South Africa & eSwatini Hiking Safari: 14-Day Adventure

A comprehensive introduction to the northern part of South Africa:
Game viewing and landscapes!

An exciting trip with culture, wilderness, adventure, hiking and mountains:
Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Zululand and the Drakensberg Mountains.

Why travel with Sunway Safaris?

• Small groups: Small travel groups of up to 12 participants make it possible to experience Africa and experience this wonderful continent and its people. This is the key to our success. Our trips appeal to all ages. Our guests range in age from 25 to 65+, with an average of 45 years. The diversity of participants each contributes to a special safari experience.
• 2 Sunway Expedition Leaders: Group tour guides are the key to any safari. On a Sunway safari, you will travel with 2 qualified and registered Field Guides (Field Guides Association of SA). Two guides as a crew, not one guide and one driver, means interesting trips with a maximum of knowledge and information. Our tour guides are passionate about Africa, its people, and wildlife, and they love nothing more than sharing their knowledge with you.
• Guaranteed departures: Departures in “bold” are guaranteed departures. All other departures are guaranteed for a minimum of 4 people.
• Package price: When we travel ourselves, we always think that we should find the best in a country and see what it has to offer. When planning Sunway routes, we make sure that every trip offers the best content and experiences. All entrance fees are included in the price, as is a wide range of activities and most meals. Many highlights are built into our tours, so you can see and experience the highlights without having to pay extra on site.
• Safety: Our fleet of vehicles is custom-built to ensure comfortable and safe travel. Each vehicle is built by an authorized vehicle manufacturer in accordance with the latest safety requirements and has a safety shell and a lap belt. This gives you peace of mind when you travel on the often demanding African roads with Sunway Safaris.
• Good2Go: Our commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism is reflected in our environmentally friendly travel style, where we only take photos and leave only footprints.
• Solo travelers: Traveling alone won't be a further drain on your wallet as reservations staff will accommodate you of the same gender in a room to make the trip more affordable. However, you can book a single room or tent for a small additional charge.
• Experience: We have more than 31 years of experience planning trips across southern Africa. That's why we've spent many years perfecting our itineraries to ensure that your trip runs smoothly.

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age limit:

• On all scheduled tours, we accept children aged 12-17 accompanied by an adult.
• We don't have an upper age limit. Guests who are over 65 years of age at the time of travel need a medical certificate confirming that they are fit and healthy in order to participate in a group trip.
• We have many guests over 65 years of age who are perfectly able to enjoy all aspects of a Sunway tour, both in accommodation and camping. For more information, please contact us.

Hiking levels:

• Easy: 1-3 hours hiking for halfway fit people with rural hiking experience. Includes few unpaved trails. A pleasant morning or afternoon hike. Relatively flat with little difference in altitude (<200m).
• Means: 3-5 hours hiking for halfway fit people with rural hiking experience. Includes some steep and unpaved trails, open terrain, and fast walking. Moderate differences in altitude (200-400m).
• Difficult: 4-6 hours hiking for people with a good fitness level. Includes steep, unpaved trails, open terrain, and a brisk pace. If you have any doubts about your fitness level, talk to your tour operator or local tour guide to assess the difficulty level. Significant differences in altitude (>400m) and/or hiking at altitudes above 2,500m above sea level.

On-site payment:

‍No on-site payment is required for this safari.

Recommended reading:

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Before you travel, you might want to read the following books. These books aren't specific to Sunways' tours, but give a good background and understanding of the countries you'll be traveling to.

• Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela (the autobiography of one of the greatest political leaders of our time).
• Cry the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (the deeply moving story of Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo and his son Absalom. A classic about love and hope, courage and perseverance, and the dignity of a man).
• The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay (the story of a young man in search of the love that binds friends together and the passion that binds lovers together to discover that it only takes one thing to change the world).
• The Covenant by James A. Mitchener (how the best and worst of two continents from a wilderness shape the country that would become South Africa).
• My Traitor's Heart by Rian Malan (Malan, former South African crime reporter, searches for the truth about apartheid).
• When the Lion Feeds by Smith Wilbur (novel set in Natal, South Africa in the 1870s).
• Jock of the Bushveld by J. Percy FitzPatrick (the story of a merchant and his dog, around 1880 around Pilgrim's Rest and Kruger Park area).
• The Steps of the Sun by Joanna Trollope (love story during the Boer War).
• Newman's Birds of Southern Africa by Kenneth Newman.
• Sasol Birds of Southern Africa by Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, and W.R. Tarboton.
• The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, and Primates by Richard D. Estes and Daniel Otte.
• Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa (Field Guides) by Braam Van Wyk, Keith Coates Palgrave and Piet Van Wyk.
  
