3 Country Self-Drive
Tropical Coast Explorer
Operates:
Duration:
Daily from Johannesburg
19 days / 18 nights in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe
Johannesburg – Sabie – Satara/Kruger National Park – Giriyondo Border –
Limpopo National Park - Massinger – Xai Xai – Barra Beach – Vilankulo –
Routing:
Gorongoza National Park – Mutare Border – Masvingo – Beit Bridge Border
- Mapungubwe National Park - Johannesburg
Accommodation. Meals as indicated B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner.
Includes:
FB – Full Board
Car hire group S (Mitsubishi or similar SUV 4x2)
Johannesburg – Panorama Route – Blyde River Canyon - Kruger National
Park – Limpopo National Park - Mozambique Tropical Coast – Bazaruto
Highlights:
Benguerra Islands (optional) - Gorongosa National Park - Zimbabwe
Eastern Highlands – Zimbabwe Ruins – Mapungubwe National Park
Flights, visas, personal spending money, gratuities, meals not listed in
Excludes:
itinerary. Entrance fees / Park fees, and any cross border charges.
Notes:
You can upgrade your car to your preferred type. Tour can be extended.
Accommodation: Good Tourist class hotels, guesthouses and rest camps.
Day 1:
Mpumalanga (400km)
After your arrival at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo
International Airport, you pick up your rental car and
travel via Pretoria and Polokwane to the beautiful
region of Mpumalanga
Overnight: Misty Mountain Hotel BB (or similar)
Day 2:
Panorama Route (175km)
After breakfast, enjoy the scenic Panorama Route of
mountains, forests and waterfalls via Graskop to the
old gold diggers’ town of Pilgrim’s Rest, before visiting
the God’s Window view sites. From there you head for
the Bourke’s Luck Pot Holes with their strangely
eroded rocks at the confluence of the Blyde and Treur
Rivers. Next stop is the amazing view site of the
Blyde River Canyon, which is especially impressive
because unlike the other great canyons of the world it
is forested. You then leave the escarpement via the
scenic Strijdom tunnel, heading for the “Lowfelt”
below.
Overnight: Blyde River Canyon Lodge (or similar) (B)
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Day 3:
Kruger National Park (220km)
After breakfast you head for the famous Kruger National Park. You have the rest of the day to
explore the natural wildlife experience in the Kruger
National Park in search of the Big 5 or whatever else
you fancy. There are cafeteria facilities in the National
Park Camp where you overnight, however no meals
are included in your accommodation costs.
Overnight: Satara Rest Camp, Kruger Park (central
area). (Room only)
Day 4:
Machampane (175km)
Again the entire day is spent game viewing from your
rental car as you head for the Giriyondo border post
between the Kruger National Park and Mozambique’s
Parque Nacional do Limpopo. The roads can easily be
managed with a normal 4x2 vehicle, but it should
ideally have a higher ground clearance and larger tyres
such as found on an SUV.
You cross over to
Mozambique where your tented camp is secluded in a
riverine forest overlooking the Machampane River.
Overnight: Machampane Wilderness Camp (FB)
Day 5:
Machampane
Enjoy the day in this unspoilt wilderness between the
Limpopo and Oliphant’s Rivers, with its great variety of
birds and other wild animals. The Shingwedzi River
also flows through this area, with its many vistas onto
the Lebombo Mountains. Partaking in Machampane’s
Wilderness Hikes on foot, guided by a Game Ranger is
highly recommended.
Overnight: Machampane Wilderness Camp (FB)
Day 6:
Xai Xai Area (325km)
Today you leave the Parque Nacional do Limpopo
through the Massinger Gate and head for the coast via
Chokwe and Macia to an overnight lodge close to the
white beaches of the popular Xai Xai region.
Overnight: Narra Eco Lodge (or similar) (B)
Day 7:
Barra Beach/Tofu (300km)
After breakfast take the long road north to Inhambane
with its varying beach resorts, arriving in the
afternoon. Relax with a cool beer and delicious plate of
prawns or langoustines in the congenial beach bar.
Overnight: Bayview Lodge (or similar) (B)
Day 8:
Barra Beach/Tofu
A full day relaxing on the beach. . You have two full
days on which you could simply enjoy the beach, or
you could optionally participate in one of the activities
on offer at the lodge (e.g. horse-riding, ocean safari’s,
scuba diving, snorkelling.)
Overnight: Bayview Lodge (or similar) (B))
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Day 9:
Barra Beach/Tofu
Another full day relaxing on the beach.
Overnight: Bayview Lodge (or similar) (B)
Day 10:
Vilankulo (325km)
After breakfast you depart heading further north to
Vilankulo and a Lodge directly overlooking the
crystal-clear turquoise Indian Ocean & Bazaruto
Archipelago Islands, arriving early afternoon.
