Hiking in South Africa

Airfare is not included in this tour, so you are responsible for arranging your own transportation to and from South Africa. The first day is unscheduled, allowing you to arrive in Johannesburg at your convenience. Upon arrival at Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg), one of our representatives will greet you in the arrivals hall and accompany you to our charming hotel for the night. Here, you will meet the guide and the rest of the group. Conveniently located within walking distance of Sandton City, Johannesburg's largest shopping mall, the hotel provides easy access to any essentials you may need. Dinner arrangements are at your discretion this evening.

Today we drive along the South African country side to the starting point of our mountain adventure. The rolling hills of the Drakensberg with the 3,000 meter high "Amphitheater" in the background are a spectacular sight. We arrive in the early afternoon at our beautifully situated mountain lodge tucked on the border of the Royal Natal National Park. Here we enjoy the beautiful view and prepare for the journey ahead. Tonight we gather as a group for our welcome dinner and go over the program for the next few days with our guide. We divide the luggage between what we need on the trail and what can be carried to the end point of the trip.

After a filling breakfast at our mountain lodge we set off on our hiking adventure. The traverse commences at the Sentinel Massif, starting with a zig-zag trail to gain elevation. Then it is smooth sailing to the chain ladders for a quick ascent to summit the escarpment. The trail continues to the Tugela Falls. We will camp in the Amphitheatre area near the Tugela falls or 1km further at Bilanjil falls, which offers some incredible views of the Tugela Falls. Tonight will be our first night camping under the South African stars.

After a hearty wild mountain breakfast and the breaking up of camp we leave behind the roaring sound of waterfalls to continue down the trail. Today our route takes us into Lesotho towards Icidi where we will walk along the escarpment edge.The route then meets up with the Stimela Ridge before getting to Mbundini Abbey overlooking Madonna and her Worshippers. A beautiful sight to behold. Tonight's camp will be set up here or on the edge of Fangs Pass where we can enjoy the awe inspiring sunset overlooking the distant horizon.

Today the route follows the river past Rwanqa and up the hillside towards the Black and Tan Wall, taking us to the Mnweni Pinnacles, regarded as one of the Drakensberg most popular granite structures. The Mnweni trail then continues behind the Mnweni Cutback and we will come out close to the source of the Orange River. Tonight we camp at 2860m, dark sky's and our remote setting make for ideal star gazing. If there is enough time, we can take a 30-minute stroll from camp to the top of Mweni Pass or the Rockeries Pass for sunset.

Todays hike continues along the river valley, cutting behind the Saddle peaks. Eventually we will make it up to the escarpment edge for a magnificent view over the Cathedral Peak range. This is also the start of the Bell Traverse, which is planned for the last day, conditions and abilities permitting. We’ll set up camp on the top of Mlambonja Pass. Tonight we savor our last night in the back country. Savoring the beauty of our surroundings and the deliciously prepared mountain dinner.

This is our final day on the trail and is full of exciting oppurtunities. At this point most of the group will have developed a good pair of trail legs and ready for the grande finale of the Northern traverse. Depending on the groups fitness and if time allows, we will summit North and South Peak which make up the Mnweni saddle. The Bell Traverse is arguably one of the highlights of the trek, with surprises around every corner as the path takes you along the Mitre, the Chessmen, the Inner and outer Horns, around the Bell and then, the challenging Bugger’s Gully. After spending about 4 hours on this traverse we will come out near the base of Cathedral Peak with the option of summiting this peak. The final part of the Northern Traverse is a relatively easy 8 km, taking the group down Orange Peal Gap and onwards to Cathedral Peak Hotel, where a well earned dinner, cold beers and hot shower await!

We start our day well-rested and relaxed with breakfast at the hotel, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings and beautiful views. Now we turn our travels east and travel across the South African landscape to reach the Nambiti Game Reserve. The Safari Lodge, located in the heart of the reserve, will be our home for the next two nights as we immerse ourselves in the mysteries of this wild landscape. In the evening we set out on our first safari to catch a glimpse of the local wildlife.

A typical day in the game reserve starts early in the morning when you go out in an open safari vehicle. The morning sun creates beautiful light and atmosphere in the bush, and there are good chances of seeing animals at this time of day. Afterwards, a healthy and tasty brunch awaits us at the lodge, followed by relaxation by the pool. In the afternoon we go out on safari again. The day ends with dinner under the African starry sky.

We start the day early as we will be traveling across South Africa today. We travel by bus to the coast where we take a short domestic flight from the East to West coast of the country. After a short flight we finally arrive at our port of call, the historic city of Cape Town. A long day, but at the end we'll be standing at the tip of the African continent, pretty cool. Tonight the group is free to explore this astonishingly cosmopolitan city and dine out at one of the many alluring restaurants in the area.

After breakfast, we will transfer from the hotel to the iconic Table Mountain Plateau, which is just outside the city. Here we spend the day on our way to the top of this awe-inspiring peak. We walk the India Venster path which offers the most amazing views of the city and Robben Island, Table Bay, Bloubergstrand, the Twelve Apostles, False Bay and the Cape Peninsula. It literally covers all sides of Table Mountain. After enjoying the view, we return to the upper cable station for descent via cable car. Tonight the group is free again to relax or explore the city on their own.

Today is set aside to explore Cape Town and the surrounding areas. For those who haven't had enough of hills and mountains, a pre-breakfast hike to the top of Lion's Head to watch the sunrise is with a thermos of hot coffee is arranged. The rest of the day is up to you, explore on your own or let us help you arrange an exciting adventure on this last day. There is so much to see and do around Cape Town, here are just a few options for recommendations: Peninsula Day Tour with a visit to the penguins at Boulders Beach, and to Cape Point in the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, a visit to historic Robben Island or try The Constantia Wine Route. Tonight the group will all meet together for our last farewell dinner together.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to South Africa and all the new friends we have made along the way. Participants then have the freedom to organize their onward journeys, whether it is on the way to the airport and home or going to yet another exotic destination. You can be sure we have plenty of suggestions to get you inspired!