South Africa | Zululand & Kruger Wildlife
South Africa has as its setting one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world, as a result this is an ideal introduction to African wildlife on this easy-going safari. We aim to get off the beaten track in our 4WD vehicles and there are opportunities to explore by boat, bike and easy walks on foot too.
| Duration: | 10 Days |
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| Tour Code: | ITW619 |
| Trip Style: | Standard |
| Departure Dates: | 15 Mar 2012, 29 Mar 2012, 26 Jul 2012 |
| Price: | From $1,731 |
| Single Supplement: | $307 |
| Places you'll visit: |
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| Highlights: |
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Ideal for Solo Travellers
This small group adventure holiday is ideal for single travellers, as it allows you to meet and travel with other like-minded people. They are also extremely flexible, and allow plenty of free time for personal exploration. Travelling in a small group is also much safer then travelling alone - the additional security of travelling with an organised group with a tour leader should not be under-estimated. The ratio between solo travellers and couples (whether partners or friends) is generally 50/50, so don't worry, you won't be the only person travelling solo in the group. Generally the split between women and men travelling solo on our holidays is 60/40 so you won't feel outnumbered. There is a great mix of people of all ages on our tours, ranging from 25 to 65+.
As all rooming on tour is based on adults of the same sex sharing, you won't have to pay a compulsory single supplement. However, if you'd rather have the guarantee of a room to yourself, the option to pay that little bit extra for a single room is available on this tour.
Trip Details
GROUP SIZE: Approx. 12 to 16
Battlefields & Hluhluwe-Umfolozi
From Jo'burg we immediately head south into the Midlands Battlefields area of Kwazulu-Natal. Here we'll visit the world renowned Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana before continuing through Zululand to Greater St. Lucia, the first South African park granted World Heritage status by UNESCO. From here we spend a day in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. The reserve is arguably the best place in Africa to see both black and white rhino and it's also possible to see the Big Five and a host of other wildlife including wild dog, crocodile and hippo.
St. Lucia & Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
Before we leave St. Lucia there's time to explore the scenic wetlands and Cape Vidal, snorkel in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, take a guided game walk or join a boat up the St. Lucia River, watching for hippos and crocs. Whale and turtle watching are also seasonal options. Next we head to the tiny Kingdom of Swaziland and Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. Here the absence of big cats allows for a very different game-viewing experience and we take a foot safari in search of giraffe, wildebeest, impala, nyala and warthog.
Gamelands of Kruger
Crossing back into South Africa we enter the huge gamelands of Kruger National Park. Covering an area the size of Israel, the park was established in 1898 to protect big game and is now one of the most prolific animal habitats in South Africa. Home to most of Africa's animal species we'll spend a full day making extensive game drives. There's the chance to spot the Big Five as well as rhino, leopard, cheetah, zebra and almost all of South Africa's species of antelope. Finally, we'll visit the awesome Blyde River Canyon, and God's Window on our drive back to Jo'burg.
Day 1. Join tour in Johannesburg; drive to Dundee.
Heading south-east out of Johannesburg our first destination is Dundee in KwaZulu-Natal, the ideal location from which to explore the historic battlefields. The Zulu nation is the
largest group in South Africa and the Zulu language is spoken by most locals in the KwaZulu-Natal area. Overnight hotel H+.
Day 2. Visit battlefields; drive to Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park
As anyone who has ever watched the film ‘Zulu Dawn' will know, the battlefields ofRorke's Drift and Isandlwana were the scene of bloody and hugely significant events in the history of the Zulu nation. We shall visit both sites today with a knowledgeable local guide who will describe the battles and bring the sites to life. Later we head north along the Indian Ocean coast to the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park. This wonderful wetland reserve was recently granted World Heritage status as the largest estuarine lake system in Africa. It is also a great base from which to explore some of South Africa's best game reserves, located in the surrounding area. 3 nights guesthouse H+ (included meals: B).
Days 3 & 4. At Lake St. Lucia.
