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HOME > South Africa > Fly-drives & Tours > Kruger, Panorama Route & KwaZulu-Natal Fly-Drive

Kruger, the Panorama Route & KwaZulu-Natal Fly-Drive

2022 fly-drive package holidays to Kruger, Panorama Route. Drakensberg Mountains and Durban South Africa Holiday prices are per person based on two sharing, including flights, accommodation and car hire, and are subject to availability. Flights from Heathrow - other departures also available, call for details. Holiday Code T0520W.

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Kruger, Panorama Route & KNZ Fly-Drive

A fabulous fly-drive itinerary starting in stunning Kruger National Park and working through Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal. Take in the Panorama Route, Battlefields & Drakensburg, on the way to Durban.

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Day 1 - UK to Kruger National Park

Fly from London to Kruger, arriving next day.

Day 2 - Kruger National Park

On arrival in to Hoedspruit airport your rental car will be waiting for you, for your drive to your game reserve (approx. 1-2 hours, depending on your chosen lodge), for a three night stay - we have a wide range of places to stay, both inside the national park itself, on private game reserves that adjoin the park and in the surrounding area. Different durations are also available so if you’d like a shorter or longer stay, just ask!

Driving is fairly straightforward in South Africa, with well maintained roads which are generally fairly quiet outside of the main towns. Driving is on the left and most laws and customs are familiar to UK drivers. Do bear in mind that all drivers will need a valid drivers licence plus the DVLA online code and printout, along with a credit card in the name of the main driver for deposit purposes. Other T&C’s apply - just ask for details!

Days 3-4 - Kruger National Park area

Park up and spend the next few days on safari - you’re in the hands of the experts here, with morning and afternoon game drives in the reserve to see as much wildlife as possible. This area is home to the ‘big 5’, so expect superb wildlife sighting and a real thrill.

Day 5 - Kruger National Park area to Hazyview

After a final morning game drive it’s time to depart the Kruger area, and head for the glorious Panorama Route region. Depending on the location of your game reserve it’s approx 1-2 hours to your next stop at Hazyview in Mpumalanga, so you can drive direct and relax when you arrive, or take in other areas of this beautiful region. If you’re coming from the southern area of Kruger then check out Malelane on the Crocodile River, or from anywhere in the area bypass Hazyview and head to the Sabie area to take in some of the areas waterfalls - pack your trunks and have a swim at the rock pools at Mac-Mac Falls. Check in to your hotel in Hazyview for a two night stay.

Day 6 - Hazyview and the Panorama Route

Spend a day exploring the stunning scenery of the Panorama Route, one of the most spectacular regions in South Africa. We’d suggest starting your day by driving to Graskop, and then taking Route 532 north to the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world. Allow plenty of time for taking in some of the viewpoints to admire the magnificent landscape. Close to Graskop is the Pinnacle, a striking skyscraper of a rock formation, and from here it’s a short detour of R532 to Gods Window and Wonder View, two of the best viewpoints in the area (on a clear day you can see the Indian ocean off Mozambique - apparently!) Lisbon Falls are another short detour, before the Canyon itself starts. Bourke’s Luck Potholes are strange formations carved by whirlpools - the visitor centre here is worth a visit. Continue north and look for the viewpoint overlooking the Three Rondavels. Loop round to the west and on to Echo Caves, then south and in to Pilgrim’s Rest, which is a perfectly preserved Goldrush town and ideal for a rest stop. Around pretty Sabie are various waterfalls, and the whole region has numerous hikes for the more energetic. Return to Hazyview for overnight (approx 4 hours, plus stopping time).

Day 7 - Hazyview to the Battlefields

Today it’s a long drive south to KwaZulu-Natal (approx 7 hours), heading in to the heart of KwaZulu-Natal’s Battlefields, where a series of battles in the 1800’s changed this area. Today this area is marked with battle sites, and it’s worth picking up an audio guide to explain things in more detail. Tonight is at Isanlwana, known as the site of the worst British defeat in Colonial history. Thankfully, the area is much more welcoming today.

Day 8 - The Battlefields to the Northern Drakensberg

Head to the Drakensberg Mountains, travelling via Ladysmith, famed for its Anglo-Boer War history and, more recently, one of South Africa’s best-known vocal groups (approx 3.5 hours). On arrival in to Cathedral Peak check in to your chosen hotel for a two night stay.

Day 9 - Drakensberg

Spend a day exploring the stunning uKhMweni Valleyahlamba-Drakensberg Park, a World Heritage site and the country’s premier mountain wilderness - the scenery here is spectacular. The Cathedral Peak area offers particularly good hiking routes, best generally in spring or autumn. The Drakensberg overall can have quite extreme weather - summer tends to be best for hiking but sees the most rainfall, while winter sees heavy frosts, and snow has been recorded on the highest peaks every month of the year. Bring good footwear and wet weather gear if you’re exploring on foot.

Day 10 - Northern Drakensberg to Southern Drakensberg

Relocate within the Drakensberg area, from Cathedral Peak in the northern area to the southern area. Detour back in to the park at Giant’s Castle for its rugged remote feel, and Injisuthi’s ‘wow’ factor views. Head south (you’ll need to loop in and out of the park as there are no through routes) and on to the Highmoor area (approx 4.5 hours total).On arrival check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 11 - Southern Drakensberg to Howick

Spend the morning taking in a little more of the majestic scenery before leaving the Drakensberg Mountains behind and heading back down to the plateau below - the drive to Howick is around an hour, so you have plenty of time for the views. On arrival in to Howick check in to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 12 - Howick to Durban

Howick makes a good stopping point between Drakensberg and Durban, and the journey on to the coast from here is around 1.5 hours. Make a stop in Pietermaritzburg, the best-preserved Victoria city in South Africa, and spend a little while walking around the city centre. We’d also recommend a quick detour to the Valley of a Thousand Hills, where the scenery is almost as pretty as the name. On arrival in to Durban, drop your car off at the local depot and make your way to your chosen hotel for a three night stay - this is flexible, of course!

Days 13-14 - Durban

Spend the next few days exploring Durban. Perhaps pre-book a Hluhluwe-imFolozi Full Day Tour, where you will head to the heart of Zululand for an exciting day of fantastic Big Five game viewing at the picturesque Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, renowned throughout the world for its dedication to Rhino conservation.

Day 15 - Return

Transfer to Durban airport and check in for your flight back to the UK.