These lovely Camps only take 8 people accommodating guests in thatched A-frame huts. The camps also offer warm running water and communal ablutions. It is a truly African experience that is unsurpassed.
You daily routine will include morning and afternoon hikes into the wilderness, where you professionally trained and highly experienced rangers will provide you with ample information about the fauna, flora and ecology of the area. Nights will be spent around warm camp fires discussing the thrills of walking into the Big 5 and the wonders of the African Bush. These wilderness areas are usually very productive for game viewing, with many trailists returning having seen all the members of the Big 5 and more!
Days 5: Blyde River Canyon (South Africa)
Your final day in Kruger will begin with an early morning drive out of the Wilderness and back to meet your guide at one of the main camps. You will then take a slow drive out of Park, stopping off at a picnic site in order to enjoy our brunch before making our way out the Park.
You will then explore the wonders of the Blyde River Canyon, taking in the beautiful vistas of God’s Window, the natural wonders of Bourke’s Luck Potholes and Mac-Mac Falls, before heading to your lovely Inn on southern section of Canyon. Here, you will spend the night enjoying the fabulous food and great hospitality.
Days 6: Blyde River Canyon (South Africa) to Enzulwini Valley (Swaziland)
After a scrumptious breakfast, we begin our journey south, through the border and into Swaziland. This beautiful mountainous country is one of the last African Monarchies, and is a land proud of its culture. We will travel through the Enzulwini Valley and into the Mlilwane Sanctuary where we will overnight. Our journey will take us through many interesting locations, time will be provided to will stop along the way to view the beautiful vistas, explore rural villages and do some curio shopping.
Days 7: Enzulwini Valley (Swaziland)
Day at leisure. You may choose sleep in late and explore the sanctuary on foot (or on many of the offered activities: Game Drives, Cultural Tours, Horse Riding), or you might like travel to the Enzulwini Route, taking you through many curio markets, and other sights of interest. These aspects can be discussed directly with your guide.
Days 8: Enzulwini Valley (Swaziland) to Maputo (Mozambique)
Today, we travel east towards to the coast, leaving Swaziland behind. Our destination: Maputo – the City of contrast. Arriving just before lunch, we will have to time to check in and grab something to eat before heading out to explore the city.
We travel the streets by car and foot, exploring the markets and the historic sites. Maputo is a city of contrast, where poor, rich, new and old live together in harmony. As you stroll through the streets you will come across 17th century architecture alongside 21st century modern day buildings. It is truly a site to see.
Day 8: Maputo to Barra, Inhambane (Mozambique)
After breakfast, and a relaxed morning either sightseeing or at the hotel, your guide will escort you to Maputo International Airport for your onward flight to Inhambane. Here, your guide will bid you farewell, as you will no longer need his/her services.
Inhambane is located 485km north of Maputo on Mozambique’s Manta Coast. This area is fast becoming world famous for its spectacular diving, friendly Mozambique people and breathtaking scenery.
On arrival in Inhambane, you will be met your Lodge representative, who will escort you to your Lodge, a stones throw from the edge of the Indian Ocean.
Check into your Lodge, relax and enjoy.
Day 9, 10, 11 & 12: Barra Lodge, Inhambane (Mozambique)
Barra is nestled between groves of coconut laden trees on a secluded, unspoilt tropical beach over looking the crystal clear waters of Tofo Bay. A truly idyllic Indian Ocean setting where the warm Indian Ocean offers safe bathing all year round and the wide open, sun drenched beaches offer endless hours of strolling. The Accommodation is in traditional Casitas made of thatch, brick and reeds creating a charming atmosphere, all of which are a stone's throw from the beach and offer en-suite bathroom facilities.
Located on the Manta Coast of Mozambique, it offers some of the finest diving worldwide and is an experience not to be forgotten. The Unspoilt reefs are home to local Dolphin pods, resident Manta Rays and Whalesharks as well as several Turtle Species, while Seahorses are a common find in the secluded Inhambane estuary. The area boasts over 1000 local fish species, while mammals are not hard to find either, with migrating Humpback Whales a common sighting between August and October, and you just might be likely enough to see the highly endangered Dugong.
A wide range of activities enable guests to delight in the Mozambique ocean environment off Inhambane and the modern Activities Centre, provides all the water sport equipment you may need.
At night, you will enjoy the Mozambique tropical heat as you drift to the Lodges’ Beach Bar and Restaurant, which is extremely popular with both locals and guests, here you will indulge your taste buds in a variety of seafood delights infused with Portuguese and South African flavours. The tropical locations creates an atmosphere of relaxation, where many gather to watch the sun go down or participate in a beach volley ball, pub games or simply to enjoy the atmosphere and a few tropical cocktails
Day 13: Barra (Mozambique) to Johannesburg (South Africa)
Unfortunately, this is your final morning in Barra. After breakfast and some last minute sightseeing, you will be escorted back to Inhambane.
You will then have time to do some final curio shopping in the local markets, where we are sure you will pick up a few fantastic bargains, after-which you will catch your connecting flight to Johannesburg.
(Tour Ends approximately 17:00) ________________________________________________________________________________________
What Is Not Included: Long haul International Flights; Lunches, Drinks & refreshments; Tips for porters and restaurants; Telephone calls, laundry & other incidental personal expenditure; Visa fees, in countries where these apply; Airport departure taxes, in countries where these apply.
This tour is offered in accordance with Our Booking Terms and Conditions.
