Africa’s Staggering Beauty

8 DAYS, 7 NIGHTS FROM £1,980 PER PERSON SHARING

Experience an extraordinary adventure that combines classical safari with colonial ambiance and magnificent landscapes.

The battles fought in the rolling hills and valleys of northern Kwa-Zulu Natal some 120 years ago changed the course of South African history, and still today, the area now known as “The Battlefields” seems to echo with the heroic and often tragic deeds of the past. the sites of famous skirmishes that rocked the British, weakened the Boers and broke the mighty Zulu nation, continue to draw visitors. What a way to complete your journey through the hills than to experience the Big 5 rich, Phinda Private Game Lodge or similar.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Historic Kwa Zulu-Natal battlefields
  • Off the beaten track
  • Underwater paradise
  • Miles of pristine white sand
ADVENTURE UNLEASHED
  • Enjoy a splash in the Indian Ocean
  • Listen to the call of the wild
  • Reawaken your soul
  • Slow down – the view is great!
SPECIALLY CREATED FOR…
  • History enthusiasts
  • Beach lovers
  • Repeat travellers

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 & 2

Once a place of bitter warfare between Zulu and Boer, British and Zulu, and British and Boer, today you’d be hard pressed to find a place more tranquil than the area known as The Battlefields.

The region is rich in historical memorabilia, fascinating museums, monuments and artifacts, right down to inscriptions carved into rocks by army cooks. Spend two nights at Fugitives’ Drift Lodge. Accommodation is in a standard room. Your stay includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea and coffee.

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Day 3 & 4: Option 1

Set within easy reach of the Indian Ocean coastline and the famous iSimangaliso / Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in northern KwaZulu-Natal, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is known for its abundant wildlife, diversity of habitats and wide range of safari activities.

Thanks to its coastal rainfall pattern, the Reserve enjoys a lush green environment that contains seven distinct ecosystems. &Beyond Phinda is often referred to as ‘Seven Worlds of Wonder.’ This fascinating variety of landscape and vegetation shelters an abundance of wildlife, including not only the Big Five but many rarer and less-easily-spotted species, such as the elusive cheetah or the scarce black rhino. With only a handful of lodges sharing an area of 23,000 hectares, and expert rangers and trackers in search of prime wildlife sightings, guests are assured an exclusive game viewing experience. Adding to Phinda’s wildlife charms, the marine diversity of nearby Sodwana Bay on the coast is easily accessible, with scuba diving, fishing and even turtle watching only some of the adventures available from Phinda. Spend two nights at &Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge. Accommodation is in an air conditioned suite with ensuite bathroom comprising bath, shower, separate w.c. and twin hand basins. All suites have a sitting area, personal bar and private veranda, complete with plunge pool and romantic al fresco shower. Your stay includes three meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, teas and coffees, emergency medical evacuation insurance, laundry and daily lodge adventures.

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Day 3 & 4: Option 2

Spend two nights at &Beyond Phinda Forest Lodge.

Inventively designed in Zulu Zen style, each handcrafted, glass-encased suite is a combination of glass, wood and minimalist design incorporating high-gloss wooden floors, richly tactile fabrics and crimson Zulu artifacts. Your stay includes three meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beers, teas and coffees, emergency medical evacuation insurance, laundry and daily lodge adventures.

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Day 5, 6 & 7

After breakfast, you will make your way to the Coastal cashews pickup point where you will be met by a Thonga Beach Lodge driver/guide and transferred to the lodge.

Situated in the heart of the greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mabibi is approximately 25 kilometres (16 miles) north of Sodwana Bay and close to the Mozambique border. A pristine, underdeveloped beach on the Maputaland coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Mabibi is a subtropical ocean paradise. A magical place of unspoilt beaches, coastal forests, grasslands and shimmering lakes, its crystal-clear, warm waters offer leisurely swimming, amazing snorkelling on beautiful coral reefs and spectacular scuba diving. Spend three nights at Thonga Beach Lodge in a forest room with ensuite bathroom. Your stay includes accommodation, all meals, tea & coffee, use of snorkelling, guided walks, kayaking and sundowners at lake Sibaya, cultural tours to Mabibi community.

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Day 8

After breakfast you will be transferred to the Coastal Cashews pickup point where you will collect your vehicle and make your way to King Shake International Airport.

INCLUDED
NOTES