South African Hiking and Kruger Safari

South African Hiking and Kruger Safari

South African Hiking and Kruger Safari

Prices

From $2,775USD

Difficulty

Guided

Hotels

Start Your Booking

Highlights

Explore the natural wonders of South Africa by foot

Hike in some of the most beautiful mountains of South Africa, the Drakensberg Range.

Go on game drives in fantastic Kruger National Park, spotting wildlife as the sun sets around you.

See South Africa’s diverse wildlife, including giraffes, zebra, whales, dolphins, monkeys, and more.

Trek to vibrant forests, atop deep valleys, through deep canyons, and along misty trails.

There is no place on earth quite like South Africa. This country is one of the most stunning and diverse on earth, and there is no better way to experience it than on foot. The South African Hiking and Kruger Safari takes you through some of the most pristine hiking landscape in South Africa for a truly unforgettable adventure.

The South African Hiking and Kruger Safari leads you high into the jagged mountains of Drakensberg, where deep valleys and misty forests await. Spot Mozambique on a clear day from atop a 1000m sheer cliff, then meet eyes with baboons while you descend through the trees.

This tour also takes you into the famous Kruger National Park, where you’ll be able to see lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhinos, zebras, and more in their natural habitat. After sunset game drives, you’ll descend deep into the canyons at Hazyview, trekking over suspension bridges in the places where Stone Age humans made their homes. The South African Hiking and Kruger Safari is a one-of-a-kind chance to immerse yourself in South Africa’s most scenic places, so book today!

South African Hiking and Kruger Safari Itinerary

Day 1 Arrival in Johannesburg

Welcome to South Africa! Johannesburg is one of the largest cities in South Africa, and this is where your hiking tour begins. Your guide will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel, where you can spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Johannesburg
Distance
None
Meals
None

Day 2 Central Kruger game drive

After breakfast, you’ve got a longer day of driving ahead. You’ll arrive in Kruger National Park in the afternoon. Kruger is South Africa’s most renowned game reserve, home to lion, cheetah, hyena, elephant, zebra, and more. Once you enter the park, enjoy a game drive on your way to tonight’s rest camp.

Overnight Location
Safari lodge in Kruger National Park
Distance
None
Meals
Breakfast

Day 3 Hiking and game drive in Kruger National Park

Your hiking tour of South Africa kicks off with a morning hike around the Olifants River, led by a local game ranger. Then, you can enjoy breakfast and a siesta before your sunset game drive departs. Enjoy the majesty of Kruger under the setting sun, watching animals emerge and engage in hunt and play.

Overnight Location
Safari lodge in Kruger National Park
Distance
3-4 hours, 12km
Meals
Breakfast

Day 4 Greater Kruger area game drive

Today you’ll head off for another area just outside of the park, enjoying a relaxed game drive to Satara Rest Camp. Enjoy the fever trees and friendly resident birds before heading off to your camp for the night. You’re nearly guaranteed to meet animals along the way, so keep your eyes out the window.

Overnight Location
Safari lodge in Kruger National Park
Distance
None
Meals
Breakfast, dinner

Day 5 Hiking in Greater Kruger National Park

Ready for the first big hike of the trip? You’ll depart from the lodge in the morning and start your hike on the Bushpig Trail, which traverses over the Marleskop Mountains of Eastern Drakensberg. Baboons and bushbuck peek out at you from the forest, and over 2000 plant species can be found as you pass through. Enjoy a picnic lunch, and then a vehicle will pick you up after your hike and take you back to the lodge. Enjoy a cold beer, dinner, and the view before bed.

Overnight Location
Safari lodge near Kruger National Park
Distance
4 hours, 16.8 km
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 Hike in Hazyview

Day 6 of your South African hiking tour takes you to Hazyview, a small farming town surrounded by fruit orchards. Hazyview is an adventurer’s paradise, with mountain biking, quadding, ziplining, tubing, and river rafting all available to you. You’ll eat breakfast on the way to Blyde River Canyon, where a hike over rocky terrain will give you fantastic views into the steep canyon. Then, near Hazyview you’ll hike to Bourke’s Luck Potholes, a collection of swirling whirlpools. Continue on to God’s Window, an area with incredible canyons, waterfalls, and rock formations. This beautiful region is known as Paradise Country, and it’ll be clear to you why it got its name. Once you’ve traversed the sheer cliffs, it’s onwards to the Graskop Gorge Lift. This lift will whisk you down the face of the gorge below, where you can travel across walkways and suspension bridges through the forest. Finally, it’s to the hotel for dinner and an evening of relaxing.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Mpumalanga
Distance
3 hours, 8 km
Meals
Breakfast, dinner

Day 7 Hike in Kaapschehoop and travel to Johannesburg

All too soon, it’s the last full day of your hiking tour in South Africa. Before heading to the hotel in Johannesburg, you’ll have the chance to shop at the Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, which supports local artisans. Lunch will be served in the lovely village of Kaapschehoop, where wild horses roam freely. You’ll head up on the Escarpment Trail to enjoy stunning views over a sheer, 1000m drop into the Barberton Valley below. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Mozambique! Legend has it that ghosts haunt the area, so before too long you’ll hop into the car to head to Johannesburg for the night.

