Shakaland, Wildlife & Coast         ( WTS4WD )
6 days / 5 nights
Johannesburg to Durban (or Durban to Johannesburg)

Group size is limited to 9 passengers, travel is in a luxury microbus, minicoach or sedan and accommodation is in comfortable hotels and lodges. Your expert guide will introduce you to the wonders of African wildlife & nature as well as to traditions of the Zulu people.

THE ITINERARY

1ST Day – Country Lodge, 1 night

Leave Johannesburg and travel to the ‘Province of the Rising Sun’, Mpumalanga, via the historic towns of Witbank, Dullstroom and Lydenburg.

Travel over the famous Long Tom Pass on to the small town of Sabie. Visit the Lone Creek Waterfalls before arriving at your elegant hideaway. Enjoy a delectable dinner that can only be described as a ‘culinary masterpiece’.
Dinner

2nd Day – through stunning scenery to Kruger National Park, 1 night safari hotel

After breakfast, visit the Mac Mac Waterfalls. Along the Bonnet Pass, pay a short visit to the historic town of Pilgrim’s Rest, where the richest alluvial gold deposits in South Africa were discovered in 1873. Continue exploring the Panorama Route featuring: the Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondawels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, God’s Window and various waterfalls.

Travelling over Kowyn’s Pass to the Hazyview area, arrive at your luxury safari hotel in a lush sub-tropical ‘Garden of Eden’ setting. Enter the Kruger National Park for a short introductory game drive in the late afternoon and return to your hotel for an eclectic table d’hôte dinner.
Dinner and breakfast

3rd Day – Game viewing, overnight lodge accommodation

Early morning game drive in the Kruger National Park – an open safari vehicle is available as an optional extra. Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast in the Kruger National Park followed by further game viewing en route to the private game lodge.

Arrive in time for high tea, and late afternoon game viewing in an open safari vehicle with an experienced ranger and tracker. Return to the lodge for dinner where an African feast awaits you.
Breakfast and dinner

4th Day – Maputaland Lodge, 1 night

An early morning game drive (optional) and then breakfast before you head exit the park via the Mananga border through eastern Swaziland and along the Lebombo Mountains. Leave Swaziland at Golela border post and continue via the town of Pongola to a Maputaland safari lodge, arriving in the late afternoon. Dinner served in the Boma under the African sky (weather permitting).
Breakfast and dinner

5th Day  – Shakaland, Beehive hotel, 1 night

After an early safari in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve and breakfast, visit St Lucia, a World Heritage Site, and enjoy a river cruise on the estuary. Here you may see pelicans, fish eagles, hippo and crocodiles.

Travel to Shakaland to stay in a traditional Zulu Umuzi or homestead, an sleep in a luxury ‘beehive hut’. Feel the pulsating rhythm of mysterious and magical Africa as you re-live the excitement and romance of the days of Shaka, King of the Zulus, in this authentic re-creation of the Great Kraal overlooking the Phobane Lake.

6th Day  – Safari ends in Durban

After breakfast enjoy an enriching experience affording a better understanding of the Zulu nation, its people and their intriguing customs. Highlights include the sight of the assegai-wielding warriers, sharing the fascinating secrets of the Songomas and witnessing traditional customs such as tribal dancing, spear making and the beer drinking ceremonies. Mid morning depart for Durban and you will be delivered to your hotel or to the Airport for your onward flight.