The South Africa and eSwatini journey begins in Johannesburg. Arrival time depends on your flight. KLM arrives in the evening, while the other airlines fly overnight.

In the morning, you receive the 4x4 handover and vehicle briefing. Then the first driving day begins. You stay at Somabula Nature Reserve campsite.

Leave the Gauteng highveld and drive east towards the Panorama Route. Pilgrim’s Rest, the old mining town, is one possible stop along the way.

You stay at Panorama View Restcamp.

Today is all about the Panorama Route. God’s Window, Bourke’s Potholes and Blyde River Canyon are all part of the day. Blyde River Canyon is the world’s largest green canyon.

At the end of the day, the warm thermal springs of Swadini await. You stay at Forever Swadini Resort campsite.

After the Panorama Route, you enter Kruger National Park. Over the next four nights you stay in four different camps, giving you time to cross a large part of the park.

You make game drives in your own 4x4. Optional SANParks activities include ranger-led walks and night drives, when there is a chance of seeing nocturnal wildlife.

You stay at Letaba Restcamp.

Your second day in Kruger takes you south to Satara Restcamp.

Because you choose your own roads through the park, the route and pace remain yours. The transfer to the next camp is a game drive in itself.

Lower Sabie, in the southern part of Kruger, is today’s destination. The Sabie and Sand rivers bring different vegetation to this area.

The region is rich in wildlife. Elephants and leopard are among the animals you may encounter. You stay at Lower Sabie Restcamp.

Today you drive to the far south of Kruger National Park. This area sits slightly higher than much of the park and is marked by smaller rocky hills.

Wild dogs and rhino are often seen here. You stay at Berg-en-Dal Restcamp.

After Kruger, cross the border into eSwatini. Malolotja has a mountainous landscape and plenty of walking options.

You stay at Malolotja Campsite.

A second day at Malolotja Campsite. The full day is free to explore the national park.

Choose a gentle walk or a longer hike, depending on the pace you want.

Today you continue to Mlilwane Game Sanctuary. Walking, 4x4 tracks, horse riding and mountain biking are all on offer.

You stay at Mlilwane Restcamp.

Today you return to South Africa and drive to Mkuze Game Reserve.

Rhino and several antelope species live here, and you may also spot leopard. You stay at eMshopi Campsite.

A second day at eMshopi Campsite. There is time for game drives through the reserve.

It is another chance to look for wildlife you may not have seen earlier in the journey.

Today you continue to Kosi Bay.

You stay at Thongaland Turtle Lodge.

A second night at Thongaland Turtle Lodge. The day is free to use as you like.

The lodge runs several excursions. A boat safari and walks along the wide beaches are both easy to arrange.

The route continues to the KwaZulu-Natal coast and St. Lucia.

The wide beaches and a boat safari are both worth your time. From the water you may see hippos and crocodiles. You stay at Sugar Loaf Campsite.

From the Indian Ocean, drive inland to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park.

The park is known for its black rhino population. The Big Five are also found here. You sleep in a self-catering safari tent at iMfolozi Mpila Camp.

A second night at iMfolozi Mpila Camp. Spend the day on game drives and look for black rhino.

There is also time to slow the pace and stay around camp.

Today you continue along the coast towards Durban.

You stay at Greenfire Lodge Dolphin Coast.

After the wildlife parks, the landscape changes. The route climbs into the Drakensberg Mountains.

Take an easy walk or choose a longer, more demanding hike. You stay at Didima Camp.

A second night at Didima Camp. The day is free to spend in the Drakensberg.

Take a day walk or a shorter route and use the afternoon to rest at the lodge.

Today you drive from the Drakensberg to Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

The area is marked by distinctive rock formations. Leave in the morning and arrive at Glen Reenen Restcamp in the afternoon.

A second night at Glen Reenen Restcamp.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park is excellent for walking and photography.

The final day of the journey. Drive back to Johannesburg and the 4x4 rental depot.

From there, you are transferred to the airport for your flight home.

South Africa

eSwatini

South Africa and eSwatini Self-Drive

days

from

1830

p.p.

This self-drive combines camping with fixed accommodation. You travel from Johannesburg to Kruger National Park, the Kingdom of eSwatini, the Indian Ocean coast, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park, the Drakensberg Mountains and Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

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Not quite the trip you’re looking for? This trip can be fully tailored to your preferences.

South Africa and eSwatini Self-Drive

South Africa

eSwatini

days

Request a quote

Request information

This trip can be fully tailored to your preferences.

