KWAZULU NATAL & KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

ITINERARY

Day 1. Arrival in DURBAN and transfer to UMHLANGA
Welcome to Durban!  Upon arrival at Durban International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel situated in Umhlanga.

Day 2. UMHLANGA to DRAKENSBERG (B/D)
This morning after breakfast, you will be transferred to the Drakensberg Region.  All along the border with Lesotho, “the world’s highest kingdom”, runs the Drakensberg escarpment. Drakensberg means “The Mountain of Dragons” in the Afrikaans language and the Zulu’s call it even more graphically uKhahlamba, or “The Wall (or Barrier) of Spears”.

Day 3. DRAKENSBERG (B/D)
Spend the day enjoying lodge activities (Driver/guide at your disposal – no entrance fees/sightseeing included).  Hiking is the most important active past-time in the Drakensberg. Daily morning walks are organised on the 1000 ha. Estate (with a guide free of charge). Popular destinations are the top of Montusi Mountain, Bushman Cave (with paintings), Waterfall Cave and various streams and rock pools (with summer swimming).  OR Cleopatra: Some of the rock art in the Drakensberg dates back over 3000 years. The best sighting in this area is at Kamberg (Little Berg), a 20 minute drive from Cleopatra and a 2 hour walk.

Day 4.  DRAKENSBERG to ZULULAND (B/D + Cultural Activity)
This morning after a leisurely breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the wonderful Zululand Region of KwaZulu Natal.

Day 5. ZULULAND (B/D + Cultural Activity)
The day is spent enjoying lodge activities. An in-depth look into the lifestyle of today’s rural Zulu, with the rolling hills of Zululand as a backdrop. The rivers and ravines are rich in bird life and small game.

Activities include

• Visits to Zulu homes and ceremonies when they are available.
• Getting to know a true Sangoma and the use of natural remedies, herbs and medicines.
• Rejuvenate your body in the African spa (treatments not included).
• Vibrant Zulu dancing – join in if you wish – or just relax as the drumbeat draws you into the pulse of Africa.
• Discover the mysteries of Zulu courtship, love and marriage and the messages hidden in beadwork and learn the symbolism of a bride carrying a spear, a lantern and wearing a leopard skin.

Day 6.  ZULULAND to SWAZILAND (B/D +spa for 5star hotel)
Travel to the Kingdom of Swaziland.  During the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, an African people of Nguni descent migrated southward from Central Africa and eventually, during the mid-eighteenth century, a group of them settled in the area, which is now Swaziland. These people, the Nkosi Dlamini, became known as the Swazis, and today both names live on. Nkosi means “king” and Dlamini is the surname of the royal family. The country derives its actual name from a later king, Mswati I but another name, Ngwane, is an alternative word for Swaziland.

Visit one of the local markets and the Swazi Candle factory in the Malkerns Valley. Here you can watch the creation process and meet the artisans who make the Light from Africa shine through their handmade candles which are authentic to the Kingdom of Swaziland.  Continue to your hotel where the rest of the day is spent at leisure.

Day 7. SWAZILAND to WHITE RIVER (B)
After a scrumptious breakfast, depart the hotel and travel towards the northwest border with South Africa.  There is a mountain that looks like a basking ngwenya (crocodile).  At Ngwenya Mountain’s base is a small, bustling glass factory – the Ngwenya Glass Village, where visitors can watch glass blowers create enchanting African animal figurines and tableware. Using only recycled glass, much of which comes from the local community, the showroom is illuminated by light refracted from the wonderful creations.  Ngwenya Glass is set in a garden that’s shared with other craft outlets whose prices compare very favourably with other centres and even roadside stalls. Continue through the small land locked country before re-entering South Africa.   Arrival in White River in the afternoon and continue to your hotel.

Day 8. WHITE RIVER to KAPAMA GAME RESERVE or THORNYBUSH GAME RESERVE (B/L/D) + 2 game activities
Depart White River towards the Hoedspruit-area where you will spend 3 glorious nights at a Big Five Game Reserve.

Day 9 – 10. KAPAMA GAME RESERVE or THORNYBUSH GAME RESERVE (B/L/D) + 2 game activities
Spend two full days enjoying lodge activities.  Typical activities include:

Kapama: Two daily game drives are part of the fully inclusive tariff and your skilled ranger and tracker do their best to find the animals of Africa for you to admire.  Expect a wakeup call at between 5am and 5.30am and gather for tea or coffee and rusks before heading out at first light. If you are lucky, the big cats will still be around after their night of hunting. This is Big 5 country (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo) all of which are possible to see during a two-day safari in Kapama Game Reserve.

