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Walking South Africa

Duration
15 days
Price from
$2,514 pp.
Location
South Africa, Africa
Walking Safari Eastern Cape

Trip Highlights

  • Drakensberg mountain hikes
  • Garden Route coastal walks
  • Wildlife tracking on foot

What's Included

  • Guided walking tours
  • Domestic transfers
  • 14 nights accommodation

Our specialist say:

Walking in South Africa, exploring a variety of scenic and cultural destinations.

This is one of our favourite ways to experience South Africa — on foot, taking in the landscape at your own pace. You’ll walk through some of the country’s most spectacular scenery, from canyon rims and dramatic escarpments to mountain trails, waterfalls, and the battle-scarred hills of Zululand. It’s a journey that blends walking safaris in national parks and private reserves with hikes through high-altitude peaks and forested paths.

“There’s something about walking that draws you in — the sounds, the smells, the small details you’d usually miss from a vehicle. It gives you time to reflect and really connect with the places you pass through. Walking is my personal favourite way to explore a country, and always a highlight for my clients.” — Tamara, South Africa Specialist

One of the real highlights is tracking wildlife on foot in Kruger with a local ranger — a completely different kind of safari that slows the pace and sharpens your focus. You’ll also explore the often-overlooked Mkhuze Game Reserve, rich in birdlife and big game, and hike through the remote mountains of eSwatini. Add in powerful history at the Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift battlefields, time in a rhino conservation reserve, and this becomes a journey that’s about far more than walking — it’s about understanding the land, its stories, and the life it supports.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Johannesburg

Day 2 & 3 The Tour Begins

Blyde River Canyon 1

You depart Johannesburg, stopping at sights like Pilgrims Rest and God's Window viewpoint, before arriving in the late afternoon at Graskop Mogodi Lodge where you will stay for two nights in a twin bed chalet with an en suite bathroom. The lodge has amenities like a pool, bar, and restaurant. On your first full day, after the lodge's breakfast, you take a long canyon rim hike along the Blyde River, returning for a group-prepared lunch. You spend the afternoon exploring forests and waterfalls. Dinner is provided by the lodge. On your second day, after another lodge breakfast, you check out and continue your Mpumalanga journey.

Day 4 & 5 Kruger Private Game Reserve

Leopard In Kruger

After an early breakfast make your way to Kruger National Park. You enter the national park in an open safari vehicle and spend the day on an exciting game drive, as you hope to see elephants, rhinos, and possibly the elusive leopard. You stop for a picnic lunch before completing your game drive in the late afternoon as you exit the park and make your way to Makuwa Safari Lodge in the Greater Kruger area. You will stay two nights in a twin room with en suite facilities. A highlight of your tour is the early morning game walk the next day with a local ranger. Quietly you venture into the bush, learning the tracks and other signs of the wildlife you hope to find on foot.

Day 6 & 8 Kingdom of Swaziland/Eswatini

Day 8 & 9 Zululand Game Reserve

South Africa Walking Safari

Crossing into South Africa you will head towards Zululand Lodge in the private game reserve. En route, you will enjoy game drives in Mkhuze Game Reserve and watch the wildlife from a secluded hide. The following morning visit a key rhino conversation area in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. In the late afternoon you will walk through the lodge conservancy which is home to over 540 species of birds. You will spend two nights at the Zululand Lodge in a permanent tent with an ensuite.

Day 10 & 11 Zululand Battlefields

Day 12 & 13 Drakensberg

Day 14 Unparalleled views

7 Royal Natal National Park

Start the day with an early breakfast and make your way to Witsieshoek at the foot of the magnificent Sentinel peak. At the end of a rough gravel road you will start your trek (which includes a short chain ladder section) to the top of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre and the beautiful Tugela Falls with unparalleled views down into KwaZulal-Natal. After the walk you will make your way to the Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge (the highest lodge in the Northern Drakensberg) where you will stay in a twin room with an ensuite.

Day 15 Back to Johannesburg

Tamara
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Duration

15 days

Location

South Africa, Africa

Price from

$2,514 pp.

Price Includes

  • Game drives, walks & activities mentioned as included in the itinerary
  • Guide fees and park entrance fees

Price Excludes

  • International flights to/from your home country
  • Any activities (including game drives) that are marked as optional
  • Meals and drinks that are not mentioned as included
  • Single supplements

The price of this trip is based on two people sharing excluding international flight to/from your home country.

