4X4 trip - South Africa and Mozambique

After arrival at Johannesburg airport, pick up your luggage and our South African representative will meet up with you right after customs. They will take you to the rental office, not far from the airport. While at the rental office be sure to check your 4X4 and camping equipment to make sure it's all working properly. After all of the required formalities are finished, you're all set for your 'great adventure'! Be sure to stock up on supplies along the way; the first leg of your 4x4 trip in South Africa will take approximately 5 hours. The scenery will become more hilly and traffic will become sparse. Then in the distance you'll start to see Drakensberg peaks and the impressive Blyde River Canyon. Blyde River Canyon is one of the largest canyons in the world and it features spectacular views of the Three Rondavels and God's Window. You'll set up camp on a campsite at Blydepoort. There is a restaurant, bar and small supermarket located on the premises. 

After breakfast, you'll drive on to the Orpen gate at Kruger Park on your 4x4 trip in South Africa, which will take you approximately an hour. You'll have most of the day to go on game drives in your own rental vehicle. The roads are excellent for driving and you'll see many different types of animals along the way. You can stop the car at various camps in Kruger Park or at the parking spots along the way and take pictures. During your game drive you'll most likely encounter many giraffes, zebras, impalas and wildebeests. If you look very closely, you may even see a lion or another Big 5 animal. Drive over paved and unpaved roads to one of the rest camps in the middle of Kruger Park. Once you've reached the camp you'll set up your tent and fall asleep to the sounds of the wild. 

This entire day on your 4x4 trip is dedicated to exploring South Africa's famous Kruger Park. Go ahead and plan a fun route through the park ahead of time so that you'll be all set to go when you arrive at the park. Naturally you could also decide to book a game drive or a game walk when you arrive at the park. Who knows.... you may even end up eye to eye with a pack of lions or a grazing giraffe. We're sure that this day in Kruger will leave you with some incredible memories to share with those back home. Keep your camera close!

It's best to have all of your shopping done early in the day so that you can enjoy a delicious braai in the evening. You'll spend the night at a campsite in one of the southern rest camps.

Today you'll travel south and leave Kruger Park at the Malelane gate. You'll follow the road towards the Jeppe's Reef border crossing and on into Swaziland (after acquiring another lovely stamp in your passport). You'll drive through Piggs Peak and the capital of Swaziland, Mbabane, onto Mlilwane National Park. Spend the evening at a campsite in this national park. There is a bar, restaurant and swimming pool at the campsite and there's always a campfire roaring in the evening if you're looking to share travel stories or if you want to gaze up at the stars with a nice glass of wine in hand. You may also want to have a look at the beehive huts, the traditional Swazi huts or perhaps you'd like to visit one of the neighbouring Zulu villages before dark. If you're looking for a more active way to spend the day, you could always hike one of the many trails in the area and truly get to know the park.  

At the end of an exciting day on your South Africa 4x4 trip you may want to relax 'hippo-style' at the hippo pool in the park. This is where the hippos come to cool down and have fun. Imagine being able to witness all of this while sitting back with a cool drink in your hand..... it's unreal!

After taking down your roof tent you'll cross back into South Africa on your 4x4 trip, back to a somewhat more inhabited world. Then you'll travel on to the small town of Mkuze and the Mkuze Game Reserve, which lies at the border of St. Lucia Park. There are an incredible amount of unique birds in this area, as well as crocodiles, hippos, elephants and rhinos. Once you've reached the park, sometime in the afternoon, drive down one of the fun 4X4 routes through the southern part of the park. You'll spend the night at the park campsite.

Today you'll be able to explore the park by 4X4 once again, in search of wild animals. Later in the day you'll leave the park and continue on towards Cape Vidal, the coastline behind St. Lucia Park. The coastline is made up of enormous sand dunes that border on the Indian Ocean. It's a great location for swimming, snorkelling and climbing sand dunes (see picture).

You may see some people driving a 4X4 over the dunes, but this is only possible with a special permit. It's best to venture over the dunes by foot. You'll spend the night and morning at the Cape Vidal campsite. Before you take off for Cape Vidal, be sure to stock up on supplies at a supermarket in St Lucia. The supermarket has a broad selection of products and long opening hours.

Today you'll drive further south over quiet, well paved highways towards Durban, where your itinerary ends. You'll reach the Indian Ocean coast effortlessly and before you know it you'll be passing by beach towns and country cottages owned by people in the cities. Eventually, you'll arrive at the beach town of Umhlanga just north of Durban. Durban is a large, hectic and exotic harbour city. It is also the largest harbour in southern Africa and has an interesting city centre with beautiful buildings.

When you get to Durban, you'll head for the airport to return your 4X4 and hop on the plane home. 

However, if you have a little time, you may wish to spend a couple of days relaxing in the beach towns of Umhlanga or Balito, located slightly to the north of Durban. The entire coastline area has a wonderfully relaxed feel to it. It would be a great place to chill out for a couple of days before beginning your journey home. Just ask our travel specialist for more details.