14 DAYS SOUTH AFRICA: PANORAMA ROUTE, KRUGER AND ST LUCIA

Welcome to South Africa, nayimkelekile, baie welkom! As you walk out of O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg – Africa’s biggest and busiest airport – you head straight to your rental car pick-up place. This is where your adventure begins! This self-driving journey is all about freedom: explore at your own pace, tailor your days with exciting activities, and decide when to stop and soak it all in. With our travel guide full of top spots, local tips and charming padstalls, you’re set for an unforgettable road trip...!

Accommodations:

• Silver The City Lodge Hotel - O.R. Tambo International Airport
• Gold The Residence Boutique Hotel
• Platinum The Houghton Hotel

This is the start of your South African road trip – let’s leave the city behind and head straight for adventure! The drive from Johannesburg to Graskop takes 4.5 hours (or 380 kilometres), which leaves time to include a thrilling stop towards the end in Hazyview for some white water rafting on the Sabie River. It’s the perfect adrenaline kick to launch your journey. Once you've checked in at your Graskop hotel, the iconic Panorama Route is yours to explore.

Activities:

Accommodations:

• Silver Crystal Springs Mountain Lodge
• Gold Dar Amane Guest House Graskop
• Platinum Hoyohoyo Angels View Graskop

The Panorama Route in Mpumalanga is a breathtaking drive that begins near Graskop and winds north along the R532 to the Blyde River Canyon and Echo Caves. This iconic route takes you past a string of unforgettable stops—each one quick to visit, low-cost to enter, and absolutely camera-worthy. Start with the Graskop Gorge Lift, a one-of-a-kind experience that lowers you 51 metres into a lush forest by glass elevator. From there, head to Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window, the Berlin and Lisbon Falls, and the Three Rondavels - each offering panoramic views and dramatic landscapes. End your journey with a peaceful boat cruise on the Blyde Dam, taking in the Blyde River Canyon from its most impressive angle, right from the water’s edge!

Accommodations:

• Silver Blyde River Wilderness Lodge
• Gold Blyde River Canyon Lodge
• Platinum Umvangati House

Make the most of the last stretch of the Panorama Route - it’s just 50 kilometres (about 1 hour and 20 minutes) from Blyde River Canyon to Hoedspruit via the scenic R40. The drive is short but packed with stunning views, so take it slow and savour the scenery. Arriving early? You might still have time to visit Jessica the hippo or explore the charming town of Hoedspruit. Rest up at your lodge tonight, because Kruger National Park awaits you bright and early tomorrow!

Activities:

Accommodations:

• Silver Leopards Lair Bush Lodge
• Gold Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit
• Platinum Tangala Safari Camp

The drive from Hoedspruit to the Orpen Gate of Kruger National Park takes less than 30 minutes via the R40, so you’ll be on safari in no time! Upon entering, you’ll receive a detailed map with clearly marked routes leading to rest camps and prime game viewing spots. The open grasslands near Orpen Gate are rich in wildlife, offering superb sightings of the Big Five, as well as cheetahs, African wild dogs, giraffes, and zebras. This area’s mineral-rich sweetveld attracts animals year-round, making it a hotspot for game drives. Be sure to chat with other visitors at the rest camps—you might get a tip on where to run into a buffalo herd of 250 strong!

Activities:

Accommodations:

• Silver Skukuza Rest Camp
• Gold Skukuza Safari Lodge
• Platinum Kruger Shalati - The Train on the Bridge

If you exit Kruger National Park via the Malelane Gate, it’s just about an hour’s drive (67 kilometres) along the N4 to Nelspruit/Mbombela, where you can marvel at the lush Lowveld and its fruit orchards. After checking into your hotel, consider a visit to the Sudwala Caves on the R539 – the oldest cave system in the world with ancient stalactites, stalagmites, and fossils. Craving a bit more action? Then fly over the breathtaking valley on the Sudwala Zipline!

Activities:

Accommodations:

• Silver Sheppard Boutique Hotel
• Gold Loerie's Call Guesthouse
• Platinum Torburnlea Homestead Luxury Accommodation

Nelspruit or Mbombela (the official name) is known for its lush landscapes, subtropical climate, and its proximity to Kruger National Park. The city blends its rich heritage with modern flair; check the historical walking trail before heading to the shops, lively restaurants and many cultural attractions. Don’t miss the Lowveld National Botanical Garden, home to a man-made rainforest and a rich variety of indigenous flora. Nearby, the ancient Sudwala Caves offer guided tours through the earth’s oldest known cave system, filled with ancient stalactites, stalagmites, and fossils. Craving more thrills? The Sudwala zipline offers a high-flying ride over the stunning valley landscape.

Accommodations:

• Silver Sheppard Boutique Hotel
• Gold Loerie's Call Guesthouse
• Platinum Torburnlea Homestead Luxury Accommodation

It’s a good idea to set your alarm and hit the road early – you've got a long drive ahead, but the reward is a few days of relaxation in a tropical paradise! The journey from Mbombela to St Lucia covers 540 kilometres via the N2 and takes just under seven hours. Be sure to plan well, as driving in the dark through the rural areas around St Lucia isn’t advised due to wildlife often wandering onto the roads - yes, even hippos! Break up the drive with a lunch stop in Pongola, right on the N2 in the heart of Zululand. You’ll reach it after a good four hours of driving, and there are several restaurants and shops just off the highway where you can refuel – both yourselves and the car. From Pongola, it’s another two hours and twenty minutes to St Lucia.

Activities:

Accommodations:

• Silver Leopard Corner Lodge
• Gold At Heritage House
• Platinum Makakatana Bay Lodge

The total distance from St Lucia to King Shaka International Airport is 212 kilometres, so it shouldn't take more than 2.5 hours to reach your destination via the N2 highway towards Durban. Enjoy those last views of impressive coastal plains and wetlands. It's a relatively short drive so if you still have a few hours to spare, you might want to insert a quick visit to Durban (another 20 kilometres from the airport, but towards the other side) before you return your car and check in. Depending on which airline you booked your return flight with, you embark on the flight home immediately, or on a domestic flight towards Johannesburg first (as most transcontinental destinations are only served from O.R.Tambo International Airport).

Activities: