SELF
DRIVE - DURBAN TO JOHANNESBURG
DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA:
This self drive option is a nature lovers dream. Both Fauna
and Flora are in abundance along the route. Your first port
of call heading out of Durban is the coastal town of Ballito.
Here you can enjoy a relaxing beach day and partake in some
dolphin spotting along the warm tropical waters of the North
Coast of Kwazulu Natal. From Ballito you head further north
to the town of St Lucia, which will serve as your springboard
into the Greater St Lucia Wetland area, a UNESCO World Heritage
site. Heading out of St Lucia you enter South Africa’s
oldest Game reserve, the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park where, if
you’re lucky, you will see Africa’s BIG 5. Continuing
in the game viewing mode you head from Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary in Swaziland. Leaving Swaziland
behind you head back into South Africa with your next stop
being the historical mining town of Pilgrims Rest. Pilgrims
Rest was an old mining town that has been lovingly restored
to capture the essence of a bygone era. Gold Fever is the
name of the game in Pilgrims Rest. From Pilgrims Rest you
will head towards vibrant city of Johannesburg and its here
where your holiday sadly comes to an end.
DURATION: 7 nights
RATES FROM: On request. Please
contact African Budget Safaris
WHATS INCLUDED:
• Car Hire
• Accommodation on a B&B basis)
• Detailed instructions on finding your way around.
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1 - Durban to Ballito
You start your self drive holiday leaving from
Durban and head towards the town of Ballito on the North Coast
of Natal otherwise known as the Dolphin Coast. The Dolphin
Coast is one of South Africa's most popular and most beautiful
holiday spots. The region got its name from the many schools
of bottlenose dolphins which can be seen playing in the water
almost every day of the year.
Ballito, the heart of the Dolphin Coast, lies nestled between
rippling fields of Natal's famous `green gold' and is flanked
to the east by golden beaches and the warm waters of the Indian
Ocean.
Accommodation: Seaforth
Farm
Day 2 & 3 - Ballito to St. Lucia
Heading out of St. Lucia you continue your journey
to the town of St. Lucia. St Lucia town acts as a base to
explore a surrounding countryside like no other in the country.
The wetlands, swamps, mangroves and lagoons making up the
town's environment attract many eco-tourists and nature lovers.
Extensive conservation programmes have been undertaken since
a game reserve was establish on the estuarine system fed by
the Mkuze, Nyalazi and Hluhluwe Rivers. No trip to Kwazulu-Natal's
northern coast is complete without a visit to this unforgettable
place.
Greater St Lucia Wetland Park
A very special slice of Africa, the Greater St Lucia
Wetland Park offers eco tourists some of the most diverse
wildlife and outdoor experiences imaginable.
Besides Lake St Lucia - a unique, 38 000 ha expanse of lake,
islands and estuary - the park incorporates an astonishing
variety of habitats ranging from the Ubombo mountains to grasslands,
forests, wetlands, mangroves and vegetated dunes, with magnificent
beaches and coral reefs.
The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park stretches along the Zululand
coast from Mapelane in the south to Sodwana in the north.
This diversity gives rise to a multiplicity of fauna and
flora, unrivalled anywhere in South Africa. It supports an
abundance of Nile crocodile and hippo, as well as rhino (both
black and white), elephant, buffalo, giraffe, waterbuck, kudu,
nyala, impala, duiker and reedbuck, amongst a host of other
species.
You can dive on coral reefs or walk for miles along golden
beaches; explore great dunes and wander through magical coastal
forests; or roam across grassy plains as the wind carries
the whistling calls of reedbuck on the alert. You can try
your hand at canoeing while enjoying a wilderness trail, and
if snorkelling, angling or boating take your fancy, this is
the place to indulge yourself.
Migrant whales cavorting along the coast, leatherback and
loggerhead turtles, nesting on the beaches at night in summer,
add to the park's special attractions.
From Mapelane the park stretches northwards, incorporating
St Lucia Game and Marine Reserves, False Bay park, Cape Vidal,
Sodwana Bay, Mkuzi Game Reserve and the Maputaland Marine
Reserve.
The 260 000 ha park is internationally recognised, with two
parts of it registered as Wetlands of International Significance
under the Ramsa Convention.
Accommodation: Hippo
Hideaway
Day 4 - St Lucia to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Heading inland for some big 5 game viewing in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
Park.
