Tour overview

This 22-day overland adventure crosses South Africa from the Kruger to Cape Town, with detours into the mountain kingdoms of Eswatini and Lesotho. It combines big-game safaris with mountain hiking, wild coastline and the Cape winelands. You travel in a purpose-built safari truck with a group leader and up to 22 fellow travellers aged 15 and over. You stay twenty-one nights: thirteen camping in two-person canvas dome tents, four in hotels, two in backpacker lodges and two in basic huts in Lesotho. Breakfast is included daily, with six lunches and fifteen dinners, many cooked at camp.

Your adventure begins in Johannesburg. You camp at the headquarters of the Black Mambas, the world's first all-female anti-poaching unit, joining them on a snare walk and sharing a lantern-lit dinner and stories around the campfire. After the Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon, a full-day 4×4 safari in Kruger National Park searches for the Big Five. Crossing into Eswatini, a local ranger leads a walking safari in Hlane Royal National Park, then at St Lucia a boat cruise brings you close to hippos and crocodiles, with a beach day at Cape Vidal.

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From Durban you visit the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and hike in the Drakensberg, Southern Africa's highest range. Two nights in the Lesotho Highlands, the Kingdom in the Sky, offer hikes to canyons, rock pools and San rock art. You then follow the Wild Coast to Cintsa, home to Xhosa communities, for a free day of beach, canoeing or surfing.

Addo Elephant National Park, home to more than 450 elephants, is explored on two game drives, before the Garden Route leads to Tsitsikamma, where forests meet the Indian Ocean. After the lagoon at Knysna, you explore the Cango Caves and watch wild meerkats emerge at sunrise near Oudtshoorn. A wine tasting in Stellenbosch leads to Cape Town, where you visit the penguins at Boulders Beach and have time for Table Mountain.

The physical rating is medium. Everyone helps at camp, facilities can be basic and some days start early. This trip suits adventurous travellers who want to see the breadth of southern Africa at a great price.

Trip highlights

  • Camping with the Black Mambas (Day 2)
  • A full-day Kruger 4x4 safari (Day 4)
  • A walking safari in Eswatini (Day 5)
  • The Lesotho Highlands (Days 12–13)
  • Addo's elephants (Days 16–17)
  • Wild meerkats at sunrise (Day 20)

Your route

16 stops from Johannesburg to Cape Town

22-day route: Johannesburg – Kruger – Hlane – St Lucia – Durban – Drakensberg – Lesotho – Cintsa – Addo – Tsitsikamma – Oudtshoorn – Cape Town
  1. Johannesburg Day 1
  2. Balule Nature Reserve Day 2
  3. Kruger National Park Days 3–4
  4. Hlane Royal National Park Days 5–6
  5. St Lucia Days 7–8
  6. Durban Day 9
  7. Drakensberg Days 10–11
  8. Lesotho Highlands Days 12–13
  9. Cintsa Days 14–15
  10. Addo Elephant NP Day 16
  11. Tsitsikamma NP Days 17–18
  12. Knysna Day 19
  13. Cango Caves Day 19
  14. Oudtshoorn Day 19
  15. Stellenbosch Day 20
  16. Cape Town Days 20–21

Why choose this tour

Three countries, big game and the Garden Route in one journey. Great value, with fifteen dinners included.

Best suited to

  • Adventurous travellers
  • Wildlife lovers
  • Travellers on a budget
  • Solo travellers looking for a social group
A herd of elephants in Kruger National Park, South Africa

Day-by-day itinerary

22 days from Johannesburg, South Africa to Cape Town, South Africa

  1. Day 1 · Johannesburg Johannesburg

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Balule Nature Reserve Greater Kruger

    Camping with the Black Mambas.

    Hotel
    Camping
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Panorama Route, Kruger National Park Kruger

    Canyon views and into Kruger.

    Hotel
    Camping
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Kruger National Park Kruger

    A full-day 4x4 safari.

    Hotel
    Camping
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Hlane Royal National Park Hlane

    Into Eswatini for a walking safari.

    Hotel
    Camping
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Hlane Royal National Park Hlane

    A free day in the park.

