13-Day Cradle of Humankind & Northern Safari

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

History & Culture | Johannesburg & Soweto

Be welcomed by your guide at your time of choice, preferably in the morning. Pick up can either be directly from the airport (O.R. Tambo International) or from your place of choice in Johannesburg.

Beginning our tour around Johannesburg, we spend the first day visiting the many fascinating cultural aspects of the City of Gold. We head off to the south western areas, where both a tour of the Soweto township and a visit to the Apartheid museum start the contrast of cultures in the economic beating heart of RSA.

In the evening, transfer across to Maropeng, the Cradle of Humankind, to check into your lovely boutique hotel and relax. Dinner will be enjoyed at the hotel at leisure.

Main Destination:

Soweto (Johannesburg)

Accommodation:

Maropeng Boutique Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located at Cradle of Humankind (Highlight)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinks not included

Cradle of Humankind Precincts

Today you experience the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the Cradle of Humankind, where a large number of remains of our early human ancestors have been repeatedly found, and the story of our origins over the past few million years, are told in spectacular glory. We take a look at both the Maropeng precinct and the Sterkfontein caves. This after enjoying a buffet breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy the late afternoon at leisure. Optional activities such as the Lion & Safari Park, or Lesedi Cultural Village are possible.

Main Destination:

Cradle of Humankind (Highlight)

Accommodation:

Maropeng Boutique Hotel

• Mid-range hotel located at Cradle of Humankind (Highlight)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Mapungubwe National Park | Kingdom of Great Zimbabwe

We continue our journey North, as we drive to the border of Zimbabwe, where we find remnants of the Great Zimbabwe Kingdom from a thousand years ago. Set in a pristine National Park, we spend a few days learning of this fascinating culture and searching for wildlife.

Packing up and enjoying an early breakfast at Maropeng Boutique Hotel, we head off northwards along what is known as the Ivory Road. Leaving the bustling cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria, we travel into the wilderness, stopping over for lunch somewhere along the way. We also stop for provisions in a nearby town, before travelling the final leg to Mapungubwe National Park.

Arrive and enjoy a short game drive through this incredible landscape, to your camp for the next 3 nights. Check in and relax, with dinner around the fire later.

Spend your mornings and afternoons on safari, searching along the Limpopo River and surrounds for wildlife, as well as a visit to the museum and a guided tour of the heritage site.

Main Destination:

Mapungubwe National Park

Best Time To Visit May to September (Winter)

High Season Never (The park never gets busy)

Best Weather March to May (Fresh after rains, mild temperatures)

Wildlife in Mapungubwe NP

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

ZebraCommon

WildebeestCommon

HippoOccasional

White RhinoRare

Show more

LionVery Rare

LeopardRare

CheetahVery Rare

HyenaRare

Wild DogVery Rare

Black RhinoNone

BuffaloNone

Accommodation:

Vhembe Wilderness Camp

• Budget tented camp located inside Mapungubwe NP

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Venda Route | Local Culture & Tradition

We leave Mapungubwe National Park to travel onto magical Venda territory, sampling this fascinating landscape, rich in cultural legacy and mysticism. It seems like a different country, and the proud Venda people have many fascinating spiritual sites to explore. This is also the area of various tribes and their long and proud histories, including Modjadji the 'Rain Queen.' We visit a variety of fascinating sites, enjoy a day of easy hiking, and stay close to the Chief in a traditional African Royal homestead.

Main Destination:

Limpopo Province

Accommodation:

Muswubi Resort

• Mid-range resort located just outside Limpopo Province

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Zwakala River Retreat | Craft Brewery

We spend the day up in the Magoebaskloof Mountains, tasting the local craft beer made from the sweet waters which flow pure and clean down the mountain. We enjoy a lunch at the Brewery before spending the afternoon in typical holiday-style, with many options to rest and relax, and some interesting activities (optional) on offer; hiking, walks, swimming in the river, fishing, horse-riding, and more.

Main Destination:

Magoebaskloof (Drakensberg Mountains)

Accommodation:

Zwakala River Retreat

• Mid-range self catering accommodation located in Magoebaskloof (Drakensberg Mountains)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Kruger National Park

From here we travel further into the bush for another four nights to end your journey in style, visiting the world-famous Kruger National Park. We take our time exploring the middle and southern sections of the Park, with all of the variety and diversity of landscape and animals that this park offers.

Spend 2 nights in each region, with morning and afternoon safaris at your own time, exploring this unique wilderness. Optional guided bush walks and night drives are possible.

The central region is famed for its open grasslands, sporting herds of plains game and high densities of predators that follow them.

The southern region is the most densely packed with diverse landscapes and wildlife, and we explore the lesser-travelled roads searching for wildlife and relaxing at camp in the bush.

Main Destination:

Kruger National Park

Best Time To Visit May to September (Dry season)

High Season December to January and July to August

Best Weather Apr-May and Sep-Oct (Mild and little rain)

Wildlife in Kruger NP

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

BuffaloCommon

ZebraAbundant

WildebeestCommon

HippoCommon

Show more

HyenaCommon

White RhinoOccasional

LionOccasional

Black RhinoVery Rare

LeopardRare

CheetahRare

Wild DogVery Rare

Accommodation:

Shimuwini Bushveld Camp

• Budget cottage located inside Northern Kruger NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinks not included

Kruger to Johannesburg | Own is home

Waking up early, we enjoy one last long game drive out of Kruger, searching for anything or everything we haven't seen. On the way, we enjoy a hearty breakfast before ending our Kruger Park journey at the gates. From here we transfer back to Johannesburg and your own itinerary or flights home. The journey takes about 4 hours, with stops along the way.

Main Destination:

Johannesburg (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.