Set in the heart of Zululand, the oldest game reserve in Africa
where Zulu kings such as Dingiswayo and Shaka hunted and put
in place the first conservation laws, where today the "big
five" of African legend stalk the verdant savannah. The
Park became world renowned for its white rhino conservation.
Established in 1895 game viewing is the prime attraction.
Viewing hides overlook pans and waterholes enabling visitors
to see animals at close range.
Previously managed as two separate parks, the Hluhluwe (in
the north) and Imfolozi (in the south) were joined into one
large game reserve. The Park covers some 96 000 ha and contains
an immense diversity of fauna and flora.
Larger mammals to be seen include buffalo, blue wildebeest,
zebra, giraffe, elephant and large numbers of impala, waterbuck,
common and mountain reedbuck, nyala, kudu, bushbuck, steenbuck,
duiker, warthog, black rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyaena
and jackal.
In excess of 300 species of birds have been recorded.
Please Note Visitors pay a conservation fee of R70
per person per day (children 50%) replacing entry fees.
Accommodation: Hilltop
Camp
Day 5 - Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park to Mlilwane Wildlife
Sanctuary (Swaziland)
Heading out of Kwazulu Natal you head towards Mbabane the
capital city of Swaziland. The landlocked Kingdom of Swaziland
is surrounded on the north and south by provinces of South
Africa, and on the east is bordered by Mozambique. You will
discover a whole new country filled with bygone African traditions
and culture.
With an area of just over 17,000 square kilometres, Swaziland
is the smallest country in the southern hemisphere. Small
as it may be, Swaziland is an exciting tourist destination
with its art and craft outlets and traditional markets and
wildlife reserves.
The oldest and most visited Swazi park, Mlilwane is situated
within easy reach of the popular Ezulwini and Malkerns tourism
hubs. The Sanctuary is a tranquil retreat for the weary and
a scenic family paradise. 24 hour access to the Sanctuary
is a valuable feature for late arrivals, business travellers
and those on night excursions to other nearby attractions.
Accommodation: The
Mlilwane Rest Camp
Day 6 - Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary to Pilgrims
Rest (South Africa)
Leaving the Kingdom of Swaziland behind you
head towards the old mining town of Pilgrims Rest. A living
museum - the entire town has been declared a national Monument
- taking the visitors to the day of old Transvaal Gold Rush.
Pilgrim's Rest was declared a gold field in 1873, soon after
digger Alec "Wheelbarrow" Patterson had found gold
deposits in Pilgrim's Creek. The Valley proved to be rich
in gold and by the end of the year, there where about 1500
diggers working in the area. As a result, Pilgrim's Rest became
a social centre for the diggings.
Mining was active until 1971 when Beta Mine was closed down.
Transvaal Gold Mining Estates opened again in 1999 and there
is active gold mining in the hills around Pilgrim's Rest.
Accomodation: The
Royal Hotel
Day 7 - Pilgrims Rest to Johannesburg
Leaving Pilgrims rest you will continue your
journey to Johannesburg where you will spend you last night.
Combine New York, London and Amsterdam. Add a touch of Calcutta,
Rio and Los Angeles, and you get Johannesburg. It is the second
largest city in Africa, south of Cairo, and home to some eight
million people.
Johannesburg is the financial, economic and cultural giant
of South Africa - and by implication the entire African continent.
Johannesburg can seem overwhelming to the first-time visitor.
Some travellers fear it, but most love it. Take the time to
explore the city and be amazed by the diverse cultures, interesting
people and numerous places to visit.
Accomodation: Airport
City Lodge
NOTES:
• The accommodation indicated in each area
is dependant on availability. Should there be no availability
during your requested period African Budget Safaris will provide
an alternative option.
• You can extend your package by checking out our various
other self drive options or alternatively you can drop your
hired car of at the Johannesburg International Airport and
fly onwards to your next destination. Check with African Budget
Safaris for a list of budget airlines that can be booked online.
• Pre tour accommodation can be booked for you in. Please
contact African Budget Safaris for details.
• This package is available in reverse (Johannesburg
to Durban)
CAR HIRE
 You
have a choice of vehicles available through African Budget
Safaris. Each vehicle is priced according to make, model,
size and attributes of the vehicle (i.e. mnaual / automatic,
airbags etc.). When enquiring about a self drive option, please
indicate the vehicle group that you are wanting to hire.
Click
here or on the vehicle displayed
for a full list of options with rates and terms & conditions.
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