Accommodation and meal inclusions are as follows:

  • 1 night at Rivonia Lodge, Johannesburg - standard twin room, breakfast included.
  • 2 nights at Graskop Mogodi Lodge, Mpumalanga - twin bed chalet with ensuite, all meals included.
  • 2 nights at Makuwa Safari Lodge, Kruger - twin room with ensuite, all meals provided.
  • 2 nights at Hawane Lodge, Swaziland - mountain chalet with ensuite, all meals provided.
  • 2 nights at Zululand Lodge, Zululand Game Reserve - permanent tents with ensuite, all meals provided.
  • 2 nights at Bella's Rest Guesthouse, Zululand - twin room with ensuite - breakfast and lunch provided.
  • 2 nights at Royal Natal National Park Thendele, Drakensberg - chalet with ensuite, all meals provided.
  • 1 night at Witieshoek - twin-share room with ensuite, breakfast included.
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When to go to South Africa

Find out the best time to visit South Africa with our month by month guide.

  • Best
  • Good
  • Mixed
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

January

January is the perfect time to visit the Cape — hot, dry and buzzing. Lounge on beaches or explore the Winelands and Garden Route in peak summer sun. Inland, it’s the wet season in Kruger, with bursts of heavy rain and vivid green landscapes. It's also the end of the birthing season, attracting predators and creating dramatic wildlife scenes.

February

The hottest month in Cape Town, February is ideal for alfresco lunches in the Winelands or scenic drives along the Garden Route. There are fewer tourists, perfect weather and excellent vineyard experiences. Safari regions remain hot, humid and wet, so it’s better to stick to the coast and cultural highlights at this time of year.

March

March brings settled, sunny days to Cape Town, the Winelands and Garden Route — ideal for laid-back trips and less crowded experiences. In Kruger, the lush landscape and newborn wildlife create brilliant photographic opportunities, with clear skies and dramatic colours. Rainfall eases across the country, making it a great time to combine regions.

April

April’s mild weather and lower visitor numbers make it one of the best months to explore. Cape Town is perfect for hiking Table Mountain or visiting Kirstenbosch Gardens. The Garden Route and Drakensberg are quiet and cool. In Kruger, rutting season begins — male antelope at their most impressive, sparking fierce, fascinating fights.

May

With summer crowds gone and crisp, dry days setting in, May is a peaceful time to travel. Safari viewing improves as vegetation thins in Kruger, and game becomes easier to spot. The Cape has a mix of sunny and rainy days, and the Winelands feel calm and welcoming after the peak season rush.

June

The start of winter brings cool, dry safari conditions — ideal for spotting wildlife clustered around shrinking water sources. Cape Town gets wetter, though days can still be bright. Whale watching begins along the Western Cape, while the Drakensberg is a dream for hikers enjoying fresh air and peaceful trails. Comrades Marathon adds sporting buzz to KwaZulu Natal.

July

July is peak whale watching around Hermanus and Plettenberg Bay, with whales close to shore to calve. It’s also the best time for safaris — cool, dry and clear. Kruger’s wildlife gathers at waterholes, and sightings are exceptional. Cape Town remains cool and drizzly, but it’s a quiet, rewarding time for active or cultural trips.

August

Spring starts to show as wildflowers carpet the West Coast and Namaqualand in vibrant colour — a true spectacle. Game viewing is still strong in Kruger, and whales continue to visit the Cape’s coastline. Temperatures begin rising after winter’s chill, and clear skies return, making this a great time to combine coast, culture and safari.

September

September is superb for combining experiences — wildlife viewing is excellent in Kruger and Madikwe, while whales are frequently seen along the southern coast. Spring flowers are still blooming, and warmer temperatures make outdoor exploration more inviting. In the Drakensberg, snow-capped peaks linger as trails begin to warm up for hiking.

October

October is one of the best all-round months to visit. Cape Town and the Winelands are warming up, with long sunny days and few crowds. Safari conditions remain strong in Kruger and KwaZulu Natal, and the beaches are heating up. Whether you want wildlife, wine or coastline, it’s hard to go wrong this month.

November

Cape Town soaks up the early summer sun, with calm days ideal for exploring. It’s the last chance to see southern right whales before they head off. Inland, the rains return to Kruger and KwaZulu Natal, but afternoon storms are spectacular and short-lived. Visitor numbers increase as the festive season nears — book early.

December

December buzzes with summer energy. The first two weeks are a sweet spot — great weather and fewer crowds. Later in the month, it’s peak holiday season across the country. In Kruger, landscapes burst into colour with flame lilies and baby animals. Book early for Christmas trips — this is one of the most popular times to visit.

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