Overnight: Casa Rex (or similar) (B)
Day 11:
Vilankulo
A full day on the beach at Vilankulo. The a la carte
restaurant here renowned for its delectable
Portuguese dishes including freshly-sourced seafood
specialties paired with imported wines, or the popular
local Mozambican beer.
Overnight: Casa Rex (or similar) (B)
OPTIONAL:
From Vilankulos it is possible to transfer to one of
the many stunning Lodges on the islands of Bazaruto
or
Benguerra.
This
tour
can
be
flexibly
extended/adapted to include a 2/3 night island stay
in typical island style! See examples here, or contact
us for further Information on
recommended options. info@itt.co.za
these
highly
Day 12:Gorongosa National Park (450km)
Travel to Gorongosa National Park – located at the
southern end of the Great African Rift Valley in the
heart of central Mozambique. The over 4,000 square
km park includes the valley floor and parts of
surrounding plateaus. Rivers originating on nearby
1863-m Mount Gorongosa water the plain.
Overnight: Gorongosa National Park (B)
Day 13:Gorongosa National Park
A full day to enjoy the pristine wildlife experience of
this unique National Park
Overnight: Gorongosa National Park (B)
Day 14:Gorongosa National Park
A full day to enjoy the pristine wildlife experience of
this unique National Park
Overnight: Gorongosa National Park (B)
Day 15:Mutare (250km)
Continue your journey, crossing the border to
Zimbabwe at Mutare. Mutare is home to the Mutare
Museum, the Utopia House Museum dedicated to
Kingsley Fairbridge, the National Gallery of
Zimbabwe, Murahwa Hill, known for its rock paintings
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and Iron Age village, Cross Kopje with a
memorial to Zimbabweans and Mozambicans
killed in World War I and a nature reserve Cecil Kopje and Tigers Kloof. You overnight at a
congenial lodge nearby.
Overnight: Musangano Lodge (or similar) (B)
Day 16Masvingo (300km)
After breakfast continue your journey through
Zimbabwe’s scenic Eastern Highlands towards the town
of Masvingo and visit the ‘The Great Zimbabwe” which
is the site of numerous ruins that lie near the town.
There is no unanimity about the origin of these ancient
ruins, as their construction and architecture does not
appear to be of African origin. Some historians believe
them to be constructed during the 11th century by the
ancient ancestors of the Shona people, other claim their
origin to be Phoenician, and others again believe they
are of Arab trader origin, possibly a ship marooned on
the coast, as also here and in the Mapungubwe National
Park jewellery was found more akin to Arabian silver
and goldsmith work, rather than of African nature.
Overnight: Lodge at the Ancient City (or similar)
Day 17:
Mapungubwe National Park (390km)
After breakfast head to Beit Bridge, Zimbabwe’s border
with South Africa, which can get quite busy in season.
Continue to your lodge in the Mapesu Nature Reserve
which borders on the Mapungubwe National Park. This
recently declared “World Heritage Landscape Park” was
the capital of a sophisticated and powerful African
Kingdom in the 13th century, though its origins are
disputed. Similar construction and artefacts as per the
Zimbabwe Ruins were found here.
The archaeological site has yielded priceless gold and ivory artefacts, as well as items of Arab,
Chinese, Indonesian and Indian origin as a result of trade within the Indian Ocean trade
network. The most important and well known artefact, the Golden Rhino, is on display at the
University of Pretoria along with other artefacts unearthed at the site.
Overnight: Mopane Bush Lodge (or similar) (BLD) as well as activities on the property.
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Day 18:
Mapungubwe National Park
Last opportunity to visit the historical museum and partake in a last self-drive game drive.
Overnight: Mopane Bush Lodge (or similar) (BLD) as well as activities on the property.
Day 19:
Departure (520km)
After breakfast you travel to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport via Polokwane
and Pretoria, then return your rental car at the airport. (B)
Due to extremely hot temperatures, as well as it being tropical storm season, the months of mid December to March
each year should be avoided – possibility of road closures (e.g. Gorongoza) during this rainy season.
3 Country Tropical Coast Explorer
S/Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe Deutsch
1 Jan – 31 Oct 2016**
19 days / 18 nights
Currency
Per Adult
Sharing
Single
Supplement
Johannesburg Johannesburg
ZAR
33 965
7 600
Not valid during Easter and South African School Holidays – Please contact us.
This tour can be combined with the 3 Country Self-Drive Wildlife Extravaganza by
using the Zimbabwe Connection
Inspirations Travel & Tours
Email: info@inspirations-travel.co.za l Tel: +27(0)31 266 0030 | Fax: +27(0) 31 266 0255
Inbound: www.africaninspirations.co.za l Outbound: www.inspirations-travel.co.za
9 Kensington Drive, Westville, 3629 l PO Box 1166, Westville, Durban, 3629
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