Hike through South Africa and eSwatini
South Africa is an unforgettable destination, but it’s even better if you’re looking to hike! From towering mountain ranges to vast valleys and canyons, the South Africa Hiking tour covers every corner of this world-class country.
The South Africa Hiking tour whisks you away from Johannesburg to the Soutpansberg Mountains, where you’ll hike among lush trees in massive forests. Stopping in Kruger National Park shows you one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Africa, teeming with wildlife and just waiting for you to explore. After bush walks and game drives, the South Africa Hiking tour takes you through Hazyview, where you’ll be one of a crowd of people hiking, ziplining, tubing, and rafting. Hike through canyons and past waterfalls, ride up the Graskop Gorge lift, and soak up the natural splendour of this place. The South Africa Hiking tour takes you to eSwatini, the tiny landlocked kingdom jam-packed with unforgettable valleys, savannahs, animals, and cultural heritage. Then, hike high into the mountains of Drakensberg and spot big cats in the Eastern Free State. At every turn, the South Africa Hiking tour offers unparalleled hiking in some of Africa’s most astounding scenery.
Highlights of the South Africa Hiking Tour
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South Africa Hiking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival in South Africa
Welcome to South Africa! You’ll touch down in Johannesburg, the economic capital of South Africa, where your guide will meet you and take you to the hotel. You’re free to enjoy the rest of the day as you please- Johannesburg has plenty of interesting galleries and museums, as well as plenty of restaurants reflective of its multicultural population. Enjoy!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Johannesburg
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Johannesburg to Soutpansberg Mountain Range
After breakfast, you’ll be hopping in the car towards the Leshiba Wilderness in Soutpansberg, South Africa’s northernmost mountain range and part of the UNESCO-designated Vhembe Biosphere Reserve. You’ll stop in a sleepy local town for lunch before reaching your hotel. After some time to freshen up, you can enjoy a stunning viewpoint over the mountains. Time it right and you’ll be enjoying one of the best sunsets of your life!
Overnight Location: Lodge in Leshiba
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Day 3 Hike in Soutpansberg
Good morning! Enjoy an early cup of tea before a 7 AM departure for your first hike of the tour. You’ll ascend through a lush forested area to old Venda ruins, where you can explore the ancient stone walls and marula trees. You’ll be back in Leshiba for brunch, enjoy some free time to do as you please, and then depart on an afternoon hike. The exact trail is up to the group and will be chosen over brunch. Have fun out there!
Overnight Location: Lodge in Leshiba
Distance: 4-hour morning hike, 3-hour afternoon hike
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 4 Soutpansberg to Central Kruger
Day 4 begins with an early morning drive into Kruger National Park, one of the top tourist destinations in all of South Africa. This park is home to lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebra, and many more native species. Keep an eye out while you’re driving, as you’ll get an included game drive while you travel. A lunch break at a local rest camp will give you a chance to stretch your legs and enjoy the view of the river before the last leg of the drive to your accommodation.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Kruger National Park
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Central Kruger
Today, you’ll get the exhilarating chance to travel the bush on foot, learning about the local animals and plants firsthand. You’ll depart with a ranger through the Olifants River area, watching the sunrise over the plain as you hike. Breakfast will welcome you back to the camp, and then you’re free to relax before a sunset game drive. The beauty of the bush changing from day to night is unforgettable, and you’re likely to run into both predators and prey as they prepare for nighttime hunting.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Kruger National Park
Distance: 3-4 hours, distance flexible
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Central Kruger to Main Kruger
Day 6 of your South African hiking tour begins with a casual drive after breakfast. You’ll stop in at the Satara rest camp to enjoy the fever trees, which house several species of very tame birds. Maybe you’ll make a new feathered friend! Should there be an interesting group of animals nearby, your guides will adjust their route from here to stop by the action. Keep your eyes out the window for wildlife along the way to your lodge.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Kruger National Park
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Day 7 Kruger area hike
Lace up your boots for a hike on the Bushpig trail, which begins 1535m above sea level and continues through a forest of native trees, waterfalls, and splendid views. You’re likely to run into a baboon along the way! The countless native bird species will sing you along to your picnic spot, where you can enjoy a packed lunch and the sounds of the forest. Then, it’s back to the car to return to the lodge for a pre-dinner shower and post-hike beer.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Kruger National Park
