Upon arrival in Durban, you are met at Durban King Shaka Airport and assisted to the car hire rentals terminal. You drive yourself to your luxury beachfront hotel in the suburb of Umhlanga.

Visitors from around the world flock to the holiday resort village of Umhlanga Rocks to relax and have fun on one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. The suburb of Umhlanga is known affectionately as the “village” and has a relaxed holiday atmosphere.

Driving time: Durban Airport to The Oyster Box Hotel – approx 20 minutes

This morning after breakfast you check out of your hotel. You begin your journey northwards to the KwaZulu Natal Midlands. You check into Granny Mouse Country House for your one night stay.

Driving time: Durban to KwaZulu Natal Midlands – approx. 1½ hours

This morning you set off in a north easterly direction through the rolling hills of the KwaZulu Natal Midlands to the Drakensberg Mountains. You check in at your country lodge for your three night stay.

Driving time: Midlands to Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse – approx 1 hour

The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to 3,482 metres (11,424 ft) in height. Soaring basalt cliffs and golden sandstone ramparts tower over rolling grasslands, steep-sided valleys, rocky gorges and ancient San rock art. Adventure activities abound: hiking, abseiling, canoeing, mountain-biking, mountain-climbing, while the more sedentary will enjoy the awe-inspiring views and abundant birdlife.

Today you leave the mountains behind and cross the Natal Midlands to the battlefield sites of the Anglo-Zulu War – Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift and Fugitive’s Drift. The Ango-Zulu War battlefields region abounds in evocative symbols of South Africa’s turbulent past. Dramatic and bloody battles such as Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift are brought to life by raconteur tour guides. You check in at your guesthouse overlooking Fugitive’s Drift.

Driving time: Drakensberg to Anglo-Zulu War Battlefields – approx 4 hours

This morning you set off eastward through rolling hills to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in the heart of Zululand. You check in at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in a private concession within the park in time to freshen up before departing on the late afternoon game drive.

Driving time: Fugitive’s Drift Lodge to Rhino Ridge – approx 4 hours

Set in the heart of Zululand, this is the oldest game reserve in Africa where Zulu kings such as Dingiswayo and Shaka hunted and put in place the first conservation laws, where today the “big five” of African legend stalk the verdant savannah. Established in 1895, game viewing is the prime attraction. Viewing hides overlook waterholes enabling visitors to see animals at close range.

As the home of Operation Rhino in the 1950s and 60s, the Park became world renowned for its white rhino conservation. Other areas of focus for which Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is famed include wilderness trails which originated in Imfolozi in the 1950s and its renowned Game Capture unit recently upgraded into the Centenary Capture Centre, a bench mark for animal capture and sustainable utilization throughout Africa. The Park covers some 96 000 ha and contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora. Hluhluwe is characterised by hilly topography, and this northern section of the park is noted for its wide variety of both bird and animal life.

At Rhino Ridge you will enjoy twice daily game drives in an open game drive vehicle with an experienced ranger.

After your morning game drive, you bid farewell to this African wonderland and drive to Durban Airport. Here you will drop your hire car off and board a flight to Cape Town.

Driving time: Rhino Ridge to Durban Airport – approx 2¾ hours