Kruger & Coast
Experience Overview
Experience the diversity of southern Africa on a nine-day adventure that takes you to wildlife-rich game parks, idyllic beaches, wetlands and small villages, exploring with a local leader along the way. Search for lions in Kruger National Park, enjoy a bushwalk accompanied by members of the world's first all-female anti-poaching unit, relax on the sands of Cape Vidal and more. A mixture of included activities and free time make this tour perfect for travellers who want the benefit of on-the-ground local knowledge with some of the freedom of independent travel.
Highlights
- Experience a once-in-a-lifetime chance to camp at the Black Mambas headquaters, the world's first all-female anti-poaching unit. Join them for a bush walk to search for snares and hear their inspiring stories around the campfire in the evening.
- Go on an epic safari in search of lions, hyenas and more through Kruger National Park – one of the largest National Parks in southern Africa.
- Go overland in a purpose-built truck and stop to take in geological wonders like Bourke’s Luck Potholes along the Panorama Route.
- Experience St Lucia from a whole new perspective on a guided Boat Safari down this UNESCO-listed landmark.
- Swap four wheels for two legs on a guided walking safari through the Hlane Royal National Park with an expert Swazi guide, keeping an eye out for antelopes and zebras passing by.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2929
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Overland vehicle
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Overland Expedition
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: UBOE
Starts: Johannesburg, South Africa
Finishes: Durban, South Africa
Duration: 9 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (8), Lunch (3), Dinner (5)Accommodation: Camping with facilities (4 nights),Camping with basic facilities (3 nights),Hotel (1 night)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $1,534 ($170 /day)
Itinerary
Sawubona! Welcome Johannesburg, the sprawling South African capital. In Joburg (unlike a lot of city nicknames, this is one people actually use) mansions stand alongside humble tin abodes and there are as many green parks on the outskirts of the city as there is concrete jungle in the centre. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you can’t wait to begin exploring and arrive with time to spare, why not make your way to the Apartheid Museum and start your journey with some crucial history before you meet up with your group.
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Rise and shine for a long day’s drive to the outskirts of Kruger National Park where you'll be lucky enough to camp for the evening at the Black Mambas headquarters. The Intrepid Foundation is proudly partnered with Helping Rhinos, who directly support the work of the Black Mambas - the world's first all-female anti-poaching unit. Made up of a team of 36 young African women, the Mambas patrol 20,000 hectares of the Balule Nature Reserve, part of Greater Kruger National Park. Turning a traditionally male-dominated industry on its head, they’re putting their female prowess to work protecting Kruger National Park's wildlife in an unconventional way. You'll join them on a bush walk to learn how they find and destroy snares firsthand. Enjoy a special dinner by lantern light and later, relax by the campfire with the Mambas as they share stories about their path to becoming a Black Mamba and conservation work.
Included Activities:
- Black Mambas HQ - Dinner by Lantern Light
- Black Mambas HQ - Campfire Story Time
- Black Mambas HQ - Snare Walk
Accommodation:
- Camping (Number of Nights: 1)
Wave goodbye to the Mambas and take a scenic drive along the famous Panorama Route through some of the most stunning scenery South Africa has to offer, such as Bourke’s Luck Potholes. In the evening, choose to relax at your camp, located in Kruger National Park, or perhaps head out on an optional night drive with the park guide. The optional night drives are a chance to spot nocturnal animals and perhaps even a night-time predator or two – maybe catch a lion or hyena out hunting, or perhaps an impala out in search of a late-night feed.
Included Activities:
- Panorama Route - Blyde River Canyon Viewpoint
- Panorama Route - Three Rondavels Viewpoint
Optional Activities:
- Kruger National Park - Night Game Drive (290 ZAR)
Accommodation:
- Camping (Number of Nights: 1)
Rise early and enjoy a light breakfast before heading out on 4x4 jeeps for a full-day game drive. Most of your day will be spent spotting game, birdwatching, and stopping at various waterholes and viewpoints to rest along the way. Kruger National Park is one of the largest National Parks in Southern Africa. It boasts over 500 bird species, 100 species of reptile and 150 mammal species, including the Big Five and the endangered African wild dog. Drive through some of Kruger’s prime game viewing areas on your way to camp and try to spot some of these amazing creatures straight away! Set up camp and get settled for the evening.
