An all-round experience with the Beach Bush n Berg tour

Discover the undeniable beauty of KwaZulu-Natal in this 12-day self-drive or guided journey in one of the most extra-ordinary regions of South Africa!

 

Hello and a warm welcome to South Africa!

With Sport n Safari’s Berg Beach and Bush Tour, you can have a taste of most things on offer in South Africa. You get to visit no less than two world heritage sites. Discover the breathtaking Drakensberg Mountains, on foot, bike, horse or even from a hot air balloon. Play hide and seek with the BIG 5 and be awed by these amazing creatures and many other of the  wildlife South Africa is home to. And finally, Saint-Lucia and the iSimangaliso Wetlands, another beautiful world heritage site. Meet the hippos and the crocs, snorkel and observe the colorful underwater world or simply enjoy the beautiful beaches. And of course, experiencing the local Zulu culture is a must do as well!

This tour takes you on a 12-night self-drive journey through KwaZulu-Natal and gives the opportunity to enjoy several of the most amazing places in South Africa. Have a look at the below itinerary for more details but know that anything can be adapted according to your wishes.

We hope to welcome you soon!

Sport n Safari team

 

Sport n Safari Beach Bush Berg tour

Day 1

Transfer – Durban airport to Saint Lucia

Lodge: 4* B&B accommodation in the village of Saint Lucia
Distance : 2.5 Hours’ transfer

After you pick up your self-drive hire car at Durban airport, you can finally start your long-awaited journey through the South African landscape (Remember to drive on the left 🙂 ).
The 2.5 hours’ drive takes you to one of the two world heritage sites you will visit on this tour: the iSimangaliso Wetlands park. You’ll be spending three nights in the village of saint Lucia, in a 4* B&B accommodation.

After settling in, get some sun and well deserved rest either by the pool or the beach. Or have a stroll through the village.

Sport n Safari - Saint Lucia - Safari - sport

Day 2

Full day Saint Lucia

Activity: Explore the iSimangaliso Wetlands
Distance: 1 Hours’ drive

The day starts with a relaxed breakfast followed by a bike ride in and around beautiful Saint Lucia accompanied by a professional guide who will tell you all about the history of the area.

The afternoon is your first opportunity to get up close to the animals, on the back of a horse. Ride alongside zebra, wildebeest, bushbuck, impala and other wild animals that call this land their home. This gentle ride is perfect for the whole family.

Day 3

Zulu experience – Croc and Hippo boat

Activity: Visit a typical Zulu village and take a tour on the lake to meet the hippos and crocs
Distance : Local

Today we go on the cultural tour for a half day at the Nkundusi village. One of the locals will guide you, and you get to visit the local school, creche, homestead and so on. You’ll meet the traditional healer and have lunch right at the Zulu village. After lunch, you’ll return to Saint Lucia or you can opt for the full day Zulu experience and help the locals with their daily tasks.

Once back from your Zulu experience, a 2 hours sunset croc and hippo tour is a perfect ending of the day, showing how magnificent these creatures are, and at the same time enjoying the sun setting on this beautiful sanctuary.

Day 4

Transfer to Sodwana Bay

Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast in Sodwana Bay
Distance: 3 Hours’ drive

The second part of your trip is all about the beach. You will be staying in a Beach lodge, nestled among the ages-old trees of the dune forest, an unspoiled protected area. The beaches provide nesting grounds for endangered turtles and playgrounds for the children, while the untouched inshore reefs of the marine reserve invite exploration by snorkelers and divers. 

On your way, you’ll make a stop for an amazing elephant interaction experience. You’ll get to see, feed and feel them. An experience you will not forget soon!

Once arrived at the lodge, take a jump in the pool and enjoy some sun downers watching the sun set.

Day 5

Full day on the beach

Activity: Snorkel, boat trip, scuba diving, sand boarding,..
Distance: Local

Put on your bathing suites, sun cream and hats as today is a day spent on the beach. There is so much to do you’ll have a hard time choosing. You can choose from snorkeling, scuba diving on pristine coral reefs, a boat trip out to sea in search of the humpback whales, bottlenose dolphins and manta rays, sand boarding, nature walks and much more.

