STARTHERE
DAY 1
ARRIVE IN ESWATINI
Sleep: Camp
Travel: Transfer 6hrs to Ezulwini Valley
Touch down in Johannesburg (South Africa) and travel overland to the Ezulwini Valley in eSwatini. Small but mighty, eSwatini has fascinating culture, awesome wildlife and the last reigning monarch in Africa.
Make sure you get some rest after your flight. You’re about to take the road less travelled and experience the places you’ve been dreaming about.
Rugged mountains, tribal culture and incredible wildlife – it’s all here, waiting to be discovered.
DAY 2
EXPLORE EZULWINI
Sleep: Camp
Travel: Transfer 1hr to the village
Unzip your tent in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley – with awesome wildlife, traditional culture and a backdrop of craggy hills, it’s known as the ‘Valley of Heaven’.
Dive into expedition life, allocate some group roles and contact the ground team to discuss your plans. You’ll need to buy some food supplies, so head to the markets and get to grips with the currency – Swazi lilangeni.
Jobs done, it’s time to explore. Visit the local candle factory and learn about this age-old art, then head to the Malandela’s Complex to discover Eswatini’s top performance venue and the Dali-style structures in the sculpture area.
You could also explore the area on foot or dip into your spending money and visit the Eswatini National Museum.
TRAVELLING RESPONSIBLY
REMEMBER, YOU’RE MORE THAN A TOURIST IN THIS PLACE. YOU’RE PART OF A TEAM OF GLOBAL CITIZENS, EMBRACING DIVERSITY AND COMMITTED TO LIFELONG LEARNING. STAY OPEN TO OPPORTUNITIES, CONTRIBUTE WHERE YOU CAN, AND CONNECT WITH THE MANY PEOPLE YOU MEET ALONG THE ROAD.
DAYS 3-5
MALOLOTJA TREK
Sleep: Camp
Multi-day trek: 3 days
Trek difficulty:
Get ready to experience the Malolotja Reserve on foot. Step forward as team leader and set off with your local guides – you’ll be trekking for three days straight.
Lead your team through forests, grassland, and African bush, then drop your packs for the steep ascent to Silotfwane Peak. Pause at the top to take in the view – on clear days, you can see the full width of eSwatini and across to Mozambique.
As you trek, look for herds of zebra, wildebeest, and eland – the largest antelope in the world. Keep an eye out for soaring birds of prey, colourful sunbirds, and troops of baboons moving through the rugged terrain.
At night, you’ll set up camp, share stories around a crackling fire, and fall asleep with a zillion stars twinkling above your tent.
DAYS 6-9
COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
Sleep: Camp
Travel: Transfer 4hrs to the community
Time for a whole new challenge. Discover the reality of local life when you join a Neighbourhood Care Point (NCP) in rural eSwatini. These community-driven centres support vulnerable children with meals, education and more.
Help out with the NCP’s work and get immersed in village life. Take guided walks, learn about cattle herding and have a go at lutindzi grass weaving – a traditional way of making mats, the grass is harvested high in the mountains. If you’re here on a Sunday, you could join the whole village in church – it’s an important element of local life.
This is a side of eSwatini that few tourists see. You’ll be using bucket showers and pit latrines, with none of the comforts you’re used to back home. Leap outside your comfort zone, stay open-minded and embrace every opportunity.
QUALITY EDUCATION
CONTRIBUTE TO A SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVE THAT AIMS TO IMPROVE SOCIOECONOMIC MOBILITY THROUGH EDUCATION.
DAYS 10-12
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Sleep: Camp
Travel: Transfer 5hrs to Kruger, transfer 3hrs to eSwatini
Thought this trip couldn’t get any better? It just did. You’re on your way to Kruger National Park – one of the world’s top safari spots. Of all the national parks in Africa, this vast wilderness has the greatest diversity of wildlife.
Wake up early for a sunrise safari when the animals are most active, or head out later to spot them snoozing in the shade. You could also venture out after dark – this is when lions and leopards head out to hunt.
As you explore, look for herds of buffalo and elephants on the plains. Grab your binoculars for a closer
look. There they are – drinking at the waterhole, just a few paces from your jeep.
At night, you’ll sleep safe in your tent, listening to the whoops of hyenas and the distant roar of big cats.
On your last day here, head out on a final safari ride. Take in the beauty of Kruger and cherish your last chance to spot wildlife in the wild. Then, prepare for an exciting journey across the Mananga border into eSwatini.
THE
BIG FIVE!
AFRICA’S BIG FIVE ANIMALS ARE THE LION, LEOPARD, RHINOCEROS, ELEPHANT, AND BUFFALO. KRUGER IS HOME TO THEM ALL.
DAY 13
EZULWINI CULTURE
Sleep: Camp
Pile in the transfer vehicle and strike northwest to Malolotja Nature Reserve. Stop off in the capital city of Mbabane to restock your food supplies, then visit the immense Sibebe Rock, one of the largest granite outcrops in the world.
Next, head to the Ngwenya Glass Complex, where recycled glass is transformed into beautiful sculptures and household items. You could also buy some souvenirs from the Eswatini Fair Trade Organisation.
Continue to the Ezulwini Valley to pitch your tents, stopping off to restock your food supplies on the way. In the afternoon, visit the Mantenga Cultural Village to see a traditional dance performance. Find out more about
Swazi culture and the importance of dance as you explore the village with a local guide.
SPEAK SWAZI
CONNECT WITH THE LOCALS BY LEARNING THEIR LINGO: HELLO IS ‘SAWUBONA’ (SOWBOH-NAH) AND THANK YOU IS ‘NGIYABONGA’ (NEAR-BONG-A).
EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES.
Students will gain a greater understanding of how to act for a more sustainable future, at both local and global levels.
Students will be immersed in different cultures and experiences, growing to understand their role within our global community.
Students will be challenged to think critically about topical issues that affect our past, present and future around the world.
Students will be empowered to build on their self-care strategies, enhancing their physical and mental wellbeing.
Students will experience and reflect on the power of being pushed outside of their comfort zone, allowing the development of initiative, confidence, and resilience
Students will build a deeper connection to their own identity and personal values, developing their independence and sense of self.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
