When one thinks of African wildlife, the image of the expansive savanna plains come to mind. On this guided day tour, experience the massive biodiversity of the continent through a different vantage point: St. Lucia coastline. Afterwards, experience Zulu culture unaffected by modernization at DumaZulu Cultural Village.
The tour departs from Durban along the coast to northern KwaZulu-Natal. The first stop is the small town of St Lucia inside the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park. There you will board a river boat for a two-hour guided tour of the estuary. A local guide will inform you of the park's history and inform you about its incredible wildlife whilst cruising along the estuary on a boat safari.
The iSimangaliso Wetlands Park was declared South Africa's first Natural World Heritage Site in 1999. Previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, the UNESCO site dates back over 120 years. Established in 1895 the reserve is considered South Africa's third largest park with its unique ecosystem spanning over 280 km of near pristine coastline and 328,000 hectares of expansive land. The protected area is home to one of the largest population of hippopotami in South Africa and an estimated 1,000 crocodiles.
iSimagaliso has a wealth of plant, bird and animal life, including lions, zebras, African elephants, leopards, giraffes, white rhinos and fish eagles. Then head to DumaZulu Cultural Village.
DumaZulu Cultural Village is located near the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in the heart of Zululand. Translated to “Thundering Zulu,” DumaZulu is South Africa’s largest Zulu cultural village with over 50 Zulu locals who living and working in the area.
The village depicts Zulu culture before modernization and is considered a living museum. The village is laid out in the tradition Zulu design of beehive huts arranged in a circle around a cattle kraal. You’ll be welcomed to the village by a local DumaZulu tour guide who’ll explain and share interesting traditions and customs of the Zulu people.
You can observe the traditional basket-weaving, spear- and shield-making techniques from the locals as well as watch traditional bone-throwing and Zulu dancing and singing performances.
Wildlife safaris and game drives
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Leave Durban from your Hotel, Guest House or B&B and drive through Northern Zululand through Timber and Sugar plantations and the beautiful Zulu villages.
Isimangaliso (Greater St Lucia) Wetlands Park UNESCO site is South Africa’s third largest protected area spanning 280km of coastline. As part of this tour you will among others enjoy a 2 hour guided boat tour of the estuary where you will be taken up close to crocodiles, hippopotamus and the beautiful fish eagle and many other birds found in South Africa. This tour also includes a leisurely walk along the estuary and the coastline of the area. We will also make a visit to the Reptile Park.
iSimangaliso must be the only place on the globe where the oldest land mammal (the rhinoceros) and the world’s biggest terrestrial mammal (the elephant) share an ecosystem with the world’s oldest fish (the coelacanth) and the world’s biggest marine mammal (the whale).
We look forward to providing you with an amazing day surrounded by Mother nature at her best.
Cruise
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
The tour departs from Durban, heading north along the coast to northern KwaZulu-Natal. The first stop is the town of St Lucia and the estuary inside the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park. There you will board a riverboat for a 2-hour guided tour of the estuary. The local guide will inform you of the reserve's history and its incredible wildlife.
After lunch, you will continue with your safari before leaving the park on route to Emdoneni Wild Cat Sanctuary. During the guided tour to the cat project, visitors can get up close and personal with some of South Africa's endangered cat species; caracal, serval, cheetah and the African wildcat. This once in a lifetime opportunity can be enjoyed whilst being educated on a tour. This activity is very popular!
After the tour we start the two hours journey back to Durban for drop off.
Previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, iSimangaliso Wetlands Park was declared South Africa's first Natural World Heritage Site (UNESCO) and is considered South Africa's third largest park with 280km of near pristine coastline and 328 000 hectares of magnificent scenery. The protected area is home to one of the largest population of hippopotami in SA, an estimated 1000 crocodiles as well as a wealth of plant, bird and animal life. The park was proclaimed a world heritage site because of the rich biodiversity, unique ecosystems and natural beauty occurring in a relatively small area. Animals occurring in the park include lion, African elephant, leopard, black and southern white rhino, buffalo and in the ocean, whales, dolphins, and marine turtles including the leatherback and loggerhead turtle.
