Travel by XO - Your luxury trip to the Dolphin Coast - South Africa

Day 1: Afternoon Wetland Safari Drive

On the day of arrival you can enjoy an afternoon wetland drive where you get a taste of this enchanting pristine park with the immense bird and wildlife, great and small, on our luxury open safari vehicles. You get to enjoy a drink under the magical colours of the sunset skies while absorbing sounds and smells of the night setting in. Sightings could include: giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, hyena, waterbuck, serval, porcupine, genet, leopard and elephant.

Day 2: Lake Wetland Boat Safari

After breakfast (09h00) you will enjoy a safari game drive through the western shores to the Makakatana boat where Warwick our skipper eagerly awaits. Enjoy a two hour leisurely cruise on Lake St Luica Estuary, Africa’s largest estuarine system. You will see crocodile and lots of hippo, as well as birdlife (over 530 Species in the area). Afterwards, your guide sets up a picnic lunch in bush before returning to the lodge (15h00).

* You need to spend 2 nights at Makakatana where a full day is available to do this safari.

Day 3: Beach and Eastern Shores Safari

After breakfast (09h00) you will enjoy a leisurely safari game drive through the western shores through to the eastern shores to a pristine beach on the Indian Ocean iSimangaliso coastline where you can enjoy a swim, snorkel and picnic lunch in the highest vegetated sand dunes in Africa. After your sun charged day, you return back to the lodge (15h00) with salt on your skin and windswept hair to be welcomed back for high tea.

Makakatana Bay Lodge has two SOLAR powered eco boats in front of the lodge. Great morning trips are offered to explore Lake St Lucia shoreline for hippo watching and bird watching. This is weather permitting and will be offered to guests as an alternative option to the morning game drive.

Day 4 - If you are spending 4 nights or more at Makakatana, there are a few more activity options that you book.

* Morning Wetland drive, day at leisure, Afternoon Wetland drive or Night drive
* Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game reserve (full day)
* Western Shores morning drive & brunch in the park

Or you can book activities with service providers in St Lucia:
* Specialist birder tour
* Deep sea fishing
* Whale watching
* Horse riding on the beach or in the eastern shores reserve.
*****Prices on request*****

SCUBA diving at Mabibi is phenomenal. Our professional lodge diving team can accommodate enthusiasts, from the beginner to the veteran. For those who don't dive, we have an Open Ocean Experience. An exciting launch through the surf in front of the lodge takes you beyond the breakers to a world of dolphins, whales and many other creatures. The warm Indian Ocean supports a myriad of fish and marine life. Guests can sometimes swim with dolphins or whale sharks, or snorkel with Manta rays and giant turtles. Scuba Diving and ocean experience are at an extra cost. Daily guided snorkeling is done a 5 minute walk away from the Lodge at low tide in our beautiful rock pools. Guided snorkelling is included in the rate.

In summer there are nocturnal walks and drives along the beach in search of pre-historic turtles laying their eggs. Witness the culmination of an incredible journey as giant Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in carefully prepared nests. Turtle tracking is offered in the evening from November to end of February. The turtles lay their eggs from November to February. Hatchlings arrive from end December to end February. Every precaution is taken to ensure these magnificent creatures are not disturbed during the laying process and data collected from the turtle drives is submitted to the Ezemvelo Turtle Monitoring program. Turtle walks take place 3 times a week and are included in the rate. Nightly turtle tracking in 4x4 vehicle is at an extra cost.

Open Ocean Experience. An exciting launch through the surf in front of the lodge takes you beyond the breakers to a world of dolphins, whales and many other creatures. The warm Indian Ocean supports a myriad of fish and marine life. Guests can sometimes swim with dolphins or whale sharks, or snorkel with Manta rays and giant turtles Ocean Experience is an extra charge.

A leisurely drive along the lake shore looking for Hippo's , Birds and Crocodiles, then surrounded by the magical sounds of dusk settle with a drink to watch the sunset over the lake. Sundowners are Included in the rate, with either a glass of house wine, cider, local beer or softdrink per person.

Daily tours are on offer to visit the local rural Community of Mabibi. This includes a visit to the clinic and the school, as well as a homestead visit. Optional is to include a visit to the local Sangoma (witch doctor), which may incur a cost. Standard tours are included in the rate.

Relax with a soothing treatment in the Sea Spa - extra charge.

Daily Guided walks through the indigenous dune forest , where the guide shares his in depth knowledge of the local fauna and flora. This activity is included in the rate.

Take a fat bike out for a ride along the beach - great excercise and fun.

The highlight for many at Kosi Forest Lodge is the canoeing trip on the Kosi Lakes. The best time for this activity is in the early morning and lasts for approximately 2 hours. Guides escort you by canoe along the Siyadla channel where the bird life is very rewarding and the scenery peaceful and breath taking

The Kosi Lakes are a series of interconnected lakes which stretch over some 18km. The best way to see the system is by boat. The full day excursion leaves shortly after breakfast and travels through the lake system and estuarine waterways. The guides stop along the way and explain the traditional fishing traps and the traditions of the Tsonga community, who live in balance with the lake system.

Additional Charge for this activity.

Enjoy a walk through magnificent Raphia Palms - the tallest in the world! Home to the Palm Nut Vulture and Pel's Fishing Owl, the area can be explored by birders at their leisure. Local guides will share their extensive knowledge of local fauna and flora.

A day trip to Kosi Bay Mouth for a bit of beach fun and wonderful snorkeling in the shallows of the lake near the mouth. There is a lovely secluded reef close the the mouth. A picnic lunch is served on the banks of the lake under palm trees.

Additional charge for this activity.

Guests are driven from the lodge in an open 4x4 vehicle over very rough roads to the beach where they are met by local community guides who will walk them along the beach in search of turtles. These walks are not suitable for children under 8 years old as it is a very rough road and a long walk on the beach at night.

This activity attracts an additional charge and it is weather dependant.

Twice daily game drives are conducted to explore the magnificent hills and valleys of the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park. Nothing is predictable in the bush; therefore each safari offers a potentially new and unique experience. Our guides will share their wealth of bush experience which involves the identifications of animals, trees, grasses, insects and birds. The medicinal uses of plants and local folk lore is also discussed as well as looking for the ever fascinating Big 5!

Guests can enjoy guided walks lasting 3-4 hours inside the park in Big 5 territory. No children under 14 years. Additional cost.

Treat yourself to a relaxing spa treatment - extra cost.

Visits into the local Mpembeni Community are offered as well as a visit to the Isibindi Foundation community centre.