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shopping:

‍Crafts such as carvings, candles, batiks, wire work, paintings and clothing are among the best in southern Africa in Swaziland and Zululand.

meal:

• We are proud to offer our travelers high-quality, delicious and healthy meals three times a day. Exceptions are stated in the itinerary; then we will try out local restaurants.
• The tour guides take care of shopping and planning meals for the group. They will make every effort to get fresh produce wherever possible. A rough overview:
  • Breakfast: coffee, cereal and/or toast, or occasionally a hot breakfast.
  • Lunch: cheese, sausage, salads on bread or rolls.
  • Dinner: Braais (grilled), potjies (stew), stir-fries, etc. We use normal plates, cups and cutlery. All cooking and eating utensils are also provided.
• Please note that due to the different tastes of our guests, we are unable to accommodate individual meal requests on our group trips. The communal meals we offer depend on the products available, and in remote destinations, the range of ingredients is sometimes limited.
• However, we take allergies and vegetarian and vegan requirements into account to ensure that everyone gets a suitable meal.
• Sunway Safaris offers the following drinks: fruit juices for breakfast and tea or coffee for breakfast and dinner. All other drinks must be purchased by yourself.
• Sunway Safaris does not provide you with bottled drinking water.

Level of difficulty of the trip:

• Anyone who is generally active and in good health should enjoy this trip.
• A combination of simple accommodation makes for a comfortable tour.
• Full program with a few long trips, but also lots of outdoor exercise.
• Everyone is asked to help carry out the tour. In other words, if everyone spends a little time to help, the tour will go smoothly and everyone will have a good time. Participating is the be-all and end-all.

What you should know:

• All entrance fees to national parks are included.
• You need a valid passport and visa to enter South Africa, eSwatini (Swaziland) and re-enter South Africa. You can find a detailed list of visa requirements in the travel file or contact your travel agent or Sunway Safaris.
• Luggage: Please pack up to a limit of 12 kg in a soft sports bag. Also bring a daypack for hiking and vehicle storage. At the Accommodation & Classic Tours safari level, all bedding is provided and you don't need to bring a sleeping bag or pillow. Towels are provided in most accommodations, but it's always a good idea to bring a small travel towel for the beach or pool.
• We recommend that you bring a small amount of South African rand for personal expenses on this trip. Please note that all foreign currencies must be converted into South African Rands (ZAR) as shops, restaurants and market sellers only accept ZAR in South Africa (and eSwatini). Mastercard and Visa credit cards can also be used for restaurants, shops, and optional activities throughout the tour. See the Sunway tour dossier for approximate costs for drinks, meals, etc.

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Frequently asked questions about this tour:

1. Can I buy memory cards for my camera?
   Memory cards and other photo accessories are available from time to time during the tour. We recommend a camera with a wide-angle zoom lens to telephoto lens (35-200mm) for landscape and animal photography. Every vehicle is equipped with a 12/24 V cigarette lighter — but you shouldn't rely on being able to charge your batteries there. We recommend bringing a second battery. You can also always charge your camera in the accommodation (South Africa 220 V).
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2. safety?
   South Africa — like many other countries — has certain challenges. Your tour guide will make every effort to show you the best sides of the country while being diligent about your safety. Be observant but not paranoid — then nothing stands in the way of a great and memorable safari.
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3. Do I need malaria prophylaxis?
   There is a limited risk of malaria in Mpumalanga, Swaziland and Zululand (i.e. the first week of this tour). Please contact your doctor if you are unsure.
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4. What should I bring with me?
   All details are in our general tour information (available at www.sunway-safaris.com) listed. But the basic things are:

• Comfortable clothes for warm days and cold nights.
• hiking boots, rain jacket, hat and sunglasses.
• Swimwear and a small pair of binoculars, which are also handy for watching wildlife.
• A dash of adventurous spirit!

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