South Africa’s Kwazulu Natal Safari

This seven day Safari will give you a complete tour of South Africa's Kwazulu Natal Region including two world Heritage Sites!

 The tour is made up of 3 separate legs. The first leg covers the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi and St.Lucia Wetlands region. This section is all about the fauna and flora of Kwazulu Natal including game drives to see Africa's wildlife with an emphasis on "The Big 5".

The second leg of the tour is a real Zulu Village overnight experience where you will get to spend a night with the proud Zulu people getting to understand their culture and way of life.

The third leg of the Safari covers the Drakensberg Mountains and includes a journey to the Lesotho, or the "Roof of Africa". In this section you will do a horseback ride, 4x4 adventure and a hike. An action packed few days!

Experience the magical Kingdom of Kwazulu Natal!

‘Big 5' Hluhluwe/Umfolozi/St.Lucia Safari

Day 1

Pick up time will be around  6:00am
A pit stop about an hour later at a Refreshment centre to grab a cup of coffee and stretch your legs ( 10 minutes )
Arrive at St. Lucia around  9:00am
Start a relaxing walk with a ‘local community guide' through the St.Lucia Wetlands Natural Vegetation for about a Hour to a Hour and a Half
At 11:00am do a Boat Cruise at St. Lucia Estuary to view the Crocodiles, Hippos and Giant Fish Eagles in their natural habitat.
Enjoy Lunch
Around 14:15 a drive to visit  the Zulu Village Craft Market
A late afternoon tour of the Cheetah/Rare Cats viewing/feeding program
Enjoy dinner
A good night's rest  after a fairly ‘hectic' schedule in order to have an early start the next morning

Day 2

A very  early start, grab a cup of tea/coffee/cereal and be in readiness to start
A Full Day Game Drive starting at 5:00am to track the ‘Big 5' and a variety of other animals in the Hluhluwe/Imfolozi Game Park
Breakfast and Lunch at some scenic spot within the Game Park
Return to St. Lucia, freshen up and relax a bit
Enjoy dinner and your accommodation

Day 3

Another early start, the usual tea/coffee/cereal/juices/fruit
At 5:00am start a Half Day Game Drive to hopefully view some of the animals that you did not see on the previous Game Drive.
Breakfast in the Game Park and Lunch at a restaurant in Mtubatuba
Depart for Durban arriving around 17:30
Dinner and Accommodation in Durban ( For own account).

Face to Face - Rural Zulu Village Tour " Overnight "

( A full Day / night  tour starting around 9am and finishing the Next Morning at 9am )

Day 4

The ‘REAL THING" with this Zulu Village Tour which is situated about 70km West of Durban and there is no ‘Fronting' as each day is different and unique and involves the active participation of the tourist.

A  day tour through the beautiful and breathtaking "Valley Of A Thousand Hills" where the Village is nestled in between the foothills of the Valley and KwaZulu-Natal's largest dam.

A local community guide will conduct a "Walking Tour" of the village and you will have an opportunity to interact with the 21st Century Zulu community.

The guide will share various traditional information and values as to ‘ how & why' things are done from a cultural perspective.

An opportunity to meet the local community Sangoma (traditional healer/witch doctor)

An afternoon Zulu Dance by the children of the community

Lunch is included and will be a traditional vegetarian meal cooked at the village and shared with you.

Spend the evening with very sociable and hospitable people, opportunity for the ‘Female' tourist to dress up in local traditional attire and watch a DVD that's recorded some Local Traditional Ceremony in that particular area.

Your accommodation would be in a basic home with a secure family and you would share their home and they will ensure that you participate in a Zulu cuisine (nb. Red meat is considered a luxury and most meals consist of Chicken and Vegetables)

The experience will certainly broaden your horizons and offer you a greater appreciation of the Zulus.

The next morning you will be collected head back to Durban to start the next leg of your tour.

Many opportunities for some awesome and authentic  photographs.

Drakensberg Safari ( World Heritage Site )

Day 5

Depart Durban around 07:30am and arrive around 9:45am at Howick Falls and enjoy a good walk down the Gorge to the base of the Falls.
Depart around 12:15pm  to Underberg  to have Lunch at the Lemon Tree Restaurant 

( Optional -  Lunch at Howick Falls )
Check in at our accommodation and freshen up
An early afternoon Horse Ride for approximately 2.5 hours to enjoy the Drakensberg mountain range from Horseback
Dinner, a bit of socialising and a good nights rest

Day 6

An early start with Breakfast around 07:30am
Around 09:00am, Hop onto a 4x4 to start the Sani Pass/Lesotho tour, an opportunity to interact with the local Basotho community and have an appreciation of their basic traditional lifestyle, lunch at Sani Chalet ( the highest pub in Africa ) and then in the late afternoon meander down the mountain pass
Around 16:00pm head back  for Dinner and a good nights sleep

Day 7

Another early start with a light Breakfast around 06:00am
Pack all luggage in vehicle to streamline departure later on A Full Day Hike with a local community guide to view the ancient Bushman ‘Rock' paintings, waterfalls, pristine streams and just suck in the sheer beauty and tranquillity of the Drakensberg mountain range.
Some Sandwiches and refreshments will be arranged for you to enjoy at some pristine scenic spot .

The hike should be completed around 13:00pm
Lunch at the Lemon Tree Restaurant
Depart for Durban in the late afternoon arriving around 19:00pm

Notes:

Accommodation is for ‘Dorm' type and if you require an upgrade to a Single/Double Room then there is an additional cost  of R250 per person per night for 4 nights at Drakensberg & St.Lucia.
The order of the tour may change if there are logistical constraints

During the ‘Non Touring' Nights, Accommodation and Dinner will be for your account .

Each of the 3 sections can be done as individual tours. Contact African Budget Safaris for pricing.

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