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Kruger, Swazi & Beach Trip Notes

Trip Overview

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Embark on a 7-day camping adventure from the bushveld of Kruger to the beaches of KwaZulu Natal. Kruger, Swazi & Beach offers many diverse experiences in South Africa and Swaziland. Discover the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga, scout for the Big 5 in Kruger National Park, meet the Zulu and Swazi cultures and soak in the modern city life of Durban.

Duration : 7 Days

Destination : Africa

Start/Ends in : Pretoria / Durban

Group Size : 5-15 Pax

Age Req. : 18+

Trip Theme : Adventure, Discovery

Hotels : Camping

Departs : All Year Around

Intended Itinerary


It is our intention to adhere to the route described below but a certain amount of flexibility is built into the tour and on occasion it may be necessary or desirable to make alterations to the published itinerary. Please therefore treat the following as a guide only.

This is a participation tour and travels together with the camping counterpart.

Your tour ends in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital. Close enough to Johannesburg to almost be considered a suburb, Pretoria is known as the Jacaranda City, with purple blossoms covering the streets in October each year. Pretoria boasts many sights of interest – such as the 10m bronze statue of Nelson Mandela standing at the historic Union Buildings. Various cultural sites, shops, bars and restaurants are within an easy walk of our recommended hotel (and tour end point).

How do I get to the airport from Pretoria? Simple. Book a transfer with Travel Talk to take you directly to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International. Journey time is about 45 minutes depending on traffic. We particularly recommend a pre-booked transfer if you are departing late. Alternatively, there is a regular low-cost train service called the Gautrain which runs from Pretoria to OR Tambo International and Johannesburg. If the train interests you, email or ask Travel Talk for more information. The description below assumes you have purchased the optional Adventure Pass for the tour.

Duration: 7 Days
Countries visited: South Africa and Swaziland

Tour Preparation

BOOKING INFORMATION

When you make a confirmed booking for your tour you will be sent pre-departure information and related documents. Once you have paid in full you will receive a Travel Voucher giving full details of your joining point. Johannesburg (JNB) nearby Pretoria and Durban (DUR) are well served by a variety of airlines. Your travel agent can advise on flights to and from the start and finish of your tour.

JOINING INFORMATION

This tour starts in Pretoria. The pre-departure meeting is held at 18:00 on the evening prior to departure. The tour departs at 07:00 on day 1 and ends in Durban on day 7.

Meeting Point:

Tour start point in Pretoria:

Court Classique Suite Hotel

Address: 743 Francis Baard Street, Pretoria, 0007

Contact details: Tel. +27 (0) 12 344 4420

E-mail: [email protected]

Tour start time: 07:00 on Day 1

Finishing Point:

Tour endpoint in Durban:

Road Lodge Umhlanga Ridge

Address: Cnr Medigate Road & Hospital Road,Umhlanga, 4056

Contact details: Tel: +27 (0) 31 580 7200

E-mail: [email protected]

Tour end time: Late afternoon on Day 7.

Adventure Pass :

Every adventure camping tour has an Adventure Pass which is paid to your tour leader in Africa at the beginning of the tour (or pre-paid by arrangement prior to your tour). This is separate and in addition to the Tour Price, which is paid before travel, and is paid in the currency listed in the brochure or on the website (usually US dollars in clean, un-torn post 2008 edition notes). The Adventure Pass covers selected park entries, activities and excursions along the way where payment goes directly to the supplier. The purpose of the separate payment is to ensure local suppliers benefit directly from the income.

Luggage

Please try to keep your luggage to a minimum, bearing in mind that most airlines impose a 20kg limit. It should be brought in a soft holdall or rucksack along with a smaller day bag. You will need to bring a mixture of lightweight clothing and warm clothing for the evenings and early morning game drives. We recommended you pack a small torch or headlamp, mosquito spray, and a money pouch/ belt that can be easily hidden. Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables and use your hotel safe to store the bulk of your money, passport, and airline tickets. A power bank is useful for recharging electronic devices.

Itinerary

Please note that the itinerary may be subject to small changes depending on the conditions during the tour. Alternative accommodation of similar standards may be used depending on the group size and hotel availability.

