This African tour Includes the most interesting and scenic highlights of Zululand and KwaZulu Natal, in South Africa. These include the World Heritage site of the St Lucia Wetlands Reserve, safaris in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Big 5 Game reserve, Anglo-Zulu War Battlefields, Drakensberg Mountains, Giants Castle, Bushman Cave Paintings and Sani Pass into Lesotho.

Day 1
Depart Durban for St Lucia, and a boat ride on the St Lucia Estuary. The entire St Lucia Wetlands Reserve has been proclaimed as a World Heritage site. The St Lucia Estuary is made up of 5 different and separate eco-systems, and is therefore unique. There are very frequent sightings of hippos and crocodiles, as well as riverine and marine bird species. There are also breeding pairs of African fish eagle on the estuary, and sightings are regular. Lunch will be enjoyed in St Lucia, before entering the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Park, famous as a Big 5 reserve, and for saving the rhino from almost certain extinction.

In the afternoon, enjoy a game drive in the Hluhluwe reserve en route to Hilltop Camp, famous for its gracious and charming accommodation, in one of the higher parts of the park with expansive views. Check in at the reception. After time to freshen up, an early dinner will be enjoyed before embarking on a night drive in the park. A night drive often gives very good sightings of game not seen during the day, and one can sometimes see bushbaby, cerval, civet cats, and other interesting animals. Encounters with rhino and elephant are quite regular. Lion, leopard and hyena are also occasionally seen on night drives, and will make the experience unforgettable.
Return to your en-suite private chalet for a good nights sleep.
Includes : Lunch & Dinner

Day 2
An early game drive will be offered before breakfast. This is often one of the best times of the day to view game. The day will be spent in game drives, with time to rest and relax at your chalet during the hottest part of the day (when the animals are in hiding). We will, however, be flexible if there are indications of exciting game to be seen and will do all in our power to get you to the right sites. Another night drive is offered and the night will again be spent at Hilltop Camp.
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 3
Another opportunity for an early morning game drive before breakfast. After breakfast, we leave for Ithala game park. This park is completely different to Hluhluwe Umfolozi, and is known as the jewel of KwaZulu-Natal's parks. The scenery is stunning, and although the park has no lion, there are many other species of game which are frequently seen which make it a very worthwhile reserve, e.g. black-backed jackal, wild dog, black rhino, etc. The accommodation is wonderful, and you will again have a private chalet. Enjoy game drives through the remainder of the day, with time to relax and freshen up before an early dinner. After dinner, enjoy a night drive which will again afford you spectacular sightings.
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 4
The morning will be spent in game drives. After lunch, leave for Isandlwana Lodge for an overnight stay. This is a wonderful lodge, designed to look as if it grew out of the rock formations, set high up against the Nyoni Rock overlooking the Isandlwana mountain and battle plains. The area is steeped in history.
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 5
After breakfast, the tour of the Anglo-Zulu Battlefields begins. Isandlwana was the site of one of the most dramatic and gripping events in the history of the Zulu kingdom. A column of British red-coats, under General Chelmsford was utterly defeated by King Cetshwayo's Zulu army. That same day, part of the Zulu army was repulsed after ten hours of heroic struggle around a barricaded border post at Rorke's Drift by just a handful of the red-coats and the event is etched into history in a story of courage, self-sacrifice and tragedy. You will gain immense insights into these events with your tour-guide, and tread the same ground. Leave for Giants Castle, arriving in the early evening.
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 6
Enjoy a lazy lie-in before breakfast. We then will take a walk up to the Bushman Cave paintings (this walk takes about half an hour, and is a pleasant walk although it meanders slowly uphill. The last 5 minutes is steep, but it is worth it for the views of the surrounding countryside and the paintings. After a leisurely lunch, we leave for Himeville and overnight at a Country Cottage or Guest House.
Includes : Breakfast & Dinner

Day 7
Enjoy a lie-in before breakfast. After breakfast, you will be collected in a 4 x 4 for a trip up the spectacular Sani Pass into Lesotho. (PASSPORTS are ESSENTIAL!) Lunch will be at the Sani Top Chalet, one of the highest pubs in Africa. You will get a glimpse of the stark living conditions of the Basotho people and a chance to meet them if you desire. The trip down the Sani Pass affords different viewpoints and is also breathtaking. Animals that may be seen are eland (the largest antelope in Africa) and baboons; the rare bearded vulture is also an inhabitant of this area. We return to Durban in the late afternoon.
Includes : Breakfast & Lunch

Accommodation
-Hilltop Camp, Ithala and Giants Castle are all within KwaZulu-Natal game parks, and offer superb accommodation which can be classed as 3 or 4 star. We utilise 2 bed or 4 bed chalets on our tours which all have en-suite bathrooms.
-Isandlwana Lodge is a luxury lodge.
-In Himeville, we utilise Guest houses with that lovely country feel. All rooms are en-suite.