Itinerary
Day 1 – 2: Kruger National Park
Leaving Johannesburg and Pretoria early, you are driven to the town of Nelspruit to meet your fellow travellers. Following a leisurely breakfast, continue your journey together towards the Kruger Park and your first stop for the night, Pretoriuskop Rest Camp.
As soon as you enter the Kruger Park the game viewing begins with a good chance of seeing zebra, impala, giraffe and maybe even a rhino. Arriving at Pretoriuskop you set up camp (this tour has two options: camping or chalet-style accommodation) and after a couple of hours to relax or cool off in the camp swimming pool, set out on a sunset game drive with your experienced Kruger Park guide. Lasting between 3 and 3.5 hours, this drive offers plenty of game viewing opportunities and is a good chance to see nocturnal creatures too – particularly predators!
Spend the next day on a full day’s guided game drive in an open vehicle, great for photography. The second night of your safari you stay in the south-eastern corner of the Kruger at Crocodile Bridge, a smaller camp close to the Mozambican border. This is excellent game viewing territory and one of the best places in the Kruger Park to see the Big 5, so look forward to thrilling wildlife sightings.
Day 3 – 4: Bilene, Mozambique
After breakfast you leave the Kruger Park and make your way to Mozambique and your next stop, Bilene – a small fishing village and idyllic holiday destination surrounded by inland lakes.
Start the next day with a swim in the large salt-water lagoon (an incredible 27 kilometres long) before sitting down to a tasty breakfast. Your guide will organise a boat trip across the lagoon for a guided beach walk and, with a bit of luck, the chance to see the Hawksbill and Green Turtles that live in the area. The rest of the day is yours to do with as you please: relax on the beach, swim in the warm water of the lagoon or stroll through town with its bakery, beach bars, curio shops and colourful local market.
Day 5 – 6: Barra Reef Beach, Mozambique
After waking to the sound of the Indian Ocean and a tasty tropical breakfast, your journey continues north to the town of Inhambane. This sleepy town is set around one of the best markets in Mozambique, and stopping here you have the chance to buy some of the beautiful wooden carvings and woven straw baskets that sit stacked alongside piles of cashew nuts and colourful spices.
From Inhambane it’s just a short drive to the wide, white beaches of the Barra Peninsula, your home for the next two days. Along with its beaches, Barra is famous for its colourful coral reefs and incredible marine life: go snorkelling or diving to see the many species of fish along with the occasional turtle gliding effortlessly by.
Day 7 – 8: Tofo Beach, Mozambique
A short drive takes you from Barra to Tofo Beach, an 8 kilometre stretch of soft white sand with rolling waves and year-round sunshine.
The next two days are spent living the tropical beach life: lazing in the sunshine, swimming in the clear ocean, playing beach volleyball and strolling down to the beach bar for sundowners. A real highlight is the Ocean Safari, organised by your guide and included in the tour. For non-divers this is an excellent chance to see Mozambique’s larger sea creatures and you might even find yourself swimming alongside dolphins, manta rays or whale sharks – a true bucket-list experience!
The rolling waves and warm water of Tofo make it an excellent destination to learn how to surf, so if you’ve always wanted to give it a try then sign up at one of the local surf schools. As for the town itself, it has a small curio and food market that’s worth exploring, and one or two restaurants serving ocean-fresh seafood and a few tasty Mozambican dishes
Day 9: Marloth Park, South Africa
Today you journey back to South Africa bypassing Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique. Once across the border, it’s just a short drive to Marloth Park Wildlife Sanctuary. Marloth Park is situated on the southern boundary of the Kruger Park, and although this is just an overnight stop you are still likely to see a variety of wildlife here such as zebra, kudu, impala and warthog.
Day 10: Return to Johannesburg & Pretoria
After a final breakfast you leave Marloth Park and make your way back to Johannesburg and Pretoria, where the tour comes to an end.
