Southern Explorer - 12 days

Drifters Price: £261.00

RRP: £275.00

Trip Code: OASSE12

Local Payment: £100.00

Day 1 & 2

Today we drive east out of Jo' Burg to the province of Mpumalanga, meaning 'the place of the rising sun'. We head towards the Kruger National Park and on our way visit Blyde River Canyon - the third largest canyon in the world with stunning view points from the top over the lowveld and the shimmering Blyde River Dam at the bottom.

Day 1 & 2

The Kruger National Park is our next stop, it covers about 24,000 sq km, larger than some countries, with a huge variety of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian species as well as the BIG 5 - leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino. We explore on game drives during the day and camp at the park's rest camps where there is the opportunity to join an optional night game drive with the Kruger's rangers with a spot light to view the shyer nocturnal creatures. If you are lucky you may spot leopard! The diversity and size of this national park is awesome.

Day 3 & 4

Crossing the border we enter the smallest country in the southern hemisphere - the Kingdom of Swaziland. Here we visit the capital Mbabane where, in the colourful markets, you can purchase some of the best quality carvings and crafts in Africa. We climb down the Ezulweni valley to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, a hugely successful conservation project that has reintroduced many species of wildlife that became extinct decades ago, back into Swaziland. Here we camp for two nights and you can undertake pony trekking or follow self-guided walking or mountain bike trails through the varied and rich landscape. There is even an overnight guided horse trail!

Day 5

Leaving behind Swaziland, we cross another border and enter Mozambique. Off the tourist trail for many years thanks to a brutal civil war, today Mozambique is enjoying a revival thanks to political stability and improved infrastructure, and the warm Indian Ocean and idyllic white sand beaches are again welcoming visitors. We pass through the balmy capital city of Maputo, with it's Portuguese atmosphere and charmingly faded colonial architecture, and continue north to the beach near the mouth of the great Limpopo River at the small fishing village of Xia-Xai.

Day 6

A few hours drive along the coast brings us to Inhambane where we spend another night near the ocean at Praia de Tofu, a stunning swathe of beach 20km to the south of the town. Here there are numerous watersports to try or even explore the surrounding dunes by quadbike. The beach is in a sheltered bay ideal for swimming and snorkelling.

Day 7 - 9

A short drive further north we reach Vilanculos. One of the most attractive resorts in Mozambique, this is the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago, a string of gorgeously tropical Indian Ocean islands that are today a World Heritage Site and part of an important marine park. The waters here are home to dolphins, sharks, and the prehistoric looking and elusive dugong, and the islands are surrounded by colourful coral reefs teeming with fish. In Vilanculos we have the opportunity to enjoy magnificent seafood such as the famous Mozambique peri-peri prawns before an optional two night excursion to the islands by dhow - traditional white sailed wooden boats. The ride takes you across the bright blue sea where you may sea dolphins playing in the shallows or chasing the shadow of the boat.

Whilst on the island there is the opportunity to go snorkelling at two mile reef. You overnight on the beach in a delightful thatched camp and watching the sun sink over the ocean from this near-on deserted tropical island is a highlight of any trip to Mozambique. After your return by dhow we spend a final night back in Vilanculos and enjoy our last night next to the beach.

Day 10 - 12

We now drive toward Zimbabwe and camp overnight near the border on the edge of picturesque Lake Chicamba. Crossing into Zimbabwe we pass through the Eastern Highlands, a rich agricultural area and center of the local wine industry. We arrive in the capital city of Harare by late afternoon. The tour finishes after a hearty cooked breakfast at our Harare campsite.

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