Self-Launched Durban to Cape Town: Drakensberg, Lesotho & Garden Route (Camping)
12 days · South Africa & Lesotho
Acacia Adventure Holidays charges £1,230
No-markup version: ~£810 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Acacia Africa's 12-day camping overland trip from Durban to Cape Town, covering the Southern and Northern Drakensberg, a 4x4 crossing of Sani Pass into Lesotho, the KZN battlefields, Malealea pony trekking, and Big Five safaris at Mountain Zebra and Addo before the Garden Route, Cango Caves, Cape Agulhas and the winelands. You'll travel by a mix of Baz Bus, Intercape/Greyhound coaches, minibus taxis and a shared 4x4 tour up Sani Pass, staying in hostels, backpacker camps and a Lesotho village lodge. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP and assume shared hostel dorm beds, self-catering or budget meals, and group-shared activities — self-drive car hire (roughly £30-40/day split between travellers) is a worthwhile alternative on the Garden Route leg if you'd rather not rely on coaches.
Day-by-day
Durban to Southern Drakensberg (Underberg)
Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal
Arrive Durban (King Shaka Airport), then take a shuttle or minibus transfer southwest to Underberg (~3.5-4 hrs, ~£25-30 with a backpacker shuttle or ~£12 on a minibus taxi combo via Pietermaritzburg). Settle into a backpacker lodge or campsite in the foothills with mountain views. Spend the afternoon on a short self-guided walk to a river or viewpoint, stock up on groceries in town and prep for the Sani Pass day.
🚌Backpacker shuttle or minibus taxi combo (~£25)
🛏Backpacker lodge dorm or campsite, Underberg (~£16)
- →Durban to Underberg shuttle transfer
- →Self-guided foothills walk
- →Supermarket shop & trip prep
Sani Pass 4x4 to Lesotho Highlands (Black Mountain)
Sani Pass / Lesotho Highlands
Book a seat on a shared 4x4 Sani Pass day tour from Underberg (~£55-75 per person, includes passport border formalities at the top, local guide and Lesotho village stop). Ride the notorious switchbacks to the 2,874m summit, then continue on foot or by vehicle toward Black Mountain (~3,240m). Lunch is usually a stop at the highest pub in Africa. Bring your passport — this is an international border crossing and some nationalities need a visa for Lesotho. Return to Underberg for the night.
🚌Shared 4x4 tour vehicle (~£65)
🛏Backpacker lodge dorm or campsite, Underberg (~£16)
- →Shared 4x4 Sani Pass tour
- →Lesotho border crossing & highland village visit
- →Black Mountain viewpoint hike
KZN Battlefields to Northern Drakensberg
Northern Drakensberg (Bergville / Royal Natal area)
Hire a car with other travellers or take a shared shuttle north to the Battlefields region around Dundee/Rorke's Drift (~£25-35 shared). Explore the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer battle sites — Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana have excellent self-guided museums and cheap local guides (~£8-15). Continue by car or minibus to the Northern Drakensberg (Bergville/Tugela area), checking into a backpacker lodge or campsite with mountain views.
🚌Shared car hire or minibus (~£30)
🛏Backpacker lodge dorm or campsite, Bergville (~£16)
- →Rorke's Drift & Isandlwana battlefield museums
- →Local battlefield guide
- →Drive to Northern Drakensberg
Royal Natal National Park – Tugela Falls & Amphitheatre
Royal Natal National Park
Drive or hitch the short hop to Royal Natal National Park (~£8 park entry). Hike the classic Tugela Gorge route (roughly 5-6 hrs return) toward the base of the Tugela Falls and the Amphitheatre cliffs — one of the Drakensberg's best free-access walks. Shorter alternatives include the Cascades and Devil's Hoek trails. Pack lunch and water; weather turns fast in the berg.
🚌Shared car or local transfer (~£8)
🛏Backpacker lodge dorm or campsite, Bergville (~£16)
- →Tugela Gorge hike
- →Amphitheatre viewpoints
- →Cascades & Devil's Hoek short trails
Drakensberg to Malealea, Lesotho
Malealea, Lesotho
A long travel day: drive or take a shared shuttle/minibus via the Caledonspoort or Maseru Bridge border to Malealea in western Lesotho (~£30-40 shared, 6-8 hrs). The route winds through spectacular mountain passes. Stay at Malealea Lodge's backpacker/campsite — a community-run base with dorm beds, camping and pony trekking on the doorstep.
🚌Shared shuttle/minibus via border (~£35)
🛏Malealea Lodge dorm or campsite (~£14)
- →Scenic Lesotho mountain drive
- →Mas eru/Caledonspoort border crossing
- →Sunset at Malealea
Malealea free day – pony trekking & hikes
Malealea, Lesotho
Book a pony trek directly with Malealea Lodge (~£20-30 for a half day) through Basotho villages and mountain paths — the signature Lesotho experience. Alternatives include a mountain bike hire (~£15), hikes to nearby waterfalls and rock-art sites (~£10 with a local guide), or a village visit. Cash only in most places here; draw rand in South Africa before crossing.
🚌On foot / lodge-based
🛏Malealea Lodge dorm or campsite (~£14)
- →Basotho pony trek
- →Waterfall hike with local guide
- →Mountain bike hire
- →Village visit
Lesotho to Mountain Zebra National Park
Cradock, Eastern Cape
Cross back into South Africa (Maseru Bridge or Van Rooyen's Gate) and travel south toward Cradock (~£35-45 shared or coach + minibus, 7-8 hrs). Check into a backpacker or campsite near Mountain Zebra National Park, then do a self-drive game drive in the afternoon (~£12 park entry plus shared car). Look for Cape mountain zebra, black wildebeest and cheetah.
🚌Shared shuttle/minibus via Maseru border (~£40)
🛏Backpacker/campsite near Cradock (~£16)
- →Self-drive game drive in Mountain Zebra NP
- →Cradock town stop
Addo Elephant National Park Safari
Addo, Eastern Cape
Head south to Addo (~2.5 hrs, ~£15 shared transfer or minibus). Join a self-bookable Addo safari — either a SANParks guided sunset/night drive (~£25-30) or a shared day tour via GetYourGuide (~£50-60 including park fees), or self-drive the loop roads with your own car (~£12 entry). Addo has 600+ elephants plus lion, buffalo, rhino and hyena. Overnight in a backpacker near Addo or Port Elizabeth.
🚌Shared transfer to Addo (~£15)
🛏Backpacker dorm near Addo/PE (~£16)
- →Addo Elephant National Park game drive
- →Optional SANParks sunset drive
Tsitsikamma Forest & Plettenberg Bay
Tsitsikamma / Plettenberg Bay
Take the Baz Bus or Intercape down the Garden Route to Storms River (~£20-25, 4-5 hrs). Walk the boardwalks to the Storms River Mouth suspension bridges and forest trails (park entry ~£10). Optionally hike a short section of the Otter Trail or scramble to the rock pools. Continue to Plettenberg Bay (~£8 minibus) for a backpacker hostel near the beach.
🚌Baz Bus/Intercape + minibus (~£30)
🛏Backpacker hostel dorm, Plettenberg Bay (~£18)
- →Tsitsikamma suspension bridge & forest trails
- →Short Otter Trail section
- →Rock pools swim
Plettenberg Bay to Oudtshoorn – Cango Caves
Oudtshoorn, Klein Karoo
Travel inland over the Outeniqua Pass to Oudtshoorn by minibus or shared car (~£12, 2 hrs). Book a Cango Caves Heritage or Adventure tour direct (~£8-12) for the limestone chambers. Add a working ostrich farm tour (~£10) if you fancy it. Stay in an Oudtshoorn backpacker or Karoo guesthouse.
🚌Minibus/shared car (~£12)
🛏Backpacker dorm or budget guesthouse, Oudtshoorn (~£18)
- →Cango Caves guided tour
- →Optional ostrich farm visit
- →Outeniqua Pass drive
Oudtshoorn to Hermanus via Cape Agulhas
Cape Agulhas / Hermanus
A scenic drive south to Cape Agulhas — mainland Africa's southernmost point — via Swellendam (~£25-30 shared car or minibus, 5-6 hrs). Walk to the lighthouse and the meeting point of the Indian and Atlantic oceans (free). Continue to Hermanus for the night; in whale season (Jun-Nov) the cliff path is one of the best land-based whale-watching spots in the world.
🚌Shared car/minibus (~£28)
🛏Backpacker hostel dorm, Hermanus (~£20)
- →Cape Agulhas southernmost point
- →Hermanus cliff path whale watching
Hermanus winelands to Cape Town
Cape Town
Drive or take a minibus coach into Cape Town (~£12, 2 hrs). Stop in the coastal winelands — Hemel-en-Aarde near Hermanus or the Stellenbosch/Franschhoek route — for a self-bookable wine tasting (~£8-15 for 2-3 estates). Arrive in Cape Town, check into a backpacker hostel in the City Bowl or Sea Point and close the trip with a sunset walk at Signal Hill or the Sea Point promenade.
🚌Minibus coach to Cape Town (~£12)
🛏Backpacker hostel dorm, Cape Town (~£20)
- →Coastal winelands wine tasting
- →Arrive Cape Town
- →Signal Hill / Sea Point sunset
Self-launched vs. Acacia Adventure Holidays
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Acacia Adventure Holidays | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£810 | £1,230 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £420 per person (34%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Acacia Adventure Holidays-style trips? Check them out here.~£810
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Durban to Cape Town: Drakensberg, Lesotho & Garden Route (Camping) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £810 per person for 12 days in South Africa & Lesotho. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Acacia Adventure Holidays?+
Yes — Acacia Adventure Holidays charges around £1,230 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £810 — a saving of roughly £420 (34%) per person.
How long is the South Africa & Lesotho trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through South Africa & Lesotho.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, wildlife trip through South Africa & Lesotho, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.