This tour encompasses no less than four of our wonderful provinces as well as a small kingdom! Visit Zululand which was once the traditional territory of Shaka and is now the cradle of the Zulu people. This region is filled with memories of a proud past. Monuments mark the great battles fought to defend the Zulu heritage against encroachment by both the British and the Boers.
At Isandlwana in January 1879 a huge Zulu impi of well over 20,000 warriors overran a British encampment, the soldiers fighting to the last man. Well over 1,200 British and colonial troops were killed and six full companies of the 24th Regiment destroyed. Some 2,000 Zulu's were also killed. That same afternoon just over 100 men from 'B' company of the 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment faced a force of well over 4,000 Zulu warriors at Rorkes Drift. The tiny garrison held out
for over 12 hours winning no less than 11 VC's and immortal fame". Join us in visiting these world famous battlefields...
Visit the aquatic wonderland of Lake St Lucia which was formed 60 to 100 million years ago and is 40 kilometers long, 10 kilometers wide and 1 meter deep on average. Lake St Lucia was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO protocol - South Africa's first- on December 1, 1999. It is a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention. It is home to 2000 crocodiles and 700 hippos as well as over 350 species of birds.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Johannesburg - Mpumalanga. Your tour guide will collect you from the airport or your hotel. Take a leisurely drive through the Highveld plains to Mpumalanga. Explore the scenic beauty of Gods Window, the Pinnacle, and various spectacular waterfalls.
Accommodation will be at the Royal Hotel, in Pilgrims Rest, which has not closed its doors since 1884. The town of Pilgrims Rest is an open-air museum town, with a fascinating history of the early gold miners! (Inclusive of scenic tour, dinner, and accommodation)
Day 2: Mpumalanga - Sabi Sads Private Game Reserve. Drive through some spectacular scenery with stops at Blyde River Canyon, the Three Rondavels, Bourkes Luck Potholes and various waterfalls. Visit the Kapama Cheetah Research Centre. View the cheetah, endangered wild dogs, baby rhinos and many more. Spend the night at one of the private Game Lodges situated in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, which is part of the greater Kruger National Park. Arrive in time for exciting evening safari in open Land Rovers accompanied by armed ranger and Shangaan tracker. Stopping for sundowners in the bush.
Return to the lodge for a delicious supper followed by a nightcap sitting around the fire listening to the sounds of Africa! (Inclusive of full English breakfast, scenic tour, entrance fees, Cheetah center tour, evening game drive, dinner, and accommodation)
Day 3: Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. Enjoy an early morning safari searching for the elusive big five, stopping for coffee and rusks in the bush. Returning to the lodge for a full English breakfast. After breakfast take an exciting and informative Bush Walk in Big Five Territory accompanied by your armed ranger. Relax after lunch with a visit to the hide. The reserve is well known for its unbelievable bird life! Evening game drive as the day before followed by dinner served under the stars. (Inclusive of morning drive, breakfast, bush walk, lunch, evening game drive, dinner and accommodation and all drinks.)
Day 4: Kruger National Park. After an early morning game drive and breakfast you will make your way into the Kruger Park. Enjoy a full day's game viewing from the comfort of your vehicle whilst making your way through the Park. Tonight will be spent at a Rest Camp on the banks of the Sabie River with a night game drive. Accommodation tonight will be in thatched chalets/bungalows. While you are on a night drive your guide will prepare a traditional South African Braai for you! (Inclusive of early morning game drive, breakfast, full days game viewing in Kruger, evening game drive, traditional South African Braai and accommodation)
Day 5: Kruger National Park. As you move further south into the park, the topography will begin to change, and you will be able to view different species of animals. You will spend the night at a rest camp on the banks of the Crocodile River. Accommodation in chalet/bungalow type. (Inclusive of game drives, breakfast, tea coffee, dinner and accommodation)
Day 6: Kruger National Park - Swaziland. The following morning your guide will drive through the mountains into the Kingdom of Swaziland. Visit a Swazi Cultural Village and traditional market. Overnight at Foresters Arms Hotel high up in the mountains. Enjoy horse riding or take a walk and go birding. (Inclusive of breakfast, entrance fees, cultural tour, dinner, accommodation)
Day 7: Hluhluwe. Drive through Swaziland and re-enter South Africa in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. Spend the night at a game lodge situated near to the town of Hluhluwe. Enjoy an exciting night drive into the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve. Return to the lodge for a late dinner. (Inclusive of breakfast, entrance fees, game drive, dinner, accommodation)
Day 8: St Lucia. Today your guide will take you to the St Lucia Wetlands Park. Exploring the St. Lucia Estuary. Game viewing from the afternoon riverboat cruise. Spend time in the laid back town of St Lucia and also visit a crocodile farm. Enjoy a dip into the Indian Ocean! Spend the night at a nearby guesthouse! (Inclusive of breakfast, riverboat cruise, accommodation)
Day 9: Zulu Land - Simunye. You will drive further down the Zululand coast. Experience a horse ride down to a traditional Zulu cultural village. Visit the village and view age-old traditions and ways of life of the Zulu people. Watch traditional Zulu dancing and singing around a fire before a delicious dinner. Accommodation is in unique rooms built into a rock face with rock baths. (Inclusive of breakfast, cultural tour, dinner and accommodation.)
Day 10: Battlefields. After breakfast head towards the greatest concentration of battlefields in South Africa. Meet the battlefields guide at 11:00am at Isandlwana Battlefield. Relive the brooding and eerie battle of Isandlwana, as your battlefield guide recounts the events of the various battles. You will have a half day tour with your guide. Lunch is included. Return to Babanango Lodge for dinner.
(Inclusive of breakfast, cultural tour, lunch, half-day tour, dinner and accommodation.)
Day 11: Battlefields. Today you will set off on a full day tour, tracing the history of the Zulu Nation, the various battles fought between the Zulu people and the Boers and the British. For those of you not wanting a full day tour, there are plenty of activities available at the lodge, for example, horse riding in the nature reserve, mountain biking, hiking or just relaxing around the pool. (Inclusive of breakfast, dinner and accommodation)
Day 12: Drakensberg Mountains. After breakfast, your guide will take you to the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains. Spend the night at lodge situated near the berg. There are numerous activities available at the lodge. (Inclusive of breakfast, dinner and accommodation)
Day 13: Durban. After breakfast, your guide will drive you to the coastal city of Durban. After an interesting tour of the city and surrounding areas, your guide will drop you off at your hotel. There are many restaurants nearby! (Inclusive of breakfast, city tour, and accommodation)
Day 14: Durban - Johannesburg. After breakfast, your guide will drop you off at the airport for your return flight to Johannesburg. It is a 1-hour flight back to Johannesburg. (Inclusive of breakfast, flights back to Johannesburg.)
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
The tours are for private escorted tours, not coach tours. The minimum price per tour is based on the less expensive private game lodge option, if guests want a more luxurious option then the prices will increase.
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
South Africa
Swaziland
Cultural Journey
Wildlife Viewing
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
| Check out these similar vacation offers: |
|
|
