6 - 12 guests
Activity Level 2
On the Move
Sure, I own some hiking boots, they're even worn in, but they don't go on long trips. I like my creature comforts and I like to give a range of activities a go.
Read more about the Active Range
Price
USD $7999/per adult
Next available departure
12 Jun - 21 Jun
Activity Level 1
What's The Rush?
I'm active and in decent shape and not looking to experience a place just through a bus window. I'm happy to slow down on the trail, soak it in and breathe in the fresh air.
Walking: 2-3 hours per day on gentle-gradient trails.
Other activities: On these trips, you'll be taking part in a range of other activities that focus less on building up a sweat and more on enjoying the finer things in life.
Activity Level 2
On the Move
Sure, I own some hiking boots, they're even worn in, but they don't go on long trips. I like my creature comforts and I like to give a range of activities a go.
Walking: 2-4 hours per day on gentle to moderate gradient trails. No multi-day hikes.
Biking: 1-3 hours, cruisy rides achievable by anyone, even first-timers. Kayaking: 1-3 hours, entry-level sea kayaking with specialist guides and stable boats.
Other activities (i.e. snorkeling): Always optional and very little exertion required. A highlight for many!
Activity Level 3
Earn Your Lunch
I stay active on vacation and love the feeling of relaxing after a busy day on the go. I season my trips with a little fresh exercise.
Hiking: Typically, 3-6 hours per day on well-formed backcountry trails. Expect some significant gradient inclines and declines.
Altitude: Your trip may include some moderate altitude areas, though these don't form the focus of the trip and are generally manageable.
Biking: 1-3 hours on well-formed paths or roads where you can expect some hills with moderate climbs and descents.
Kayaking: 1-3 hours, entry-level sea kayaking with specialist guides and stable boats.
Other activities (i.e. caving): Always optional and very little exertion required. A highlight for many!
Activity Level 4
Challenge Accepted
I'll let my trusty guides sweat the small things, so I can focus on my goal. Getting to the top, reaching the end, achieving my dreams! Sure, it'll be tough, but the views will be worth it.
Hiking / Trekking: Typically, 4–6-hour hikes with options for more, sometimes with limited or no vehicle support and nearly always with ascents and descents.
Altitude: Some trips at this level will reach a significant altitude. We are here to help you manage that and make your experience one to cherish for a lifetime.
Biking & Kayaking: If one, or both, of these activities are 'your thing,' there are trip options in this range, allowing you to be on two wheels or with a paddle in your hand for most of the day.
Activity Level 5
The Upper Limit
I'm ready to put in the hard work to reap the rewards. I'm a seasoned adventurer, not afraid to get my boots wet.
Trekking & Altitude: This is classic trekking, at altitude. Some might even call it 'expedition-style.' We've had folks from all walks of life achieve their dreams on our grade 5 trips, so if you're in for a challenge get in touch to find out if this is for you.
Follow the steps of the Big 5 on our Kruger National Park safari adventure Johannesburg to Cape Town. This trip is the perfect way to immerse yourself into Africa’s wilderness and bring you a breath away from an impressive array of wildlife. You’ll track the steps of the Big 5 in the Greater Kruger National Park with expert safari guides and enjoy a mix of remote safari camps and lodges around the renowned national park of South Africa.
This trip is operated by Active Adventures.
Day 1
Your trip leader will welcome you early in the morning in the international arrivals hall of Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. After gathering with the rest of your group, we’ll make our way northeast via the Panorama Route, a scenic route steeped in natural beauty and history. While traveling through Mpumalanga province, we’ll stop along the way to explore places like Lisbon Falls, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels, Graskop Gorge Lift and Forest, with lunch at The Lift Café at Graskop. We’ll arrive in the late afternoon at Blyde River Canyon Lodge, your accommodation for the next two nights. Located alongside the sparkling waters of the Blyde River and the Drakensberg Mountains,the lodge sits on an 85-hectare botanical reserve and will be our base while we explore the area tomorrow.
