13 Day Cradle of Humankind & Northern Safari

Day notes

Be welcomed by your guide at your time of choice, preferably in the morning. Pick up can either be directly from the airport (O.R. Tambo International) or from your place of choice in Johannesburg.

Beginning our tour around Johannesburg, we spend the first day visiting the many fascinating cultural aspects of the City of Gold. We head off to the south western areas, where both a tour of the Soweto township and a visit to the Apartheid museum start the contrast of cultures in the economic beating heart of RSA.

In the evening, transfer across to Maropeng, the Cradle of Humankind, to check into your lovely boutique hotel and relax. Dinner will be enjoyed at the hotel at leisure.

Day notes

Today you experience the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the Cradle of Humankind, where a large number of remains of our early human ancestors have been repeatedly found, and the story of our origins over the past few million years, are told in spectacular glory. We take a look at both the Maropeng precinct and the Sterkfontein caves. This after enjoying a buffet breakfast at your hotel.

Enjoy the late afternoon at leisure. Optional activities such as the Lion & Safari Park, or Lesedi Cultural Village are possible.

Day notes

We continue our journey North, as we drive to the border of Zimbabwe, where we find remnants of the Great Zimbabwe Kingdom from a thousand years ago. Set in a pristine National Park, we spend a few days learning of this fascinating culture and searching for wildlife.

Packing up and enjoying an early breakfast at Maropeng Boutique Hotel, we head off northwards along what is known as the Ivory Road. Leaving the bustling cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria, we travel into the wilderness, stopping over for lunch somewhere along the way. We also stop for provisions in a nearby town, before travelling the final leg to Mapungubwe National Park.

Arrive and enjoy a short game drive through this incredible landscape, to your camp for the next 3 nights. Check in and relax, with dinner around the fire later.

Spend your mornings and afternoons on safari, searching along the Limpopo River and surrounds for wildlife, as well as a visit to the museum and a guided tour of the heritage site.

Day notes

We leave Mapungubwe National Park to travel onto magical Venda territory, sampling this fascinating landscape, rich in cultural legacy and mysticism. It seems like a different country, and the proud Venda people have many fascinating spiritual sites to explore. This is also the area of various tribes and their long and proud histories, including Modjadji the 'Rain Queen.' We visit a variety of fascinating sites, enjoy a day of easy hiking, and stay close to the Chief in a traditional African Royal homestead.

Day notes

We spend the day up in the Magoebaskloof Mountains, tasting the local craft beer made from the sweet waters which flow pure and clean down the mountain. We enjoy a lunch at the Brewery before spending the afternoon in typical holiday-style, with many options to rest and relax, and some interesting activities (optional) on offer; hiking, walks, swimming in the river, fishing, horse-riding, and more.

Day notes

From here we travel further into the bush for another four nights to end your journey in style, visiting the world-famous Kruger National Park. We take our time exploring the middle and southern sections of the Park, with all of the variety and diversity of landscape and animals that this park offers.

Spend 2 nights in each region, with morning and afternoon safaris at your own time, exploring this unique wilderness. Optional guided bush walks and night drives are possible.

The central region is famed for its open grasslands, sporting herds of plains game and high densities of predators that follow them.

Day notes

The southern region is the most densely packed with diverse landscapes and wildlife, and we explore the lesser-travelled roads searching for wildlife and relaxing at camp in the bush.

Day notes

Waking up early, we enjoy one last long game drive out of Kruger, searching for anything or everything we haven't seen. On the way, we enjoy a hearty breakfast before ending our Kruger Park journey at the gates. From here we transfer back to Johannesburg and your own itinerary or flights home. The journey takes about 4 hours, with stops along the way.