A 10 night bush and beach experience to KwaZulu Natal with its stunning game parks and beautiful beaches.

Often referred to as the Zulu Kingdom, KwaZulu Natal is a coastal province in the east of the country. It stretches from the sunny temperate coast on the edge of the Indian Ocean to the rugged mountains of the Drakensberg Mountains, one of two World Heritage sites in the province. KwaZulu Natal offers a unique chance to enjoy a traditional safari holiday and also incorporate some time on the beach or do some diving nearby.

The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park spans 280km of coastline and is South Africa's third largest park. It is made up of around 328,00 hectares of pristine natural ecosystems including swamps, lake systems, beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, woodlands and coastal forest. Fed by five rivers, this is home to a rich diversity of fish, birds and animals. Game such as giraffe, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant can be viewed around the lakes, whilst colouful birds populate the water's edge.

Just a short drive away, the Sodwana Bay National Park has gained international recognition as being a top dive and snorkelling site due to the variety of coral reefs, excellent visibility and phenomenal sea life. More than 1200 species of fish are found at Sodwana Bay and are abundant on and around the various reefs of hard corals, pinnacles, buttresses, caves and blow holes. The diving is good all year round.

Itinerary
Depart London Heathrow on your evening, overnight flight to Johannesburg. On arrival you will be met by an Out of Africa Representative who will assist you with the transfer to you flight direct to Phinda Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal.

When the plane touches down at Phinda your Ranger will take you to the Lodge to check in and freshen up before a spot of lunch and then your afternoon game viewing activity.

Nestled below the Lebombo Mountains of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, Phinda is a Zulu word meaning "the return". In one of the biggest reintroductions of game in Africa, Phinda was restocked with lion, rhino, buffalo, elephant, leopard, giraffe and other big game in an operation dubbed "phinda izilwane", return of the wild animals.

Phinda has a number of different lodges located around the reserve, Rock, Forest and Vlei. Each Lodge is unique in its design but all provide access to one of the finest game viewing experiences in South Africa.

Spend 3 nights at Phinda on a fully inclusive basis.

A morning game drive and then you will be transferred to the coast to Thonga Beach Lodge.  The Lodge is set on the pristine shores of the Maputuland coast, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It 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 secluded bay, the Lodge is nestled into beautiful coastal dune forest with sweeping views of the stunning beach below. 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.

Spend 4 nights at Thonga Beach lodge on a fully inclusive basis.

The following morning you will have a leisurely breakfast before you are transported to Richards Bay for the flight back to Johannesburg. From Johannesburg you will catch the evening, overnight flight back to the UK.

It is possible to extend this itinerary with nights at a different safari Lodge, or to travel onto Durban or Cape Town. Please talk to one of our consultants who would be happy to assist. Call 020 8249 5919.