Current as of: April 16, 2024 - 21:51
Southern Africa Safari: Kruger & Coast Trip Notes
- Ways to Travel: Guided Group
- Destination: Mozambique, South Africa
- Programmes: Wildlife
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Activity Level:
1 out of 7 - Leisurely
- 11 Days: Land Only
- Ages: 16+
- Trip Code: WZJ
Trip Overview
Cross South Africa and Mozambique in search of incredible wildlife
Combine two great wildlife-watching destinations on an adventure that goes beyond your average safari vacation. In South Africa, we scour Kruger and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi for lions, elephants, rhinos and more on multiple game drives and walks, while also cruising the hippo and croc-filled waters of Lake St Lucia. In Mozambique, we head into the Indian Ocean for a classic bucket-list moment: swimming with dolphins. Our animal-watching excursions will be illuminated by expert guides, who have a deep knowledge of the local wildlife and a keen eye for picking out those harder-to-spot creatures.
At a Glance
- Two nights in a permanent tented camp, five nights in lodges and three nights in chalets
- Travel by private minibus, 4×4 safari vehicle and boat
Highlights
- Safari in Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
- Swim with dolphins off the Mozambique coast
- Observe hippos and crocodiles on a Lake St Lucia boat cruise
- Enjoy time at the beach from the Dolphin Coast to Ponta do Ouro
- Visit Blyde River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world
Is This Trip for You?
This trip is graded Activity Level 1 (Leisurely) with a Wildlife Rating of Five. Visit our Activity Level Guidelines page for more on our trip gradings or our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife Ratings.
This 11-day tour connects some of the best wildlife-watching destinations in the region but, considering this is Africa, journey times between destinations are relatively short. The longest drive is approximately five hours (not including stops) but the rest are less than four hours unless there is a game drive. The drives between destinations are completed in a comfortable minibus while the game drives are in open-sided safari vehicles. Please note, drives in and out of Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park will mostly be in the minibus but our other drives will be in the safari vehicles. The game drives in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park may be with other guests at the camp who aren’t members of our group.
The swimming with dolphins excursion is in open water, which can be choppy at times. It is optional and you should have a moderate level of fitness and be a confident swimmer if you would like to take part. If you do not wish to swim, you can stay on the boat and look for dolphins from there. We launch the boat from the beach so boarding may be difficult if you have limited agility.
There is limited walking on this trip. The longest will be a two-hour game walk over relatively flat terrain, but the ground can be uneven, and vegetation will have to be navigated.
Legal note: All group members joining this tour will be asked to sign an indemnity form at the start of the trip. This indemnity form is a requirement of the South African Tourism Service Association, of which our local supplier is a member. As a client of Exodus Travels Ltd, your rights under the Package Travel Regulations (1992) are unaffected, and Exodus remains liable for the actions of our sub-contractors.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 15
Itinerary
Land Only
- Start City: Dolphin Coast
- End City: Johannesburg
Land Only Itinerary
Depart London
Depart London.
Start Dolphin Coast
Welcome to South Africa, our tour begins on the Dolphin Coast. Depending on your arrival time there is the option of spending the day at the beach or relaxing at our accommodation. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening to discuss the adventures to come.
Accommodation: Dolphin Coast Lodge (or similar)
iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Cape Vidal Beach
This morning, we head to Lake St Lucia, a Unesco World Heritage site, in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The uniqueness of the park lies in a remarkable combination of estuarine lakes, subtropical coastline, forests and wildlife. On arrival, we drive into the park and picnic at Mission Rocks, where there is an excellent chance of seeing turtles. We then explore the park, looking for buffalos and rhinos on our way to Cape Vidal Beach. We drive to St Lucia in the late afternoon.
Accommodation: St Lucia Luxury Tented Village (or similar)
Lake St Lucia boat cruise; drive to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Starting early, we have a two-hour boat cruise on Lake St Lucia, known for its large hippo population. We may also spot crocodiles and fish eagles. After breakfast at our accommodation, we have a short drive inland to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa. We drive through the park in our tour vehicle (our first chance to spot the incredible animals here) until we reach camp. We have some time to relax in the afternoon and then in the evening we head out in safari vehicles with a park ranger where have a good chance of seeing white and black rhinos along with plenty of key species: lions, elephants, buffalos and leopards. Back at camp, we enjoy our first braai (South African barbecue) of the holiday.