Departing from South Africa’s administrative city, Pretoria, we drive across the scenic Mpumalanga province and enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery before heading to the Panorama Route where we view Blyde River canyon. We make our way to Hazyview bordering Kruger. Fences between the National Park and surrounding private reserves were removed several years ago to form the Greater Kruger, an area of some 24000 sq km. Wildlife is free to roam the whole enormous area and it has become incredibly diverse in both fauna and flora. From the dwarf mongoose to the famed ‘Big Five’, almost every major African mammal is present. There is also prolific birdlife and over 330 varieties of trees. This evening we enjoy our first night under the African stars.

Accommodation : Numbi Hotel or similar – Twin share tents with shared facilities

Meals Included : Dinner

WIFI: No

Optional Activities : No

Waking at sunrise, we eagerly wait for Park Rangers to open the park gates to let us enter the wilds of Kruger for an intense yet rewarding day of game tracking with our eagle-eyed guide at the wheel. Kruger is home to over 505 species of birds, 148 species of mammals, and many reptiles which we enthusiastically search for during the morning and afternoon. The impressive atmosphere of the park enables you to understand why it is held in such high esteem amongst wildlife lovers from all over the world. We avoid the hot midday sun and enjoy the peacefulness the rest camp has to offer. There are many facilities available for game viewers such as restaurants, souvenir stores, and swimming pools. We return to our camp in the late afternoon, happily exhausted and highly satisfied with the day’s events. For those wanting more game driving there may be the option of heading out on a night safari. Early evening, we all enjoy a lovely dinner gathered around the warm fire crackling in the stillness of the night.

Accommodation : Numbi Hotel or similar – Twin share tents with shared facilities

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

WIFI : No

Optional Activities: Kruger Night Game Drive R850

After a light sunrise breakfast, we re-enter the Park in an open 4×4 safari vehicle for our second day’s game diving day. With cameras and binoculars on hand we spend the morning and afternoon winding along beaten tracks and marked routes encountering many species which are indigenous to this region. Kruger has over two million hectares of unrivalled diversity of ecosystems boasting an incredible concentration of wildlife and we hope to encounter some of these including the ‘Big 5’ – elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo. We return to our camp during the late afternoon.
*For travellers not making use of the Adventure Pass, alternate optional activities may be available today.

Accommodation : Numbi Hotel or similar – Twin share tents with shared facilities

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

WIFI : No

Leaving Hazyview, we travel south along the edge of the Kruger National Park, passing many farming towns and Shangaan settlements. After a short stop in Nelspruit, the road takes us through lush citrus farms before crossing the Crocodile River and into the Kingdom of Swaziland, a land-locked country snuggled between Mozambique and South Africa. Arriving at Milwane Wildlife Sanctuary, our base for the next two nights is Swaziland’s oldest protected area located in the stunning Ezulwini Valley, ‘Valley of Heavens’.

Accommodation : Mlilwane Camp or similar – Twin share tents with shared facilities

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

WIFI : Yes

Optional Activities: Mountain Biking Tour R130 – R155, Horse Riding from R275, Sunset Game Drive R320, Guided Bird Tour R210, Umphakatsi Culture Tour R120, Guided Walk R120

Waking to the sounds of grunting antelope and wild exotic birds, we enjoy breakfast soaking up the natural beauty of our surroundings. A short drive through the sanctuary brings us to the Royal Enclosure where we discover an abundance of history and culture about this monarchy-controlled country. A local Swazi guide walks us through a traditional village explaining many customs and rituals. After leisure time browsing street side markets and trying our hand bartering with crafters, we find our way back to the sanctuary for lunch. This afternoon we recommend you participate in some of the many activities offered in the sanctuary such as horseback trails, game drives, mountain bike riding, and guided walks or just enjoy some rejuvenating time-out sun tanning around the cool swimming pool with a good book. There are over forty species of animals found here including the exotic species such as Honey Badger, Dwarf Mongoose, Aardwolf, Striped Polecat and the more common including Hippo, Ostrich, Kudu, Zebra and Baboon. Enjoy cool sun downers and admiring the view overlooking the hippo pool while our crew prepares a delicious dinner.

