22 Oct 2026
Twin share
£1,930pp
Single from £2,115
Escorted tour
South Africa & Eswatini: Drakensberg, Zululand & Kruger – 10 Days
The Drakensberg, Zululand's rhinos, Eswatini's beehive huts and the Kruger in a group of up to sixteen.
10 days
From £1,530
Tour overview
This 10-day small-group adventure loops from Johannesburg through the mountains, wetlands and game reserves of eastern South Africa and the tiny kingdom of Eswatini, packing a remarkable range of landscapes and wildlife into a short trip. A tour leader travels with you throughout, and groups are no larger than sixteen. You stay nine nights in a mix of eco camps, lodges and traditional beehive huts, with transport between each stop. Breakfast is included daily, along with a picnic lunch and two dinners.
From Johannesburg you drive to the Drakensberg, the Dragon Mountains, a World Heritage Site where a guided walk of about 8km leads into the range, with a shorter option available, followed by lunch with mountain views. You then visit Rorke's Drift, scene of the famous 1879 battle between the Zulu and the British Army, before continuing to St Lucia for three nights.
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From St Lucia you set out at dawn for a Big Five safari in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, one of Africa's oldest game reserves and home to the densest population of white and black rhinos on the continent, with a picnic breakfast in the park. A free day follows in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa's first World Heritage Site, where you might take a hippo cruise on the estuary, a night drive or a turtle tour in season.
Crossing into Eswatini, you pass homesteads in the Ezulwini Valley and the craft market at Swazi Candles to reach the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, where you sleep in dome-shaped beehive huts while warthogs and nyala graze outside. A morning walk looks for zebra and wildebeest, and the afternoon is free for mountain biking or a visit to a Swazi cultural village. Re-entering South Africa, you spend a night by the Kruger with a braai and a full day of game viewing in the park, then return to Johannesburg via the Blyde River Canyon and God's Window.
The physical rating is medium, with early starts and some long drives. This trip suits active travellers who want a varied, good-value introduction to South Africa's wildlife and landscapes.
Trip highlights
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A walk in the Drakensberg (Day 2)
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The Rorke's Drift battlefield (Day 3)
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A Big Five safari in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi (Day 4)
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Beehive huts in Mlilwane (Days 6–7)
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A full day in the Kruger (Day 9)
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God's Window and the Blyde River Canyon (Day 10)
Your route
10 stops from Johannesburg to Johannesburg
- Johannesburg Day 1
- Sungubala Eco Camp Days 1–2
- Rorke's Drift Day 3
- St Lucia Days 3–5
- Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Day 4
- Mlilwane Days 6–7
- Phabeni Gate Day 8
- Graskop Day 9
- God's Window Day 10
- Johannesburg Day 10
Why choose this tour
Mountains, wetlands, two countries and the Kruger in ten days. A small group with a tour leader throughout.
Best suited to
- Active travellers
- Wildlife lovers
- Travellers on a budget
- Solo travellers and couples
Day-by-day itinerary
10 days from Johannesburg, South Africa to Johannesburg, South Africa
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Day 1 · Johannesburg, Drakensberg Drakensberg
Drive to the Dragon Mountains.
- Hotel
- Sungubala Eco Camp
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Drakensberg Drakensberg
A guided mountain walk.
- Hotel
- Sungubala Eco Camp
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3 · Rorke's Drift, St Lucia St Lucia
A famous battlefield.
- Hotel
- Forest Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 4 · Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
A Big Five safari.
- Hotel
- Forest Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 5 · iSimangaliso Wetland Park iSimangaliso
A free day in the wetlands.
- Hotel
- Forest Lodge
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 6 · Ezulwini Valley, Malkerns, Mlilwane Eswatini
Into the kingdom.
- Hotel
- Mlilwane Rest Camp
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 7 · Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary Mlilwane
A wildlife walk.
- Hotel
- Mlilwane Rest Camp
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Kruger National Park Kruger
A game drive and a braai.
- Hotel
- SleepOver Phabeni Gate
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 9 · Kruger National Park, Graskop Kruger
A full day in the park.
- Hotel
- The Graskop Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 10 · God's Window, Blyde River Canyon, Johannesburg Johannesburg
The Panorama Route.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Drakensberg (2 nights) Sungubala Eco Camp
- St Lucia (3 nights) Forest Lodge
- Mlilwane, Eswatini (2 nights) Mlilwane Rest Camp
- Kruger (1 night) SleepOver Phabeni Gate
- Graskop (1 night) The Graskop Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 9 nights in camps, lodges and beehive huts
- Meals 9 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners
- Group transfers at Johannesburg Airport on set times
- Overland transport throughout
- Guided Drakensberg walk
- Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and Kruger game drives
- Tour leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Optional activities such as the hippo cruise
- Meals not included 7 lunches and 7 dinners
- Visas, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want luxury lodges
- You dislike early starts and long drives
- You want most meals included
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–10 · Lunch: Day 2 · Dinner: Days 1–2
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £1,530 per person, twin share, tour only. 24 upcoming departures.
29 Oct 2026
Twin share
£1,530pp
Single from £1,715
12 Nov 2026
Twin share
£1,930pp
Single from £2,115
14 Jan 2027
Twin share
£1,695pp
Single from £1,990
28 Jan 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
11 Mar 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
25 Mar 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
06 May 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
03 Jun 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
24 Jun 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
15 Jul 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
29 Jul 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
12 Aug 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
26 Aug 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
09 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
23 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
30 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
07 Oct 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
21 Oct 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
28 Oct 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
04 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
11 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
18 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
20 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
Single from £2,390
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 time does the trip start?
The group meets at Johannesburg Airport at 10:30 on Day 1, so flights should land by then.
How hard is the Drakensberg walk?
About 8km over four to five hours, moderate to challenging, with a shorter option.
What are the beehive huts like?
Traditional dome-shaped huts with shared showers, a pool and a restaurant.
Do I need a visa?
UK citizens don't need a visa for South Africa or Eswatini for short stays.
When can I fly home?
The trip ends at the airport at about 5pm; book flights from 7.20pm.
How many people travel together?
Between four and sixteen travellers.
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