Emdoneni Cat Project offers a guided tour of South Africa's endangered wild cat species. The aim of the Emdoneni Cat Project is to care for cheetahs, serval cats, African wildcats and caracal (lynx), which have been orphaned or injured in the wild and need care and rehabilitation.
The tour starts at 06:30 am when we pick you up from Durban to take you to Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal.
Here you will have the opportunity to see the Mahatma Ghandi statue. After passing Pietermaritzburg you can choose between two places that we visit.
The first option is visiting Giant's Castle Nature Reserve which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in which you will embark on a 40 minute walk to the main caves which has exhibits of San Rock Art.
The second option includes the Bushman Pock paintings found in Kamberg, situated on the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains. This optional tour is more strenuous than the Giant's Castle as you will embark on a 90 minute walk to the site and a 90 minute walk back.
The tour ends with a drive through the Midlands Meander where you will be able to enjoy and purchase a variety of products grown or manufactured by local farmers, a stop at the Mandela Capture Site Monument and finally ending at the Howick Falls before returning back to Durban.
Experience and learn more about the wildlife of South Africa on this day trip to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve and the Emdoneni Cat Project.
The tour departs from Durban heading north up the coast to northern KwaZulu-Natal. You will arrive at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi gate 2.5 hours after departing from Durban. Your experienced guide will take you on safari and show you around the park in search of the diverse wildlife and the Big 5.
Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve is set in the heart of Zululand where Africa’s Big 5 (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros) roam the flourishing savannah. Established in 1895 this is the oldest park in South Africa and encompasses over 98 000 hectares of the beautiful African landscape. This tour is in a closed vehicle. The Park contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is characterized by hilly topography. The list of animals in the park is long and varied.
Your guide will stop for lunch at Hilltop Camp (lunch at your own expense) giving you time to refuel and relax. The restaurant is situated at the top of the hill and gives visitors the chance to enjoy the scenery of the camp and surrounding areas. After lunch, you will continue with your safari before leaving the park for Emdoneni Wild Cat Sanctuary.
At Emdoneni Cat Project, you will have a guided tour about South Africa’s endangered wild cat species. The aim of the project is to care for the various wild cat species which have been orphaned or injured in the wild and need care and rehabilitation. Emdoneni’s guided tour offers visitors a unique and exciting opportunity to literally get up close and personal with their magnificent cat species. There are four species of wild cats at Emdoneni; African wildcat, caracal, cheetah and serval. This once in a lifetime opportunity can be enjoyed whilst being educated on a tour. This activity is very popular!
After the tour, we start the two-hour journey back to Durban and will drop you off.
Wildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Explore the history of KwaZulu-Natal, the distant and the recent, on this guided tour. Learn about the struggles during and the triumphs over the apartheid as well as get a glimpse of Zulu culture before the dawn of the 20th century. End the day with a thrilling visit to a reptile park.
The tour departs from Durban for the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg. Your guide will give you a short tour of the city, including Mahatma Gandhi’s statue by Pietermaritzburg City Hall.
Next stop will be the small town of Howick to visit its waterfall. KwaNogqaza or Howick Falls is approximately 95 metres in height and lies on the Umgeni River. The local Zulu people named it the “Home of the Tall” referring to its height. Next to the fall lies a quaint old section of Howick that houses a number of historical museums and antique stores.
Next, head to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and Apartheid Museum. The Capture Site boasts a large sculpture of Nelson Mandela made up of multiple steel columns. Tourists at the Capture Site are required to stand 35 meters away the steel columns to clearly see the large bust of Nelson Mandela in focus. Facing west the impressive sculpture is a unique monument for the local Howick community. The Apartheid Museum is dedicated to Nelson Mandela’s life and his struggle against the Apartheid government.
