Kruger Safari and South Mozambique Beach

You’ll fly overnight to Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa.

After arriving, you’ll be introduced to your friendly tour guide before being transferred to your hotel in Johannesburg. Tuck into a delicious lunch and the rest of the afternoon is yours to settle in. This evening, dinner will be served in the comfort of the lodge.

Following breakfast, you’ll set off on a journey to your tented safari camp in the heart of the bush, Camp Bethel (a stop will be made for lunch). Take some time to freshen up, enjoy a late lunch and experience a brief camp orientation.

It's then time to indulge in a sundowner (or two), and some snacks while taking in the beautiful backdrop. Before dinner, you’ll gather at the boma, where the firepit will be lit for an authentic African welcome.

You’ll then sit down to a feast of locally inspired dishes spread across tables on an expansive deck, which looks out over the bush.

This morning, you’ll rise early, feeling rested and ready for the short journey to the Orpen Gate of the Kruger Natural Park, home to the famous ‘Big Five’ and a plethora of wildlife. After arriving at an idyllic spot for a picnic, you can fuel up on a packed breakfast prepared by the camp chef.

The tour will then venture to the southern part of the Kruger, which covers an expanse of lush terrain dotted with bushwillow trees. In the more northern area, the land is sparse, arid, and laden with Mopani bush. A lunch stop will be had at the rest camp – with a tempting assortment of meals on offer.

Heading back on the road, the open-safari vehicle will allow you to fully experience this epic natural paradise. After pulling over at several waterholes and lookout points, the safari will conclude, and you’ll return to the camp in the afternoon.

An early night might be appealing to those feeling tired post-adventuring, following a relaxed dinner, which will be served by the campfire.

Fill up on breakfast before another day of exploring as the tour heads to a local wildlife habitation centre. This centre cares for injured and poisoned animals that sadly cannot be released back into the wild. Here, you’ll watch a film presentation and then head out to the centre’s grounds on a two-hour excursion to see the resident animals and birds, such as wild dogs, cheetahs, and vultures. You can then have lunch at the on-site deli while watching the cheetahs play around.

The purpose of the visit is to highlight the threats wildlife is facing, as well as demonstrate the positive impact of rehabilitation centres like this. Hopefully, you’ll leave feeling more educated and enlightened.

This afternoon, you’ll have the chance to join the optional boat cruise along the Blyde River canyon. The main highlight is a sighting of the ‘living’ Kadishi Tufa Waterfall. Tufa waterfalls are formed when water running over dolomite rock absorbs calcium and deposits rock formations more rapidly than they erode the surrounding rock, supporting moss and other plant life. The Kadishi Tufa Waterfall is thought to be the second-oldest tufa waterfall on earth – and is truly amazing to view up close. This boat tour will also travel past the Three Rondavels, a trio of rocky outcrops that have eroded over time and now resemble a traditional Zulu beehive.

The Blyde River Canyon supports an impressive amount of biodiversity too with numerous antelope species as well as hippos and crocodiles, together with birds such as the African fish eagle and African finfoot and much more. Snacks and soft drinks will be available while you float along the water, adding to this unrivalled experience.

Another morning safari presents an extra opportunity to seek out buffalos, elephants, and more as your guide shares their expert wildlife knowledge. The Kruger National Park is home to some of the most diverse wildlife on earth, including 146 species of mammals, nearly 500 different kinds of birds, 114 species of reptiles, 49 freshwater fish, 33 species of amphibians and countless insects and flora and fauna – many of them found nowhere else on earth. 

After an exciting morning, a well-deserved lunch will be served in a dry riverbed back at camp.

At dusk, you can opt to venture on an enrapturing night safari as the sun sets, transforming the sky into a patchwork of pretty colours. Once in the dark, keep your eyes peeled for nocturnal animals, including porcupines, bushbabies, and caracals.

Prepare for a delightful breakfast in the camp’s boma area, and then it’s time for a panoramic mountain tour – bringing your camera is recommended! This tour travels to the Drakensberg Mountain Range, which stretches over 600 miles from the Eastern Cape toward Mpumalanga. You’ll also be able to see the dramatic Blyde River Canyon, which some of you might have travelled through yesterday. Spanning over 16 miles and over 2,000 feet deep, this is the third-largest canyon on earth.

The Three Rondavels are up next, as God’s Window, named for its sweeping panoramic views of the Lowveld and lush forest-clad ravines below. God’s Window is part of a 160-mile-long network of sheer cliffs that boast incredible views. Lisbon Waterfalls, another impressive set of waterfalls, are up before lunch at Graskop. This small town, enclosed by pine and eucalyptus forests, and known for pancakes and curio shops, is the last stop on the tour.

You’ll embark on the final included safari this morning in a private game reserve that forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park. A picnic breakfast stop will be followed by a talk about the plant life in the Kruger, which is vital to the park’s existence. Among many others, Kruger is home to the iconic marula tree, the fruit of which is used to make South Africa’s famous Amarula liquor – make sure to sample some during your holiday.

Lunch will be eaten back at the camp and you'll then join your guide for a nature walk around the camp, which sits on its own private game reserve. Tick off your wildlife list by trying to spot the warthogs, kudus, nyalas and zebras that often frequent the area.

A trip to Nyani cultural village is on this afternoon’s itinerary where you’ll learn about the culture while watching a performance in a traditional boma theatre. Music and dance will be featured from local tribes such as the San (Bushmen), Tsonga, Shona, Venda, Swati, and Zulu.

In the evening, you'll return to the camp for a closing dinner of a braai – a traditional South African barbeque. Feast and chat with your newfound friends, reminiscing on your week.

An early breakfast will be followed by a six-hour journey to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, located along the south Indian Ocean coast. There will be plenty of comfort stops along the way, as well as a break for lunch.

You’ll then go to Maputo Marina, say farewell to your South African tour manager and board a private speedboat. A one-hour trip on the waters will take you to the Machangulo Beach Resort, positioned at the tip of the Machangulo peninsula.

After this day of travelling, you’ll receive the warmest welcome by the resort staff and have the chance to unwind in utter paradise. Switch from your khaki gear to your beachwear, and wander around your new home for the next few days.

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This isolated haven of seaside splendour calls for all the lounging, either by the pool, in the spa or the private beach area.

Pick up the pace with a walk through the mangroves, visit the nearby villages of Santa Maria and Inhaca, or kayak, scuba dive and snorkel amongst the fringing coral reefs.

It’s your final day, and you have the freedom to fulfil whatever wishes you would have left. However, claiming a seat at the ocean-facing bar to watch one last spectacular sunset should be a must.

Today, you’ll be transferred to Maputo airport for the return flight to the UK via Addis Ababa.

Return home with a host of memories and photographs feeling inspired after your African adventure.