South Africa and Eswatini: Glamping, road trip, safari!

Sunglasses, bags, camera, a yearning to explore – you've got everything you need, and you're heading to the airport! As your plane rolls down the runway, you get more and more hyped about what lies ahead. You lean back, snuggle up in your seat and start dreaming of all the adventures that await you in the African wilderness. One thing's for sure: this is gonna be the trip of a lifetime!

You're finally back on the ground! Right at the airport in Johannesburg, you pick up your hire car, your faithful travel companion for the next few days, put on your sunglasses, step on the accelerator and leave the city in your rear-view mirror.

Up next: Pretoria! And it pulls out all the stops – especially in October, when the jacaranda trees transform the whole city into a sea of purple blossoms. Insta worthy? You bet! After a quick rest at your accommodation, you head straight to the Union Buildings, where Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the country's first Black president. Feeling the history, taking in the skyline and soaking up the South African vibes – what a perfect day!

The open road is calling – and you're answering! You wave goodbye to the city lights for now because you're off into the wild. South Africa's nature simply pulls out all the stops. So, you grab your hire car and step on the accelerator! The drive may be long, but with these views, who cares! Viewpoints keep popping up that you can't possibly ignore, and you can't help but make a quick stop for the perfect Insta pic. And just before your destination, another real showstopper awaits: the Blyde River Canyon! You have to make a small detour to get there, but it's 100% worth it; the panoramic view is simply insane!

The closer you get to where you're staying for the next couple of days, the more your excitement grows. And then you finally arrive. Tonight, you're bunking down in a breathtaking glamping lodge right by Kruger National Park! But tomorrow, you're fully dedicating yourself to a peaceful day in the park.

As you drink your coffee on the veranda, looking out across the picturesque gardens, you write the names of the Big Five on a piece of paper. Today's the day you check them off one by one! You take your hire car through the mighty Kruger National Park, which is right next to where you're staying, and embark on a self-drive safari (optional, payable on site). After just a few miles, you hit the brakes. Dark, gentle eyes appear between the leaves, a huge foot steps onto the road and suddenly, you realise what's happening. Right in front of you, an elephant emerges from the thicket! After it passes, you make a brief stop to watch a feeding giraffe hiding behind the next tree, then you reach the first watering hole. A herd of zebras has gathered, and they're having a drink at the shore while two antelopes check for lurking dangers and even more elephants come out for some refreshment. You could watch this all day long!