SOUTH AFRICA - Family Holiday - Mountain, Bush & Beach Experience

Day notes

Arrival Johannesburg from your international flight onto Durban King Shaka Airport - Durban. (Approx 1 hour)

You will be met at the airport, welcomed with our warm South African hospitality and transferred to your first stop!

Drive time to Nelson Mandela Capture site is approximately 2 hours.
Drive time from Nelson Mandela Capture Site to Granny Mouse is approximately 15 minutes.

Visit Nelson Mandela Capture Site on route to Granny Mouse Country House in the picturesque Midlands area.

A visit to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site is a short but powerful historical experience.

Located just outside Howick, it marks the exact spot where Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962—an event that led to his 27 years in prison and ultimately shaped South Africa’s path to democracy.

Today, the site combines:
A striking steel sculpture that forms Mandela’s face when viewed from a distance
Visitor centre with immersive exhibits, films, and artefacts
A symbolic “Long Walk to Freedom” pathway leading to the monument

Settle in at your accommodation after your travels!

Day notes

After a scrumptious breakfast - you will be driven from Granny Mouse to Karkloof Canopy.
Drive time approximately 45 minutes.
Karkloof Canopy Tour @ 09H30am

The Karkloof Canopy Tour is a guided eco-adventure that takes you zip-lining through the indigenous Karkloof Forest.

Set in a  forest reserve near Howick, the experience involves traversing 10 zip-lines and 12 elevated platforms, suspended up to around 30–35 metres above the forest floor, offering views of waterfalls, streams, and dense woodland.

The tour lasts about 2 hours, begins with a full safety briefing and equipment fitting, and is led by trained guides who share insights into the forest’s ecology and wildlife along the way.

It’s a safe, structured activity suitable for most ages, combining light adventure with nature interpretation in one of KwaZulu-Natal’s most scenic forest environments.

Transfer Karkloof Canopy to Cathedral Peak Hotel.
Drive time approximately 2 hours 30 minutes.

Stop on the way for a light lunch or have lunch at your Cathedral Peak Hotel. 
( Northern Drakensberg Mountain Range)

A typical day at Cathedral Peak Hotel
Starting with a buffet breakfast followed by a guided family hike or easy nature walk in the Drakensberg mountains. The morning and afternoon offer plenty of on-site options such as swimming, tennis, mini-golf, horse riding, mountain biking, or simply enjoying the gardens and playground areas, with breaks for buffet lunch and afternoon tea. In the evening, the family gathers for dinner in the hotel’s dining room before winding down with games, a drink in the lounge, or simply enjoying the outdoors and peaceful surroundings.

About the mountain trekking/hiking:-  
1 fully guided hike/mountain trekking is included in rate with many other options for walks.
18 stunning hikes and walks leave right from our doorstep, ranging from gentle strolls down the riverside to scaling the summit of Cathedral Peak itself. The guided hike includes walks with the novelty of tea, coffee and rusks/biscuits in the mountains, bird watching and Bushman San rock art sites. 

Day notes

After breakfast, transfer from Cathedral Peak Hotel to Pumula Beach Hotel.
Drive time approximately 4-5 Hours.

A typical day at Pumula Beach Hotel is a relaxed, all-inclusive beach holiday where everything is centred around the ocean and family fun.

The day usually starts with a buffet breakfast overlooking the sea, followed by time on the Blue Flag beach just steps away—swimming, beach walks, rock pool exploring, or surfing in safe, lifeguarded conditions.

Mid-morning and afternoon are filled with easy resort activities for kids, while parents can relax on the deck or join in.

Lunch and dinner are served in the hotel dining room as part of the full-board experience, with snacks and tea included between meals, making it a stress-free.  