Next is the "Valley of 1,000 Hills" to experience traditional Zulu culture at PheZulu Cultural Village and visit the Reptile Park. Visitors are taken into a traditional Zulu sibaya or homestead to experience traditional Zulu life before modernization. Inside a traditional Zulu homestead there are thatched huts placed in a circular position, with the cattle placed in the centre as a form of protection. At PheZulu homesteads the thatched huts are surrounding the auditorium which faces the beautiful valley.
The local PheZulu guide will take you on a guided tour of the PheZulu sibaya and explain the Zulu cultural practices to gain insight into Zulu traditions during the 1800’s. The local Zulu dancing show serves both educational and entertainment purpose as local performers sing and dance to beautiful traditional Zulu songs with complete Zulu attire.
PheZulu also has the Reptile Park. The local guides are very knowledgeable and eager to take you around the park and share interesting facts about the animals in the park. PheZulu Reptile Park has diverse reptilian wildlife on site, including crocodiles, alligators, snakes, tortoises and iguanas. The guides will let you touch or hold some of the animals, including a small crocodile and the giant Burmese python, just long enough to take a photo.
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Skip the taxi line with our private airport shuttle! Our professional driver picks you up at the arrival area at the airport and takes you to your hotel or residential areas in Durban, including central business-district areas, Durban beachfront, Umhlanga, Berea, Morningside, Musgrave and other areas within Durban.
Enjoy a comfortable and private ride.
Our own shuttle services also include picking you up from your hotel or residential areas in Durban to King Shaka international airport.
Distance from Durban to King Shaka International airport may range from 30 minutes to 1 hour subject to traffic conditions.
Follow the coastal trail to Cape Town on this 14-day adventure along the Garden Route. Spot elephants in the Addo Elephant National Park, hike through the Lesotho Highlands and meet the local Xhosa community in Cintsa. Spend two fun-filled nights in Cape Town and watch meerkats go about their morning in Oudtshoorn. Hike in the stunning landscape of the Drakensberg Mountain Range, visit Cape Town's Boulder's Beach and indulge in locally produced wine in Stellenbosch – the heart of the Cape Winelands.
Road trip
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Lodge, Hotel, Sleeper Bus, Hut
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Durban, Garden Route
Cape Town, Durban, Garden Route National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Oudtshoorn, Swellendam, Hermanus, Drakensberg, Lesotho Highlands, Cintsa, Addo Elephant National Park
27% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
First solo trip for me, but the tour group staff (and guests for that matter) were excellent - the travelling times whilst long, were well worth it - our tour guide Tshepo and driver Cosmas made the trip effortless with good organisation, clear communication and always timely starts/finishes - the information provided at each location, picture opportunities given, fun activities, good food and basically everything else, made this my favourite trip to date - will defo be doing another Africa tour with the tour operator
National parks
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Camping, Sleeper Bus, Hotel
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Johannesburg, Durban, Kruger Nat
Johannesburg, Durban, Kruger National Park, Hlane Royal National Park, Mozambique Beach Camp, St Lucia Estuary, Zululand
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
We had a great time, everything went very well. We were especially impressed by the excellent tour leader who was most knowledgeable, efficient, and courteous and did everything possible and more to ensure that all went smoothly. The hotels were all top-notch. Will definitely book again.
Wildlife
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort, Hut
Age Range
8-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port El
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth Airport, Knysna, Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Saint Lucia, Durban, Drakensberg
Enjoy a uniquely Zulu experience with a visit to a traditional Zulu oracle, diviner and herbalist.
An inyanga or a sangoma is a traditional medicine practitioner or shaman of the Zulu people in South Africa. They can communicate with your ancestors, work with plant-based medicines and use the power of prayer for healing.
While most practice all three forms, you will find others that work solely with one or any combination of these methods. Their training varies depending on family lineage and land location. However, what they all have in common is a calling to serve their families, their communities and the Earth.
The inyanga/sangoma stay in the picturesque area of Molweni. There you will have the opportunity to consult with a local inyanga/sangoma in a traditional Zulu experience. The consultation lasts about 45 minutes with the use of traditional methods like bone-throwing to connect with ancestors and convey the information he receives.