    Hotel
    Camping
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · St Lucia Estuary St Lucia

    A hippo boat cruise.

    Hotel
    Camping
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Cape Vidal Cape Vidal

    A beach day.

    Hotel
    Camping
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Durban Durban

    A free afternoon by the sea.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Nelson Mandela Capture Site, Drakensberg Drakensberg

    History and mountains.

    Hotel
    Backpacker lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Maloti-Drakensberg Park Drakensberg

    A guided day hike.

    Hotel
    Backpacker lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  12. Day 12 · Golden Gate, Lesotho Highlands Lesotho

    Into the Kingdom in the Sky.

    Hotel
    Basic huts, shared facilities
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  13. Day 13 · Pitseng Canyon Lesotho

    Hikes and rock art.

    Hotel
    Basic huts, shared facilities
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  14. Day 14 · Wild Coast, Cintsa Cintsa

    Along the Wild Coast.

    Hotel
    Camping with facilities
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  15. Day 15 · Cintsa Cintsa

    A free beach day.

    Hotel
    Camping with facilities
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  16. Day 16 · Addo Elephant National Park Addo

    An afternoon game drive.

    Hotel
    Camping with facilities
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  17. Day 17 · Addo, Tsitsikamma National Park Tsitsikamma

    A dawn drive, then the Garden Route.

    Hotel
    Camping with facilities
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  18. Day 18 · Storms River Mouth Tsitsikamma

    A free day of trails.

    Hotel
    Camping with facilities
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  19. Day 19 · Knysna, Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn Oudtshoorn

    A lagoon and caves.

    Hotel
    Camping with facilities
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  20. Day 20 · Oudtshoorn, Stellenbosch, Cape Town Cape Town

    Meerkats and a wine tasting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  21. Day 21 · Boulders Beach, Table Mountain Cape Town

    Penguins and a free afternoon.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  22. Day 22 · Cape Town Trip ends

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
A white rhino in the South African bush

Where you stay

  • Johannesburg (1 night) Hotel
  • Greater Kruger (1 night) Camping
  • Kruger National Park (2 nights) Camping
  • Hlane Royal National Park (2 nights) Camping
  • St Lucia (2 nights) Camping
  • Durban (1 night) Hotel
  • Drakensberg (2 nights) Backpacker lodge
  • Lesotho Highlands (2 nights) Basic huts, shared facilities
  • Cintsa (2 nights) Camping with facilities
  • Addo (1 night) Camping with facilities
  • Tsitsikamma (2 nights) Camping with facilities
  • Oudtshoorn (1 night) Camping with facilities
  • Cape Town (2 nights) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 13 nights camping, 4 in hotels, 2 in lodges and 2 in huts
  • Meals 21 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 15 dinners
  • Overland safari truck
  • Black Mambas snare walk and dinner
  • Kruger 4x4 safari and Hlane walking safari
  • St Lucia hippo cruise and Drakensberg hike
  • Addo game drives, Cango Caves and meerkats
  • Tents and mattresses, and a group leader

Not included

  • Flights
  • Optional activities such as Table Mountain
  • Meals not included 14 lunches and 6 dinners
  • Visas, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Rocky cascades on a river in Eswatini

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You dislike camping — thirteen nights are in tents
  • You want luxury lodges
  • You dislike early starts
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–22 · Lunch: Days 2–3, 6, 12, 14 and 19 · Dinner: Days 2–6 and 10–19
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Eswatini · UK FCDO travel advice for Lesotho · UK FCDO travel advice for South Africa
The Drakensberg mountains

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,270 per person, twin share, tour only. 2 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

What is the camping like?

Two-person canvas dome tents with mattresses. Facilities vary and can be basic, with cold showers at times.

Which countries do we visit?

South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho.

Can I have my own tent?

Yes, if you book a single supplement in advance.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors don't usually need visas for short stays in South Africa, Eswatini or Lesotho. Check the latest advice before travel.

Do I have to help at camp?

Yes, everyone helps with camp tasks.

How many people travel together?

Up to 22 travellers, with a group leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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