Sport n Safari - Maputaland

Day 6

Another activity packed day

Activity: canoe, quad biking, surfing, snorkling, scuba diving,…
Distance: Local

Another day to enjoy this beautiful area and endless beach. Again, there are so many possibilities here it will be hard to choose. You can take the active route and go for a quad bike ride, canoeing on the nearby lake or try out the challenging fat bike ride on the beach.

Day 7

Transfer to private game reserve

Accommodation: 5* Lodge in private game reserve
Distance: 3 Hours’ drive

After breakfast you leave the beach for your next lodge situated in a private BIG 5 game reserve. Another beautiful place and time to play some hide n seek. I must warn you the animals are the masters in this game 🙂

You will be welcomed at your wonderful lodge where a nice dinner awaits. Again full board which includes three meals a day, luxury accommodation and two game drives per day.

Depending on your time of arrival, you can have your first afternoon game drive.

Day 8

Morning and afternoon game drives

Activity: Early morning and afternoon game drives
Distance: Local

Early morning wake up call by your ranger, a quick coffee/drink and you’re off on your first of two game drives today. The drives are done by experienced rangers in open 4×4 vehicles searching for the African wildlife icons.

Back from the drive, a full breakfast awaits you. Make use of this free time to soak up some sun beside the pool or take a guided safari walk in the reserve. After lunch, you’ll leave on the afternoon game drive that lasts till the sun goes down.

Day 9

Another day of thrilling game drives

Activity: Morning and night drives
Distance: Local

The best time to spot animals is early in the morning, before it gets really hot. Another early start leaving around 05:30 for another round of hide n seek. Look in the trees, bush, water, they can be anywhere!

To experience these animals in a different way, guided walks in the bush are also possible.

Day 10

Transfer to Drakenberg Mountains

Accommodation: Full board mountain lodge
Distance: 5-6 Hours’ drive

Today starts the fourth and last part of your journey. Very quickly you will see the mountains appear in the distance, and that is where you will spend the last part of your African experience. The Drakensberg Mountains are the second world heritage site on your tour in South Africa. Not a bad ending at all!
On your way, you’ll make a stop at Dundee for lunch and if you want to can go and visit the Vulture hide.

You will stay in a FULL BOARD charming mountain lodge, situated at 1800m above sea level , just below the cliffs of the mountains,. The Canadian styled log cabins, are all en-suite and each one has a welcoming fire place for the fresher nights in the mountains. Get settled in and enjoy the amazing views from the lodge.

Day 11

Discover the beauty of the mountains

Activity: Hike to the Vulture colony
Distance: Local

After a good nights rest and a hearty breakfast it is time to explore paradise.Today you will take a hike to one of only two breading colonies of the endangered Cape Vulture. On route you pass some bushman paintings. The views from up here will take your breath away.

After lunch you can either go on a horse ride, try your hand at fly fishing or both.

Day 12

Day filled with activities while enjoying the mountain scenery

Activity: A variety of options are available from which you can choose 
Distance: Local

In the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains there are many wonderful activities on offer. Today you may pick n choose a few off them for another action packed day.

If you are up for a real water adventure, go on a full day rafting tour. (Dependent on water levels and all participants must be able to swim)

Go on another guided horse outride or mountain bike ride in the mountains. Take a tree top canopy zip-line tour or a two wheel segway tour down the mountains. See, too many things on offer 🙂

Optionally Hot air ballooning in the area can be arranged.(not included)

Day 13

Transfer to Tambo airport for flight back home or extend tour

Activity : Back home today or contact Sport n Safari for possibly extending your stay in beautiful South Africa.

Time to say goodbye to wonderful South Africa and drive back to Johannesburg.

 

 

Prices for 2020 from 30.000 Rand per person and include all accommodations and breakfasts, all mentioned lunches and dinners. All activities as mentioned in the itinerary are included as well (except for the activities at Sodwana Bay as these are optional). Flight tickets and rental car is NOT included, but can be arranged on request by Sport n Safari.

This tour is ideal for the South African summer months, as it includes the mountains.

Prices are subject to change depending on seasonal rate increases.