Spiritual or religious tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
It was a great trip with fantastic game viewing and knowledgeable guides. The accommodation was unique & comfortable, but Rhino lodge at Kosi bay was the poorest -the rooms etc were lovely but there was a decidedly run down aspect to the site and the dinning room service was notable lacking -2-3hr wait after ordering but the food when it came was fine -very understaffed and pushed, not helped by sharing facilities with an inebriated wedding group. Wernan the guide was competent, knowledgeable and did all he could to facilitate the experience -including re driving thro the mountains so we could see Gods Window etc as our first journey was thro thick fog etc with no visibility. Great trip, especially for the kids.
Active and outdoorWildlife
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Hut, Guest House
Age Range
7-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Johannesburg, Durban, Kosi Bay
Johannesburg, Durban, Kosi Bay, St. Lucia, Graskop, Tshukudu Game Reserve, Kruger National Park, Mlilwane
Embark on an action-packed adventure through some of the most stunning scenery in southern Africa. In 22 days, head from Johannesburg to Cape Town on the spectacular coastal route, with plenty of epic stops along the way. Track down elusive wildlife on game drives in Kruger National Park, relax on golden beaches, meeting local Xhosa communities in Cintsa and mix it up with two fun-filled nights in Cape Town. From the savanna of Kruger and the lush wetlands of the St Lucia Estuary to the dramatic ocean vistas and fertile vineyards along the Wild Coast, see the best of southern Africa's blessed natural beauty, joined by a local leader with all the best advice and a group of likeminded adventurers keen to explore.
Road tripWildlife
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Camping, Lodge, Sleeper Bus, Hut
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Drakens
Cape Town, Johannesburg, Drakensberg, Lesotho Highlands, Cintsa, Addo Elephant National Park, Tsitsikamma National Park, Oudtshoorn, Kruger National Park, Swellendam, Hermanus, Hlane Royal National Park, Mozambique Beach Camp, St Lucia Estuary, Zululand, Durban
22% OFF TODAY
This deal is valid for limited time. Book now to reserve your seats.
The tour starts off with a visit to Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu Natal. There we will stop by Pietermaritzburg's City Hall, which claims to be the largest brick building in the southern hemisphere. There we will visit the Gandhi statue also before we head towards the Drakensberg mountains.
We head towards the Giants Castle Reserve in Drakensburg Mountain range. Conveniently built high on the front of the Drakensberg, Giant's Castle camp is surrounded by beautiful landscape, deep valleys and grassy highlands which presents tourists with spectacular unforgettable views.
Giant’s Castle Reserve has a set of sandstone caves which have been turned into an outdoor museum. The San Rock Art depicts life of the San and Khoekhoe people who lived in South Africa for 1000s of years before Bantu and European migration. Both considered ‘hunters and gatherers’, the San were more nomadic that the Khoekhoe, who started to herd cattle when introduced by the bantu people who migrated from central Africa. The San and the Khoekhoe used rock art to communicate their story between clans and people.
Giants Castle’s caves is one of the best maintained Cave Rock Sites in KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa. The site has been developed for tourism and offers guided tours on the hour from 9am – 3pm daily. Only 30 minutes from the camp the leisurely trail offers guests an original cultural experience and a spectacular landscape adventure. The local guide will elaborate and display the history and culture behind some of the best-preserved artwork by the San people.
Next stop will be the small town of Howick to visit its waterfall. KwaNogqaza or Howick Falls is approximately 95 m in height and lies on the Umgeni River. The local Zulu people named it the “Home of the Tall” referring to its height. Next to the falls lies a quaint old section of Howick which has a selection of historical museums and antique stores to visit.
Next is the Nelson Mandela Capture Site Statue and Apartheid Museum. The Capture Site boasts a large sculpture of Nelson Mandela made up of multiply steel columns which stand between 6 and 9 metres tall. Tourists at the Capture Site are required to stand 35 meters away from the large Nelson Mandela bust for it to come into clear focus. Facing west the impressive sculpture creates a uniquely beautiful landscape for the local Howick community. The museum is dedicated to Nelson Mandela’s life and his struggle against Apartheid government.
