12 Days Beach, Bush & Culture

B=Breakfast   L=Lunch   D=Dinner

Day 1&2 Durban
The tour gets underway after we land at King Shaka international Airport. We drive through the lush Durban North heading to our hotel, drop off the luggage and drive to the city. We do a city tour led by a local guide, visiting the Victoria Market and KwaMuhle Museum, and making a stop at Moses Mabhida stadium to take a lift to the top for a unique view of the city (own expense). We return to the hotel and have some time to relax. The following day we have a full day free for relaxing or going for a swim in the warm Indian Ocean. B&B.

Day 3&4: Zululand/Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park – 540km
Hluhluwe Game Reserve is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa. It is the only park with the highest white rhino population in the world. We have a short sunset safari on arrival. The sunrise safari on the following morning starts at 6am, and in the late afternoon we have a sunset safari on the 4WD. DB&B.

Day 5&6: Lake Jozini – 100km
We drive out of the park heading to Nompondo village for a short educational cultural walk. There we spend an hour in one of the homes to experience how Zulu people live, and learn more about their culture. After the village walk, we visit a local school for another short guided tour before heading to Jozini, where we spend two nights. The following day we have a free morning for optional activities such as hiking and birdwatching, kayaking, abseiling and game viewing in Mkhuze game reserve. DB&B.

Day 7: Swaziland – 221km
Eswatini is the landlocked country within South Africa and Mozambique. We stamp out of South Africa and stamp into the Kingdom of Eswatini. We drive through the small villages of the Eswatini towards Ezulwini Valley/Mlilwane Nature Reserve, where we will overnight. We stop at the local candle factory for hand crafted souvenirs before checking in to the lodge. In the evening we sit around the fire with warthogs before we go for dinner. The following morning, we stop in one of the biggest local craft markets before driving back to South Africa, Kruger National Park. DB&B.

Day 8&9: Kruger National park – 326 km
We leave Mlilwane just after breakfast driving towards the border. We stamp out of Eswatini and re-enter South Africa in Mpumalanga province. Our next stop is the southern part of Kruger National Park. We have more chances to spot the famous Big 5, we have a sunset game drive and one long morning game drive. Kruger offers optional sunset game drives which can be booked through reception or arranged with the guide. DB&B.

Day 10&11: Blyde River Canyon – 115km
We have an early breakfast, do a short game drive towards the exit heading to the highveld region and the Blyde River Canyon. The third largest canyon in the world offers spectacular views of the landscape with its famous Three Rondavels. We stop at Hazyview for some quick shopping. There are few regions in the world that can match the extraordinary beauty of the Lowveld and escarpment. We have a day visit to the canyon, God’s window, Mac Mac Falls and Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Our lodge is right at the edge of the escarpment near Graskop town. DB&B.

Day 12: Johannesburg – 382km
We leave Blyde River Canyon after enjoying the sunrise and breakfast, heading to Johannesburg. We drive through the famous panorama route with beautiful scenic views. We drop off clients late afternoon at the OR Tambo International Airport for departures. Tour ends at 16h00. B&B.

Flight from 850,-€

SOUTH AFRICA    

The unique “Rainbow Nation”; in Southern Africa. A melting pot of culture wildlife and wonderful scenery. South Africa’s historic emergence from the Apartheid era has created a country with wonderful spirit. With eleven national languages and many more cultures. South Africa’s wildlife destinations rival the best in the world, with the Kruger National Park being a must for all visitors along with Mkuzi Game reserve and Addo Elephant National Park. The Zulu and the Xhosa cultures portray an intense history of survival and exploration of the country before the arrival of the Dutch Settlers.

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL– The best time to travel to South Africa depends on the individuals, for safari enthusiast the best time to travel is between May and October. The temperatures are cooler or mild during the day but might get cold at night. It is our dry season. Along the Cape including the Garden Route, the best time to visit is between September and April, less rain and calm wind. It is warm. But, South Africa can be visited all year round and one will enjoy the warm weather and the beautiful landscape.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – The Kruger has more species of wildlife than any other reserve in Africa. Famous for the “big five” experience being elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino as well as over 460 different species of bird.

MPUMALANGA – The province boardering the southern Kruger National Park is known as Mpumalanga. The landscape of the Mpumalanga is made up of panoramic mountain passes, river canyons, waterfalls and steep mountains. Some of the most spectacular sights include God’s Window, the Blyde River Canyon (3rd largest in the world), and the old gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest.

KWAZULU NATAL – is a area rich in diversity. In the Maputaland region you find the St. Lucia Wetland Park, an area rich in wildlife and beauty. Sodwana Bay boasts spectacular coral reefs superb for diving and snorkeling. The Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserves offer the chance to see the rare white rhino as well as many other species of wildlife. There are numerous Zulul villages offering crafts, traditional Zulu dance programs and the opportunity to mix and mingle amongst the Zulu tribe. For history enthusiasts a stay in the heart of Zululand with a guided tour to the battlegrounds of the Zulu, British and Boer wars is a must. The scenic Drakensberg moutains offer adventure activities such as hiking, biking and fishing. KwaZulu Natal is a perfect haven for birders.

TRAVEL GREEN AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Big 5 Green Travel ways for Southern Tours & Safaris

1. Eco-friendly destination- We try to identify and use green hotels/lodges for our trips
2. We visit local schools and workshop them about sustainability and environmental issues focusing on climate change
3. We match a donation given by our clients up to $100 to buy more trees and support other activities that focusing on climate change. On all our trips, where possible, we visit different communities and spend an hour with them planting trees.
4. We use less emission producing vehicles (NO DIESEL VEHICLE) until we find the emission detectors for our vehicles while raising funds to buy electric vehicles for our tours.
5. Within the cities, we walk, bike or use safe mode of local transportation like trains, where possible (e.g. OR Tambo Int. Airport to Rosebank/Sandton)

Big 5 Green Travel ways for our travelers (our recommendations) 

1. We encourage all our travelers to take direct flights to minimize the aeroplane emission during taking off and landing (planes produce more emission during take-off and landing because of the engine demanding power, connecting flight might be cheaper but they are not good for our environment)
2. Go digital- We don’t print flight tickets, travel invoices and other documents. Keep them in your smartphone as a pdf, take a picture or keep them on your emails, you can always login on a cafe and access all your documents in case of need.
3. Pack light – the lighter your luggage the lesser aeroplane and vehicles consumes gas during your travels
4. Reuse your towels, sheets (in hotels) and bring your reusable water bottle
5. Try to eat local food than eating something that was transported miles/kms away (eat fish only along the ocean not inland)