Accommodation : Mlilwane Camp or similar – Twin share tents with shared facilities

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

WIFI : Yes

Optional Activities : Mountain Biking Tour R130, Sunset Game Drive R345, Guided Bird Tour R225, Umphakatsi Culture Tour R130

Leaving this amazing sanctuary behind us, we travel south through the Swazi countryside before crossing the border and re-entering South Africa via the KwaZulu-Natal province. We head to the small coastal town of St Lucia, set amongst the wild beaches and a tropical estuary. This afternoon, we join the river cruise on the St. Lucia Lagoon viewing many Hippo pods, lazy crocodiles, and numerous bird species on the sandy banks, or cooling down in the water for a refreshing swim.

After dinner, we have the opportunity to relax in the camps gardens gazing up into the clear southern hemisphere sky, star watching.

Accommodation: Monzi or similar – Twin share tents with shared facilities

Meals Included : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

WIFI : No

Optional Activities : Isimangaliso Night Drive R500, Culture Tour R310, Bicycle Tour R220, Birding/Hiking tour R280

This morning is yours at leisure to explore the town and the numerous shops and markets stalls or simply relax in the campsite’s stunning settings. We leave St Lucia mid-morning and drive through pine forests and sugar cane fields to one of Africa’s largest commercial ports, Durban where our tour ends on arrival.

Accomodation : No

Meals Included : Breakfast

WIFI: Yes

Optional Activities : No

Inclusions & Exclusions

The tour price covers the following services:

Accomodation : Twin share camping in dome tents

Meals : 6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunchs, 6 Dinners

Transportation : Fully equipped safari vehicle, All road tolls and vehicle taxes, All ground transportation

Highlights : Panorama Route, 2 days, Kruger NP, Game Drives

Activities : Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary Royal Enclosure/ Swaziland Village, St Lucia Boat Cruise

What is NOT included in the tour price?

  • Adventure Pass activities
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not stated above
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Tips & gestures
  • Airport transfers
  • Optional activities
  • NB Lunch & Dinner in Livingstone

Tour Style

Adventure Camping Tour

Traveling on an adventure camping tour is great fun, but it can also be challenging! This is a participation tour and your help will be needed in setting up the camp each night and assisting (usually on a rota basis) with the various day-to-day campsite duties, such as shopping, cooking, and keeping the vehicle and camp tidy. But don’t worry it’s not all hard work and it’s a great way to meet the local people and get to know your fellow travelers. Your contribution benefits the success of the tour – most people find the greater their involvement, the greater their enjoyment of the whole trip. Our accommodated tour option travels together with the camping counterpart.

Africa is an adventure destination and travelling here is not always predictable so be prepared to ‘expect the unexpected’ in difficulties or delays which might come our way! However, you’ll soon find that the diversity of the African landscape, the wildlife and the communities we pass on our way, make the sometimes-rough travel and long driving days worthwhile. Come with a sense of adventure and a flexible attitude and you will be sure to enjoy your African adventure across this amazing continent.

Africa provides an ever-changing environment, power failures, water, and fuel shortages, temperature fluctuations, and other uncontrollable/unplanned situations do occur. You will need to remain flexible, understanding, and good-humored. “African time” can be difficult and frustrating for those who are used to a very structured life, so this is something to keep in mind!

What’s Included:

All tour highlights, 2-person dome tents, fully equipped safari vehicles, camping and cooking equipment, mattresses, service of two crew, all road and vehicle taxes, all ground transportation, and meals as indicated.

What’s Not Included:

Adventure Pass activities, visas, travel insurance, flight departure taxes, airport transfers, optional activities, tips, drinks, sleeping bags, and items of personal nature.

Extending Your Tour:

This tour can be extended to travel to Cape Town. Ask your agent for more information

Accommodation

We use 2-person dome tents with fly sheets, sewn-in groundsheets, zip-up insect screens, and foam mattresses. We mainly use campsites, which usually have reasonable wash and shower facilities, electricity points and sometimes even a small shop, bar or swimming pool.

PRE/POST TOUR ACCOMMODATION

This tour departs Pretoria early on Day 1; we strongly recommend therefore that you plan to arrive the day before departure to overcome any jet-lag and acclimatise to Africa. We would be happy to book pre-tour accommodation and transfers for you – please call or email us (or speak to your agent) with your arrival details and accommodation requirements. However please book
early to avoid disappointment and the risk of having to find more expensive (or less convenient) lodgings.

