Kwa-Zulu Natal Tour
Day 1 Arrival in Durban Southern Drakensberg
Upon arrival at Durban airport you are met and assisted to your car hire, where you collect your Group B (VW Polo or similar) for the duration of your trip. You depart Durban on the N3 highway and travel through the rolling hills of the Kwazulu Natal Midlands to Howick. Here you leave the N3 and take the R617 road to Underberg and Himeville. Your hotel is situated at the foot of the famous Sani Pass and on the edge of the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, a World Heritage Site. The hotel has breathtaking views of the Drakensberg Mountains. Enjoy a late afternoon stroll near the hotel.
Accommodation:
Sani Pass Hotel -
more info
Sani Pass Hotel
The Sani Pass Hotel and Leisure Resort is nestled in the beautiful Mkhomazana valley at the foot of Sani Pass, and renowned for its warm hospitality, breathtaking views of the Drakensberg, and personal service. There is something for everyone. In addition to mountain walks, Sani Pass Hotel offers bowling, tennis, swimming, horse-riding and a whole lot more to entertain young and old alike. For those who are looking to relax, there is the in-house Wellness Centre.
Accommodation is available in family cottages or in the main hotel. All rooms are tastefully decorated and offer views of the mountains.
Sani Pass Hotel is graded 3-star.
Basis:
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 2 Southern Drakensberg
Today you will join a tour up the Sani Pass, gateway to the Roof of Africa. The Sani Pass climbs 1000 metres into the Drakensberg. The tour will take you across the border into Lesotho, where you will visit a traditional Basotho village and have lunch in the highest pub in Africa.
Accommodation:
Sani Pass Hotel -
more info
Sani Pass Hotel
The Sani Pass Hotel and Leisure Resort is nestled in the beautiful Mkhomazana valley at the foot of Sani Pass, and renowned for its warm hospitality, breathtaking views of the Drakensberg, and personal service. There is something for everyone. In addition to mountain walks, Sani Pass Hotel offers bowling, tennis, swimming, horse-riding and a whole lot more to entertain young and old alike. For those who are looking to relax, there is the in-house Wellness Centre.
Accommodation is available in family cottages or in the main hotel. All rooms are tastefully decorated and offer views of the mountains.
Sani Pass Hotel is graded 3-star.
Basis:
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 3 Southern Drakensberg to Central Drakensberg
There is time this morning for a walk near the hotel before you depart for the Central Drakensberg. You return to Howick and continue north on the N3 highway for a short distance to the Nottingham Road turn-off. From here you head east back towards the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. Check in at your chalet in the Giant's Castle restcamp and go for a short walk before dark.
Accommodation:
Giant's Castle Rest Camp -
more info
Giant's Castle Rest Camp
Giant's Castle Rest Camp is situated in the central region of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. It takes its name from the silhouette of the peaks and escarpment that resemble the profile of a sleeping giant. The design theme of Giant's Castle Camp and Rock Lodge are the wild flowers of the Drakensberg and original botanical paintings feature in the accommodation and lodge buildings.
The camp has two, four and six-bed-chalets with en-suite facilities, a lounge/dining area and fully appointed kitchens. Izimbali restaurant and bar provides their guests with the option of fully catered meals in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. A vulture hide allows unique birding in winter and the Main Caves Museum gives an insight into the past life of the San People with a rich legacy of San Rock Art. Giant's Castle is an ideal base for those wanting to do day hikes in the Drakensberg.
Giant's Castle Rest Camp is graded 3-star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 4 Central Drakensberg
Full day at leisure at Giant's Castle. The restcamp is set on a sweeping plain with splendid views of the peaks and escarpment, the silhouette of which resembles a sleeping giant. Giant's Castle is one of the most recognisable of all the peaks in the Park. It is possible to walk up the Giant's Castle Pass. Most Giant's Castle caves have San art and the Main Caves' Museum has an audio-visual display depicting the life of these enigmatic people.
Accommodation:
Giant's Castle Rest Camp -
more info
Giant's Castle Rest Camp
Giant's Castle Rest Camp is situated in the central region of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. It takes its name from the silhouette of the peaks and escarpment that resemble the profile of a sleeping giant. The design theme of Giant's Castle Camp and Rock Lodge are the wild flowers of the Drakensberg and original botanical paintings feature in the accommodation and lodge buildings.
