SUN, SEA & SAFARI | 2 NIGHTS RHINO RIDGE SAFARI LODGE & 3 NIGHTS THONGA BEACH LODGE

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, winding your way out of the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park to make your way north towards Mbazwana, from here you will either self-drive all the way to Thonga Beach Lodge in your own 4×4 vehicle, or drive to the Thonga Beach Lodge 4×4 pickup point where 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 Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge to Thonga Beach Lodge is approximately 4 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. SCUBA diving at Mabibi is phenomenal. Our professional lodge diving team can accommodate enthusiasts, from the beginner to the veteran. For those who don’t dive, we have an Open Ocean Experience. An exciting launch through the surf in front of the lodge takes you beyond the breakers to a world of dolphins, whales and many other creatures. The warm Indian Ocean supports a myriad of fish and marine life. In summer there are nocturnal walks and drives along the beach in search of prehistoric turtles laying their eggs. Witness the culmination of an incredible journey as giant Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in carefully prepared nests. Turtle tracking is offered in the evening from November to the end of February. The turtles lay their eggs from November to February. Hatchlings arrive from the end of December to the end of February. Every precaution is taken to ensure these magnificent creatures are not disturbed during the laying process and data collected from the turtle drives is submitted to the Ezemvelo Turtle Monitoring program.

After breakfast you will check out of Thonga Beach Lodge and either self-drive to your next destination in your own 4×4, or be transferred in a 4×4 vehicle (1hr transfer) to the 4×4 pickup point from which you will continue your onward journey.