If time allows, we also suggest planning a night or two extra (after your tour) to make the most of Durban and the surrounding area.

See below for a guide to extra accommodation costs. These prices are a guideline only and are subject to change so please check with Travel Talk for current prices.

Transport

24-seater, self-contained, custom-built vehicle with on-board tables, plug sockets, freezer, water tank, library, safety features, and 70-liter individual lockers and 4 x 4 safari vehicles. Travel times indicated are approximate and do not include stops en-route

Game Park Visits

To maximize the quality of game driving and to comply with local authority rulings, some of our National Park visits and game viewing is carried out using services provided by local African ground handlers. As well as enhancing our experience using local guides and smaller vehicles it also allows us to contribute at a ‘grassroots’ level to local economies from which local people benefit.

Travel Advice, Visas & Insurance

The table below indicates the visas required for travel to the countries on this tour but should be treated as a guide only. At least one month prior to travel seek confirmation from embassies or a visa specialist, that these requirements are still current. For UK citizens the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) offers free up-to-date travel info: www.fco.gov.uk.

This information is provided as a guidance, we strongly advise that you check with the consulate or embassy as this information can change. Please note, visa costs can change at any time and with little notice depending on the political climate of the region. It is your responsibility to make sure that all the required travel documents are ready when travelling.

Travel Advice

We are closely monitoring the latest travel updates to Morocco and follow the advice of the UK Foreign Office (FCDO). For the latest travel advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/morocco

We recommend all travellers to check their Government National Travel Advisory prior to their departure:

Australia – https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/

Canada – https://travel.gc.ca/

New Zealand – https://www.safetravel.govt.nz/

USA – https://travel.state.gov/

Travel Insurance

All passengers travelling with Travel Talk are required to have personal travel insurance before participating in any of our tours. Your guide will collect your travel insurance details on the first day of your trip. It is your responsibility to make sure you have an adequate and suitable travel insurance for you in place, you may read more at https://www.traveltalktours.com/travel-insurance

Health & Safety

The health and safety of our passengers, staff and communities visited is of utmost priority. As we monitor and comply with the official advice from the UK Foreign Office, as well as World Health Organization and government authorities regularly, we have implemented several policies and precautions on our tours for your wellbeing. You may find our Safe Travels Protocols at https://www.traveltalktours.com/safe-travels

Travel Talk Adventures has received the Safe Travels stamp by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which allows travellers to recognise companies around the world that have adopted health and hygiene global standardised protocols – so consumers canexperience ‘Safe Travels’.

Please make sure to regularly check your Government’s travel advice before travelling and be well-informed of any requirements. Your tour guide will also notify you of the regulations and protocols to follow throughout your trip with us.

Please note that if any traveller is unable to complete the itinerary or possess a potential risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to remove them from all or part of a trip.

Please consult with your doctor for the latest medical travel information and any vaccinations you may need. We recommend that you bring any personal medical requirements and medications with you as these may be difficult to obtain while on tour.

VACCINATIONS

The table below indicates the vaccinations suggested for travel on this tour but should be treated as a guide only. You should seek professional medical advice from your GP or clinic at least six weeks prior to departure. Please note some areas visited are malarial. We recommend you speak to your doctor or travel clinic about appropriate anti-malarial tablets.

C = Compulsory, R = Recommended, * = If travelling from infected countries a certificate of proof may be required. NB: To be used as a guide only.

Please see your GP or travel clinic for up-to-date medical advice. Alternatively, contact TravelTalk for any queries or advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Weather

The best time to visit Africa is from September to December, when the dry and warm weather across the continent offers the ideal conditions for safari trips in the southwest, sightseeing in the Cape region, and adventures in East Africa. 

It is also the best time for game viewing in the wilderness areas stretching from west to east. Southern Africa’s majestic animal migrations take place during these months, creating fascinating views of wildlife for the best photographic experience. 

Your chances of witnessing animal births are high, especially in Southern Africa’s national parks. Trips to Africa from September to December have a lot to offer if you wish to witness the incredible wildlife diversity and the intriguing local life.