The camp has two, four and six-bed-chalets with en-suite facilities, a lounge/dining area and fully appointed kitchens. Izimbali restaurant and bar provides their guests with the option of fully catered meals in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. A vulture hide allows unique birding in winter and the Main Caves Museum gives an insight into the past life of the San People with a rich legacy of San Rock Art. Giant's Castle is an ideal base for those wanting to do day hikes in the Drakensberg.
Giant's Castle Rest Camp is graded 3-star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 5 Central Drakensberg to Spionkop
This morning there is time for another walk before departing Giant's Castle. You head north along the N3 highway again, turning off towards Bergville. Check in at Spionkop Lodge, a beautifully restored, colonial-style farmstead which was the headquarters of the Commander in Chief of the British Forces, General Sir Redvers Buller. Here your host and Boer War raconteur will bring alive the military mindset at the time of the Battle of Spionkop. Enjoy a quiet drink with your hosts and other guests at the Churchill Pub.
Accommodation:
Spionkop Lodge -
more info
Spionkop Lodge
SpionKop Lodge is set against the backdrop of the majestic Drakensburg Mountains, on the Kwazulu-Natal battlefields route. It is the perfect base for exploring the berg, bush, birds, and battlefields of the region. The lodge offers visitors a sense of space and beauty, comfort and warm hospitality. The turn of the century farmhouse has been beautifully restored in Natal colonial style. The chalets are located in the park-like grounds, individually furnished and decorated to provide luxury en-suite accommodation in an out-of-Africa setting. The converted barn forms the magnificent dining room that boasts spectacular views.
Guests can savour fine cuisine and excellent service whilst appreciating the African landscape and battlefield. Game drives in the SpionKop Game Reserve will give you the opportunity to see rhino, giraffe, buffalo and a variety of antelope. Bird lovers will marvel at the vast number of birds this area has to offer - 270 species have been sighted or you can enjoy a sundowner cruise on the tranquil SpionKop Dam.
Spionkop Lodge is graded 4-star.
Basis:
Full board (all meals)
Day 6 Spionkop to Babanango Valley
This morning your host takes you on a tour to the site of one of the bloodiest battles fought during the Boer War. His stories bring to life the personal trauma of the soldiers involved in the battle. You return to the Lodge for a light lunch before departure. You drive via Ladysmith and Dundee to Babanango Valley in the heart of Zululand. Check in at Babanango Valley Guesthouse, where once again your host is a renowned local historian and raconteur.
Accommodation:
Babanango Valley -
more info
Babanango Valley Lodge
Babanango Valley is situated at the heart of Zululand, a place of striking scenic beauty with a great diversity of animals and plants. It has a colourful and often dramatic history and a world famous people - the Zulus - with their fascinating culture. Babanango Valley Lodge offers the highest standards of service possible and tastefully decorated en-suite rooms. You can spend your days relaxing around the sparkling pool in summer, or curled up in winter in front of the crackling log fire.
You can take a walk along the 30 km of self-guided walking trails, enjoying bird watching and wandering among the Zebra and Impala. Participate in some of the exciting guided wildlife / Zulu cultural or historical tours offered from the Lodge, where you will be able to catch a glimpse of the true beauty of Zululand.
Babanango Valley Lodge is graded 4-star.
Basis:
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 7 Isandlwana & Rorke's Drift
Today your hosts will take you on a tour that follows the line of advance of the Zulus towards Isandlwana. On the heights overlooking Isandlwana, you will be given a Zulu perspective on the battle and you will visit the site museum. On the battlefield itself, the dramatic story of this great battle will be unveiled. From here you move to Rorke's Drift for a picnic lunch before a walk around the battlefield describing exactly where there events of that incredible British defence took place. A visit to the excellent site museum rounds off the day.
Accommodation:
Babanango Valley Lodge -
more info
Babanango Valley Lodge
Babanango Valley is situated at the heart of Zululand, a place of striking scenic beauty with a great diversity of animals and plants. It has a colourful and often dramatic history and a world famous people - the Zulus - with their fascinating culture. Babanango Valley Lodge offers the highest standards of service possible and tastefully decorated en-suite rooms. You can spend your days relaxing around the sparkling pool in summer, or curled up in winter in front of the crackling log fire.
You can take a walk along the 30 km of self-guided walking trails, enjoying bird watching and wandering among the Zebra and Impala. Participate in some of the exciting guided wildlife / Zulu cultural or historical tours offered from the Lodge, where you will be able to catch a glimpse of the true beauty of Zululand.