There are also many other species to be seen, large and small, as well as fascinating plants and colourful birds. Stop halfway through the morning game drive for hot drinks and rusks from the Landrover snack box and return at around 9am for breakfast. During the rest of the day, you are likely to see wildlife like nyala antelope and vervet monkeys around the lodges.  At about 3.30pm everybody convenes for high tea, before departing with the same ranger/tracker team for the day’s second African bush safari.  Enjoy a sundowner drink along the way (not included in the tariff), and get out of the vehicle to stretch your legs and watch the sun go down over the distant Drakensberg Mountains.  As darkness descends it’s time to return to the safety of the Landrover and let the tracker scan the landscape with a spotlight picking out the glinting eyes of nocturnal animals. Return to the lodge at around 7pm, where there is time to freshen up before dinner.

With bush walks, get some African soil under your feet with a bush walk after breakfast. Explore the environment with your ranger, learn about curative properties of plants and identify animals from their footprints and dung. Large game is avoided when on foot but animals can often be seen from a safe distance.

Thornybush: The day starts as dawn breaks over the African bushveld. After your early morning wakeup call, coffee, tea & rusks are served on the main deck overlooking the riverbed. Shortly after, you depart in your open Land Rover with your experienced Rangers and Trackers who will share their extensive knowledge of the bush with you. These drives are undertaken at times best suited for game viewing which vary depending on the season but typically start early morning. Where applicable you may be invited out of the vehicle to see tracks, examine certain plants and follow spoor.

After an exhilarating hunt for tracks to see what the animals have been up to during the night, and tracking down whatever you find, you will stop somewhere out in the bush for a break of coffee & tea. Time to stretch your legs whilst having your sunglasses cleaned & indulge in cool towels in summer, and hot towels in winter. In winter, guests are kept warm on the vehicle with hot water bottles & warm blankets.

After a sumptuous Breakfast is served either back at the camp or in the riverbed or bush, guests are offered walks to suit their interests and fitness levels and are accompanied by an armed ranger and tracker.  Walks allow guests a better chance to see some of the smaller creatures of the bush as well as an opportunity to learn more about the flora and fauna of the region & to have a chance to follow tracks in more detail.  The Shangaan trackers will enthral you with their explanations of the medicinal and other uses of the numerous plants and trees along with tales of traditional folklore.

The rest of the day is spent at the discretion of the guest for other activities that are offered, with a delicious lunch being served around 1.30pm.  The afternoon game drive is preceded by high tea and extends into the evening to view seldom seen nocturnal species by torchlight. Upon returning for a gourmet 3 course dinner, either in the boma, bush or lodge – guests can socialise with a cognac, single malt or cigar around the campfire or lounge before returning to bed for another day’s adventure.  Where possible, safaris will be tailored to suit individual preferences and interest.

Day 11. A fond farewell… (B)
This morning we wish you a fond farewell as you are collected from the lodge and transferred to Hoedspruit Airport for your onward flight.

KWAZULU NATAL & KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Tour Costs include:

1. Both Options:
2. Accommodation as stated above, subject to availability.
3. Transportation in a luxury air-conditioned vehicle.
4. Services of a professional driver.
5. Services of a registered and experienced tourist guide.
6. Entrance fees and excursions where stated in above itinerary.
7. Welcome Pack: (e.g. itinerary, welcome letter, general information, maps, flags, brochures)
8. 4* Option:
9. Royal Palm Gateway includes Bed & Breakfast.
10. Montusi Mountain Lodge includes Dinner, Bed & Breakfast.
11. Protea Hotel Simunye includes Dinner, Bed & Breakfast and 1 cultural activity.
12. Ezulwini Sun includes Bed & Breakfast.
13. Casterbridge Hollow includes Bed & Breakfast.
14. Kapama River Lodge includes all meals, teas & coffees, 2 daily game activities & transfer to HDS Airport.  Excludes: All drinks, curio purchases, laundry and items of a personal nature.
15. 5* Option:
16. Beverly Hills Hotel includes Bed & Breakfast.
17. Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse includes Dinner, Bed & Breakfast.
18. Protea Hotel Simunye includes Dinner, Bed & Breakfast and 1 cultural activity.
19. Royal Swazi Spa includes Bed & Breakfast.
20. Oliver’s Country Lodge includes Bed & Breakfast.
21. Thornybush Game Lodge includes all meals, teas & coffees, snacks, sundowner local drink. Excludes: Bar, curio purchases, telephone and laundry expenses.

KWAZULU NATAL & KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Tour Costs EXCLUDED:

1. All airfares & airport taxes (if applicable)
2. All other meals other than stated in above itinerary.
3. All other entrances and excursions than stated in above itinerary.
4. Items of personal nature such tips, beverages, laundry etc.
5. Porterage.