Summary Highlights Itinerary What's included Photo gallery Reviews

Everything mapped out. The route remains yours.

The journey starts in north-eastern South Africa. Travel via the Panorama Route into Kruger National Park, where four consecutive days revolve around game drives. Then cross into eSwatini. Malolotja and Mlilwane bring walking, 4x4 tracks and other activities into a different landscape.

Back in South Africa, continue through Mkuze, Kosi Bay and St. Lucia. The route then turns inland again, via Hluhluwe-iMfolozi to Durban, the Drakensberg Mountains and Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The final drive returns you to Johannesburg.

The overnight stops along the route are arranged in advance. The 4x4 rental and insurance, the other accommodation and Garmin GPS are part of the journey. Malolotja Campsite is the exception: the two nights there are paid locally. The journey is available for 2 to 4 travellers per vehicle. For 5 or more, pricing is on request and depends on local availability.

‍

days total

nights lodge/B&B

nights camping

days 4x4 rental

Travel pace:

Gemiddeld

persons per car

From

1830

p.p.

This trip can be fully tailored to your preferences.

The route can take a different shape.

There are several ways to adapt this itinerary. You can travel to Golden Gate Highlands National Park first, add Lesotho and the Sani Pass, or fly on to Cape Town at the end of the journey. If you prefer fewer days on the road, you can opt for the 14-day South Africa & eSwatini Wildlife & Zulu Coast self-drive.

Everything that makes this trip unforgettable.

Mkuze Game Reserve

South Africa road trip: uMkhuze Game Reserve.

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Golden Gate Highlands National Park

South Africa road trip: Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

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Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

South Africa safari tour: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.

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Kruger National Park

South Africa self drive holidays: Kruger National Park.

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Durban

South Africa road trip: Durban.

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Malolotja Nature Reserve

Malolotja Nature Reserve during your Swaziland holiday.

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A journey filled with memorable stops.

The landscape keeps changing as you travel. From long days on the road through wide-open country to places where you park the 4x4 and lose track of time. Here’s how the journey unfolds day by day.

This trip is a starting point, not an endpoint.

Change a day or destination

Spend more time in one place, add a rest day or cover a little more ground. We adjust the route to suit your pace and the way you want to travel.

Choose a different 4x4

The right 4x4 depends on your route, who you’re travelling with and how much comfort you want along the way. Together, we’ll choose the vehicle that fits.

Add another country

Want to extend your trip into another country? We’ll look at the most practical route, border crossings and what works within the time you have.

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Fully prepared, no surprises.

A self-drive trip calls for clarity. That is why we are as transparent as possible about what we arrange and what you bring yourself. Everything you need for a carefree trip is on board; the rest is for you to fill in according to your own taste.

✓ Toyota Hilux or similar ✓ All overnight stays included in the quotation, except Malolotja ✓ Two authorised drivers ✓ GPS with Tracks4Africa software ✓ A clear road map of South Africa and eSwatini ✓ Advice from experienced self-drive specialists ✓ Airport transfers ✓ Support

✕ Malolotja Campsite, 2 nights ✕ International flights ✕ Entrance fees ✕ Fuel ✕ Meals and drinks ✕ Upgrades to fixed accommodation ✕ Upgrade to a Toyota Land Cruiser or 4x4 camper instead of a rooftop tent ✕ Excess reduction insurance

Your story begins the moment you start driving.

An elephant beside the road. A long silence around the campfire. Or that one turn you still talk about years later. It’s often the moments you never planned that stay with you the longest.

Explore all travel stories

In one word: fantastic! Our two-week self-drive trip through Namibia was flawlessly organised. We had an excellent rental vehicle with a rooftop tent, beautiful campsites and other accommodation, and communication was smooth throughout. We will definitely book another wonderful trip with them.

Natascha Slegers

Selfdrive4x4 gave us an unforgettable holiday. Everything was arranged down to the last detail. They work with reliable accommodation providers and organisations. We will definitely book through Selfdrive4x4 again next time.

Britt Cazander

The trip was amazing and met all our expectations. The campsites were often beautifully located and unique in terms of their design and facilities. Of course, we knew it could get cold after sunset, but you still expect it won’t be too bad. Temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees Celsius in your tent are definitely very cold! So, if you are travelling during the winter months (the Dutch summer months), we recommend bringing a warm down sleeping bag and plenty of warm clothing. And, of course, making a campfire every evening! Hans, thank you for organising such a wonderful trip. We thoroughly enjoyed it and will definitely return to Africa!

