Upon arrival at Durban International Airport (King Shaka International) you will collect your rental car and make your way to The Oyster Box Hotel located in Umhlanga Rocks, a mere 20 minute drive from the airport. Over the next couple of days you can unwind and enjoy the incredible facilities at the hotel as well as the endless sandy beaches on your doorstep.
Umhlanga Promenade, a 3km long paved walkway which winds along the beautiful beaches, is located right in front of the hotel
The next leg of your adventure takes you on a 2 1/2 hour drive through the rolling green hills of the Midlands (the heart of KZN) onto the Central Drakensberg. The landscape is dotted with farmlands and charming little towns with wonderful arts and crafts. Download the Midlands Meander Guide to plot your route and places of interest. Not to be missed is the Nelson Mandela Capture Site with its cool optical illusion sculpture of South Africa's first black president.
The Cleopatra Mountain Hotel will be your home for the next 3 days where you will be surrounded by spectacular natural beauty and you can immerse yourself in a host of thrilling outdoor activities. For food lovers this will be a real treat!
Today your 3 1/2 hour drive will take you up north to the historically famous Natal Battlefields. The Fugitives' Drift Lodge is set on a 5000 acre Natural Heritage Site overlooking both Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, the setting for the Zulu War of 1879. Enjoy informative tours of both sites led by some of the finest guides in South Africa. Other activities include game viewing by horse back or on foot. Enjoy the endless views of the plains below, dotted with zebra and giraffe, from the comfort of your verandah.
As well as touring the major battle sites, your surrounds have plenty more on offer. Hiking, birding, horse riding, quad biking and a glimpse of real Zulu village life can all be found at Isandlwana.
Today you set off towards Phinda Game Reserve. Your drive should take around 5 hours.
The incredible setting lends itself to a high density of game coupled with a spectacular array of landscapes which include forest, woodland, wetland, open pans and towering mountains.
Spot the Big 5 which include lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino as well as nyala and cheetah. Learn to tell the difference between a back and white rhino. You are spoilt for choice with a host of activities to choose from - twice daily game drives, river cruises, canoeing, walking safaris and black rhino tracking.
After check out you head north along the coast to your next destination, Thonga Beach Lodge, where you will get to relax, unwind and enjoy the remoteness of your surrounds. Your drive will take just under 2 hours. Over the next three days you will get to enjoy a host of activities ranging from, long walks on the untouched beaches, scuba diving, snorkelling and turtle tracking. Visit a local homestead, school and clinic and experience how the peaceful Tsonga people go about their rural lifestyles OR head out on foot and explore this natural wonderland through coastal forests, unspoiled sandy beaches and grasslands. Kayaking and sundowners on Lake Sibaya are not to be missed.
Today you will self-drive 3 1/2 hours to Richards Bay Airport, where you will return your rental car and board your flight to Johannesburg. Upon arrival you will be met by a representative and transferred to the Four Seasons Westcliff Hotel.
This stylish, urban resort offers panoramic views across the Johannesburg Zoo and the prestigious neighbourhoods of The Parks. Enjoy your last night of your adventure before boardinging your international flight home the following day.
