Great Adventure Trips

South Africa

Self-drive / Family / Walking / Romance / General Tours
Horse Safaris / Camping Tours / Victoria Falls extension

KwaZulu Adventure

This self-drive, using PREMIER accommodation, incorporates all of the highlights of KwaZulu Natal: game-viewing, relaxing on a beach, touring the Battlefields, cultural interest and walking or touring in the Drakensberg mountains. It's an enjoyable mixture of discovery and gourmet delights amidst breathtaking scenery. Its ideally suited to the South African winter and spring months.

Meals Varied, Full Board & Activities on 3 nights, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast on 9 nights, Bed & Breakfast on 2 nights
Accommodation Premier - country lodges, hotels and simple game lodges
Departure Dates On request
Transport Group B rental car with unlimited kilometres. Upgrades to larger vehicles easily arranged.
Price Includes Meals and accommodation as shown in text, Group B car rental
Price Excludes International flights, visas, items of a personal nature, meals not specified
Minimum Number 2
Climate Sub-tropical climate - hot & humid summers, warm dry and sunny winters
Best time to go April to October (or November to February for turtle breeding but very hot)
Health Requirements Anti-Malarial precautions recommended for northern KwaZulu Natal. Sunblock essential.
Other Ideas Why not add on a few days at a Big Five game reserve?

Day 1 : Arrive Durban, 2 nights, The Boathouse/Lalaria Lodge, Ballito, B&B
On arrival in Durban you collect your rental car and drive to the Boathouse for a two-night stay. The 'Dolphin Coast' north of Durban is made for swimming, relaxing and enjoying alfresco seafood cuisine. It's famous for its bottle-nosed dolphins - take a boat cruise to view them at close range. Here you are away from the bustle of the city and yet easily within reach of its attractions such as the lush botanical gardens and enticing Indian spice markets. The Boathouse offers stylish accommodation with a nautical theme, right on the beach. Lalaria Lodge is the alternative. Ballito is a quiet resort, 40 minutes north of Durban.

Day 3 : 2 nights, Hluhluwe River Lodge, Hluhluwe, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Today you drive north to Zululand for your two night stay at the Hluhluwe River Lodge. Hluhluwe-Umfulozi Game Reserve is the best known of several good game parks in Zululand. It is particularly famed for its concentrations of rare white rhino, as well as elephant, black rhino, buffalo and predators. Hluhluwe River Lodge overlooks the Hluhluwe floodplain and borders the St Lucia Wetlands. The lodge takes full advantage of its superb location with a host of activities: open top game drives into Hluhluwe reserve; walks in the sand forest; relaxing and informative boat cruises on the lake and highly enjoyable canoeing. Particularly known for its rich birdlife.

Day 5 : 3 nights, Kosi Forest Lodge, Kosi Bay, Full Board and Activities
Today you travel up the coast to Maputaland to Kosi Forest Lodge. The Kosi Forest coastal reserve is an unspoilt wilderness region of pristine golden beaches backed by forested dunes and captivating freshwater lakes. This truly is a magical area, untouched by large-scale tourism. Kosi Forest Lodge has a lovely setting amongst the serene Kosi lake system so its activities are split between guided canoeing on the tranquil lakes, nature walks in the ancient raffia forest with iLala palm wine-tasting, and snorkelling, swimming and examining the ancient Tonga fish traps at the magnificent Kosi river mouth. Turtle tracking is a highlight for summer visitors.

Day 8 : 2 nights, White Elephant Bush Lodge, Pongola, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast plus 1 game activity
Today you drive east to the Pongola Game Reserve at the foot of the Lebombo Mountains, overlooking the beautiful Lake Jozini. Here you encounter a variety of antelope, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, hyena and elephant and loads of activities - open top game drives, sunset boat cruises, nature walks, Tiger fishing and tracking rhino or elephant. White Elephant Bush Lodge's reed and thatch cottages are quite rustic but charming with mosquito nets and fans and a large walk in shower.

Day 10 : 1 night, Simunye, Zululand, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast plus Cultural Activities
Travel south for your overnight stay at Simunye Cultural Village. Simunye is a complete experience - a small Zulu village where you stay as guests of the royal Biyela clan. Whilst quite rustic and authentic, this small and intimate evocation of a traditional village offers a very enjoyable stay. There's no electricity and you travel to the village, nestling in a beautiful valley, by ox cart. Here you learn about Zulu culture and traditions and in the evening watch spectacular dancing over a campside meal. The ten stone and thatch rooms are comfortable with unique rock baths filled by hand. Shakaland is the alternative lodge if Simunye is not available.

Day 11 : 2 nights, Babanango Valley Lodge, Battlefields, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Today you travel to the Battlefields, a collective name for an area of rolling cattle country in rural Zululand where many of the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer battles were fought - an enduring story of courage and self-sacrifice, bloodshed and tragedy. We recommend a fascinating guided tour to sites such as Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. Babanango Valley Lodge. offers superb hospitality with country-style bedrooms and delicious dinners. Guided Battlefield and Hluhluwe tours are popular. Other activities include well-marked walking trails, complete with handbook, 4x4 nature drives, visits to a cultural village and superb bird watching.

Day 13 : 2 nights, Cathedral Peak Hotel, Drakensberg, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Today you travel in the Drakensberg area, named after the jagged teeth of the mythical beast that locals believe must surely inhabit such an awesome mountain range. The 'berg' offers everything, from serious hiking to gentle rambles beside crystal streams and through wooded glades. Other delights are its ancient San rock paintings at Giants Castle and Kamberg, the 4x4 ascent to the top of Sani Pass in Lesotho, the world-class Drakensberg Boys Choir and the arts and craft studios. Cathedral Peak is a classic mountain resort hotel with stunning panoramic views.

Day 15 : Return car to Johannesburg
Today you drive to Johannesburg Airport to drop off your rental car.

Price per person sharing: May 1- July 31, 2006 = 15380 rand, Aug. 1-31= 15820 rand, Sept. 1-Oct. 31 = 17000 rand