After your arrival at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, you pick up your 4x4 rental car and travel via Pretoria and Polokwane to the beautiful region of Mpumalanga
After breakfast, enjoy the scenic Panorama Route of mountains, forests and waterfalls via Graskop to the old gold diggers’ town of Pilgrim’s Rest, before visiting the God’s Window view sites. From there you head for the Bourke’s Luck Pot Holes with their strangely eroded rocks at the confluence of the Blyde and Treur Rivers. Next stop is the amazing view site of the Blyde River Canyon, which is especially impressive because unlike the other great canyons of the world it is forested. You then leave the high mountains via the scenic drive through the Strijdom tunnel and down to the “Lowfeld” at the bottom of the impressive escarpment.
After breakfast you continue and enter the famous Kruger National Park. You have the rest of the day to explore the natural wildlife experience in the Kruger National Park in search of the Big 5 or whatever else you fancy. There are cafeteria facilities in the National Park Camp where you overnight, however no meals are included in your accommodation costs.
Again the entire day is spent game viewing from your rental car as you head for the Giriyondo border post between the Kruger National Park and Mozambique’s Parque Nacional do Limpopo. The roads can easily be managed with a normal 4x2 vehicle, however on approaching your next overnight, the 4x4 proves useful. You cross over to Mozambique where your tented camp is secluded in a riverine forest overlooking the Machampane River.
Enjoy the day in this unspoilt wilderness between the Limpopo and Oliphant’s Rivers, with its great variety of birds and other wild animals. The Shingwedzi River also flows through this area, with its many vistas onto the Lebombo Mountains. Partaking in Machampane’s Wilderness Hikes on foot, guided by a Game Ranger is highly recommended.
Today you leave the Parque Nacional do Limpopo through the Massinger Gate and head for the coast via Chokwe and Macia to an overnight lodge at the mouth of the mighty Limpopo River. Towards the end of this trip you will spend an hour following a well-marked 4x4 track to reach the lodge.
A full day relaxing on the beach. You have two full days on which you could simply enjoy the beach, or you could optionally participate in one of the activities on offer at the lodge (deep sea fishing, river cruises, snorkelling, quad biking, canoeing, whale watching in season, or just relax at the pool etc.)
Continue to the Mozambique capital of Maputo, a typical African city, however with Portuguese flair. Use the afternoon to visit some of the city’s interesting sights!
OPTIONAL:
A very worthwhile extension to this tour is a visit to Machangulu Beach Lodge on the Elephant reserve Peninsular, opposite Inhaca Island. There are 2 ways of reaching the lodge:
a)An easy 1 ½ hour boat transfer direct from Maputo to the lodge across Maputo Bay (safe parking available)
b)A 6 hour 4 x 4 trip around the Machangulo Peninsular, through the Elephant Reserve, though this route is not recommended for single vehicle travellers – best 2 vehicles together with spare fuel tanks. This would be the following morning.
It is recommended you read the information on 4x4 routes contained in the East3Route document to fully understand the possibilities of this region
Depart Maputo taking the ferry over the harbour, and travel the poor dirt road south. At Bela Vista, optionally enter the Elephant Reserve and head north to Machangulo per above. Alternatively continue south and head for Ponta Malongane / Ponta Do Ouro.
After breakfast you depart heading to the South African Border not far away – complete formalities, and then proceed to then Kosi Lakes view spot, and onwards to Tembe Elephant Reserve. Only 4x4 vehicles can self drive in this National Park.
A full day to enjoy the pristine wildlife experience of this unique National Park. Tembe is famous for being one, of only two National Parks in Africa, that is home to the largest Tuskers. Regrettably largely shot out by trophy hunters in the past centuries, Elephant genes of those with massive tusks have largely died out. Together with the Tsavo reserve in Kenia, Tembe is one of the few reserves where these magnificent animals survive and flourish. A visit to the Tembe Hide is highly recommended, as Tuskers can regularly be seen from here, and on your screen via the Tembe webcam!
Today you have the choice of a short 1 hour 4x4 access route – the rest on tar – or a more adventurous 2/3 hour lodge access route along the coast, and through the dune forest. You will need to follow your GPS (loaded with specialised 4x4 track maps by Tracks4Africa), as there are many tracks, if, ultimately. most lead to the same ultimate destination. Upon arriving at Thonga Beach, you will find a secluded coastal lodge amidst the forested dunes close to the beach – with untouched nature for probably 100kms or more in both directions. 4x4 vehicle access only!
Relax and enjoy a superb day at this pristine paradiese of the coastal marine reserve – enjoy the beaches, forests, go snorkelling, diving, or simply just put your feet up and switch off!
Enjoy a day in Durban, and then drop off your vehicle at King Shaka International Airport.
