Battlefield Hluhluwe Imfolozi Road Trip – 5 nights Cape Town | 2 nights Drakensberg | 2 nights Anglo-Zulu War Battlefields | 3 nights Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
Overview
This was our first trip to South Africa so we sent Tammy our wish list, what type of accommodation we liked and an indication of our budget. She came back with a proposal which I don’t think we even needed to tweek. Between booking and the date of our trip Tammy kept in contact and promptly answered any of our queries. We were met at the airport, taken to our hotel and given our itinerary. Next morning Lele Mbinda picked us up promptly and took us on the first of three tours in Cape Town. The tours were adapted according to the weather and our special interests. We flew to Durban to pick up a hire car for the next stage of our trip. All the instructions got us to our hotels easily and each had its own character. The Rhino Ridge Lodge was one of the highlights. During the three nights we stayed we went on six game drives with Hala who ensured we saw an amazing variety of wildlife, identifying any we didn’t know. The truck seldom had more than four passengers and you felt like you were on your own private safari. The staff at the lodge itself were friendly and helpful, and the food well balanced in terms of size and variety. The staff singing for residents birthdays was something special. It was a wonderful holiday beyond our expectations and we are very grateful to Tammy for her organisation and suggestions.
Upon arrival at Cape Town airport , you are met by a representative from Pembury Tours. You will receive your travel documents and will then be transferred to La Splendida for your five night stay.
Explore the Mother City and the Fairest Cape – from the oldest buildings in South Africa to trendy waterfront shopping; from majestic Table Mountain to sun drenched beaches; and from dramatic seascapes to verdant vineyards. Cape Town regularly tops many lists of world must- visit destinations and Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain has recently been voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Cosmopolitan and fashionable, the relaxed atmosphere and pavement café culture give Cape Town a Southern European feel – but with a distinctive African twist.
This morning you are collected very early and are transferred to Cape Town airport for your flight to Durban. Upon arrival at King Shaka Airport you head to the car hire kiosk to collect your group C Hire car. You leave the airport and head straight out to the Drakensberg for your two night stay.
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 head to the battlefield sites of the Anglo-Zulu War – Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift and Fugitive’s Drift. You spend the next two nights at your lodge here.
The Ango-Zulu War battlefield 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.
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 Lodge, which is situated in a private concession within the Park. You have time to freshen up before departing on the late afternoon game drive.
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.
After your morning game drive, you bid farewell to this African wonderland and drive back to Durban and the Durban Airport. Here you return your hire car before checking in for your flight.