Extra Activities:-
From Pumula Beach Hotel, two popular excursions for families are a visit to a local butterfly farm, offering a relaxed and educational experience where children can see a variety of tropical butterflies up close, and a full-day trip to Oribi Gorge, where guests can enjoy dramatic scenery along with adventure activities such as zip-lining, canyon walks, and viewing points over the deep river gorge. (Arranged with the hotel - additional cost)

Day notes

Transfer from Pumula Beach Hotel to the beautiful area of St Lucia. (After a hearty Breakfast)
Drive time approximately 3-4 hours.

Stop for a nice lunch on route (not included).

Check in at Lidiko Lodge, settle in and get ready for your planned activity:
 2 hour afternoon Hippo and Croc Boat Cruise.
The Jetty is approximately a 5 min walk from Lidiko Lodge.

Enjoy a family dinner at the lodge!

Day notes

Exciting Day awaits...

After lodge breakfast, transfer to Duma Zulu Village for the 08H15 Cultural Show followed by the Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Centre and onto Rhino River Lodge.

A visit to DumaZulu Cultural Village offers an interactive introduction to traditional Zulu culture. Guests are welcomed into a reconstructed village setting where guides explain customs, daily life, and history, followed by demonstrations of traditional crafts such as beadwork, basket weaving, and spear making. The experience also includes energetic Zulu dancing and singing performances, giving visitors a lively and authentic insight into cultural traditions still celebrated today.

Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Centre near Hluhluwe is a conservation facility focused on rescuing and rehabilitating African wild cats including cheetahs, servals, caracals and African wildcats. Visitors join guided tours to learn about the animals and the centre’s conservation work, with the chance for close-up, supervised viewing and photography during feeding times. It’s an educational and interactive stop that highlights local wildlife conservation efforts in Zululand.

Check in at Rhino River Lodge nd get ready for your blissful days enjoying the safari experience, wildlife and African bush!

2 game drives per day are included in the rate!

Day notes

Once your tummies are full after your last breakfast at Rhino River Lodge, you will visit Bayete Elephant Connections

Elephant Connection activity-11H00am

Bayete Elephant Connections is an ethical elephant interaction experience.  It offers guided, educational close-up encounters with a small group of rescued elephants that roam freely within a private reserve with their keepers. Visitors can feed and gently interact with the elephants while learning about their history, behaviour, and conservation. The experience is highly controlled, educational, and focused on responsible wildlife tourism.

Transfer from Rhino River Lodge to Librodi pick up point.
Drive time approximately 1 hour, 30 minutes.
4x4 Transfer Librodi Pick up point to Thonga Beach Lodge.
Transfer approximately 1 hour.

A typical day at Thonga Beach Lodge is nature-focused, and flexible around beach and bush experiences.
Mornings can start with an optional guided snorkelling trip in the rock pools or a forest walk along the dunes, followed by breakfast overlooking the lake or ocean.

Midday is usually free for beach time, swimming, kayaking on Lake Sibaya, or simply relaxing at the lodge while kids enjoy nature activities.

In the afternoon, families can join guided turtle tracking in season, a sunset beach walk, or cultural and environmental experiences led by local guides.   (Turtle nesting happens from November to the end of February, and February is actually right at the tail end of the season, when you may still see nesting activity and often start to see early hatchlings from earlier nests.)

Evenings are calm with dinner at the lodge and storytelling-style sharing of the day’s experiences!

Such a special place - Thonga Beach Lodge...and a wonderful way to end your family holiday!

Day notes

Leave Thonga Beach Lodge filled with wonderful memories - after a delicious breakfast.

All guided snorkeling and use of snorkeling equipment, guided forest walks, kayaking and sundowners at Lake Sibaya, cultural tours to Mabibi Community and turtle tracking walks in season (Nov-Feb) are included in your rate!

Also included:  Thonga Beach Lodge - Isibindi Foundation Levy -NETT & Park Fees 

4x4 Transfer Thonga Beach Lodge to Librodi Pick up point

*Transfer approximately 1 hour.

Minibus transfer Librodi Pick up point to Durban King Shaka Airport. *Drive time approximately  3 hours, 40 minutes.