Overnight Location
Hotel in Johannesburg
Distance
1 hour, 4 km
Meals
Breakfast

Day 8 Farewell, South Africa

8 days of unforgettable hiking later, it’s time to leave South Africa. After breakfast at the hotel, your guide will take you to the airport. Safe travels home!

Overnight Location
None
Distance
None
Meals
Breakfast

South African Hiking and Kruger Safari Price and Dates

This guided hiking tour of South Africa is run as a custom tour for you and your group. The pricing depends on how many people are in your group.

Prices below are per person:

  • Guided Groups of 4: from $2,775USD per person

Please note that the pricing might change depending on the availability and the group size

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Accommodation on the South African Hiking and Kruger Safari

This tour is based in 3-star hotels and safari lodges. The hotels offer comfortable rooms with great locations. Rooms are double occupancy, and single travellers will pay a supplement.

In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.

Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement of $195USD to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try and match single travellers up where possible.

The Aviator Hotel in Johannesburg

The Aviator Hotel is a comfortable lodge near the airport in Johannesburg, offering a nice pool and well-equipped rooms.

Olifants Main Camp in Central Kruger

This lodge is situated on a hill overlooking the Olifants River in Kruger National Park, offering fantastic views and plenty of recreation opportunities.

Timbavati Safari Lodge in Kruger Private Reserves

This lodge is only a stone’s throw from the heart of Kruger National Park. The rooms are traditionally decorated, spacious, and comfortable.

Gecko Lodge in Hazyview

Gecko Lodge offers ensuite rooms with beautiful gardens, and is known for its peaceful atmosphere.

The Aviator Hotel in Johannesburg

The Aviator Hotel is a comfortable lodge near the airport in Johannesburg, offering a nice pool and well-equipped rooms.

Hotels on Standard Tour

What’s Included in the South African Hiking and Kruger Safari?

Meals

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 3 dinners are included.

Accommodations

Accommodation for 7 nights is included.

Transportation during the Tour

Personal and luggage transfer to and from the airport is included, as well as transportation during the tour.

Also Included

  • English-speaking registered hiking guide
  • Nature reserve, special attraction, and conservation area entrance fees

Not included

  • Travel insurance
  • Travel to and from Johannesburg
  • Lunches and dinners or drinks and snacks not previously mentioned
  • Tourist taxes if applicable
  • Visas if required
  • Personal equipment

Optional Extras

  • Additional activities and excursions
  • Single room supplements
  • Solo traveller supplements
  • Any additional nights before or after the tour

Frequenty Asked Questions about South African Hiking and Kruger Safari

How hard is the South African Hiking and Kruger Safari?

We rate this tour as a 2 / 5. You will be hiking short to moderate distances on easy terrain, with one longer day that can be shortened.

Do I need a visa to travel to South Africa?

Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.

Are meals included on the South African Hiking and Kruger Safari?

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 3 dinners are included.

Do I need insurance?

Yes, it is mandatory to have Health and Medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.

How do I get to Johannesburg to start this tour?

You can fly directly into OR Tambo International Airport, where you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel.

Is the South African Hiking and Kruger Safari guided?

Yes, you will have an English-speaking guide for the duration of the tour.

Where does the South African Hiking and Kruger Safari end?

The tour ends in Johannesburg, where you will be transferred to the airport.

Are equipment rentals included?

No, please bring any personal equipment desired.

Do I need special vaccines to travel to South Africa?

Check with your family doctor.

Are there any travel restrictions for South Africa?

Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.

When is the best time to travel to South Africa for this tour?

The South African Hiking and Kruger Safari is available from January to the end of October. South Africa experiences very hot summers and occasionally chilly winters, so many travellers enjoy visiting in the late spring or early fall.

Reviews

All tours on 10Adventures are operated by highly vetted local tour operators and guides.

Having local tour operators and guides means you get a more authentic experience, and your booking creates jobs in the local communities you visit.

Details of the local tour operator will be listed on your booking invoice. If you have questions about the local operator prior to booking, please click the “Ask a Question” button below.

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58 total ratings, 0 with reviews

Prices

From $2,775USD

Difficulty

Guided

Hotels

Start Your Booking

What travellers say

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Rated 4.9 on Google Reviews

Tour Difficulty

We rate this tour as a 2 / 5. You will be hiking short to moderate distances on easy terrain, with one longer day that can be shortened.


Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.

Local guide

Machiel Breedt

South Africa, Namibia, Botswana

Get in touch

+1 (587) 327-9828

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