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A blend of cultural immersion and safari splendor enhanced by an African Sky guide's invaluable knowledge makes this private tour an unforgettable experience.
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ItineraryGuests will be met upon arrival at O.R. Tambo International in Johannesburg, from where the tour travels east through the Highveld. Our route takes us via the impressive Schoemanskloof to Sabie in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains and then to Graskop, our overnight destination. The town has an elevation of over 1400m, and as a result, it offers pleasant temperatures year-round, with cool summers and mild winters. It is an ideal base for exploring the Panoramic Route and enjoying the many adventure activities in the area.
Angels View is located just outside town and offers impressive mountain and forest views and several. After we check in at the hotel, some time for lunch is followed by relaxation. We then embark on a short hike in Graskop Gorge; your guide will be sensitive to physical limitations, and those who do not wish to partake may relax in the tranquil setting at the hotel. We then return to the hotel.
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Itinerary Our morning is devoted to the famous Panoramic Route. The day's first stop is at God's Window, a short detour of the route. This spectacular main viewpoint is located in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and is revered for its fantastic views of the Lowveld on a clear day. The more adventurous have the opportunity to do the Forest Walk, a circular route of just over an hour that meanders through indigenous rainforest past massive ferns and offers a unique look at the biodiversity in the area. The Knysna Turaco and the blue spurfowl are birds for which to keep a lookout.
From here, we travel to the Three Rondavels viewpoint of the Blyde River Canyon, where we admire this stunning geological wonder, the third-largest canyon in the world. Along the route, your guide will stop at one of the many waterfalls that plummet from the surrounding mountainside. If time permits, a stop will also be made at the Bourke's Luck Potholes. Then it's on to Kruger National Park, where we reach our base for the next three nights mid-afternoon. The park is internationally renowned as one of Africa's finest conservation areas, with a model that sustains conservation and supports local communities that derive income from ecotourism. In the late afternoon, a first game drive is conducted in the wilderness, which has an abundance of fauna and flora.
Distance ItineraryYour experienced guide conducts a morning safari. The guide will check the previous day's sightings logged by other safari groups - to increase your chance of seeing a pride of lion on a recent kill, viewing the imposing white rhino, or the elusive African wild dog in an area where it was recently spotted. Safari drives are interpretive and focus on all plants and animals and their importance in the ecosystem. The Big Five are the most impressive animals you will likely encounter, but there is so much more to experience that you may be amazed.
During the late afternoon, guests embark on a night safari with a Kruger Park ranger. The night safari makes possible sightings of creatures like the spotted genet, serval, and aardvark, which are rarely seen during the day. The large predators are nocturnal hunters and are generally more active during this day. A fact that would significantly increase your chances of spotting a Lion or Leopard on the hunt.
Distance Itinerary Your day is once again devoted to two game drives. The area is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, with close to 150 different mammal species ranging from Brant's climbing mouse, weighing no more than a few grams, to the mighty African elephant, which can weigh up to 7000kg. There are more than 500 identified bird species in the area, and it is blessed with abundant flora, not least the giant ebony, jackalberry, and wild fig trees towering over the watercourses.
The guide's unique insight and knowledge will surely enhance one's enjoyment and understanding of the habits and behavior of the different species and the natural cycles in this part of Africa. The camp overlooks the Sabie River, one of the primary water sources flowing through the area. Between game drives, you are welcome to relax on a bench with river views, book in hand, occasionally glancing across the river into the bush beyond to spot wildlife approaching the river for a drink.
Distance ItineraryAfter breakfast, we travel southerly towards the South Africa - Swaziland border at Jeppe's Reef. Before entering the country, a visit is made to the Matsamo Swazi Cultural Village. Guests will enjoy a guided tour of the village which will end with an impressive dancing display. The tiny mountain kingdom of Swaziland is one of the smallest self-contained sovereign states in the world.
