Arrival at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport. Collect your rental car, and drive north to the village of St. Lucia, approximately 2 ½ hours’ drive from Durban. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this little town. If time allows we suggest a visit to the crocodile park.
St. Lucia is the hub of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, one of South Africa’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The 332 000 hectare Park contains three major lake systems, eight interlinking ecosystems, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, 526 bird species and 25 000 year-old coastal dunes – among the highest in the world. The name iSimangaliso means miracle and wonder, which aptly describes this unique place.
Enjoy a morning river safari (included in tour costs), where you are likely to see hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birds. In the early afternoon, set off on a 3-hour game-drive of the Western Shores (included in tour costs): This reserve is set alongside the little town of St Lucia, and you have a good opportunity of spotting rhino, buffalo, samango monkey, bushbuck, reedbuck, suni, side-striped jackal, and the beautiful, elusive leopard. The region has numerous other general game species, an enchanting range of birdlife, and an opportunity to see game not normally seen elsewhere. The landscape is largely open grasslands, so keen photographers have unimpeded views for those award-winning photographs.
An early dawn departure enables us to enjoy an exciting full day ‘Big 5’ photo safari. This will be in an open 4x4 safari vehicle with a local wildlife guide (included in tour costs).
Head for Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park. This is the oldest of the National Parks in South Africa, and is famous for being the park where the “Save the White Rhino from Extinction” program was carried out. The abundance of white rhino, not only in this park but elsewhere in southern Africa, bears testimony to the success of this project. Hluhluwe/Imfolozi Park was proclaimed in 1895, covering some 96 000 ha with an immense diversity of fauna and flora across this region.
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, hyena and jackal. In excess of 300 species of birds have been recorded. This is not a ‘zoo’ so we never know what can be seen. Often, elephants or buffalo block the road, other times lions and other predators are seen. A picnic lunch in the park is included. Return to St. Lucia village in the afternoon.
After breakfast, drive further north to Kosi Forest Lodge (approximately 3.5 hours). This unique wilderness lodge is situated in the north-east of KwaZulu-Natal, close to the border with Mozambique. This 16-bed lodge offers the unique opportunity of exploring a pristine wetland environment by vehicle, guided canoes and boats.
The lodge is set in a beautiful sand forest on the banks of the Kosi Lake. Guests are accommodated in thatched bedrooms, on raised wooden decks, hidden in the sand forest. There is no electricity, but that’s part of the charm! All beds have mosquito nets. The unique open-air, reed enclosed bathrooms with the bath and shower sunk into white forest sand outside, has been noted by guests as one of the highlights of their stay. In the afternoon, a guided walk through the magnificent Raffia Palm Forest (included in tour costs). Listen out for the abundant bird-calls and perhaps catch a glimpse of the rare palm-nut vulture, whom we have regular sightings of in the canopy. The raffia palm is the largest palm in the world.
Today, a full-day boat trip (included in tour costs) in the coastal forest reserve, along the Kosi Lake System, a series of interconnected lakes which stretch over some 18km. The best way to see the system is by boat. The trip meanders through various sized lakes and channels, and the tour includes a walk through the famous Kosi Bay fish traps – as well as a picnic lunch and a swim in the Indian Ocean at Bhanga Nek.
The highlight for many is the canoe trip on the Kosi Lakes (included in tour costs). This takes place early morning and we paddle for approximately 2 hours. Guides escort guests by canoe along the Sihadla channel where the birdlife is rewarding and the scenery peaceful and breathtaking. At the end of the canoe trip, leave Kosi Forest Lodge and drive to Coastal Cashews - this is a secure car parking area. From here, transfer by 4x4 vehicle on sandy tracks, to Thonga Beach Lodge. This will be your home for the next 3 nights.
Thonga Beach Lodge is set on the pristine shores of the Maputaland coast at Mabibi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This 24-bed luxury lodge is the ideal place to discover one of the most unspoilt wilderness beaches left on the African continent. Mabibi is a magical place of coastal forests, grasslands, bush, shimmering lakes and exquisite sandy beaches. Its crystal clear, warm waters offer South Africa’s best snorkelling and fantastic off-shore scuba diving.
Set above a private, sandy beach and nestled into magnificent coastal dune forest, Thonga Beach Lodge captures the essence of a luxury Robinson Crusoe hideaway. Traditional Thonga fishing villages provided the inspiration for this unique retreat that celebrates the true spirit of Mother Nature. The thatched bush suites provide guest privacy and were carefully constructed to ensure minimal impact on the environment. The lodge offers luxurious accommodation, mouth-watering meals and one of the best dive sites in the South Africa. Thonga Beach Lodge is situated right adjoining the beach and only a 15 minute drive from Lake Sibaya (Southern Africa’s largest freshwater lake), which is part of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, now internationally recognized as a World Heritage Site. In the afternoon join in a sunset tour to Lake Sibaya (included in tour costs).
Two days at Thonga Beach Lodge, to relax and take advantage of some of the many activities offered. Included in your rates are the following activities:
Snorkelling
Mabibi offers superb snorkelling opportunities with a great diversity of underwater seascapes and marine flora and fauna. The shallow reefs along this protected stretch of coastline are home to an array of brilliant sub-tropical fish including moorish idols, parrot fish and blue surgeons. The warm waters of the Indian Ocean make this the ideal spot to snorkel or guests can simply soak up the sun and savour the tranquility of this pristine, sandy beach.
Guided Wilderness Walks
Guests can head out on foot and explore this natural wonderland through coastal dune forests, unspoiled sandy beaches and grasslands. The wild beauty of Maputaland will enthrall naturalists and photographers alike.