Included Activities:
- Kruger National Park - 4WD Safari Full Day
Optional Activities:
- Kruger National Park - Night Game Drive (290 ZAR)
Accommodation:
- Camping (Number of Nights: 1)
Start the day with a slow game drive through Kruger, covering between 20 and 70 kilometres (depending on what animals you see along the way) in the park then exiting by mid-morning. Hit the road towards Hlane Royal National Park. Travel south-east and cross the border into the kingdom of Eswatini, a country nestled between Mozambique, Northern Zululand and Mpumalanga. Arrive at Hlane Royal National Park, a vast expanse of bushveld with ancient hardwood trees, and begin exploring immediately on a guided game walk. The walking safari, led by a local guide, will give you the best understanding of how large and complex the ecosystem in this park is. With a professional ranger by your side, you’ll look out for animals like rhino, giraffe, and elephant while also searching for tiny creatures like snakes, spiders, and small mammals (don’t worry, there’s no lions in the section of the park where you’ll be walking). You’ll spend tonight at a camp within the national park.
Included Activities:
- Hlane Royal National Park - Guided Walking Safari
Accommodation:
- Camping (Number of Nights: 1)
Today you’ll have the opportunity to further explore Hlane Royal National Park at your leisure. You might like to book an optional 4x4 game drive within the park, where you can expect to see all kinds of animals like antelopes, elephants, zebras, rhinos, and lions. Guided by a local Swazi guide, these drives typically take 2-2.5hrs either in the early morning or late afternoon.
Another optional activity for today is to visit the Hlane Umphakatsi (Chief Village) - a tour of the authentic living homestead and opportunity to discover the Swazi way of life. You'll learn more about the traditional culture here, get to know the locals and even get a chance to try your hand at day-to-day activities. You’ll discover how Umphakatsi is a special village since it is one of the few with a female Chief: Inkhosikati.
Optional Activities:
- Hlane National Park - Guided 4x4 Game Drive (455 ZAR)
- Hlane National Park - Umphakatsi Village Visit (153 ZAR)
Accommodation:
- Camping (Number of Nights: 1)
Depart Hlane this morning and cross the border to Lake St Lucia, part of the St Lucia Estuary, stopping at a shop for supplies along the way. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, St Lucia Estuary is home to thousands of varieties of birds, mammals and reptiles, including hundreds of hippos and crocodiles. On arrival at camp, jump onboard a Hippo Boat Safari which offers a different perspective to traditional Game viewing with the chance to spot creatures cruising down the estuary, or basking on the banks.
Included Activities:
- St Lucia Estuary - Safari Boat Cruise
Accommodation:
- Camping (Number of Nights: 1)
We'll take a day trip to Cape Vidal today for some time by the sand in the sun. Cape Vidal lies within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site and sits on the exquisite Zululand coast – home to a rich array of marine life. This area is visited seasonally by humpback whales during their migrations, as well as loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles that come to the beaches north of Cape Vidal from November to February to nest. You can spend the day relaxing on the beach or speak to your leader about booking some of the optional activities in the area. You’ll head back to your camp at Lake St Lucia this afternoon.
Included Activities:
- Cape Vidal - Beach Day Trip
Accommodation:
- Camping (Number of Nights: 1)
Continue to Durban after breakfast today. With no activities or accommodation planned, your adventure comes to an end on arrival today. Durban is South Africa's second most populous city, boasting sandy beaches and a glitzy nightlife – a great place to extend your stay and enjoy some leisure time. Perhaps take the opportunity for a final dinner with your fellow travellers this evening.
Optional Activities:
- Durban - Art Gallery - Free
- Durban - Bay Cruise (240 ZAR)
- Durban - Juma Masjid Mosque - Free
- Durban - Bike Hire (per hour) (30 ZAR)
- Durban - Surf Board Hire (per hour) (100 ZAR)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
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Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Jennifer - Traveled, March 2024
Best tour ever! This trip had everything we could have hoped for! Great locations to visit, the best crew, I will definitely use Intrepid again!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/18/2024
Penelope - Traveled, March 2024
A faultless itinerary. A life changing positive trip. Our team of Christian, Shimane and Ricardo outstanding. We will be back for sure for more! Thank you p and j
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/18/2024
Iness - Traveled, January 2024
C’est ma première expérience en tente et je ne regrette vraiment pas ! Ce voyage a été très riche en expériences, nous avons eu la chance de voir les Big Five et ça n’a pas de prix . J’ai eu de la chance d’être dans un bon groupe, nous étions seulement 5 filles et nous nous sommes très bien entendues. Merci à Deneo de m’avoir proposé une alternative végétarienne à chaque repas, c’est vraiment très appréciable et j’ai toujours mangé à ma faim . Merci à Dumisani notre chauffeur qui a toujours le sourire . Merci à notre guide Sandile pour son adaptabilité. Merci aux filles du groupe et merci à l’Afrique du Sud pour cette nature tellement luxuriante. Un pays qui offre de très belles surprises, surtout pour les fans d’animaux comme moi .