Distance: 4 hours, 8.5km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8 Kruger area to Hazyview
Breakfast is on the go this morning as you drive to Hazyview, a small farming town surrounded by subtropical fruit orchards known for its wonderful scenery and exciting outdoor recreation opportunities. You’ll stop for a hike at the Blyde River Canyon, a stunning trail with fantastic canyon views. Then, it’s back in the car for a road trip to Bourke’s Luck Potholes, a natural water feature with swirling whirlpools. The next stop is at God’s Window, an area with awe-inspiring canyons, rock formations, waterfalls, and overall splendor. Bring a camera for this unforgettable spot. Finally, it’s time for a ride down the Graskop Gorge Lift, where you’ll be lowered 51 meters down the face of a gorge into the forest down below, where wooden pathways and suspension bridges beckon. Enjoy the interactive exhibits or just explore at your own pace.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Kruger National Park
Distance: 3 hours, 8km
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Day 9 Hazyview to eSwatini
The next leg of your hiking tour of South Africa takes you into the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland (recently renamed to eSwatini), a landlocked country with rich cultural and historical heritage. You’ll stop in Kaapschehoop, a town known for free-roaming wild horses and eccentric artists. Romantic, right? The first hike of the day starts at the Escarpment trailhead, where it’s rumored that hosts from the Anglo Boer war haunt at night. It’s daytime, so you should be just fine. The trail passes several unique rock formations before plunging dramatically into the Barberton Valley. From here, you can see all the way to Mozambique on a clear day! It’s a truly jaw-dropping view. After the hike, you’re welcome to find a café lunch in Kaapschehoop and spend some time enjoying the 1880s Victorian architecture. Then, it’s time to cross the border into eSwatini and head for the hotel.
Overnight Location: Lodge in eSwatini
Distance: 2 hours, 4km
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Day 10 Hike in eSwatini
Good morning! Day 10 of your South African hiking adventure begins with an early drive into the Malolotja Nature Reserve, where an exciting hike awaits. You’ll climb to viewpoints of the stunning Malolotja and Majolomba Falls, see the Silotfwane Mountains, and run into zebra, redbuck, and blesboks. What a hike! Then, you have time to recoup and relax at the lodge.
Overnight Location: Lodge in eSwatini
Distance: 4 hours, 12km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 11 eSwatini to Northern Drakensberg
Today has a long drive ahead with several exciting stops. Your end goal is Northern Drakensberg, an area with mountains reaching up to 3000m, sandstone caves with San rock paintings, flowing waterfalls, and more. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the best hiking and sightseeing locations in the world. To get there, you’ll pass through Vryheid, a town in KwaZulu-Natal with a ranching past, where you’ll buy water and snacks. Then, it’s on to the Spioenkop Battlefield, a historic site that serves as the entryway to the valley bushfield and thorn savannah that lead to the Drakensberg Mountains. Here, you’ll take a short hike to the site of the battle and back before continuing on to your hotel.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Northern Drakensberg
Distance: 30 minutes, 3.5km
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Day 12 Hike in Northern Drakensberg
Today’s a big day! You’ll spend the morning and afternoon hiking in the Royal Natal National Park with a hiking guide, exploring Mahai Falls and the trails below the towering mountains. After your hike, you can enjoy free time for the rest of the day.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Northern Drakensberg
Distance: 6 hours, 19km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 13 Hike in Northern Drakensberg
Didn’t get enough of the park yesterday? No worries, because you’ll spend today exploring another part of Royal Natal by foot. The hike will take you up to Policeman’s Helmet, an otherworldly rock formation on top of a mountain.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Northern Drakensberg
Distance: 6 hours, 19km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 14 Northern Drakensberg to Eastern Free State
Enjoy breakfast before departing to Golden Gate National Park, where you’ll take on the Holkrans hike. The trail leads to an impressive hollow crag resembling a cave. Enter if you dare! Then, you can enjoy lunch at a nice local restaurant before checking in at tonight’s accommodation. Enjoy the stunning highlands of the area, which are bathed in golden light in the evening and home to zebra, springbok, bald ibis, and bearded vulture.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Distance: 2 hours, 7km
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Day 15 Farewell, South Africa!