Tsonga Cultural Experience
Visit a Tsonga homestead and learn about their unique heritage and culture. Spend some time with community members discussing their rural lifestyle and their vision for South Africa. You also have an opportunity to see one of the local schools and see how these young South Africans are striving for a better future under trying conditions.
Canoeing on Lake Sibaya
The lake is 6km from the lodge, a 25-minute drive. Lake Sibaya has 100km of untouched shoreline and at 70km2 is South Africa’s largest freshwater lake. The lake falls within the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, now a World Heritage Site, and the Ramsar Convention assures its international conservation status.
The lake’s diverse flora provides a variety of habitats for birds, mammals and aquatic life. Research reveals that hundreds of years ago the lake was once connected to the sea and with the natural closure of the estuary, numerous fish and aquatic creatures were trapped in a fresh water environment.
Lake Sibaya contains the second largest population of hippopotamus and crocodile in KwaZulu-Natal and is an important breeding, feeding and roosting area for a host of bird species. Surface water in the surrounding coastal plain often disappears completely during dry spells, making the lake the only source of permanent water for birds and mammals. The wetland also supports many of the rural people of this region, who in many cases are totally dependent on the water resource and its associated flora and fauna. Good management, careful conservation and controlled use of resources make Lake Sibaya an example of the concept ‘wise use in action’.
Other activities available (at an additional cost):
Scuba Diving
Scuba diving at Mabibi is phenomenal, with reefs located a short distance from the lodge. Shoals of game fish, sharks and schools of bottlenose dolphins are often seen. Conditions are good throughout the year and on a brilliant day visibility can reach up to 40m. The weather is typically subtropical so the water temperature is usually above 20C and in summer can reach 29C. Thonga Beach Lodge has the exclusive right to launch a boat from its private beach – a mere 75m from the lodge. This launch can be exciting and strenuous so a reasonable level of fitness is required. Diving is limited by weather and the tides and cannot be guaranteed. Guests must have proof of their diving qualifications. We regret no children under 12 years or adults over 65 years.
Mabibi lies adjacent to Africa’s southern-most coral reefs making it the only tropical dive site in South Africa. In global terms, Mabibi offers some of the best diving in the world, but it has gone largely unnoticed because of its remoteness. Even in South Africa it has remained secluded and so divers are guaranteed an exciting underwater experience. More than 1,200 species of fish are found on the reefs off Mabibi (Great Barrier Reef has 1500), including Moorish idols, parrot fish, blue surgeons and marble and manta rays. The warm Indian Ocean waters also attract huge schools of bottlenose dolphin as well as sharks, whale sharks and turtles. Thonga Beach Lodge, which is part of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, falls within a protected marine reserve. Because of its protected status, the reefs boast shoals of fish that don’t panic when divers approach and are ideal subjects for photographers. The reefs offer a diversity of underwater seascapes including amazing flora, branching, table and plate corals, beautiful overhangs, drop-offs and mushroom-shaped pinnacles.
You will be transferred to Coastal Cashews, collect your rental car and drive Ghost Mountain Inn (approximately 2 hours' drive), for your next experience of KwaZulu-Natal.
This cosy, family-run hotel is located in natural settings yet offering a high standard and comfort. In the afternoon, join a tour (included in tour costs) which will take you on a scenic, leisurely drive up the Lebombo Mountains, through some extremely attractive scenery, featuring views of Jozini Dam, and experiencing rural Africa as it is today. Most evenings there will be amazing sunsets from these mountains.
This morning, a boat trip (included in tour costs) on nearby Lake Jozini which lies in a dramatic setting at the foot of the Lebombo Mountains and is one of South Africa's largest dams. There are several exquisite gorges which abound with cycads and a wide variety of birds. On the western side of the dam one might see elephant, rhino, hippo and crocodile. The 13 varieties of fish found in the dam include tilapia, catfish, mud fish, carp and the sought after tiger fish. A catch and release policy for the tigers is promoted and anglers are encouraged to retain only one trophy fish each per day, releasing the live smaller ones.
Return to your hotel at mid-day. Spend the afternoon enjoying the peaceful setting of your hotel. Bird-watching in the grounds of the hotel is rewarding, the hotel Spa with its superb treatments is another option (cost of Spa treatments payable directly at the hotel).
Leave Ghost Mountain Inn and drive to Durban (approximately 4 hours' drive). Check in at your hotel, located on Durban’s Golden Mile – the famous beachfront of the city. We recommend taking a walk on the beachfront promenade, there will be great opportunities for souvenir-shopping or perhaps enjoying another swim in the Indian Ocean.
Today, a full-day guided tour (included in tour costs): Durban, once known as the last British Bastion and renowned for its old Colonial homes and architecture, has become a veritable melting pot of culture and intrigue. A melding of history, traditions and beliefs, which totally encompass South Africa’s policy of tolerance and equality for all! This is the true ‘Heart’ of our Rainbow Nation. Allow us to take you on a journey of sight, smell and sound as you drive along the well-known Golden Mile, wander through the lush tropical Botanical Gardens, savour amazing Panoramic Views and interact with Local Traders at the famous Victoria Street Indian Market. We then escape from civilisation and journey inland through small villages and gentle rolling countryside which give way to the most spectacular vista, known as the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Here you will be immersed in the fascinating culture and traditions of a proud Zulu Nation; have the opportunity to interact with the villagers and purchase traditional and modern souvenirs.
Drive to Durban’s King Shaka International Airport and hand back your rental car, before checking in for your departure flight.