Blyde River Canyon Lodge (Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2
Blyde River Canyon reveals profound evidence of some of the earth’s most significant events that took place more than 200 million years ago. Named by the Voortrekkers in 1844, the Blyde River Canyon is the largest green canyon in the world, spanning more than 26 kilometers and reaching depths more than 800 meters. Today you’ll embark on a half-day hike into the Blyde River Canyon from below the majestic Drakensberg Mountains, starting with a 30-minute transfer to the Cape Vulture Conservancy. The 1,800-hectacre conservancy has a wide variety of plains game, stunning flora, impressive rock formations, and a dazzling array of birdlife – including 650 breeding pairs of Cape Vultures. The hike concludes with a harvest table lunch set in a private garden with views of the mountains and the citrus fruits growing all around. After indulging in an array of breads, cheeses, meats, fresh fruits, a variety of salads and dessert, you’ll return to your accommodation.
Blyde River Canyon Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 10 kilometers (6 miles), 3 hours
Day 3
Enjoy a relaxing morning before heading to the Makalali Private Game Reserve, where our Lodge for the next three nights is located. Makalali Private Game Lodge is situated on a 26 000 hectare conservancy in the Hoedspruit region, west of the famous Kruger National Park. The Makalali Private Game Reserve is a 25,000-hectacre private game reserve in the triangle between Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa and Tzaneen. With no fences between the national park and the private game reserves, wildlife is able to roam freely. The reserve is prime “Big 5” territory, with previously extirpated species including lion, elephant, rhino, hippo, cheetah, hyena and disease-free buffalo, being reintroduced. Makalali makes a great safari destination for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and bird watchers alike. After a preview of what’s to come in the days ahead, we’ll head back to freshen up before dinner and enjoy a sundowner with some good company around the fire pit. Rest up tonight – your first full day of game driving is tomorrow!
Makalali Private Game Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4
Start your morning at sunrise with a refreshing cup of coffee and light snack before setting off on our first full-day game drive. Today’s game drive takes us through the Makalali Private Game Reserve in search of the Big 5 and all the other animals who call the area home. Our knowledgeable local guides are experts at deciding which areas of the wilderness to focus our attention on and at which times of the day – all with the utmost safety in mind. Return to the lodge for breakfast, followed by a few hours of free time. We’ll regroup for a late lunch before heading back out for another 3-hour game drive, extending into the early evening – a great time to see some of the big cats that start to prowl at night. A traditional dinner await you afterwards, before you fall asleep under the stars.
Makalali Private Game Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5
Another full day of game driving awaits us today! Your guides may head back to areas where you may have encountered animals yesterday, or you may explore new areas. The day will run similarly to yesterday, with an early start, coffee, and a light snack before heading out to look for the early risers. Lions are most active in the early morning and at sunset, as they rest for up to 20 hours per day! You’ll head back to the lodge for breakfast, leisurely midday relaxation time, and lunch before heading back out to explore the area one last time. We’ll have a stop for sundowners and some snacks before heading back to the lodge for a hot shower, and our final delicious dinner together before we head to the city tomorrow!
Makalali Private Game Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6
After an early breakfast at Honeyguide Khoka Moya Camp, it will be time to say farewell to the savannah and transfer to Hoedspruit Airport for your flight to Cape Town. Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your hotel, and the afternoon is yours to explore as you wish. Tomorrow starts with a tour of the city, so you can choose to just take it easy this afternoon in a cafe or at your hotel, before re-grouping for dinner at Bilboa Restaurant. Tomorrow you’ll get to know South Africa’s legislative capital city - a little known fact is that South Africa has three capital cities, the other two being the administrative and judicial capital cities.