All too soon, it’s the last day of your hiking tour. Enjoy some downtime in Clarens before departure to the airport in Johannesburg, where your guide will help you check in and see you off. Safe travels!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
South Africa Hiking Tour Price and Dates
This guided hiking tour of South Africa is always run as a custom tour for your group only and the pricing always depends on the size of the group.
Prices below are per person:
- Guided Groups of 4: from $3,725 USD per person
Please note that the pricing might change depending on the availability and the group size
Book NowAccommodation on the South Africa Hiking Tour
This tour is based in 3-star hotels and park lodges. Hotels and lodges 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 to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try and match single travellers up where possible.
Hotels on Standard Tour
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.
H12 Leshiba in Soutpansberg Mountains ★★★
This game and nature reserve lodge is nestled into the trees in a beautiful corner of the park, offering a relaxing and vibrant ambiance.
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.
Maguga Dam Lodge in eSwatini ★★★
Maguga Dam Lodge offers ensuite bathrooms, TV, air conditioning, a pool, and a great restaurant.
Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge in Jagersrust ★★★
This lodge offers an array of rooms, from camping spots to deluxe ensuite rooms. There is a great outdoor pool, a hot tub, a bar, and a restaurant onsite.
Kiara Lodge in Eastern Free State ★★★
The Kiara Lodge is part of an expansive retreat, with huge pools, activities, and proximity to nearby attactions. The rooms are clean and well-equipped.
What’s Included in the Kruger National Park Area Tour?
Meals
14 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 11 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodation for 14 nights is included.
Transportation during the Tour
Personal and luggage transfer to and from the airport is included, as well as all the transfers during the tour.
Also Included
- English-speaking guide
- Conservation fees
- National park entrance fees
Not included
- Visas if required
- Travel insurance
- Travel to and from Johannesburg
- Tourist taxes if applicable
- Personal equipment
- Porter fees if desired
Optional Extras
- Single room supplements
- Solo traveller supplements
- Any additional nights before or after the tour
Frequently Asked Questions about South Africa Hiking Tour
Highline Tours and Travel is a tour operator that explores exotic destinations: South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, East Africa, Mozambique, to name a few. They offer phenomenal safari, activity and adventure, and romantic getaway tours that will undoubtedly leave a vivid, lasting memory.
The tour guides for Highline Tours and Travel have a magical way of elevating tours from lovely to personable and memorable. They believe in creating a dynamic, encouraging, and fun environment.
Highline Tours and Travel’s vision is to provide the best holiday possible for all clients in hopes that they will become ambassadors for the stunning African continent.
Learn MoreSouth Africa Hiking Tour Map
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Local Guide
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Machiel Breedt has spent the last five years guiding tourists in South Africa. He enjoys introducing participants to his country’s vast, diverse scenery, from the animals of Kruger National Park in the North to St Lucia and the beautiful coastline, to the Drakensberg mountains and the Wine of the Cape.
- Q: What is your favourite trip to do and why?
- A: Probably touring from Cape Town to Vic Falls via Namibia and Botswana. It is pure Africa. The vibe of Cape Town and surrounds, to the vastness of the Namibian deserts and plains, to the breath-taking nature and wildlife of Botswana, to the amazing Victoria Falls.
- Q: What is your most unforgettable moment when guiding?
- A: I have 2 moments that I will never forget. The first one is a couple of years ago I had a group doing a 16-day tour from Johannesburg to Cape Town and on that tour was two sisters who got separated at a very young age and didn’t see each other again for about 50 years. One day they walked past each other in a supermarket and recognised one another. One of the local radio stations heard about the story and sponsored them a vacation to enjoy together, and I had the honour of having them on my tour and showing them our beautiful country.
- The second is the time that we were on safari in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and we saw a pack of about 20 lions devouring the carcass of an elephant.
- Q: What is one local dish or drink that tourists must try on a visit to your country and why?
- A: It would most definitely be biltong and Amarula. Biltong is meat that is dried with a variety of spices, and it’s just too delicious for words. Amarula is a cream liqueur that is made from the fruits of the Marula tree and just goes down so nice after a long and hot African summer day.