The Swazis are friendly and colorful people locally renowned for their traditional artistry. After clearing customs and immigration, the tour traverses the scenic Komati River pass en route to the country's capital, Mbabane, before traveling to your overnight accommodations, set in a renovated colonial house built on a 'koppie' in the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, from where sweeping views of the Ezulwini Valley may be enjoyed. The lodge grounds are a haven to several tiny antelope, including suni and blue duiker.
Distance ItineraryToday is dedicated to various cultural pursuits. First on the agenda is a visit to the King Sobhuza Memorial Park in Lobamba. The memorial was established as a tribute to the late King Sobhuza II, who led Swaziland to independence in 1968. Later, we'll visit the Mantenga Cultural Village and Nature Reserve. Our visit includes a guided tour of the reserve's cultural village with authentic beehive huts, a cultural and dancing display, and a visit to Mantenga Falls. You might also see the Southern Bald Ibis at Mantenga, an endangered bird of the region.
A mid-afternoon stop is made at a popular local candle factory. Here you'll see a great variety of unusual candles of all shapes, sizes, and scents and the folks who manufacture them. Alternatively, consider taking the two-hour hike from Mbabane to Silebe Rock, the largest granite rock in the world, from where excellent views over the mountains are possible. Later a visit may be made to a local curio market before returning to your accommodations for the evening.
Distance Itinerary The Kingdom of Swaziland gives way to the rolling hills of Zululand as the tour travels south and into the heart of the area, which is home to the proud Zulu nation. It was once led by the legendary King Shaka, one of Africa's greatest kings who inspired fear and admiration in the hearts of his enemies and subjects alike. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, named after the river that flows through it, is set in the rolling hills of Zululand and has played a leading role in recovering the white rhino population from the brink of extinction.
The afternoon is devoted to a first game drive in this area where the elusive nyala and the splendid little red duiker are among the grandest antelope endemic to the region. Sightings of the black and white rhino are an almost certainty in this area, home to the largest concentration of these imposing beasts. The bird species in the area number approximately 300, and the reserve is home to the Big Five.
Distance ItineraryA morning visit is made to the DumaZulu traditional village. Recent history records the proud Zulu people as a formidable African nation. In the late 1700s, these Nguni-speaking peoples were relatively insignificant and were scattered across what we know today as Zululand, with no secure tribal authority. Under the leadership of the war-like King Shaka, however, they were united into a mighty nation, defeating or driving out all rivals and enemies. While at the village, you'll experience traditional dancing, basketry, the making of spears, shields, clay pots, beadwork, and sometimes even some Sangoma (traditional healer) bone-throwing.
Later in the day, we'll drive to the seaside village of St. Lucia, where we'll enjoy a relaxing cruise on the coastal lagoon. The cruise allows viewing the many hippo and crocodiles inhabiting the lake, a bird-watchers paradise with well over 350 recorded species. Previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, the iSimangaliso is South Africa's third-largest protected area today and conserves a stretch of coastline some 280 km (about 173 miles) in length, from the southern Mozambican border to Mapalane near St. Lucia. The park is a Ramsar World Heritage Site. Following the visit to St Lucia, the tour returns to the overnight destination.
Distance Itinerary Your day is devoted to game drives in this captivating wilderness, guided by your experienced African Sky guide. The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi reserve is a stronghold for both black and white rhinos. Here they were brought back from the brink of extinction through the Ian Player Foundation's 'Operation Rhino' efforts in the 1950s.
Now, as the scourge of poaching once again threatens the existence of these magnificent giants, the park is as dedicated as ever to the conservation of the species. The 96-000-hectare wilderness area is home to the other members of the Big Five – elephant, Cape buffalo, lion, and leopard – along with the highly-endangered cheetah.
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FlightsA last morning game drive in Hluhluwe is followed by a southerly journey on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, also called the Dolphin Coast. Here we will make one or two stops to admire the beautiful coastline with its warm climate, miles of beach, and summer sunshine before reaching King Shaka Airport, where guests are assisted with check-in for a flight bound for Johannesburg after a memorable tour.
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