International flights from Europe land in Johannesburg in the morning. You will be greeted by your tour guide. Drive across the Highveld to Dullstroom, located on the edge of the Drakensberg. The route takes you over the highest pass in Mpumalanga, the Long Tom Pass, to Sabie and then on to Graskop, where you will stay for two nights in a lovely 3* hotel.

Graskop Hotel 3*

Bus route 380 km, duration 5 h

A short transfer takes you to the gold mining town of Pilgrim's Rest. You cycle along a lonely track to the Bourke's Luck Potholes, an impressive system of whirlpools through which the Blyde River makes its way into the Blyde Gorge. Sometimes you can see a herd of chacma baboons. You cycle along an idyllic route from the 3 Rondavel viewpoint on a long descent into the lowlands. In the afternoon, transfer back to the hotel. (B)

Graskop Hotel 3*

Cycling route 57 km, 530 hm, tarmac/track

Bus distance 90 km, duration 2.5 h

You cycle along a loop along the edge of the Drakensberg Mountains. You visit the Pinnacle Rock, an imposing stone column, and God's Window, a lookout point with a magnificent view that, in good weather, stretches as far as the Kruger National Park and Mozambique. After a detour to the Lisbon Falls, there is a long descent into the Lowveld. After a 1-hour drive, you reach the entrance to the world-famous Kruger National Park. On the safari that follows in your own vehicle, you can experience lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, buffalo, antelopes, wild dogs, as well as a colorful bird life and diverse vegetation. Accommodation is in thatched chalets in a camp in the south of the park. (B)

Camp in Kruger Park 2-3*

Cycling route 67 km, 820 hm, tarmac

Bus distance 40 km, duration 1.5 h

The animals are most active in the morning. There is the option of taking part in a walking safari with a ranger, a unique experience (optional, should be booked when registering for the trip as there are only 8 places available). After breakfast, you will drive to another camp in the park, where you will always see animals. In the afternoon, you will go on another safari, this time in an open vehicle. (B)

Camp in Kruger Park 2-3*

Bus distance 200 km, duration 6 h

On the way to the exit of the park, another safari is on the agenda. You reach the border with the Kingdom of Swaziland/Eswatini. Only 17,000 square kilometers in size, it offers a variety of landscapes. You will experience the warmth of its inhabitants everywhere. From the border, you cycle on a quiet track through many small Swazi settlements to the Phophonyane Lodge, which is beautifully located right next to waterfalls. The last 3 km are quite steep and the support vehicle is happy to pick up mountain-weary cyclists. Since one of the oldest rock formations in the world can be seen here (3.55 billion years), the area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018. (F)

Phophonyane Lodge 3*

Cycling route 27 km, 650 hm, piste

Bus distance 100 km, duration 3 h

A 20-minute transfer takes you to the next starting point just outside Piggs Peak. On a hilly, scenic track, you go to the rock paintings of the indigenous people in Nsangwini. A local guide explains the meanings. The vegetation changes and thorn bush savannah accompanies us. After a lunch break, we head to the Ezulwini Valley in the afternoon, where you stay in a lodge for two nights in the traditionally built beehive houses. (B)

Mlilwane Game Reserve 2-3*

Cycling route 48 km, 580 hm, tarmac/track

Bus distance 150 km, duration 2.5 h

On the transfer to the uSutu forest, you pass the king's palace. On a quiet country road, you cycle past numerous kraals to a craft workshop where beautiful Swazi candles are made to lively music. Then you go on a bike safari to the Mlilwane animal sanctuary. Apart from crocodiles and hippos, there are no dangerous animals living in this wildlife sanctuary, so you go on safari on foot and by bike - an impressive experience! From the bike saddle, you can see zebras, blesbok, impalas, ostriches, warthogs and eland, among others. (F)

Mlilwane Game Reserve 2-3*

Cycling route 55 km, 570 hm, tarmac/track

Bus distance 50 km, duration 1.25 hours

Passing villages and sugar cane fields, you will return to South Africa and the fertile Zululand. In the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park, world-famous for its successful species protection program for white and black rhinos, you will go on a safari in your own vehicle. In addition to the Big 5: lion, elephant, rhino, leopard and buffalo, you will also find the beautiful lowland nyala, a native antelope species. For the next two nights you will stay in a beautiful 4* guesthouse in the seaside resort of St. Lucia. The place is located directly on the UNESCO World Heritage site iSimangaliso Wetland Park. (F)

Umhlanga Lodge 4*

Bus route 380 km, duration 7 h

In the morning, we recommend a boat trip on the St. Lucia Lagoon (optional). In addition to crocodiles and hippos, the mixed waters are also home to African fish eagles, Goliath herons and many other bird species. The rest of the day is free. Swimming in the warm Indian Ocean, hiking in the rainforest or visiting the township by bike - with a very committed teacher couple are all possible. (F)

Umhlanga Lodge 4*

Bus distance 20 km, duration 0.25 h

We continue south. You go on a bike tour through the valley of a thousand hills. In this former homeland, life takes place on the streets and cyclists are an attraction! Encouraging shouts from school children and appreciative whistles are part of it. We pass many kraals. Cattle and goat farming as well as corn cultivation play a major role. A short transfer takes us to our comfortable 3* guesthouse in a quiet suburb of Pietermaritzburg. (B)

Lexden Guest House 3*

Cycling route 43 km, 510 hm, tarmac

Bus distance 320 km, duration 4.25 h

A 1.5-hour transfer takes you to Bergville in the Natal Midlands. At the foothills of the 3000m high uKhahlambra Drakensberg, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cycle route leads through fertile farmland and past many Zulu kraals. You will be a guest in a beautifully located 3* lodge for two nights. (B)

Tower of Pizza 3*

Cycling route 46 km, 730 hm, tarmac

Bus distance 150 km, duration 2 hours

In the Royal Natal National Park, you hike uphill along the Tugela River. A slightly hilly path later leads you into the gorge of the same name. Here, the Tugela Falls, 1300m deep, plunge down from the amphitheater. On the 6-hour hike, you can see rainforest, tree ferns, proteas and orchids. (F)

Tower of Pizza 3*

Hike approx. 6 hours (500 m elevation)

Bus distance 40 km, duration 0.75 h

You leave the province of KwaZulu Natal and drive across the Highveld back to Johannesburg. A visit to the Apartheid Museum gives a vivid insight into the turbulent past. Afterwards, transfer to Oliver Tambo International Airport, where this very varied trip ends. (B)

Bus distance 350 km, duration 4.5 h