Babanango Valley Lodge is graded 4-star.
Basis:
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 8 Babanango to rural Zululand
There is time this morning for a walk in the nature reserve surrounding the lodge before you depart Babanango and drive to the coast, where you take the N2 highway north to the village of Hluhluwe. Here you will meet up with your guide from Mbonise Cultural Concepts and Tours. He will take you to experience the warm hospitality of the Mdaka family and their surrounding community. Be part of the daily routine of this community for a day and a night. The umuzi ka Mdaka (Mdaka homestead) offers accommodation in 3 traditional thatched round huts. You arrive at the umuzi in the late afternoon and enjoy an evening cultural programme of story-telling, traditional dance and singing. This is a participative programme where guests are taught how to join in and is not a show.
Accommodation:
umuzi ka Mdaka -
more info
uMuzi ka Mdaka
uMuzi ka Mdaka is a traditional Zulu homestead set in the rolling green hills of Zululand near Hluhluwe. Your hosts are the Mdaka family and they will introduce you to the Nompondo community. Accommodation is in three thatched round huts, with shared ablution facilities. A stay at uMuzi ka Mdaka gives guests the opportunity to be part of the daily routine of this community.
In the evening, an interactive cultural programme including a display of 'ngoma', a traditional Zulu dance, provides an introduction to Zulu culture. An authentic Zulu dinner is served. The next morning a walking tour of the area of 3-4 hours includes a visit to a local school to learn about education in South Africa.
uMuzi ka Mdaka is ungraded.
Basis:
Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Day 9 Rural Zululand and Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve
The next morning you are taken on a 2-4 hour walking tour of the Nompondo community, which includes a visit to a local school. You depart the muzi ka Mdaka after a light lunch and drive the short distance to the Hluhluwe-Mfolozi Game Reserve. You check in at your chalet in one of the Park's restcamps. Hlulhluwe-Umfolozi is famous for the role it played in saving the white rhino from extinction and is now home to the country's largest white rhino population. Tonight join the Park rangers in an open vehicle for an exciting night drive.
Accommodation:
Hilltop Camp -
more info
Hilltop Camp
This award-winning camp in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is situated on the summit of a forested hill and offers fine views of the surrounding countryside. The camp, the oldest in KwaZulu-Natal, was extensively rebuilt and enlarged in the early nineties, and today accommodation is of international standard. Accommodation is in individual two-bedded chalets. All units are serviced daily.
There is also an a la carte restaurant, an attractive pub and lounge decorated with photographs and memorabilia of the history of Hluhluwe, as well as a gift shop and convenience store. A forest trail is available to guests at Hilltop. Hlaza Hide has been developed at the site of the old summerhouse in Hilltop Camp and incorporates a waterhole with soft lighting at night to aid game viewing.
Hilltop Camp is graded 3-star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 10 Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve
This morning you can self-drive in the Park. You have an option of joining a Park Ranger for either another night drive or a daytime drive. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi is home to all of the Big Five as well as a myriad of smaller, equally fascinating animals. You may also want to take a short drive to the nearby Lake St Lucia and take a boat cruise. The famous Greater St Lucia Wetland Park is a sanctuary for many bird species such as flamingo, pelican, fish eagle and Goliath heron. Your guide on the boat will also show you the world of the hippo and the crocodile.
Accommodation:
Hilltop Camp -
more info
Hilltop Camp
This award-winning camp in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is situated on the summit of a forested hill and offers fine views of the surrounding countryside. The camp, the oldest in KwaZulu-Natal, was extensively rebuilt and enlarged in the early nineties, and today accommodation is of international standard. Accommodation is in individual two-bedded chalets. All units are serviced daily.
There is also an a la carte restaurant, an attractive pub and lounge decorated with photographs and memorabilia of the history of Hluhluwe, as well as a gift shop and convenience store. A forest trail is available to guests at Hilltop. Hlaza Hide has been developed at the site of the old summerhouse in Hilltop Camp and incorporates a waterhole with soft lighting at night to aid game viewing.
Hilltop Camp is graded 3-star.
Basis:
Bed & Breakfast
Day 11 Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve and departure
Today there is time for another self-drive game drive in the Park before you head back to Durban along the N2 highway. You hand in your hire car at the airport before catching your flight to Johannesburg to connect with your flight home.
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