We spend our first full day in the area making an extensive game drive in the famous Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve - formerly the Zulu kings' hunting ground in days gone by. This reserve has achieved remarkable success with an ambitious rhino conservation programme which has brought the rhino back from the brink of extinction. As a result, it now supports the densest rhino population in Africa with both black and white rhino. It also supports lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, crocodile and hippo. Birdwatching is particularly good in the reserve with over 500 species recorded. Our second day is left free for you to choose one of the many optionalSt. Lucia & Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary activities available in the area. Apart from enjoying the natural wonders on another game drive, you may like to take an active excursion by 4WD within the Wetland Park itself to Cape Vidal which includes dune walking, a braai (or barbeque) and snorkelling. Night drives around Lake St. Lucia to spot giant turtles coming ashore and whale watching trips are possible in the right season. Whale watching is good from June to November and turtle watching is good from November to March. There is the option of a boat trip on the St. Lucia River to spot hippos and crocodiles.
(Included meals: Bx2).
Day 5. Drive to Swaziland
We drive north and enter Swaziland - a tiny, independent kingdom inhabited by the Swazi tribe who revere their king and hold on to their culture and traditions. Our journey takes us through some spectacular scenery in the Ezulwini Valley and past numerous traditional homesteads and curio stalls. In the late afternoon we enter one of Swaziland's best wildlife reserves, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. This secluded and beautiful sanctuary is a haven of tranquility, located as it is in a natural bowl beneath the Nyonyane Mountains. For the next two nights our accommodation is traditional dome-shaped ‘beehive huts' set round a braai area in a wooded camp in the middle of the park. Though the camp has all the ‘mod cons' of
showers, toilets, outdoor swimming pool and restaurant/bar it is rustic in the best sense of the word; warthogs and ostrich share the camp with us and the restaurant overlooks a lake populated by water birds and a resident hippo. 2 nights huts H+ (included meals: B).
Day 6. Game viewing in Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
This morning we begin with a walk in search of giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, nyala and warthog. Mlilwane has a large area of open grasslands, so game viewing is relatively easy. The afternoon is left free for you to choose one of the many optional activities on offer. The great advantage of Mlilwane is that the absence of big cats allows for a very different game viewing experience. You can opt to set out with a guide on mountain bike and take a gamespotting ride through the superb scenery. Alternatively, you may like to follow one of the self-guided mountain walking trails following the historic aqueduct around the Nyonyane Mountains or one of the riverside trails in search of birdlife and hippo. (Included meals: B).
Day 7. Drive Kruger National Park boundary (S. Africa)
A leisurely drive this morning takes us through Swaziland via Piggs Peak. Later today we cross back to South Africa and head to the Kruger National Park boundary. Here there are no fences and the wild animals roam freely. We are able to get our first view of the game and prepare ourselves for our full day in South Africa's greatest park. Overnight lodge H+ (included meals: B).
Day 8. Game viewing in Kruger National Park
This morning we drive into the Kruger National Park, one of the world's premier game reserves. Covering an area larger than Israel, the park was established in 1898 to protect big game that had almost been hunted to extinction. The park is now one of the most prolific animal habitats in South Africa, committed to animal conservation and patrolled by armed rangers to prevent illegal poaching. A large number of species are present, including elephant, lion, black and white rhino, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, wild dog, hyena, wildebeest and almost all of South Africa's species of antelope. Bird life is just as impressive with crowned cranes, bee-eaters, sunbirds and vultures. We spend a full day in the park before retiring to our tented camp and the sounds of the African bush. Tented camp C+ (included meals: B).
Day 9. Through Mpumalanga to Johannesburg where tour ends
Leaving the game-filled lowlands of Kruger we ascend the escarpment into the airy uplands of Mpumalanga (formerly Eastern Transvaal). This area has been inhabited since Stone Age times and with its plentiful water from mountain rivers, multiple waterfalls, beautiful craggy escarpments covered in vegetation, and colourful birdlife, it is easy to understand why. We'll stop at several excellent viewpoints, including the aptly named ‘God's Window' and admire the awe-inspiring Blyde River Canyon and take it all in before we make our final journey back to Johannesburg. (Included meals: B).
Inclusions
- Accommodation - 3 nights guesthouse, 2 nights beehive huts, 1 night tented camp, 1 night lodge - standard accommodation throughout and a unique stay in ensuite beehive huts
- 8 breakfasts
- Transport - 4WD Safari vehicles/On foot.
- Explore Tour Leader, driver(s), and ranger/guide(s)
What's Not Included
- International Airfare
- tips
Terms & Conditions
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For more information, availability and pricing and options, please contact our expert travel specialists at Inspired Travel Worldwide on (02) 9449 8598 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
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