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/20/2024
Juliette - Traveled, December 2023
An amazing trip where you see the natur of South Africa. You also get to know the culture and meet a lot of people who gladly show you their lives.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/26/2023
Christopher - Traveled, November 2023
Superb trip. Great staff. Safe throughout. Brilliant value.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/22/2023
Andrew - Traveled, October 2023
This trip is excellent for anyone wanting to explore Africa and see it's wildlife. Experiencing unforgettable moments such as the Rhino walk in Hlane Royal National Park and the homestay in Zululand were personal highlights and of course seeing the Big 5 during the stay at Kruger.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/15/2023
Mary Ann - Traveled, September 2023
My first Intrepid experience was enlightening and powerful. It was rugged but do-able, simple but well planned. The exposure to culture was up close and personal. Highly recommend Intrepid's South Africa trip to Johannesburg, Swaziland, St. Lucia, the Zulu area in the Valley of a Thousand Hills, ending in Durban. Mary Ann 61 years
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/06/2023
Jane - Traveled, September 2023
This is a fantastic trip to see the incredible animals of South Africa & Swaziland (Eswatini). The campsites are lovely with surprising good facilities. There is undoubtedly a lot of time spent in the truck, not just for the long distances travelling from place to place, but during the many game drives too. You do have to expect some itinerary tweaks for reasons beyond anyone's control. It was a shame we couldn't camp in Kruger itself, as that meant we missed out on the game drive into the park and the optional activities which couldn't run as we were camped outside the park. Early starts and long days were all worth it for the reward of seeing beautiful animals up close. The upgrades at Hlane were lovely and broke up the camping days (and saved us from tent pitching on our only wet days). There is little WiFi to be had outside the hotels at the start & finish, but I actually really liked that. Our team of Tshepo (tour leader), Christian (driver) & Lizzy (cook) were amaaazing, and kept us happy, entertained, safe & extremely well fed. I highly recommend this trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/05/2023
Adam - Traveled, September 2023
I did the south Africa safari tour and couldn't be happier with my experience. I found the trip to be really good value for money and was kept well informed throughout. Seeing the white Rhinos was the highlight of my tour and I'll definitely be using Intrepid again.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/19/2023
Klaudia - Traveled, August 2023
Great trip, great destination and fantastic crew! The itinerary is well put together and you see a lot of wildlife and of the countries. As a sole traveller I always felt taking care of and included, it was a safe and fun way to go on safari. Highly recommended!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/19/2023
Megan - Traveled, August 2023
This trip was amazing. Got to explore a lot of the country, and had a good range of fun activities. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly too. Sad its ended!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/17/2023
Lindsay - Traveled, August 2023
This was an incredible tour, with amazing wildlife, scenery and people. We had been a bit apprehensive about the camping and some of the long drives, but it all ended up being surprisingly comfortable!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/16/2023
Michael - Traveled, July 2023
A so-so experience. Went to see animals and did get to see a number, however even though we camped inside Kruger none of the listed optional inclusions were apparently available. Had more downtime than expected or wanted, just sitting around in camps or with the 'beach day' on cold overcast day. Given the amount of time sitting in truck traveling, would have liked to make most of the non-travel time doing or seeing things.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/11/2023
Daniel - Traveled, July 2023
Brilliant tour of South Africa and eSwatini with our passionate guide, Rene, and excellent driver and cook. Beautiful itinerary to see so many amazing animals and meet such lovely people in Africa, and in the group. One of my favourite intrepid tours. Don't let long drives put you off - a chance to nap and take I'm South Africa. We had a small group of under 30s.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/11/2023
Bre - Traveled, July 2023
This itinerary was incredible. The tour was well organised and all activities were so special. My favourite Intrepid tour to date. Could not recommend more highly.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/10/2023
James - Traveled, July 2023
The trip was amazing! We got a chance to see wild rhinos and lions up close, and the camp sites were absolutely lovely. The landscapes were breathtaking and the food prepared by the chef was delicious. The most magical moment was sitting in Hlane National Park with a coffee and watching wild rhinos as the sun set.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/28/2023
Daniel - Traveled, June 2023
Outstanding trip with a great mix of nature and cultural activities. Christian, Patrick and Somkhele really made us all feel like family. Could not recommend a better tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/10/2023
Simona - Traveled, June 2023
great trip, saw many beautiful places.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/12/2023
Mitchell - Traveled, June 2023
All crew on my Kruger Coast and Cape trip were absolutely amazing. The itinerary lacked excitement in parts but that's a product of the country and not Intrepid itself, but there is still a lot to gain from travel all through SA.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/21/2023
Brian - Traveled, June 2023
The Kruger & Coast Intrepid Tour was amazing, I learnt so much about the South African culture in a very short amount of time. The locations and destinations varied so quickly, from big cities to small villages. If you are an animal lover, this the tour for you!!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/04/2023
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