Day 1: Fly from UK
We are able to arrange flights for clients departing from the UK, subject to availability. As an example, those travelling from London on our recommended carrier for this itinerary, South African Airlines, would depart this evening on an overnight flight to Johannesburg.
Day 2: Arrive Swaziland, drive to Phophonyane Falls
Change planes in Johannesburg for connecting service to Swaziland. On arrival you will pick up your hire car and drive around two hours to Phophonyane Falls Nature Reserve, a 600 hectare protected middleveld habitat home to 240 species of birds and fascinating geological features.
Overnight: Phophonyane Falls Ecolodge
Day 3: Phophonyane Falls
Spend a day exploring the dramatic mountain landscape around the lodge, including the legendary Phophonyane Falls themselves. Walk along magical forested trails to the nearby local community or attempt the Goblondlo Ridge Trail, Swaziland’s most scenic, through rare montaine forest with dramatic views.
Overnight: Phophanyane Falls Ecolodge
Meals: B
Day 4: Phophonyane to Malalotja
A short drive of just 45 minutes will bring you to Malalotja Nature Reserve, a prime Highveld wilderness with spectacular scenery, plains game such as blue wildebeest, zebra, impala and blesbok and wonderful flora including rare cycads and a profusion of wild flowers. There are endless ways to explore, from superb hiking trails, horse trails, quadbiking kayaking and fishing to birding excursions.
Overnight: Hawane Resort
Meals: B
Day 5: Malalotja
Enjoy a morning in the tree-tops at Malalotja’s Canopy Zip Line tour. Consisting of 11 elevated forest platforms, 10 slides and a 50 metre long suspension bridge crossing the Majolomba River, enjoy sublime views of the park’s untouched wilderness as you glide through the Sihlotswane Gorge. Afternoon free to explore the park or return to the lodge to enjoy their ‘bush spa’ or visit a nearby Swazi homestead.
Overnight: Hawane Resort
Meals: B
Day 6: Malalotja to Malkerns Valley
Check out this morning and drive 50 minutes south to visit the living museum at Mantenga cultural village where guests can see traditional Swazi singing and dancing. Stop off at the wonderful Ngwenya Glass on the way, where recycled glass is hand-blown into superb glassware from champagne flutes to hippo paperweights. Try one of the excellent restaurants in the Ezulwini valley for lunch then continue20 minutes to Malkerns, Swaziland’s cultural hub, for a two night stay.
Overnight: Malandela’s B&B
Meals: B
Day 7: Malkerns Valley
Spend an exhilarating morning tackling grade II to IV rapids on the Great Usutu River in a two man raft, guided by expert river guides. Navigate islands, rocks and sandbanks and try to keep your raft upright down numerous small waterfalls! This afternoon enjoy a browse around Malkerns’ local craft industries, such as Swazi Candles (sold in Harrods) where you can watch the colourful candles being hand-shaped, or pick up a beautiful wooden salad bowl or carved figure from the craft market.
Overnight: Malandela’s B&B
Meals: B
Day 8: Malkerns to Mkhaya
Leave the lush pineapple fields of Malkerns for the umbrella thorn-trees of Swaziland’s lowveld, just an hour and fifteen minutes’ drive away but an utterly wild landscape. The 10,000 hectare Mkhaya Game Reserve is a haven for endangered black rhino and boasts 4 out of the big 5. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon guided game drive.
Overnight: Stone Camp, Mkhaya
Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: Mkhaya
Morning guided game drive following dirt tracks for intimate encounters with elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, Zebra, Kudu and birds including raptors, vultures and marabou storks. Also enjoy the chance to track elephant and rhino on foot or observe wildlife from the lodge’s superb hide.
Overnight: Stone Camp, Mkhaya
Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: Mkhaya to Johannesburg
After a final morning to explore the reserve, it is time to say goodbye to Swaziland. Drive around 50 minutes to the airport to drop off your hire car. If continuing into South Africa or Mozambique, it’s a 2.5 hour drive to Maputo or Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, 3.5 hours to St Lucia and Mabibi or 5 hour drive to Durban. If flying home, catch a short flight to Johannesburg and connect to an overnight flight to London.
Overnight: on board the plane
Meals: B
Day 11: London
Arrive back into Heathrow early this morning.