Accommodation: Mpila Camp (or similar)
Game walk and game drive in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
We begin with an early morning game walk with a park ranger. The walk is limited to eight people so for larger groups we split into two, with one group walking today and the other group tomorrow. The group not joining will go on a game drive in one of the camp’s safari vehicles. We return to camp for breakfast and then have most of the day to relax or go on an additional game drive in the tour vehicle. In the late afternoon, we head out in the camp safari vehicles again in search of the park wildlife, including lions, rhinos (both black and white), giraffes and leopards.
Accommodation: Mpila Camp (or similar)
Morning game drive; transfer to Ponta Do Ouro, Mozambique
Any group members who didn’t join the game walk yesterday will do it today. After breakfast, we drive out of the park in our tour vehicle enjoying more animal watching as we go. The journey will take approximately two hours and we exit from the Memorial Gate.
Our next destination is Ponta Do Ouro, Mozambique, where golden sands meet the Indian Ocean. The natural beauty combined with excellent diving and snorkelling opportunities has made this small town a favourite with in-the-know travellers.
After border formalities, we have a drive of approximately 20 minutes to our accommodation for the next two nights. We typically arrive in the late afternoon with time to unwind before dinner.
Accommodation: Planet Scuba Lodge (or similar)
Swim with dolphins from Ponta Do Ouro
Today we enjoy an experience you’ll be talking about for years to come: swimming with dolphins. To increase our chances of swimming with these playful, curious mammals, we’ll aim for one boat launch in the morning and one in the afternoon.
From July to November, it is also possible to see migrating humpback whales visiting the Mozambique coast. From December to May, whale sharks and occasionally manta rays can be seen in these waters.
Accommodation: Planet Scuba Lodge (or similar)
Drive to Kruger National Park, South Africa
Our destination today is Kruger National Park, justifiably one of the most famous safari destinations in the world. The drive to South Africa is approximately three hours and takes us through Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. Once we cross the border at Ressano Garcia, we have a short drive to the Crocodile Bridge entrance into Kruger. The national park is bigger than many countries and home to all the iconic safari species, so look for lions, leopards, elephants, rhino, buffalo, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, zebras and plenty of antelope. We hope for several wildlife encounters on the drive to our camp on the Sabie River, which we should reach by late afternoon.
Accommodation: Kruger Park Chalets (or similar)
Full-day game drive in Kruger National Park
Today is the first of two full days in Kruger National Park and will concentrate on the south section of the park. Game drives are in safari vehicles with local guides. The best time for viewing animals is sunrise and sunset, which means an early start as we head out to witness the wildlife at their most active. We return to camp for breakfast and spend the rest of the day exploring the park on the way to our camp in central Kruger.
Accommodation: Kruger Park Chalets (or similar)
Full-day game drive in Kruger National Park
Our second day focuses on the central area of Kruger and we prioritise looking for species that we have not yet seen or have seen less of over the rest of the trip.
Accommodation: Kruger Park Chalets (or similar)
Drive to Graskop Gorge via Blyde River Canyon
There is a final game drive this morning in the safari vehicles to Orpen Gate. When we exit the park, we change vehicles and then proceed to our lunch stop before moving onto a great viewpoint for Blyde River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world. This afternoon, we explore a geological formation known as Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the God’s Window viewpoint on our way to our accommodation on the edge of Graskop Gorge.
Accommodation: Mogodi Lodge (or similar)
Graskop Gorge Lift; drive to Johannesburg; end Johannesburg
For our final morning, we ride the glass Graskop Gorge Lift for a sky-high view over the mighty gorge and enjoy a two-hour walk through indigenous Afromontane forest. From here, we have a four to five-hour drive to Johannesburg International Airport where our trip ends. Please note, if you are organising your own flights, you should speak to your sales representative to confirm transfer timings before booking your flights.