Simon Koch

Always easy to reach The team at Selfdrive4x4.com provided us with fantastic support in putting together, planning and booking our trip through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. They gave us valuable advice on our original itinerary and found and booked fantastic campsites and B&Bs for us. They were always easy to reach and genuinely involved in our journey, including actively following and sharing our trip on social media.

Rudy van Veen

An incredibly customer-friendly and flexible company. Due to personal circumstances, they brought our trip forward by four months so that we could leave within two weeks. Excellent support and beautiful places to stay. Highly recommended!

Anja Klomp

Beautiful route and quick assistance We had a fantastic trip. The advice we received during the booking process to rent a more powerful vehicle turned out to be an excellent decision. The car was brand new. While other vehicles got stuck in the sand, we were able to drive through with ease. Any questions we asked by email during the trip were answered quickly and efficiently. The route was stunning, with incredibly beautiful and unforgettable campsites. Unfortunately, we did cause some minor damage to the vehicle, but this was handled very professionally by the rental company and reimbursed through the insurance we had taken out with Selfdrive4x4. Thanks to the excellent preparation, clear information and complete package provided by Selfdrive4x4, this became a truly unforgettable adventure. I highly recommend this company to anyone looking to go on a self-drive trip in Africa. Excellent!

Jordi van Oosten

They deliver exactly what they promise. We thoroughly enjoyed our 4x4 camping trip through Namibia. Excellent value for money, and they translated our wishes into a surprising and original journey with wonderful campsites and lodges. Highly recommended for travel to Africa.

Laurens Van Gils

Yet another trip we booked with this amazing team. Everything was well organised, with excellent advice beforehand. There were no surprises after booking; everything was exactly as quoted. Whenever we encountered small or slightly bigger challenges along the way – because you are not driving in the Netherlands, but deep in the African bush – we received excellent help and advice. If you want a well-organised trip to Southern Africa, stop searching and ask the Selfdrive team about the possibilities.

Frank Schreuders

Professional and efficient assistance Selfdrive4x4.com provides professional and efficient assistance with planning your itinerary, arranging the rental vehicle and all the related paperwork, such as insurance and transfers, as well as booking campsites and lodges.

Leen & Maartje

We enjoyed it immensely We have been back in the Netherlands since Thursday evening. It still feels quite strange after travelling for 7.5 months. We thoroughly enjoyed the incredible sense of freedom we had, and Africa was definitely the icing on the cake! What an amazing adventure. We absolutely loved driving the Toyota 4x4 and camping, especially in the wildlife parks. The children loved it too. Thank you as well for the great cooperation. You provide excellent service. The route and accommodations were outstanding. While we were in Maun, we adjusted our itinerary because we had the opportunity to travel directly via Savuti in Chobe National Park, after a cancellation meant a campsite there had become available.

R. Schnieders & familie

Not quite what you’re looking for?

Every self-drive trip is a starting point, not an endpoint. You can adapt an existing trip or create your own with us. We’ll help you shape the route, choose the right 4x4, find places to stay and prepare for the journey, so everything fits the way you want to travel.

Get in touch

South Africa and eSwatini Self-Drive

South Africa and eSwatini Self-Drive

Everything mapped out. The route remains yours.

The route can take a different shape.

Everything that makes this trip unforgettable.

Mkuze Game Reserve

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Kruger National Park

Durban

Malolotja Nature Reserve

A journey filled with memorable stops.

This trip is a starting point, not an endpoint.

Change a day or destination

Choose a different 4x4

Add another country

Fully prepared, no surprises.

Your story begins the moment you start driving.

Not quite what you’re looking for?

South Africa and eSwatini Wildlife & Zulu Coast

West Cape and Namaqualand hiking & 4x4

Garden Route and Baviaanskloof Hiking & 4x4

South Africa and eSwatini Self-Drive

Everything mapped out. The route remains yours.

Everything that makes this trip unforgettable.

Mkuze Game Reserve

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Kruger National Park

Durban

Malolotja Nature Reserve

A journey filled with memorable stops.

This trip is a starting point, not an endpoint.

Change a day or destination

Choose a different 4x4

Add another country

Fully prepared, no surprises.

Your story begins the moment you start driving.

Not quite what you’re looking for?

Related trips

South Africa and eSwatini Wildlife & Zulu Coast

West Cape and Namaqualand hiking & 4x4

Garden Route and Baviaanskloof Hiking & 4x4