Johannesburg is a dynamic city that has a ill deserved reputation which causes many people to bypass this city and it’s surrounding province of Gauteng. The facts are that Johannesburg boasts an infrastructure and business acumen, which is unrivalled on the African continent. The changes that swept through South Africa had the epicenter in Gauteng and the suburbs of Johannesburg. 60% of Africans GDP is routed through Johannesburg. 70% of all flights to Africa originate and end in Johannesburg and the energy of the city reflects that. There are as many smiles as there is gold and we have the world richest gold deposits. The day begins with a drive down to Pilgrims Rest via Lydenburg and Long Toms Pass, where some of the continent’s first wars of independence were fought, instilling in all South Africans a proud history of resistance. We arrive in Pilgrims Rest in the afternoon and spend the night. Pilgrims Rest is a town that is, in fact, a national monument, recalling heady days of 1880 and our very first gold strikes. It is centrally situated within easy reach of areas like Blyde River Canyon (third deepest canyon in the world) and God’s Window, with scenery as beautiful as it is evocative.

The Kruger National Park is amongst the first proclaimed Game Reserves in the world and is justifiably South Africa’s showpiece, with 147 mammal species that roam in the freedom that this National Park offers. It has a very good infrastructure, although 96% of the land is still as pristine and untouched as it was before the first settlers arrived. The Kruger Park is a world leader in animal and plant research. It offers scenery as diverse as riverine forest, granite outcrops, endless savannah and impenetrable Mopani woodland. The camps in which we overnight are very comfortable, offering a unique experience that does not insulate people from the very things they have come to see. It is still a supreme African wilderness that offers great spaces washed with sun.

As day 02.

Swaziland is unique south of the equator as it is one of the few remaining monarchies. Swaziland has a proud tradition that has kept its culture in the face of modernization. It is a blend of proud culture and interesting traditions in the face of modernization. It is a kingdom of mountain passes and rivers that have been inhabited by the Swazi people since the 18th century. Their stronghold has always been the
Ezulweni Valley - the Valley of Heaven. To drive through and experience this is to be perhaps on the edge of the world and all of the Swazi kings from time immortal have found their final rest amongst the forest and rivers here.

This little known reserve name is derived from a Zulu word meaning ‘the top shelf’. When one enters these valleys and shear rock faces, one cannot be humbled as the Zulu’s themselves were. Ithala is home to both black and white rhino and one is able to approach these animals on a guided walk, while experiencing scenery which to describe as simply spectacular is a gross understatement. Ithala, within a very small area, rises from 400m at the Pongola River to 1500m. The huge oxbow bend in the river under the imposing cliffs and un-spoilt forests make Ithala unique. Days are spent driving or walking in pursuit of rhino, elephant, leopard as well as a tremendous variety of antelope.

As day 05.

Cape Vidal is situated in the unspoilt areas of KwaZulu-Natal’s northern shores. It is part of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a wetland system that has recently been proclaimed a World Heritage Site. Within its boundaries it has South Africa’s largest fresh water lake system, tidal pools that team with life, forested dunes that are amongst the highest in the world as well as a stunning variety of birds. The beaches
are completely unspoilt and untouched, with recent legislation prohibiting vehicles from entering and blemishing these huge tracts of beaches. It is a internationally recognized site for the critically endangered leather-backed turtle. A phenomenon that is unrivaled is the annual migration of sardine fish, followed by dolphins, sharks, barracudas and marlin. The St. Lucia estuary enters the Indian Ocean and contains miles and miles of mangrove swamps. Rhino, elephant, buffalo and cheetah have recently been introduced to this park. The coastal forest that surround it are called the Duku-Duku forest and are one of the only place the very rare Gaboon viper breeds. The enchanting name “Duku-Duku” is said to have come from a Zulu term in which one can literally hear the hear beat in the overwhelming silence.

Umfolozi and Hluhluwe are Africa’s oldest national parks and are, in fact, the ancient hunting ground of the Zulu kings of old. Today no more hunting takes place in these fantastic reserves and our drives take us through valleys and forests and along great rivers that glide slowly to a distant sea. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi, like Kruger Park is a place where a lion’s roar can still be heard reverberating clear across grassland, woodland and vlei. These two reserves and the wardens that work in them are credited with single-handedly saving the black and white rhino from certain extinction. It is a fact that 95% of rhinos on the African continent can be traced to these two parks. The foresight and determination is a reflection of South Africa’s commitment to the preservation of its heritage.

As day 08.

Today we visit the famous battlefields and witness authentic Zulu war dancing. As anyone who has ever watched the film ‘Zulu Dawn’ will know, the battlefields of Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana were the scenes of bloody and hugely significant events in the history of the Zulu nation. We shall visit both sites today. No tour to South Africa can be complete without a visit to our historical sights of Blood River, Rourkes Drift and Isandlwana. These evocative names have imprinted themselves on the psyche of all South Africans. If one is to gain a perspective into the people and history of South Africa. The battle of Blood River was fought on the 16th December 1838 and gave rise to the Afrikaner nationality, which was so perversely twisted under apartheid. There is a monument that reflects the defensive laager of the time as well as a place to reflect on the foundations of Africa’s unique white tribe and their destiny with this continent. Isandlwana is undoubtedly the most haunting of all our battlefields as the many white cairns reflect upon the arrogance of a Victorian empire and the victory of the Zulu people who call themselves ‘the children of the stars’. The hill of Isandlwana stands a silent testimony to the determination and pride of the Zulu people. It was the British Empires costliest humiliation and by manifest destiny by which they presumed to have conquered they were in fact challenged to reflect upon their defeat. Isandlwana is truly haunting in the lessons it taught South Africa of colonialism and the folly of war. Rourkes Drift, a battle made famous in the film Zulu, is known for the awarding of the most VC’s in a single engagement. A battlefield expert will bring these historic events into sharp focus with a mixture of fact folklore and good old story telling.

Tour ends on return to Johannesburg.