KwaZulu-Natal: Mountains, Safari & Beach
Highlights
Starting with the galleries and museum of Pietermaritzburg, you’ll move on to the rugged peaks of the Drakensberg and explore the Zulu Battlefields of Ladysmith. After looking for wildlife on safari in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, you’ll finish up on the peaceful beaches just outside Durban.
Some of the highlights included are:
- Discover the history of the Zulu Battlefields
- Admire the dramatic mountain scenery of the Drakensberg
- Set off on safari in Hluhluwe Game Reserve
- Look out for dolphins off the coast of Durban
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What's included
- International flights
- 11 nights in 4* hotels
- 12 days' car hire
- Game drives in Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Need to know
- Arrives: Durban International Airport (DUR)
- Time difference: GMT+2
- Visa requirements: British passport holders do not require a visa
- Language: 11 official languages including English and Afrikaans
- Currency: South African Rand (ZAR)
- Flying time from UK: around 12 hours
- Plug type: 3 large round pins
- Voltage: 230V
Your route
Itinerary
Fly from UK to
Pietermaritzburg
Touch down in Durban and head for Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal’s lively and historic capital. Check out the various museums and galleries, including the KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden, and the enormous City Hall in the Central Business District, which is the largest red brick building in the Southern Hemisphere. For a fun day trip try Pietermaritzburg Worlds View, a forest-side observation point with panoramic views over the city and plenty of walking trails.
4* Granny Mouse
Drakensberg
Grab your hiking boots and explore the dramatic mountains of The Drakensberg, a sweeping landscape that divides South Africa and Lesotho. The Drakensberg is in a league of its own when it comes to rugged beauty. Step inside the Royal Natal National Park’s famous natural amphitheatre, take in the magnificent Doreen Falls in the Didima Valley and walk across the Drakensberg Suspension Bridge in the Lost Valley.
4* Cathedral Peak
Ladysmith
Perched on the banks of South Africa’s Klip River, the city of Ladysmith is a fusion of South African and British history. Tour the region’s historic battlefields and uncover tales of the Second Boer War, with characters including a young war correspondent named Winston Churchill and a stretcher-bearer called Mahatma Ghandi. Be sure to check out the tribute to the Ladysmith Black Mambazo singers at the Emnambithi Cultural Centre and pay a visit to the Ladysmith Siege Museum, originally used to store rations during the Siege of Ladysmith.
4* Fugitives Drift
Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Set your alarm for an early morning safari in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, part of the Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, for your best chance of spotting elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, lion and zebra, otherwise known as the Big Five. Established in 1895, Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park is the oldest nature reserve in Africa with an incredibly diverse range of wildlife, including over 1,600 rhinos, all bred as part of a successful conservation project. Track them on foot, tour the Endangered Wild Cats Project or get closer to the flora and fauna on a walking safari.
4* Phinda Mountain Lodge
Game drives included
Durban
Return to Durban for a couple of days relaxing by the sea. You’ll stay in the Zimbali region, just outside the city. This isn’t called the Dolphin Coast for nothing – look out for large pods of bottlenose dolphins splashing in the waves or have a go at scuba diving in the clear waters. There are golf courses and beaches aplenty, so if you want to simply chill and do nothing on the soft sands, we’re not stopping you!
5* Fairmont Zimbali Lodge
