South Africa Self-Drive to Eswatini Tour – 13 Days

Arrival at OR Tambo International Airport. After vehicle collection, you will head to 44 ON ENNIS your accommodation in Ermelo. This lodge is owner operated by Peter and Nikki Maherry and was established in 2010. Nestled in the town of Ermelo Mpumalanga (South Africa) the lodge is fully serviced and caters for both the traveller and business person. Enjoy a drink around the fire and indulge in freshly prepared and diverse meals.

Celebrate nature, life and its myriad small moments with us. Venture into the wilderness on guided walks, game drives or ‘elephanting’ and learn with us about nature’s intricacies and wonders. Cast the waters for tiger fish or unwind with dusky bird calls, the magical moon rises or a gentle boat cruise. Today you are heading to White Elephant Safari Lodge.

Enter the Park. Please note that there is a Gate Entrance fee of R 25.00 per vehicle, payable at the gate.

Sodwana Bay Lodge is located on the untouched eastern seaboard, where wide lakes and lagoons shimmer with life. Here you will find stretches of beautiful forest populated with rare and protected animals; this is one of the greatest sections of the South African coastline.

A Range of wonderful activities including fishing, quad biking is perfect for the adventurer in you. For team building, there are also treasure hunts, microlight flights and scuba dives. There are many different diving courses on offer, starting with the “discover scuba diver course”, or for the more advanced there is the Dive Master’s course to name only a few.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s (Ezemvelo) mandate is derived from the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Management Act (Act No.9 of 1997), which is to direct the management of nature conservation within the Province including protected areas (PAs). This includes the development and promotion of ecotourism facilities within the PAs. With its headquarters at Queen Elizabeth Park in Pietermaritzburg, the provincial capital, Ezemvelo manages more than 120 protected areas and is the leader in sustainable biodiversity conservation. It has recently broadened its focus to become more relevant to communities living adjacent to their parks – primarily through job creation and sustainable natural resource harvesting.

Hilltop Resort is the pride of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. The Resort is situated on the edge of a forested hill and offers fine views of the surrounding countryside. It is a three-hour drive north from Durban via the N2. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is a premier, “Big Five” park; home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. Its rich plant-life, grasslands and forests support a wide variety of other game animals.

Ndlovu Camp is main camp in Hlane Royal National Park, home to the restaurant, curio shop and activity centre. The camp is off the grid, powered by solar, gas or fire, transforming into a fairyland of lanterns and candlelight at night. Torches are highly recommended.

Eswatini’s rich variety of landscapes and habitats gives it a profusion of fauna and flora, with the sheer number of species mind-boggling by most European standards. The country is not large enough to offer lots of big game experiences, but it has some 17 protected areas that are home to a very wide range of species, including the sought-after ‘Big 5’. As well as being one of the best places on the continent for rhino safaris (on foot as well as by 4×4 and to see both black and white rhinos), Eswatini is also the perfect place to get to grips with many smaller creatures often overlooked on safari elsewhere. And it is a birdwatcher’s paradise.

Today you will make your way Crocodile Bridge Safari Lodge.

The Highlander Hotel is situated in the little town of Dullstroom, in South Africa’s famous Mpumalanga province. The Highlander was named after the Scottish Highlands, as the area around the hotel has many similarities to the Nothern country of the British Kingdom. The hotel was formerly known as Peebles Country Retreat. It was voted the ‘Most Romantic Hotel‘ during the International Luxury Hotel of the year awards. The retreat has become popular as a stopover accommodation option for visitors travelling to and from the Kruger National Park. This welcoming country retreat in Mpumalanga caters to both the corporate and leisure guest.

You return to OR Tambo International Airport to return your rental vehicle and depart for your onward journey.