day one

Welcome to South Africa!

Upon arrival at King Shaka International Airport, Durban, you will be met and assisted through immigration and customs and into the arrivals hall where you will meet your driver. Take the short 15-minute drive to the coastal town of Umhlanga and check into your stunning coastal hotel for the next three nights. 

Spend 2 x nights in The Oyster Box Hotel

Occupying a majestic location on the Umhlanga beachfront in KwaZulu-Natal province, The Oyster Box is one of South Africa’s most celebrated hotels, as famous for its remarkable coastal views as the understated luxury and gracious hospitality that have become the hallmarks of this cherished seaside destination.

The Oyster Box offers 86 rooms, suites and villas; each individually decorated to offer a uniquely memorable five-star stay on the sunny coastline of KwaZulu-Natal. Choose between splendid sea views from your private terrace, or the leafy escape of the lush private gardens. Whether you’re travelling on your own or with loved ones, the elegant five-star accommodation has something to suit the most discerning traveller. There’s a complimentary buffet breakfast, a fine-dining restaurant and multiple eateries/bars. Other amenities include a spa with a hammam, an oceanfront outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness centre. There’s also a 24-seat cinema and a kids’ activity programme.

day TWO

Day at leisure in Umhlanga

Spend today at leisure in Umhlanga.

Located on the eastern coast of South Africa, just outside of the port city of Durban, Umhlanga Rocks, also referred to as Umhlanga, is a popular seaside resort town. The tropical weather and lush vegetation make this an enticing holiday destination attracting visitors from all over the world. Umhlanga and its surrounds feature golden-sand beaches stretching over 200 kilometres, endless sugarcane fields and the rolling verdant landscape of the Valley of 1000 Hills. It is the perfect location for ocean enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers alike, with great opportunities for diving, swimming, scuba diving, whale watching, dolphin viewing, deep sea fishing and kiteboarding. Don’t miss Umhlanga’s excellent golf courses; they are a real treat for the avid golfer.

day Three

Travel to the Drakensburg Mountains

This morning, after breakfast and once you’ve checked out, meet your driver for the four hour journey to the Drakensburg Mountains. You’ll first head past Durban before turning inland.

Situated in northeastern South Africa, the Northern Drakensberg rises up to 3000 metres in height creating spectacularly scenic views from every direction. Featuring cascading waterfalls, sandstone caves and countless San rock art paintings, the Northern Drakensberg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site which also boasts a network of scenic hiking trails. Falling within the Royal Natal National Park, the ‘Amphitheatre’, comprised of over 5 kilometres of sheer cliff, is regarded as one of the most impressive cliff faces on earth with the Tugela Falls, the world’s second tallest falls, plunging almost a kilometre from its clifftops. Nature lovers will delight in this unspoilt landscape and enjoy a wide variety of outdoor adventures.

Spend 3 x nights at the Montusi Mountain Lodge

Montusi Mountain Lodge provides guests with a relaxed, idyllic escape, offering space, comfort and peace. The lodge is a wonderful base from which to explore the Drakensberg Escarpment and there are many activities on offer, either at Montusi or close by. There’s a large, well-landscaped swimming pool area with exquisite mountain views, and the dining room is thoroughly charming with lots of historical photographs and artefacts.

Enjoying a truly spectacular setting, Montusi is one of the best retreats in the northern Drakensberg region. The large estate offers endless amounts of outdoor activities for the adventurous, while also providing guests with a peaceful space in which to unwind.

day FOUR

Enjoy the activities at Montusi

You have two days to enjoy being in the Drakensburg Mountains. 

Montusi Mountain Lodge is a family owned and run establishment in one of the most beautiful locations in the world. With expansive views of the spectacular Amphitheatre Mountain, the lodge is perfectly situated on the large conservation estate to maximise Space, Comfort and Peace. Guests enjoy the quiet serenity of the mountains while exploring their natural environment on foot, mountain bike or horse. The hiking and running trails, horse-riding stables and tennis court offer great adventures for the active, while the comfy outdoor couches and indigenous gardens offer more sedentary folk astounding views and excellent bird-watching. The large swimming pool invites hot hikers and dozy sun-bathers for a bracing dip in the sunshine. 

day FIVE

Another day at leisure at Montusi

Spend another full day relaxing or getting stuck in to the activities on offer at the Montusi Mountain Lodge.

day SIX

Travel to Fugitive’s Drift

This morning after breakfast you will check out and be met by your driver. You then head eastwards first through the battlefields of the Boer war, and into the battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu war – made famous by the movie Zulu. Here, check into your stunning lodge for the next 2 nights. 

You are staying at Rorkes Drift, the site of one of the most famous battles of the Anglo-Zulu War. Today it is known for its rich history and majestic natural beauty.

Spend 2 x nights at the Fugitive’s Drift Lodge

This property is in an ideal location for travellers who enjoy history and scenic surroundings, boasting wonderful views of the mountains and Battlefields themselves. Accommodation is in very comfortable cottages, suitable for families or couples travelling together, and aims to create a home away from home for guests.

The history of the property and the surroundings are a pivotal part of one’s experience at Fugitives’ Drift Lodge and guests are offered the chance to visit Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. These regions are where the Anglo-Zulu War took place in 1879, and tour guides provide a gripping tale of events.

