SOUTH AFRICA: KWAZULU NATAL SAFARI in South Africa

Facilities available

Wheelchair access

Adapted transfer

Description

10 NIGHTS

(From £2,895.00 per person sharing, flights quoted separately)

This accessible safari holiday vacation explore the amazing wildlife & culture of South Africa. From Durban travel to the famous Hluhluwe Game Reserve in Kwa Zulu Natal & visit a Zulu Village & Wild Cat Sanctuary. Enjoy an elephant encounter, take a boat ride on Lake St Lucia estuary, & relax on the warm Durban North Coast. Wheelchair accessible hotels & transfers, game drives & sightseeing included.

Highlights

• South Africa
• Big Five Game Drives
• Disabled Safari Holiday Vacation
• Durban
• Rhino & Wild Cat Centre
• Wheelchair Accessible
• Zulu Village
• Elephant Interaction
• Hluhluwe Game Reserve
• St Lucia & Cape Vidal

Day 1

You will be met at Durban Airport and transferred to the warm North Coast, renowned for its wonderful beaches and warm holiday weather.

Check into your hotel and relax on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Day 2

Today enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of the highlights of Durban.

We start with a drive along the Golden Mile, the beachfront promenade with its colourful street markets and many traders. We then visit the Kwa Muhle Apartheid Museum, once the headquarters of the infamous Native Administration Department which implemented harsh labour controls. Today it is a museum dedicated to telling the history of Durban and its people.

We continue past the beautiful old City Hall to the small craft harbour at Wilson's Wharf, driving past the huge sugar terminals and busy harbour warehouses to the University of KwaZulu Natal, which has lovely views over the harbour.

Our next stop is the peaceful Durban Botanic Gardens, founded in 1849 and home to a magnificent orchid house and many massive trees from Asia, Africa, and America.

Our tour ends with a visit to the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium that was built for the 2010 World Cup. Here there is the option of taking a cable car ride to the top of the stadium for a phenomenal view over Durban and its coastline (pay locally).

Note: Moses Mabhida Stadium is closed on Saturdays and any other match day.

Day 3

Today we travel 3-hours from the Durban North Coast to to Hluhluwe National Park, renowned for its outstanding wildlife and check into our lodge situated near the park.

In the afternoon enjoy a game drive with your guide in his closed vehicle in this famous wildlife sanctuary.

Day 4

Today is devoted to game viewing into Hluhluwe National Park, travelling with your guide in his air-conditioned vehicle.

As you will have the services of a private driver/guide throughout your safari, you will have the flexibility of discussing preferred routings and travelling times with him each day. However, we recommend setting off early each morning as the camp gates open (05h30 to 06h00 depending on the season), to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day.

One of South Africa’s most beautiful game parks, Hluhluwe is home to all the Big 5 - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, and rhino - as well as the subcontinent’s largest population of endangered black rhino, which this park saved from extinction. You can also hope to see many other interesting species including giraffe, hippo, kudu, crocodile, waterbuck, warthog, and baboon. With over 300 different bird species, outstanding bird watching is also guaranteed.

After returning to your lodge in the late morning, set out again in the afternoon for another game drive. After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the southern hemisphere.

Note: Vehicles are not allowed to drive off-road in any national park in South Africa. If you are tall and remain in your chair for your game drives, please be aware there will be some restrictions on your viewing due to the height of the windows in the accessible vehicle. There are no restrictions if you transfer into one of the regular seats.

Day 5

This morning you will have the unique opportunity to interact with two mature orphaned African Elephants. These powerful yet gentle creatures have been hand reared, but now roam free in a large private game reserve. Each morning they visit the viewing area for a snack of game pellets, where you can get up close to them and learn more about these gentle giants.

We stop for lunch (own account) at Ilala Weavers, where you can see traditional Zulu basket weaving and beading.

In the afternoon we visit a Wild Cat and Cheetah Rehabilitation Centre which cares for animals that have been orphaned or injured in the wild. Here you will see and learn more about some of South Africa's endangered wild cats - including the caracal (lynx), serval and magnificent cheetah.

Day 6

Today we leave Hluhluwe and drive 1-hour to the small town of St Lucia on the KwaZulu Natal northern coast.

Situated inside the Isimangaliso Wetlands, this whole area has been declared a RAMSAR Wetland of international significance because of its great biodiversity and importance as a breeding site for waterbirds. Over 520 different species have been recorded in this vast wetland that is surrounded by mangrove swamps and dense reed beds, with birds ranging from permanent residents to tropical and altitudinal migrants, regional nomads, and long-distance migrants. These include a variety of storks, pelicans, flamingos, kingfishers, spoonbills, fish eagles, gulls, herons, terns, ducks, and geese.

On arrival enjoy a boat ride on the Lake St Lucia estuary, where you may see hippo, buffalo, and crocodiles as well as abundant bird life.

Note: The St Lucia boat has access ramps, but there is no accessible toilet. If you use a power chair, the boat ride needs to be booked when the tide is up.

Day 7

Today we venture further into the Isimangaliso Wetlands and travel to the remote beaches of Cape Vidal Nature Reserve, where you will see thousands of ghost crabs scurrying around for food

With over a hundred miles of pristine coastline and the tallest forested dunes in Africa, these titanium-rich beaches are an important breeding ground for giant loggerhead and leatherback turtles, who nest and lay their eggs under cover of darkness from November to January, with the hatchlings emerging and running the gauntlet of ghost crabs from February to March.

Pods of dolphins are often seen in these waters and from June to November, you may be fortunate enough to see humpback whales, who migrate from Antarctica to mate and calve in these warm waters. In Cape Vidal Nature Reserve you can also hope to see rhino, waterbuck, kudu, zebra, reedbuck, porcupine and many other smaller animals.

Birdlife too is prolific with habitats ranging from grassland to swamp, sand and coastal lowland forest. There are also a variety of aquatic habitats including rivers, marshes, lagoons, estuaries and the beach. Here you can hope to see Great white pelicans, Marabou storks, Yellow-billed storks, African spoonbills and African fish eagles, whose calls can be heard along the shoreline. Sometimes after a storm, seabirds such as the Yellow-nosed albatross, Giant petrel, Tropicbird, Frigatebird, Sooty tern and Noddy tern are blown closer to shore, allowing for some wonderful close-up sightings.

Day 8

Today we leave St Lucia and drive 3-hours to the warm Durban North Coast, renowned for its wonderful beaches and excellent holiday weather.

Here your guide will drop you off at your hotel to relax on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean.

Day 9

Today we transfer to Durban to visit uShaka Marine World, situated in the old harbour area that is being extensively re-developed.

Here you can view large indigenous sharks of the Indian Ocean and a wide variety of marine animals - including turtles, dolphins, seals, and penguins.

There are also accessible snorkelling ponds with over 5,000 fish and a lovely beach with accessible beach wheelchairs and a mat that extends to the water’s edge.

Day 10

At leisure to relax at your hotel and soak up the sun on the warm Durban North Coast.

Day 11

Transfer to Durban Airport for your flight home.

Information last updated: 29/11/2023 14:33:38