Check out our weather guide for the best time to visit Africa.

Money Matters

PERSONAL EXPENSES

Naturally, you will require extra money for your own personal spending on the tour, for Activities and Excursions, snacks, drinks, souvenirs, tips, and items of a personal nature. Everybody has different spending habits but as a guideline, we suggest you budget US$15-30 per day. Most spending will be in US$ cash and South Africa Rand (for incidental expenses along the way, optional activities, most additional accommodation before/after the trip) but it’s a good idea to bring along some extra US$ cash for any international airport taxes or visas.

Spending money is best carried as cash in either US dollars(US Dollars in clean, un-torn, post 2008 edition notes), South African Rand, Sterling or Euro which can be exchanged on arrival and as you travel. Your guide will give general guidance
about spending during the tour.

Currencies are as follows: South Africa – South African Rand, Swaziland – Swazi lilangeni

ATM machines are found in South Africa. Please note they are sometimes unreliable (and therefore should not be relied upon).

Credit cards can be used to pay for larger optional activities although there may be a fee for their use.

TIPPING

As in many areas where tourism is an important contributor to the economy it has become customary to offer a small gratuity to local staff at the end of the tour if service has been of a high standard. Naturally, this always remains at your discretion.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EXCURSIONS

To give you maximum flexibility on the tour we offer a number of optional activities on the tour. To help budget, approximate prices are listed below in US$ unless otherwise stated. All prices are subject to change and availability.

Essentials to Bring & Internet

-Face mask/cover and hand sanitiser enough for your personal use throughout the trip – See more at https://www.traveltalktours.com/safe-travels/

-Travel Documents: Passport, Visa (if required), flight or transport ticket (and photocopies)

-Travel Talk Tour Voucher (printed or digital)Travel Insurance Policy (and photocopy)

-Personal medical kit and medicine

-Money (cash, credit card, travellers’ cheques)

-Power Adapter

-Reusable water bottle

-Ear plugs and eye mask

-Sun protection – hat, sunglasses, sunscreen

-Comfortable, closed walking shoes

-Wind/water proof jacket

-Warm clothes, hat, and gloves for cold weather

-Sandals, swimwear, shorts for warm weather

Solo Travellers

We have many solo travellers joining our tours. Solo travellers will be roomed with another traveller of the same gender. If you would like a private solo room, please contact us. You may see out solo travels page for more details.

Rules to Follow

We are committed to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. We do not tolerate any form of violence (physical or verbal), bullying or harassment involving customers, partners, Travel Talk staff or locals. Sexual relationships between a tour leader and a passenger are forbidden.

We will not tolerate any illegal activity, including but not limited to: use and possession of illegal drugs, trespassing, and disrupting public order. If you consume alcohol, please ensure that you drink responsibly and follow the local laws and regulations.

You must follow the advice of your tour leader and local officials regarding health and safety measures. We operate all tours under Safe Travels protocols for the wellbeing of our passengers, staff and communities visited. Please ensure that you have read the https://www.traveltalktours.com/safe-travels/ and are fully prepared for your trip.

If someone is acting inappropriately regarding these matters, please notify your tour leader immediately or contact us on the emergency contact number provided below.

Your tour leader has the right to remove from the group anyone not abiding by these rules, with no right of compensation or refund. See more at https://www.traveltalktours.com/booking-terms/

Please remember that our travellers come from different parts of the world and will have various needs and preferences. Be understanding and patient with your fellow travellers, and always strive to be on time.

Responsible Travel

We strongly believe that you get the most out of a journey by respecting the culture and people of the places you visit. On our tours, we try to travel in a way that benefits the communities we pass through and minimizes the negative impact on the environment. This can be from ensuring the campsites and accommodation we use are clean when we leave and dressing respectfully in conservative areas to getting involved with local charity projects. We ask that you are open to this when you travel with us. Being proactive in responsible travel helps develop cross-cultural understanding and friendships with the local people and will greatly enhance your experience in Africa.

Read more at https://www.traveltalktours.com/responsible-travel/

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+44 20 809 995 96
[email protected]

Monday - Friday: 09:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
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