7 NIGHT SELF-DRIVE | BUSH, BEACH & LAKES OF KWAZULU-NATAL

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge is within a 3.5 hr drive from King Shaka International Airport, Durban, and a 1.5hr drive from Richards Bay Airport. It is situated on the western boundary of Africa’s oldest proclaimed Game Reserve, the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, where guests are offered spectacular scenery and excellent safari opportunities within the heart of Big 5 territory. On arrival at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge you will be offered a refreshing drink and welcomed by our friendly team who will give you a short orientation of the lodge and its facilities before showing you to your accommodation. After a quick refresh we will be waiting to serve you high tea on the deck at the main lodge which offers spectacular views over the reserve. Here you will meet your guide who will prepare you for your first safari experience, offering some useful pointers about the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of the bush. By now you will be eager to board your safari vehicle to explore the magnificent hills and valleys of the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park. At sunset your guide will take you to a special spot to enjoy drinks and snacks whereafter you will head back to the lodge at dusk looking for nocturnal creatures like leopards, owls and jackals. When you get back to the lodge you will be given time to freshen up for dinner and then enjoy superb cuisine either on the dining deck or in the restaurant. Sit around the fire late into the night discussing the day’s sightings and legendary tales of Africa against a backdrop of a million stars.

After an early morning wake-up, fresh coffee, tea and rusks (a South African tradition!), everyone departs with the guides for an early morning game drive. Be sure to have a jacket and scarf as it can get really chilly on the open 4×4 vehicle. Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses will also be needed for later in the day. Nothing is predictable in the bush; therefore each safari offers a potentially new and unique experience. Our guides will share their wealth of bush experience which involves the identification of animals, trees, grasses, insects and birds. The medicinal uses of plants and local folklore is also discussed as well as looking for the ever fascinating Big 5! When you return to the lodge you can enjoy a hearty brunch. Now it is time for you to relax and imbibe the natural beauty of Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge. You may wish to spend your day being pampered in our spa, do a few laps at the pool or simply relax in the privacy of your room enjoying the endless views from your private balcony. Additional activities included guided game walks (children 14 years & older only) in the national park with highly skilled armed trails guides who not only ensure your safety at all times but impart their intimate knowledge of the bush and wild animals, most notably the white rhino for which this park is most famous. Visits to the local Zulu community with which the lodge works very closely can also be arranged. Game walks are charged at an additional cost payable at the lodge. Make sure you are back in time for high tea and the afternoon game drive. Hopefully this time you will spot all those other animals still on your bucket list. On returning to the lodge you will have time to freshen up before coming through for a delicious dinner.

After an early morning game drive and brunch it will be time to bid farewell to Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge and wind your way out of the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park back to the main road travelling north to the vibrant African town of Manguzi. For those of you travelling in a 2×4 vehicle you will be met in Manguzi by a member of staff from Kosi Forest Lodge who will transfer you to the lodge in an open 4×4 vehicle. This is a quick 20 minute crossing but always be sure to keep a warm jacket and hat for these trips. Kosi Forest Lodge is situated in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve which is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park proclaimed a Unesco World Heritage site. This 20-bed wilderness lodge offers the unique opportunity of exploring a pristine wetland environment by vehicle, guided canoes and boats. The Kosi Lakes are a series of interconnected lakes which stretch over some 18km. Kosi Forest Lodge guests are accommodated in thatched bedrooms, on raised wooden decks, hidden in the sand forest. All beds have mosquito nets. The unique open-air, reed enclosed bathrooms with the bath and shower sunk into white forest sand, has been noted by many guests as one of the highlights of their stay. Each room has an indoor shower as well to cater for the less adventurous. On arrival you will be shown your tented room and given time to unpack before embarking on your first activity. You will return to the lodge with time to freshen up before coming through to the dining deck to enjoy dinner under the stars.

The dawn chorus of hundreds of birds who live in the sand forest awaken you. You will join the Kosi team at the lodge for a hearty breakfast before leaving on your activity. The highlight for many at Kosi Forest Lodge is the canoeing trip on the Kosi Lakes. The best time for this activity is in the early morning and lasts for approximately 2 hours. Guides escort you by canoe along the Sihadla channel where the bird life is very rewarding and the scenery peaceful and breathtaking. You will return for a delicious lunch and a siesta before embarking on your afternoon activity. In the afternoon you can enjoy a walk through magnificent Raphia Palms – the tallest in the world! Home to the Palm Nut Vulture and Pel’s Fishing Owl, the area can be explored by birders at their leisure. The best way to see the Kosi Lakes system is by boat. This full day excursion leaves shortly after breakfast and travels through the lake system and estuarine waterways. The guides stop along the way and explain the traditional fishing traps and the traditions of the Tsonga community, who live in balance with the lake system. A picnic lunch is served on the banks of the scenic lakeside. After your meal you will continue on to Bhanga Nek beach where you can enjoy one last swim before heading back to the lodge. When you return from your afternoon or full day activity you will have time to freshen up before coming through to enjoy a delicious meal on either the main deck or in the Boma. The lodge is charming as the pathways and dining areas are lit by lanterns and create a warm atmosphere to enjoy the sounds of the night.

After your breakfast and morning activity you will check out of Kosi Forest Lodge and either self-drive directly to Thonga Beach Lodge in your own 4×4 vehicle or return to the pickup point at Manguzi from where you will self-drive or be transferred in a 2×4 vehicle to the pickup point for Thonga Beach Lodge. Here you will be met by a Thonga Beach Lodge representative who will transfer you to the lodge in a 4×4 vehicle (1hr). The total travel time from Kosi Forest Lodge to Thonga Beach Lodge is approximately 2.5 hours. On arrival you will be welcomed with a refreshing drink and given a brief orientation of the lodge before being shown to your room. You will be given some time to unpack and relax before coming through for lunch. After enjoying one of the many activities hosted at Thonga Beach Lodge, you will have time to freshen up and enjoy canapés and a cocktail at the bar before settling down for a delicious meal under the stars.

Thonga Beach Lodge is set on the secluded Mabibi Bay, in the heart of the iSimangaliso (formerly Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park, an internationally recognized World Heritage Site. With direct access onto the pristine shores of the Maputaland coast, this lodge is the ideal place to discover one of the last unspoilt and undeveloped wilderness beaches left on the African continent. Mabibi is a magical place of tranquil swimming bays and snorkeling reefs, coastal forests, grasslands, bush, shimmering lakes and exquisite sandy beaches. It’s clear warm waters offer superb snorkeling and fantastic offshore SCUBA diving. The 12 thatched en-suite rooms have been carefully constructed in the coastal dune forest to ensure minimum impact on the environment and maximum guest privacy. Each room has a double vanity, indoor shower, bar fridge, air-conditioning, ceiling fan and mosquito net. Deluxe rooms have private plunge pools and both Deluxe and Family rooms have freestanding baths. Activities at Thonga Beach Lodge include SCUBA diving, Open Ocean experiences, kayaking and sundowners at Lake Sibaya, guided snorkeling, seasonal turtle drives/walks, cultural tour of local Tsonga village and guided forest walks. Whether you are a walker or a diver, take advantage of the wealth of activities that await you in this beautiful hideaway, or simply relax with a Spa treatment or on the beach deck.