Ultra Luxurious Kwazulu Natal Safari – 1 Johannesburg | 3 nights Thanda Game Reserve | 3 nights Phinda Game Reserve | 1 night Johannesburg | 5 nights Seychelles
Tour Consultant's Overview
The Millers contacted me initially just for a safari. They knew that they wanted two different reserves and it had to be malaria free. I started off by sending through options for safaris in three different areas – namely, the Eastern Cape, the Waterberg & Madikwe or a KwaZulu Natal safari. Together we settled on the KwaZulu Natal safari which included both Thanda and Phinda Game Reserves. These properties offer luxury combined with phenomenal South African game viewing and they loved this choice. Once we had arranged the safari, they started thinking they may like to end their trip with a few nights of relaxation on the beach – After sending through a few different options they decided on a special package at the Four Seasons hotel which is very luxurious and ideally suited for families – they snapped up the opportunity and loved their five nights there.
Trip Highlights
- Johannesburg Living
- Phinda Game Reserve
- Abundant Birdlife
- Seychelles Luxury
- Thanda Game Reserve
- Big Five Game Viewing
- Ultimate Luxury Accommodation
- Beach Living
Itinerary
Upon arrival at Johannesburg airport you are met in the arrivals hall by our representative. They will hand over your travel documents before transferring you to your hotel in Sandton for the night. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax and recuperate after your international flight.
Transfer time – Johannesburg Airport to Johannesburg Hotel: ± 45 minutes
This morning you enjoy breakfast before you are collected from your hotel and transferred to the Johannesburg Airport for your flight to Richards Bay. Upon arrival at Richards Bay Airport you are collected and transferred by road to Thanda Game Reserve. You have time to settle in before you embark on your first game drive in this area this afternoon.
Flight time – Johannesburg to Richards Bay: ±1 hour 5 minutes
Transfer time – Richards Bay to Thanda: ± 1 hour
Situated 23km north of Hluhluwe in northern Zululand, Thanda Private Game Reserve is a celebration of the Zulu people and their rich culture. Here guests have the opportunity to learn more about their history and traditions. The Elephant Coast, as this part of KwaZulu-Natal is now called, has 21 different ecosystems and is home to a rich variety of fauna and flora. Sand forests, lakes, lagoons, wetlands and pristine stretches of beaches are home to many animals such as hippos, crocodiles, giant turtles and over 460 bird species and provide an abundance of outdoor activities for guests to choose from.
Enjoy breakfast and your last game drive this morning before you are transferred by a member from Thanda to the nearby Phinda Game Reserve where you will enjoy a further three nights on safari.
Transfer time – Thanda to Phinda Forest Lodge – ± 1 hour
&Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is situated in sub-tropical northern KwaZulu Natal, with close proximity to the warm Indian Ocean. It is an award-winning game reserve with a strong focus on conservation and community involvement. In 1991, &Beyond Phinda undertook the biggest game relocation in a private game reserve in the world at the time, restoring 34,600 acres of degraded farmland to a pristine wildlife reserve. The reserve has now grown to a total of 56,830 acres of land dedicated to the preservation of wildlife.
Referred to as “Seven Worlds of Wonder”, &Beyond Phinda is home to seven unique ecosystems that can be explored on twice-daily game drives from each of the Reserve’s six luxurious lodges. Phinda offers excellent Big Five game viewing, with spectacular sightings of the elusive cheetah and the rare black rhino. In addition to game drives, Phinda offers walking safaris and river cruises on the Mzinene River.
This morning you will be taken on your last game activity and enjoy breakfast before you are transferred by Phinda Game Reserve to Richards Bay Airport for your flight to Johannesburg Airport. Upon arrival at the airport you are collected and transferred back to the DaVinci Hotel for another night. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
Transfer time – Phinda Forest Lodge to Richards Bay Airport – ± 1 hour
Flight time – Richards Bay to Johannesburg – ± 1 hour
Transfer time – Johannesburg Airport to Johannesburg Hotel: ± 45 minutes
This morning you enjoy breakfast before you are collected and transferred back to the Johannesburg Airport for your flight to Seychelles. You are collected from the airport and transferred to the Four Seasons Resort for a five night stay.
