Ultimate Active Southern Africa

Duration

17 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Basic

Physical Rating

Demanding

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

Not all Southern Africa trips are created equal, and this 17-day adventure kicks it up a notch. Get ready to bike, kayak, bushwalk, hike, and abseil your way from the thundering Vic Falls to the vibrant streets of Cape Town, all the way to Kruger and the epic Tugela Falls.

Highlights

Pedal along on a Victoria Falls Bike tour
Morning Walking Safari in Zambezi National Park
Enjoy a Fat Tire Bike Tour of the desert in Swakopmund
Spot wildlife like seals and pelicans on a Pelican Point Kayaking Excursion. Feel the thrill of Abseiling down Table Mountain. Hike to either Sentinel Peak and Tugela Falls or Gudu and Mahai Falls
Embark on an immersive and active 4-night stay at a bush camp learning about best leave no trace practices and studying how to track wildlife with South Africa’s leading rangers and guides

Trip Details

Duration

17 days

Transportation

Private vehicle, plane, safari vehicle, walking.

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Finishes

Johannesburg, South Africa

Accommodations

Basic

Travel Style

Active

Physical Rating

Demanding

Itinerary

Day 1: Victoria Falls

Upon arrival to Victoria Falls, please make your own way to the joining hotel and enjoy a welcome meeting at 4:30pm before an optional group dinner. You can choose to eat in town or at the lodge.
If you're looking for something to do this evening, choose to pre-book the Simunye Theatrical show during check-out for a lively showcase of professional artists in an intimate, open-air venue.

Day 2: Victoria Falls

Discover Victoria Falls this morning on a captivating bike tour led by knowledgeable local guides. Have lunch at a cafe perched on the banks of Batoka Gorge, offering a spectacular dining backdrop overlooking the falls. Spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring on your own. Available optional activities range from ziplining and bungee jumping, to a helicopter ride.

Day 3: Victoria Falls

Depart on a morning walking safari through Zambezi National Park. You'll drive to a suitable walking area in the park and then search for wildlife along the scenic trails through the unique flora and ecosystems of the Victoria Falls region. Return back to the lodge for lunch on your own and then spend another free afternoon partaking in various adventurous activities offered in the area.

Day 4: Victoria Falls/Windhoek

Take advantage of a final free morning in Victoria Falls. Choose to pre-book the Bamba Tram for a 90-minute ride in a vintage-style tram through the national park, or rise earlier for a sunrise cruise. In the early afternoon transfer to the airport and board a flight to Windhoek. Arrive at your centrally located accommodations in the town, and spend time enjoying the property's grounds and amenities. Dinner tonight is included at the restaurant.

Day 5: Windhoek/Swakopmund

After breakfast, travel by private vehicle from Windhoek to Swakopmund, Namibia's most adventurous city on the coast. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own and choose from a wide variety of optional activities available.

Day 6: Swakopmund

The adventure today begins with a Fat Bike Living Desert experience in which you will ride with a local guide through the delicate ecosystems leaving minimal impact on this important natural area due to the type of bike being used. Travel through Swakopmund, the nearby riverbed, and the dunes along the beach. Spend the afternoon on your own and choose another available optional activity like maybe skydiving or paragliding over the unforgettable landscape.

Day 7: Swakopmund

In the morning travel to Walvis Bay Waterfront and embark on a 4x4 transfer to the embarkation point of the kayaking excursion to Pelican Point. Get up close and observe resident wildlife like birds and seals in their natural habitats, and view Swakopmund from a whole new angle on the water. In the evening, choose to join your CEO and fellow travelers for dinner.

Day 8: Swakopmund/Cape Town

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly from Swakopmund to Cape Town. Arrive to the hotel in the late afternoon and get settled before an included group dinner.

Day 9: Cape Town

Soak up this thrilling day in Cape Town and experience the adrenaline rush of abseiling down the cliff face of iconic Table Mountain. After breakfast the group will ride a cable car up to the top of the mountain and enjoy the views of Robben Island, Lions Head, The Twelve Apostles and Camps Bay in the deep blue Atlantic.