In our opinion, no trip to KwaZulu-Natal would be complete without a stay at this fantastic property. The Rattray family who own the property are natural historians who are keen to share their in-depth knowledge with their guests, together with providing a fantastic stay at their beautiful property in breathtaking surroundings.

day SEVEN

The Battle of Isandlwana & The Battle of Rorke’s Drift Tour

The Battle of Isandlwana, during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, has been the subject of conjecture and controversy for 140 years. It is arguably the greatest defeat that the British Empire was ever to suffer in her entire colonial history; in two short hours a modern British army was destroyed. But, was this truly a British defeat? Is it explained away by incompetence, failings in supply, or overconfidence? Or, was it due to the astounding leadership and motivation of the Zulu forces? Calling on the old Zulu stories of the battle to recreate the events of the day, our guides will explain how this battle was won, giving insight to the brave warriors and Zulu chieftains who fought and died in defence of their King and country.

The tour to Isandlwana leaves from Fugitives’ Drift Lodge at 7:30am, and is typically back by 1:00pm. Guests embark on the morning excursion in a closed vehicle, listening to a narrative recorded by the late David Rattray from The Day of the Dead Moon. This narrative gives the background to the conflict and weaves together some of the early history of South Africa in a fantastic story, full of human courage, endeavor and folly. The drive is about 35km. Once out of the Fugitives’ Drift reserve, the track meanders to the Buffalo River, crossing at Rorke’s Drift. The route then follows the British line of advance. There are a couple of stops made en route to the Isandlwana battlefield; these are at the most poignant parts of the journey, allowing the guide to begin to weave the stories together and give our guests an appreciation of how the invasion got started. The first view of the battlefield is from the Nqutu Escarpment, the high ground from which the Zulus attacked the British camp. The next stop is at the Isandlwana museum, after which guests are taken onto the battlefield itself, and told the story at the foot of the Isandlwana Mountain. On this natural stage, our guides put into vivid detail the desperate struggle of the morning of 22nd January 1879. After the tour, you are encouraged to roam the battlefield and explore this most unspoiled of places. The eerie silence between the mass graves and the lion like crag of the mountain brooding; it is a truly is a magnificent place.

The Battle of Rorke’s Drift, fought immediately after the Battle of Isandlwana, is famous thought the English-speaking world. Here, at a small mission station, 139 British soldiers were attacked by 4000 Zulu warriors. The result was a British victory which saw the award of more Victoria Crosses than in any other battle in history. The story of Rorke’s Drift is an incredibly tragic story; one of human courage and sacrifice. The unspeakable suffering endured by the warriors and soldiers on such a tiny area is confounding.

The tour to Rorke’s Drift Leaves at 3pm and is typically back by 6pm. Guests embark on the short, fifteen minute, excursion in a closed vehicle, listening to another narrative recorded by the late David Rattray from The Day of the Dead Moon. After a quick look through the museum at Rorke’s Drift, you are seated, and the story begins. The story is one of a small group of desperate men, who were not expecting any trouble until destiny came calling. The tiny area of the battlefield is astounding, and the concentrated suffering is made apparent by the stories of the individual men who fought so bravely and died so hard. Under the most harrowing of circumstances, these men did not lose their humanity. As the sun sets on the battlefield, guests are given the time to wonder to the graves and memorials to contemplate the stories that have just heard.

day EIGHT

Begin your safari

This morning, once you’ve had breakfast and checked out from the lodge, meet your driver for the five hour drive to your safari lodge. On arrival, check into your stunning lodge for a 3 night stay. 

This afternoon, you will head out on your first safari drive. 

Described as ‘Seven Worlds of Wonder’, Phinda encompasses an impressive 70 560 acres of prime Big Five wilderness. This Reserve comprises seven distinct habitats – from dry sand forest to wetland systems and mountain ranges. Catch a glimpse of the shy suni antelope, track rhino in the bushveld, observe breeding herds of elephant in fever tree forests, hold your breath as a cheetah teaches her cubs to hunt, glide past hippo on the Mzinene River and marvel at the gracious nyala. Phinda is home to more than 3 000 of these rare antelope.

Spend 3 x nights at Phinda Rock Lodge

At Rock Lodge, the fantastic environment of Phinda can be enjoyed from intimate exclusivity. The small lounge and dining areas create a very private atmosphere, strengthened by high, personal levels of service. Weather permitting, meals are taken on the small terrace area which commands stunning views across the bush. After dinner, the lounge and fireplace are a popular place to sit up and discuss the events of the day.

There are just six rooms, strongly influenced by tribal Africa with wooden beams for ceilings, adobe walls, and shutters and doors of thick, heavy, darkly stained wood. As the name would suggest, the rooms have thick stone walls, making them delightfully cool in the heat of summer and helping them stay cosy in winter. They have all of the conveniences that you would expect from a top safari lodge, including minibars, air-conditioning and separate baths and showers.

Whether in your bath, bed, or plunge pool you can enjoy wonderful views over the surrounding bush, which spreads out below you like your private domain. The views from the plunge pools are particularly enjoyable as the bush drops away very steeply from them.

day nine

On safari!

Enjoy early morning and late afternoon game drives that continue after nightfall. The professionally trained guides will ask you about your favourite wildlife and will do their best to ensure that your preferences are met, whether it is tracking a particular species or spending more time enjoying each sighting and getting to know the habits of the animals. They will also tell you about the vegetation of the region and will explain the behaviour of the animals that you come across. In some cases, the guides will be able to identify individual animals and let you know about their history and habits.

Phinda Private Game Reserve is renowned for its exceptional sightings of the elusive cheetah and the rare black rhino, as well as the Big Five. There is also a number of resident lion prides and rangers will do their best to provide you with an exceptional sighting of all of these animals.

day ten

On safari!

Spend another day on safari!

day eleven

Head home

This morning, you’ll have time to enjoy your final game drive and breakfast before your transfer down to Durban airport (approximately a three hour drive) and onto your flight home.