Arrive London
Arrive London.
Accommodation
Tented Camp, Lodges and Chalets
Throughout this trip, we stay in mostly three-star lodges and chalets. On three nights, the lodges are permanent tented camps. These are comfortable rooms with private bathrooms, but they are in part made out of canvas and are a quintessential African safari experience. While the lodges are not luxury properties, they are comfortable and in great locations. Most properties have a pool and wifi, although this is not always very reliable.
Single supplement from USD 795
Food & Drink
All breakfasts, seven lunches and five dinners are included.
In the itinerary, we state which meals are included on which day. The list below provides an indication of what these will consist of:
- Breakfast: Cereals, coffee, tea and toast, the occasional cooked breakfast
- Lunch: Cheese, cold meats, salads, bread or rolls
- Dinner: Potjies (stew), braais (barbecue), stir fries, pasta
Where meals are not included, the leader will recommend a restaurant for a group meal. Dinners can cost on average £12‐18 ($20‐30) per person and lunches from £5 to £8 ($8 to $13).
The tour leaders do all the shopping, meal planning and cooking for each group. They will purchase fresh produce wherever possible. Each tour has two cool boxes for meats and fresh produce and one cool box for cold drinks. We will supply the following drinks: fruit squash served with breakfast and tea or coffee served with breakfast and dinner. All other beverages will be at your own expense. Please note, on days when the group are on morning game walks or drives, we have an early morning cup of tea or coffee and rusks followed by the walk. Once we return to camp, we have a large brunch at around 11am. In the early afternoon, we have a snack-style lunch and dinner will be served after completion of the optional game drives.
Please be aware, we need at least two weeks’ notice to deal with special dietary requirements (eg vegetarian or allergies).
The water provided on this trip is safe and clean drinking water, normally from boreholes. It is not bottled water, however. If you would rather have bottled water then this will be at your expense, though we would encourage you to make use of the safe drinking water provided as this helps diminish plastic consumption.
Transport
Transport is by minibus fitted with forward-facing seats and towing a trailer for equipment and luggage. Game drives are in open-sided safari vehicles with three rows seating three people each. Please note, drives in and out of Kruger National Park and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park will be in the minibus but our other drives will be in the safari vehicles.
Weather & Seasonality
Although the greater part of South Africa lies south of the Tropic of Capricorn, the temperature is moderated by the altitude. The average midday temperature is likely to be about 22C (72F) on the coast and 24C (75F) inland. This trip covers various different weather regions. Generally, inland areas will be dry between April and October (although storms can occur). In August, the nights can be very cold. However, the days are warm and crisp with generally cloud-free skies. November through February, rain can sometimes fall and the temperature will be higher. However, as anyone who has travelled to these parts will say, rain is often a blessing, it manifests the local colours, drops the sometimes sweltering temperatures and never generally lasts too long. It also means the night times are incredibly clear.
Joining Instructions
Joining Instructions
Start hotel: Dolphin Coast Lodge, Umdloti
Phone: +27 (0)63 855 8780
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately.
Airport: King Shaka International Airport (DUR)
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately a 10 to 15-minute drive from the airport. Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves.
Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times, to arrange a private transfer, or for more information.
Flying via Johannesburg
If you are travelling on flights via Johannesburg, please note that you will need to collect your baggage in Johannesburg, even if your bag has been checked all the way through to Durban (and even if you are told you do not need to pick it up). After collecting the bag, you are required to clear customs, and you should then drop it off at the bag drop for the onward flight. This only applies to the outbound flight – you do not need to do this at the end of the trip on the return flight.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to Johannesburg International Airport (JNB) for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Dolphin Coast
Location end: Johannesburg
What To Take
Essential Equipment
In addition to your normal daily clothes:
- Neutral coloured clothes (for the game walk)
- Long-sleeve clothing and long trousers (pants) to wear when the sun goes down to protect skin from mosquito bites
- Some warmer clothes, windproof jacket and warm fleece for the winter months
- Lightweight walking boots or trainers (sneakers)
- Sunhat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Insect repellent
- Backpack for the day
- Wet wipes or hand sanitizer gel
- Towel
- Headtorch (head lamp) with spare batteries
- Water bottle
Water included
Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.