The Cape Milner Hotel, Cape Town (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 7
Today you’ll embark on a walking tour highlighting the dramatic history of Cape Town. You’ll visit the bustling streets of the city, old buildings and squares, and learn about the story of Dutch and British rule, slavery and apartheid, freedom and democracy. Highlights of the tour include the Greenmarket Square, Adderley Street and flower sellers, Grand Parade, City Hall and Castle of Hood Hope, the story of District Six and Bo-Kaap (Malay Quarter), Slavery precinct (Slave Lodge, Slave Tree Site, Church Square), and Company’s Garden (Parliament, Tuynhuys, St George’s Cathedral). You’ll enjoy a relaxed lunch by the waterfront before heading for Table Mountain, where you’ll have the chance to ascend either by cable car or on a guided hike offering brilliant views over Cape Town to Camps Bay and the 12 Apostles. If you’re not out of breath by then, you’ll have the option to continue to the highest point before coming down by cable car, enjoying 360-degree views on the way. This day will conclude with a gourmet dinner at GOLD Restaurant. This 14-course set menu is a ‘taste safari’ that will transport you from Table Mountain to Timbuktu. The culinary experience is accompanied by interactive traditional entertainment.
The Cape Milner Hotel, Cape Town (Breakfast, Lunch)
Hiking: 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles), 2-4 hours, elevation + 800 meters (2625 feet), down via cable car
Day 8
After breakfast, we’ll drive two hours to Franschhoek, where you’ll set off on a leisurely cycling tour. This picture-perfect town was founded by the French Huguenots in the late 1600s and still retains its French charm in its café-lined streets and boutique atmosphere, with plenty of art galleries, cheese factories, and wine estates. Surrounded by the dramatic Groot Drakenstein Mountains, it is home to internationally acclaimed wines from nearby estates such as La Motte, Moreson, and Graham Beck. This cycling tour will have you exploring the scenic back roads of the winelands while indulging in a bit of wine tasting. After some refreshing time at the hotel pool, you’ll head back to town for a group dinner at Rueben’s, an exquisite glass-fronted eatery with a sophisticated dining offering. Franschhoek is a culinary capital in South Africa, boasting numerous award-winning restaurants. Enjoy finding out why over tonight’s dinner.
The Cape Milner Hotel, Cape Town (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Biking: 2-3 hours, leisurely
Day 9
This morning you’ll head to Stellenbosch to walk the town on a half day ‘foodie tour,’ exploring all the famous cafes, art galleries, historical sites and other delights that make this town so special. In addition to its international wine reputation, Stellenbosch is also home to curated, public art exhibitions. During our leisurely walk you’ll get an insider’s perspective with an expert guide, savoring the handiwork of both passionate food artisans and celebrated artists in the outdoor art exhibition. Here you’ll indulge in an award-winning gin experience with light snacks, sample fine Stellenbosch craft beers with flavorful bites, enjoy local produce served with artisan bread, and sip a liquid ‘dessert’ at an innovative coffee laboratory. We’ll return to Franschhoek, and the afternoon is yours to explore. Our last dinner together tonight will be at Grande Provence Restaurant, situated on one of the most beautiful heritage estates in Franschhoek.
Protea Hotel Franschhoek (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hiking: 2 kilometers (1.6 miles), 2-3 hours
Day 10
Sadly, our last day is already here, so following breakfast you will be transferred to Cape Town International Airport to say farewell to your travel companions and your trip leader. You’ll go home with your mind full of amazing safari stories to tell, and probably hundreds of incredible pictures to share.
No Accommodation (Breakfast)
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By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable.
We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.
T+Cs Apply.
You’ll be inspired and exhilarated, enjoying mind-blowing scenery on foot, in a sea kayak, or by bike - all at your own pace. Get ready for the trip of a lifetime.
We're proud of our Kiwi roots and you’ll love our professional, warm and relaxed style of hosting. Plus, we’re always here to help with planning, travel, bookings... even hiking boot recommendations!
As soon as your trip starts, we've got everything covered – top notch meals, comfortable transport, superb accommodation, amazing guides and INCREDIBLE service.
With our small groups of typically no more than 14 (up to 18 max), you'll get to know our team, your fellow travellers, and have the flexibility and freedom to do as much (or as little!) as you like. It’s all about going at your own pace.
All our carefully selected guides are highly experienced and have deep personal connections to nature and culture. You’ll enjoy a special experience, authentic local knowledge and an adventure like no other.
We could hang around all day telling you how wonderful our trips are... but the best people to hear it from are our guests themselves.