Transfer time – Johannesburg Hotel to Johannesburg Airport – ± 45 Minutes
Flight time – Johannesburg to Mahe, Seychelles – ± 4 hours 55 minutes
Transfer time – Seychelles International Airport to Four Seasons Resort: ± 35 minutes
The Seychelles is a dazzling array of 115 granite and coral islands lying in the Indian Ocean between the coasts of Africa and India. This archipelago of timeless beauty, tranquillity and harmony is famous for its idyllic beaches. The islands fall under two distinct groups: the tall granite Inner Islands, which cluster mainly within the relatively shallow Seychelles Plateau, and the low-lying coralline cays, atolls and reef islands of the Outer Islands. The principal islands of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue form the cultural and economic hub of Seychelles, as well as the centre of its tourism industry. Seychelles offers almost clichéd postcard-perfect beaches: exquisite ribbons of palm-fringed white sandy beaches lapped by turquoise waters and backed by lush tropical hills and big granite boulders. This is because they are some of the most photographed beaches in the world and regularly appear on lists of “Top Ten beaches in the World”. As Seychelles is near the equator, it is blessed with a warm tropical climate all year long.
Enjoy your last day in this paradise before you are collected and transferred to the airport for your departure flight home.
Johannesburg: The Davinci Hotel & Suites
Located on Sandton’s prestigious Nelson Mandela Square, the Davinci Hotel & Suites offers guests all the luxuries and comforts they have come to expect from Legacy’s extraordinary portfolio of hotels and resorts. Boasting 166 en-suite hotel rooms, 50 one, two and three bedroom suites and four penthouses – the DAVINCI Hotel & Suites has something for every taste. Take time to relax in the gym, infinity edge swimming pool, or simply let our therapists pamper you in the wellness spa. Enjoy fine cuisine at Maximillien restaurant located in Legacy Corner Mall. Situated in the heart of the Sandton business and shopping district, the hotel offers direct access to Legacy Corner Mall, Sandton City shopping mall, and Nelson Mandela Square, as well as easy access to the Sandton Convention
Centre.
Thanda Game Reserve: Thanda Safari Lodge
Thanda Safari Lodge is known for its 9 beautiful bush suites – each self-contained for absolute privacy. Shaped like a traditional Zulu homestead, the 220m² suites have panoramic views of the surrounding game reserve. Each suite is a tribute to abundance, Africa-style – with a spacious lounge and majestic master bedroom and double-sided fireplace. The bathroom has a vanity, his-and-hers basins, egg-shaped bath, enclosed toilet as well as indoor and outdoor showers. Thanda Safari Lodge’s public areas are colourful and drenched in light, with touches of beading, welcoming leather and authentic wood. They include an inviting library overlooking a waterhole that is favoured by elephant and other game, a private business centre, a cigar bar and an impressively stocked wine cellar. Step out onto your wooden deck. Take a dip in your plunge pool. Enjoy dinner served in your own private boma. Or admire the African sunset from the circular daybed atop your thatched outdoor sala.
Phinda Game Reserve: Phinda Mountain Lodge
Poised majestically on the crest of a mountain, &Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge commands dramatic vistas over the surrounding landscape. Balanced between soaring views of the scenery below and the endless blue of the African sky above, each suite opens onto a breath taking panorama. With glamorous guest areas, this bold and stylish lodge will truly make you feel on top of the world. Magnificent guest viewing decks and private verandas attached to each suite ensure that there is no shortage of spectacular locations.
Light and space lie at the heart of &Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge from the moment you enter the airy inner courtyard. The guest area is a magnificent u-shaped building with central al fresco courtyard, which provides luxurious comfort between game drives. Careful planning means that no structures in the Lodge overlook each other, resulting in uninterrupted views from each suite or viewing deck. Meals are served al fresco on the tiered veranda, inside the covered dining room or in the outdoor dining boma at night. A total of 23 suites are positioned to ensure complete privacy while optimising the view from the veranda. Each suite has a private outdoor shower and plunge pool, as well as a luxury en-suite bathroom.
Seychelles – Mahe Island: Four Seasons Hotel
Four Seasons Resort Seychelles is located on a lush peninsula on the southwest coast of Mahe in the Republic of Seychelles. This archipelago of 115 islands is a fascinating melting pot of slaves, explorers, pirates and exiles. Seychellois heritage is heard in the mingling of French, English and lilting Creole and tasted in the cuisine’s fusion of flavours. The Resort deftly melds the serenity of a deserted island with splendid luxury.