Optional Equipment
- Binoculars
- Camera with a zoom lens (at least 300mm) if you want good animal shots
- Waterproof camera for dolphin excursion
- Long-sleeve rash vest for dolphin excursion
Practical Information
Visa
Mozambique
Travellers from the UK, US, Canada and most EU countries do not need a visa to enter Mozambique for stays of less than 30 days. You must make a payment of 650 meticais (USD10) with cash or card at the point of entry (airport or border post).
Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Your passport should be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive and have at least two blank pages.
Travelling with under 18s: If both parents are travelling, no additional documentation is required, When only one parent or a legal guardian, or another adult, travels with a minor he or she may be required by an immigration officer to establish the adult’s relationship with the child. In this case, documentation and a letter of consent will be requested. The consent letter will no longer need to be in the form of an affidavit.
South Africa
Travellers from the UK, US and most (though not all) EU states normally do not need a visa to enter South Africa. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/africa/south-africa
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/south-africa
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/SouthAfrica.html
Please note, all travellers to South Africa who require a visa need at least two consecutive blank pages in their passport (ie a left- and right-hand page) to enable an entry visa to be issued.
Additionally, any child under 18 travelling to South Africa needs to be in possession of an unabridged birth certificate with the names of both parents. If a child under 18 is only travelling with one parent, they will also have to have an affidavit, no less than three months old, from the absent parent confirming the child can travel with the other parent; a court order granting full legal guardianship of the child; or a death certificate of the deceased parent.
Vaccinations and Health
Mozambique
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A.
South Africa
There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include hepatitis A, tetanus, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis B, rabies and tuberculosis. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Malaria prophylaxis is essential if travelling in the greater Kruger area; seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic about which tablets to take. The rest of South Africa, including the Garden Route, has a low risk of malaria.
Dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is also a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we recommend taking the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in places visited on this trip. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Malaria prophylaxis is essential on this trip, and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take.
Local Time
Mozambique's time zone: Africa/Maputo (UTC +02:00)
South Africa's time zone: Africa/Johannesburg (UTC +02:00)
Electricity
Mozambique's electricity: Plug types C (two flat pins), F (two round pins) and M (three round pins) – 220V, 50Hz
South Africa's electricity: Plug types C (two round pins), D (three round pins), M (three round pins) and N (three round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Money
Mozambique's currency: Mozambique metical (MZM).
South Africa's currency: South African rand (ZAR)
ATM Availability
Money can be changed at the airport on arrival in South Africa. ATMs are widely available in all the major towns. Credit cards are widely accepted in most shops, bars and restaurants and will be accepted for all optional activities. Travellers cheques are hard to change and should be avoided.
Extra Expenses & Spending Money
We suggest you allow about 150 rand (US$8) per day for incidentals.
Optional excursions
- Kruger National Park night drives 307 rand (US$16) per person.
- Johannesburg city tour 900 rand (US$48) per person
- Apartheid museum with transfers 1000 rand (US$54) per person
- Johannesburg township tour 850 rand (US$46) per person
Tipping
Tipping is expected but not compulsory. Most grooms, waiters and local guides rely on tipping as part of their wages. Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work, but we would still recommend 45 rand (US$2.50) for your leader per person per day.
People, Places & Planet
We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.
Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:
People
How this trip helps improve life for local communities.
- Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
- This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
- Read more about our other initiatives here.
Places
How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.
- By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
- We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re–usable bottles.
- The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites.
- Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices regarding working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
- We rewild 100 square metres per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
- Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.
Planet
How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.
- Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
- Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
Tips for sustainable travel on this trip
- Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
- Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re–usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.
Important Information
Water safety
This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Important Information
Your safe participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
How to Book
- Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
- Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
- Complete your booking and payment
When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.
After booking
You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.
Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.
Trip Note validity
These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
Licensing
Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.