Head back to Cape Town in the early afternoon and spend the rest of the day and evening exploring on your own. From neighbourhood walks to lighthouse hikes, there are so many ways to get to know this incredible city.

Day 10: Cape Town to Tugela Falls Area via Johannesburg

Fly from Cape Town to Johannesburg in the morning and travel to your mountain lodge accommodations near Tugela Falls. The lodge is owned by the local Batlokoa (Sotho) community, and all staff and guides are members themselves. Once here, sit down for a welcome meeting and briefing about the hiking that is expected in the coming days. Then, have an included group dinner at the restaurant on the lodge property.

Day 11: Tugela Falls Area

This morning you have two hiking options to decide between. Choose to set off on the more intense Sentinel Peak hike to the second highest waterfall in the world, Tugela Falls and enjoy lunch at the top. Or opt for the Gudu and Mahai Falls guided hikes along more gentle routes and have lunch back at the lodge in between each one. Dinner will be had back at the lodge with views over the surrounding scenery you spent the day immersed in.
Choose between two guided hiking options this morning. One is more strenuous and takes you to the top of Tugela Falls, the second highest waterfall in the world, while the other is moderate and also visits two separates waterfalls with a return to the lodge in between for lunch.

Day 12: Tugela Falls Area to Pridelands Conservancy

After breakfast at the lodge transfer to the airport and onwards to Hoedspruit and your immersive and active lodge stay. Once at the lodge, sit down for a brief orientation of the property and the safety rules for the upcoming bush camp stay. Take some time to get settled in before the afternoon open safari vehicle drive through the bush searching for wildlife and continuing after sunset with a focus on nocturnal life and astronomy.

Day 13: Pridelands Conservancy

Enjoy a full-day wilderness trail experience in the form of a bush walk. Connect with the wilderness and learn a minimal impact approach as you spend the day trekking on foot, observing wildlife both near and far, and learning about how guides and rangers in South Africa are taught to track and observe the animals in the bush. In the afternoon, set up an eco-friendly tent camp in the wild with your local guides. You will stay overnight here in your pitched tent along with the company of your travel mates and guides for a once in a lifetime opportunity to sleep under the starts in the savanna. Enjoy dinner around the fire and listen out for wildlife in the distance. The night sky should put on quite a display, so don't forget to look up as you drift off to sleep.

Day 14: Pridelands Conservancy

Rise early and after some refreshments clear the camp leaving no trace. Trek back to Pridelands Conservancy with your guide and group and indulge in a hearty breakfast there at the lodge. Later in the day, listen in on an expert-led discussion at the Pridelands Basecamp about an important wilderness topic led by your local expert. Later in the day, hop into the vehicles and join an afternoon safari drive incorporating important points from your earlier talk into the safari drive. Enjoy a Boma dinner back at the camp and fall asleep under the stars.

Day 15: Pridelands Conservancy

As the sun begins to rise the group will embark on an adrenaline-pumping mountain biking activity through the reserve. In the afternoon, choose to join an outdoor wilderness focused discussion led by the local guides and rangers. On your final evening in the conservancy, head out on a last safari drive to spot those last few animals. Bid farewell to the savanna with dinner and a drumming session out in the bush as darkness falls.

Day 16: Pridelands Conservancy/Kruger to Johannesburg

Sip your morning tea or coffee in the bush as the golden light crosses the savanna. Set out on a short morning drive to simply enjoy and envelop yourself in the dawn with nature rising around you. Return for breakfast before transferring onwards to the airport for your flight back to Johannesburg. Arrive in the late afternoon, get settled at the hotel, and enjoy a free evening to explore and grab dinner at a trendy spot in the city with your fellow travel mates and CEO.

Day 17: Johannesburg

Depart at any time.

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $9,749

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 17 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Demanding

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 23 Nov 2025

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Tour Operator

G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.

In Business Since 1990

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