The gorgeous tree-top villas perche on a jungle-clad hillside with breathtaking views. The Creole architecture’s generous proportions and airy, indoor-outdoor flow takes the best advantage of the superb setting. The muted neutrals and rich textures of the villa spill out onto your wrap-around hardwood deck with its covered day bed and infinity plunge pool. Between the in-villa spa treatments and dining options, you may find it impossible to leave your private sanctuary!
INCLUDED IN PRICE Thanda Game Reserve: Daily Safari Activities at Thanda Safari Lodge
A truly African experience goes beyond the five senses. It’s felt. An early morning or late afternoon safari is the best way to absorb the sights, smells and sounds of Africa. Encounter the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo): the animals that inspire a long-lasting connection with the continent. And, once you’ve found them, go looking for Africa’s other famous five – the Little Five (elephant shrew, rhino beetle, leopard tortoise, ant lion and buffalo weaver).
The guides and trackers are experts in the circle of life, and how it spins both slowly and frenetically in the African bush. They will offer you wildlife lessons from their own cultures and knowledge. They will tell stories and share anecdotes. They will explain, inform, educate and then sit back and let you fall in love with the wild in your own way.
With 14 000 hectares to explore, you’ll see diverse wildlife including cheetah, hyena, warthog and the occasional wild dog, as well as abundant bird and plant life. What is more, it’s all exclusively yours. Thanda is a private game reserve and the dedicated staff members are the only people you’ll encounter on the roads while you’re here. Twice-daily game drives included in rate but it is possible to enjoy bush walks as an added extra.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Phinda Game Reserve: Daily Safari Programme at &Beyond Phinda Mountain Lodge
&Beyond Phinda is home to an abundance of wildlife, from the Big Five (lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo) to the smallest antelope. However, it is the fastest of predators that has a special place here. Having reintroduced cheetah to the area after an absence of over 50 years, &Beyond Phinda has quickly established a reputation as one of the best places to view and photograph these rare big cats. Along with cheetah, lion and leopard are tracked on the reserve on a daily basis and guests have a high likelihood of encountering these magnificent animals. Another success story at &Beyond Phinda is that of both the white and the black rhino. Brought back from the brink of extinction, both species of rhino are doing well at the reserve. The elegant nyala antelope is a frequent site at &Beyond Phinda, with the reserve boasting one of the highest densities of the species. The rare sand forest in the northern parts of the reserve is the perfect environment for the shy red duiker and the tiny suni, one of the smallest antelope species.
Set out on the morning game drive in an open 4×4 safari vehicle in the company of a game ranger. After breakfast you can go on a short walk near the Lodge, accompanied by your ranger, who will share his insight into the smaller animals and vegetation in the area. Alternatively, cool off in the pool. Lunch is served on open air decks. After lunch, keep cool with a refreshing dip in the pool, indulge in an afternoon siesta or simply watch the wildlife from your private veranda. The evening game drive begins in the late afternoon and lasts until after dark, when spotlights are used for spotting nocturnal animals. If you prefer, you may be able to go on a boat cruise down the Mzinene River, watching the wildlife as they come down to drink. A mouth-watering dinner is waiting for you at your lodge’s outdoor dining boma.
INCLUDED IN PRICE Seychelles – Mahe Island: Four Seasons Hotel
The Resort tempts you out of your villa with a wide range of activities, from the conviviality of the main rim flow pool, to Hatha yoga classes at the spa pavilion, and sunrise runs along glorious hiking trails. Naturally, an abundance of water sports are on offer, and your Concierge arranges whatever boards, boats or gear you need to sail, dive, snorkel or fish.
For an evening in, visit the Resort library for books, DVDs and games. For an evening out, indulge in fine dining and tropical cocktails, served in two locations, each featuring a restaurant and stylish lounge. The smart, intercontinental ZEZ venue commands spectacular ocean views from the top of the hill, while the beachside Kannel venue serves light meals and fresh seafood dishes. The Chefs celebrate Seychellois heritage, drawing on Mediterranean, Creole and Southeast Asian flavours in their delectable menus.
Miller Family, USA ,2nd August 2019
There aren’t enough words to describe our holiday so I will be brief – I just wanted to thank you for your amazing help in arranging our South African Safari and Seychelles vacation. You were professional from my initial inquiry to the very end. Everyone had a wonderful time, and we all agree it was one of our best vacations ever. It was definitely a pleasure working with you Tammy!
