South Africa tours combining Drakensberg peaks, Big Five safaris and Indian Ocean coastline — with overland crossings into Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique.
South Africa tours offer one of Africa's most varied journeys, threading mountain kingdoms, Big Five reserves and Indian Ocean coastline together in a single overland adventure. The Drakensberg's basalt escarpment rises towards Lesotho in the east, while the bushveld of Hluhluwe–iMfolozi and Kruger National Park shelters lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo in the north. The Indian Ocean coast unspools past the wetlands of St Lucia and the reed lakes of Kosi Bay — each landscape utterly different from the last.
Our small group South Africa holidays travel from Johannesburg into the heart of the Northern Drakensberg, crossing the nearly 3,000-metre Sani Pass by 4×4 into Lesotho before turning east to Hluhluwe–iMfolozi, the St Lucia Estuary, Cape Vidal and Kosi Bay. The route extends into Mozambique — taking in Maputo and the Maputo Special Reserve — before a walking safari in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Eswatini and a final full-day game drive in Kruger along the Panorama Route.
South Africa
Small-group departures led by local experts, plus private tailor-made itineraries shaped around your interests, pace and dates.
South Africa is home to some of Africa's finest game reserves. Our tour visits both Hluhluwe–iMfolozi - Africa's oldest proclaimed reserve - and Kruger National Park, giving you two full safari experiences in a single trip.
Our South Africa travel packages cross into Lesotho via the Sani Pass, continue into Mozambique for Maputo and the Maputo Special Reserve, and take in a walking safari in Eswatini — four countries, each distinct, in 15 days.
From the Midlands Meander and Howick Falls to the Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon, the overland journey is as rewarding as the destinations — every day's drive delivers something new.
The Indian Ocean coastline along St Lucia, Cape Vidal and Kosi Bay offers snorkelling, boat cruising, turtle nesting and birdwatching — a complete contrast to the dry bushveld and mountain landscapes inland.
See itinerariesSouth Africa rewards travellers who slow down — the best stories are found off the tour-bus route.
From the field
The best time for South Africa tours and travel packages is during the dry winter months of April to September, when clear skies and lower vegetation make wildlife easier to spot in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi and Kruger. April and September are the shoulder months — warm days, cool nights and fewer crowds — which is why our departures run in April and September. The KwaZulu-Natal coast around St Lucia and Kosi Bay is warmest from October to March, but remains pleasant year-round. The Drakensberg and Sani Pass are best crossed in the drier months.
Looking to travel outside the typical windows? Our South Africa tailor-made team can advise on the best time for you.
Dispatches, field notes and practical advice from our specialists.
Reviews from across our small-group programme. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”
Steve
“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”
Anna
“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”
Grete
“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”
Frank
“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”
Cathy
“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”
Lynn
“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”
Andy
“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”
Jennie
“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”
Debbie
“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”
Alexis
“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”
Steve
Every one of our South Africa journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.
We’ll build one around you.
Tailor-made South Africa holidays let you build a journey around your pace and priorities. We can combine the Drakensberg - based at The Cavern Resort & Spa - with game drives in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi and Kruger, time on the Indian Ocean coast at St Lucia and Kosi Bay, and cultural immersion in Eswatini's Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. An extension into Mozambique to explore Maputo and the Maputo Special Reserve is also possible. Whether your focus is Big Five safaris, mountain hiking, coastal relaxation or all three, we'll design an itinerary to match. Private guides, comfortable lodges, safari vehicles and all internal transfers are arranged, so you travel with confidence from the Drakensberg to the Panorama Route and everything in between.
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Our South Africa tour packages use private minibuses and safari vehicles throughout, with a 4×4 transfer over the Sani Pass into Lesotho - one of the most scenic overland crossings in southern Africa. All road transfers between South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique and Eswatini are fully included and handled by your English-speaking guide.
Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.
Before travelling, consult the latest UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office foreign travel advice - south-africa and also at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/lesotho, /mozambique and /eswatini. We constantly monitor FCDO guidance and will advise clients of any relevant warnings. At the time of writing there are no warnings against travel to the parts of South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini or Mozambique visited on this tour. US travellers should check travel.state.gov for current guidance relevant to their nationality.
Join a small-group departure, or let our South Africa specialists craft a private journey shaped around your dates and interests.
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