Your holiday starts at Johannesburg Airport in the morning. Our guide gives us a briefing before we head off on the start of our journey in South Africa. The drive to the Golden Gate National Park is around 5 hours. We stop for lunch in the small town of Clarens. The park is nestled in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains, a secret gem often overlooked by visitors, and includes habitat for various antelope and sandstone cliffs which glow gold in the sun. The most imposing cliff is the Brandwag Rock, which we enjoy walking up (approximately 1 hour to the top) once we have arrived. The sunset from here is magical and is the perfect start to our holiday.
Actual drive time approximately 5 hrs. With stops expect approximately 6hrs journey time.

After breakfast we walk along the Echo Ravine hiking trail. One of the most picturesque short routes in the area we ascend gently into the ravine where the curving cliffs reach 10-15m on each side. It is a pretty walk and a good opportunity to stretch our legs before we set off for the Drakensberg. We transfer slowly stopping at various viewpoints with a chance to see Mountain Zebra, wildebeest and Africa's largest antelope, the Cape Eland. Also we might see the Cape Vultures at Sterkfontein dam. Driving onto our lodge in the Sungubala Valley in the Northern Drakensberg we check in and head out for an afternoon walk on one of the many walking trails which criss-cross this beautiful area. We will choose a suitable walk for the group and the weather, which will be around 4 hours. There are numerous walks available here. We have the next two nights at our accommodation allowing us to relax and enjoy the food and beauty of the surroundings.
Actual drive time approximately 3 hrs. With stops expect approximately 4hrs journey time.

This morning we have a short transfer of 30mins into the Royal Natal National Park. Here we start the famous Tugela Gorge Walk, said to be the finest day walk in the Drakensberg. Our destination is the gorge at the base of the Amphitheatre so we are rewarded by splendid views as we slowly make our way along the relatively flat path. We pass eroded sandstone rocks with names such as the Policeman's Helmet and you can see the Devil's Tooth. Back at the vehicle our return route includes a stop off at a Bushmen painting site which a local guide explains to us. We return to our accommodation in Sungubala.

Making the most of the splendid walking opportunities in this area we step out after breakfast and follow a 2 hour walking trail. We then transfer east to the Cathedral Peak section of the Drakensberg Mountains. After an early lunch at our accommodation we head out for a walk to Doree Falls with an expert guide who will show us some ancient bushmen paintings along the way. It is thought that South Africa has the richest treasure trove of rock art in the world, and our guide will give us a great insight into the San people's lives from thousands of years ago, through these artworks. Our walk will continue through wattle plantations and over some streams to the pretty Doree Falls. The pool here is inviting for a quick dip. The walk will take approx 3 hours total. We then return to our accommodation which is our base for the next two nights.

Actual drive time approximately 1-2 hrs.

We follow the river walking up stream passing high cliffs and patches of natural forest. We pass a series of natural pools which are inviting, but the best is the Marble Baths where the waters have smoothed the rock and carved out some fun water channels. The water coming from the high plateau of Lesotho is however not bath temperature as the name suggests! The Marble Caves are a popular place for wild campers under the rock overhang, however we will retrace our steps to the vehicle and our accommodation for the night.

Leaving the Drakensberg behind we travel south east to the coast. Our first stop today is the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, where in 1962 he was finally arrested. At this museum we learn the story of his journey through life and how he built a new nation. Our drive then continues south through Kokstad and into the old Transkei, now known as the Wild Coast. The countryside becomes more rural as we reach the coast, and the scenery is quite stunning. We arrive at our accommodation just north of Port St Johns in the afternoon. We have our first views of the enormous Indian Ocean and this rugged coast from which its name is derived. The next three nights we stay at an excellently located lodge on the coast.
Actual drive time approximately 8 hrs. With stops expect approximately 10hrs journey time.

The beaches are sandy and pristine, and the coast is rural, rugged and remote. Our full day of walking starts from the accommodation. The first tropical white sandy beach we encounter is Mmzimpunzi and the following beaches are more and more remote to the previous. The path undulates as we make our way to the rocky outcrop of Ilityelentaka - the Rock of the Bird. Weather permitting this is a super spot for our sandwiches overlooking the magnificent Indian Ocean. The return route takes us through the village where we can meet the Pondo Tribe, and see how they live in this remote location. Back at the accommodation we have earned a drink from the bar and we can enjoy the restaurant terrace with fabulous views.

A second fabulous full day walking today. We begin with an exciting 4X4 transfer to the small village of Cutwini. From here we walk to the iconic waterfall which drops straight into the Indian Ocean. We then walk to the Cathedral Rock passing the cliffs which form a huge overhanging cave, called Grotto Cave and crossing the Mlambomkulu River, with its pristine pools. With luck we will see whales and dolphins out to sea. We return back to our vehicle and transfer back to the lodge for our final night soaking in this incredible place.

We can enjoying some time at the pool or a leg stretch through the gardens before we depart these remote lands of this widely unknown part of South Africa and drive north to Durban. The journey does take the majority of the day, and we will stop for some short breaks. We drive to the North of Durban for a final night of the holiday staying at Umdloti beach on the Dolphin Coast. There are 5km of beautiful beaches, which are great for a walk, and dolphins are often seen in the early mornings playing in the waves!

Actual drive time approximately 7 hrs. With stops expect approximately 8hrs journey time.

As our hotel is not far from the airport, depending on flight times we may have some time for a last walk along the beach before our single timed transfer to Durban Airport.