At the edge of the 'Highveld' is the Panorama route with views on the 'Lowveld', 800 meters down and the spectacular Blyde River Canyon.

The following stops are world famous;

In the resort where we stay you can walk to a 'Tufa Waterfall', a special natural phenomenon, and watch how the setting sun colors the Three Rondavels red.

Now this is really Africa.

The Kruger National Park is one of the most famous African game parks.

Encounters with almost all major (and minor) African wild animals are now possible. The park is the size of Belgium and does not uncover all its secrets at once. Provide enough time to explore the park.

We stay in one or more camps in the park, depending on your length of stay.  These camps are electrically fenced and each have a shop and a restaurant.  From the camp we go on safari.

Even for the guide these safaris remain exciting.  You never know what will appear beyond the next tree. Will it be more impalas or is it an elephant?  So be on the lookout, and keep your cameras ready!

It is a special experience is to penetrate deeper into the Northern part of the Park. The tour then goes from camp to camp, still further North. While landscape and vegetation change constantly, beautiful and spectacular wildlife encounters give you an unforgettable safari experience.

On such a longer trip there is more possibility to see rare animals. And the further you go to the north, the less other tourists you meet. We can there even more follow the course of the rivers, where most activity takes place.

In the far North, the landscape is dominated by the majestic Baobab trees that tower above the surrounding vegetation. According to African legends these trees fell upside down from heaven. Some of this magical Baobabs are hundreds of years old.

* Recommended length of stay; 6-8 nights

Note: This northern route deviates from the Classic South Africa route, which runs in a southerly direction from Kruger.

The kingdom of Swaziland is a another country. This means some more stamps in your passport.

 En route we visit a Swazi Cultural Village, which houses one of the best traditional singing and dancing  groups of southern Africa.  You can learn about the traditional culture of the Swazi people and witness a performance of the group.

 Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary is a small park with plenty of game but no predators. This makes the animals very relaxed and they let us come pretty close. It is the ideal place to explore by walking, horseback riding  or mountain biking. 

It is also possible to visit a Swazi Craft Market and / or a  Swazi Candles workshop.

The Mkhaya Game Reserve is the ultimate bush experience!

At a meeting place rangers come pick us up in the afternoon and take us in an open landrover on a safari in the park. Except for lions, all the big ones are present; elephants, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo ...

When the sun sets, the tour ends at the camp in the middle of the bush. There is no electricity, but dozens of oil lamps create an enchanting atmosphere. Dinner is under the southern sky.

The following morning, just before the light Swazi girls come wake us up with coffee and tea. Then follows another safari till breakfast.

If you stay longer than one night you can participate in a bush day walk, led by a ranger. On such walks more attention is paid to animal tracks, dung,  plants and smaller animals. 

At four o'clock, back in  the landrover for spotting big game ....

Clamped between the Indian ocean and a large estuary containing brackish water lies the village of St Lucia.

The whole area around it is protected and even declared a ˜world heritage site'.

A boat trip on the Estuary brings you closer to hippos, crocodiles and water birds. 

The nearby iSimangaliso Wetlands Park does have a variety of scenic landscapes, and a lot of wildlife roaming around. There is savannah, marshes and ponds, as well as forested dunes, beach and the Indian Ocean. In the park is the beach of Cape Vidal. There you can sunbathe, swim and snorkel.

At less than an hour's drive away is the Hluhluwe - Imfolozi National Park, the last park with all big game on this trip.

 Near St Lucia you can learn about traditional Zulu culture.

A long journey from St Lucia to the Drakensberg Mountains takes us right through the territory of the Zulu people. It consists of undulating hills with memories of the glory and horrors of their founder, King Shaka.

Many battles have been fought here: the Zulu did fight with the Boers (voortrekkers, descendants of the Dutch) and then with the British. And later there were two wars fought between  Boers and British. 

Your guide tells more.

The majestic Drakensberg Mountains are actually a wall of basalt rock that tower 1000 meters above the landscape. The Afrikaans word "Drakensberg" (dragon mountains) refers to the sharp edges, making the mountain look like gigantic dragons.

The Zulu call it Ukhahlamba, meaning 'barrier of spears". 

This is also a ˜World Heritage Site' because of its unique natural beauty and thousands of Bushman Paintings sites, rock paintings of the San, an almost disappeared nature people.

In the Royal Natal National Park are short and less short, easy and less easy hiking trails.  From the ridge where we stay is a nice view on the Drakensberg Mountain and the whole area.

Golden Gate Highlands resembles to the Scottish Highlands. In the sandstone rocks,  whimsical figures have been sculptured by erosion.

Some pleasant hikes are possible.
Different artists offer their work in boutiques at the nearby village of Clarens

Lesotho, 'The Kingdom in the sky' is a poor mountainous state with spectacular scenery and colourful Basotho culture.

The village Malealea is unique;  the lodge being located centrally in the village and  a dynamic cooperation has grown with the surrounding villagers. This lodge is often been cited as the perfect example of responsible tourism.

 You can admire the breathtaking landscape from the back of a Basotho pony. No horse riding skills required although there are also trips and even tours of several days for experienced horse riders.

Local youngsters, trained as guides take you on a walk through the village.

With them, you can visit the school, get introduced to the traditional Basotho culture, and learn about the everyday life of the villagers. 

And every night a choir of local youth and a band (with homemade instruments) give a presentation.  You won't believe your ears and eyes!

A long journey through an ever increasingly drier landscape takes you deep into the Karoo, the land of thirst.

This is semi-desert and with very little rainfall . Towns and villages are 50 to 100 km apart and in between is a barren, desolate landscape with a few Merino sheep and springbok.

Graaff-Reinet, the fourth oldest town in South Africa, is called "the jewel of the Karoo".  More than 220 buildings are historical monuments - remarkable in a town which is really not that big.

You may experience typical Karoo friendliness while strolling around the streets visiting churches, museums and thel Drostdy Monument.

It is possible to visit the local township, "The Friendly Township ', but it is recommended that one usues a local guide.

Sunset in the Valley of Desolation in the 'Camdeboo National Park' that surrounds the town, is a sight not to be missed.

Tsitsikamma National Park is a narrow strip at the mouth of the Storms River, between the Tsitsikamma Mountains and the Indian Ocean.

Evergreen forest stretches from the mountain slopes to the rocks where high white-tipped waves smash.

There are several hiking trails, the most famous of which is the Otter Trail, which winds its way through the spicy scented forest which alternate with beautiful views of the spectacular rocky coastline.

Oudtshoorn,situated in ‘ the small Karoo’, is the centre of the ostrich farming community.

A visit to an ostrich farm and the Cango Caves are some of the possibilities.

En route to Cape Town, it is possible to make a detour to Hermanus.

Hermanus is just the best place in the world to spot whales.

Whale season is from July to November.

The historic "Mother City", at Table Bay extends around Table Mountain. There are many and varied activities possible, in and around Cape Town.