Trip Itinerary: Eswatini + South Africa
August 16 - 27, 2025
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU! Below you’ll find a day by day plan for the trip. This should serve as a rough guideline for what we’ll be doing. Your Ace Camps Travel Host will provide full details including specific times and locations to you through the WhatsApp group chat and in person. Keep in mind, this is a prospective itinerary. It is subject to modest modifications, depending on local weather + opportunities.
Day 1 - SATURDAY AUGUST 16
Welcome to South Africa! Our journey begins in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Settle into your room and we’ll meet early evening for a casual welcome dinner.
Guests should plan to be ready to meet for your welcome meeting at the hotel by 5:30pm. Megan, your Ace Camps Travel Tour Host, will confirm your specific welcome meeting time and location on the property on the morning of August 16th in your whatsapp group chat.
Overnight: Johannesburg
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2 - SUNDAY AUGUST 17
Breakfast at the hotel will begin at 6:30am
This morning we have a fairly early start as we have a long journey by bus to reach our destination in Eswatini. Passing through the eastern part of South Africa we should reach the Eswatini border in about 3.5-4 hours. After we have crossed the border, we will make our way to the workshop and store of Ngwenya Glass. Here you’ll have the chance to stretch your legs and wander for a few minutes around the complex. You may be able to see glass artisans at work as well as shop their supply room for the perfect gifts to take home. From here we travel into the Elzulwini Valley for a late lunch at Mantenga Lodge.
Today’s Travel Tips: As lunch will be a bit later today, you might want to pick up some bus snacks in Johannesburg to have en route. Make sure to fill up your refillable water bottle at the clean drinking water station at the Parkwood hotel before you leave Johannesburg.
Late afternoon ~ We will arrive at Mogi hotel. You will have some down time to refresh before we meet on the outdoor hotel terrace for dinner together.
Overnight: Eswatini
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - MONDAY AUGUST 18
Breakfast at the hotel
Today we start the first day of our hands-on batik workshop in the studios of Baobab Batik. You will learn about Baobab Batik, their history and social impact within the community. Lunch at Vickery Seedlings.
From here you will start learning about batik wax application, and layering colour dyes. You’ll start off with drawing and texture experiments getting used to the wax application. Dinner at Mogi Hotel
Overnight: Eswatini
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - TUESDAY AUGUST 19
Breakfast at the hotel
We continue with the second day of our hands-on batik workshop in the studios of Baobab Batik. After you have mastered your batik technique, you will work with the Baobab artisans to start developing multiple different pieces of work such as aprons, scarves, or cushion covers. Lunch at Vickery Seedlings.
The final step after your wax drawings have dried is learning about over dyeing them with coloured dyes. You might also consider trying multiple coloured designs varying your layers of wax drawings and textures to achieve some truly wonderful creations. Dinner at Velvet Monkey
Overnight: Eswatini
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20
Breakfast at the hotel
This morning is our final session of our hands-on batik workshop in the studios of Baobab Batik. You’ll have time to work on final touches and complete your projects.
For lunch you’re invited to a special picnic lunch with the women of Baobab Batik where they will share local dishes with us. Later this afternoon you will have time to shop at Baobab Batik. Dinner this evening at Mantenga Lodge.
Overnight: Eswatini
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - THURSDAY AUGUST 21
Breakfast at the hotel
This morning we will visit the local Manzini Market filled with a variety of market goods and likely a few souvenirs. From here we will visit the Swazi Candles complex which houses several local craft initiatives + shops. We’ll have a very casual lunch at Sambane Cafe before we head over to the studio of Gone Rule.
Gone Rural is constantly working with their weavers to redefine what can be made with grass and a skilled hand – from fashion, to lighting, to sculpture and accessories they have embraced the vitality and artistic spirit of women living in rural Eswatini to create innovative, high-end décor products out of local, sustainable materials. We will tour through their production facility, and meet with the skilled artisans to understand all their different roles within the company. Dinner at Velvet Monkey
Overnight: Eswatini
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - FRIDAY AUGUST 22
Breakfast at the hotel
Today we begin our hands-on Basket Weaving workshop with the women of Gone Rural. The Gone Rural weavers use a unique weaving technique that was developed in Eswatini called “Lavumisa”. Lunch at Malandela’s
They work with three primary types of local grass: Lukhasi, Lutindzi and sisal. Lukhasi is an indigenous reed that we use as the inner coils. The Lukhasi is not seen in the finished product as it is covered by Lutindzi or sisal. Lutindzi is an indigenous grass, growing in mountainous areas of the country. In addition the weavers use off-cut fabric scraps to incorporate different textures into their designs. Dinner at Mogi Hotel
Overnight: Eswatini
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - SATURDAY AUGUST 23
Breakfast at the hotel
This morning we have been invited to visit a traditional, very rural weaving village and community where many Gone Rural weavers work from home. You will meet with local weavers and witness their expertise in technique. Quick lunch break at Vesuvio Cafe
This afternoon, back at the main studio, you’ll continue with your basket weaving workshop with Gone Rural weavers. Dinner at Velvet Monkey.
Overnight: Eswatini
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - SUNDAY AUGUST 24
Breakfast at the hotel
This morning is our final session of our hands-on weaving workshop with Gone Rural. You’ll have time to work on final touches and attempt to complete your projects. For lunch enjoy a special BBQ picnic featuring local dishes prepared by the Gone Rural team. You’ll have a final chance to shop on site and pick up supplies for your journey to Kruger Park before we return back to Mogi mid afternoon. Dinner this evening at Mogi.
Overnight: Eswatini
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 - MONDAY AUGUST 25
Breakfast at the hotel
This morning we depart Eswatini and make our way to Kruger National Park in South Africa.
As we get close to the park we will stop for lunch at Buckler’s Lodge before we enter Kruger at Crocodile Bridge.
At the park gate, you will transfer to an open air safari vehicle for the journey to reach your lodge located next to Kruger Gate. Kruger National Park is the largest national reserve in South Africa, and is renowned the world over. The massive expanse of wild bushveld provides a vast range of scenery, diverse flora, and wild animals of all sizes and characters.
Upon arrival at the hotel, you’ll have some time to settle into your rooms before you meet for dinner at the hotel restaurant Lapa. Tonight is a buffet style dinner.
Overnight: Kruger Park Gate
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
*Please note we have been advised that Kruger Gate hotel must carry out unforeseen urgent maintenance work on their main infinity pool during the dates of your stay. Their brand-new self-catering infinity pool and family pool will remain available for your enjoyment throughout this period.
Day 11 - TUESDAY AUGUST 26
A very early start this morning for a dawn safari with your Kruger Park guides. Once you are inside the park your guides will provide coffee and tea. As the days are generally quite hot, animals are more active and easier to spot during the very early morning. The most common animals to keep an eye out for are giraffe, zebra, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest and hyena. Return to the hotel mid morning and enjoy breakfast on site.
Late morning your guides will pick you up once again for a drive thru the park to a picnic site where they will prepare a bush braai + picnic lunch. After the picnic your guides will bring you back to the hotel where you will have some time to relax.
A final group dinner this evening at the hotel to celebrate our time together on this incredible adventure!
Overnight: Kruger Park Gate
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 - WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27
Breakfast at the hotel
This morning we pack our bags and leave Kruger National park for your onward trip to O.R. Tambo Airport in Johannesburg to catch your flight home. Quick lunch stop en route (on your own). Please note: the driving time from Kruger National Park to O.R. Tambo Airport in Johannesburg is roughly 6 hours.
Thank you for joining us on this incredible and often unexpected journey around Eswatini + South Africa!
Meals included: Breakfast