The Best of the “Elephant Coast” and the Drakensberg

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The Best of the “Elephant Coast” and the Drakensberg

Thank you for considering being our guest for an amazing safari, tailor

made especially for you. We promise you excellent service and are

convinced you will experience the safari of a lifetime with us!

The itinerary below concerns a tour of 23 days (including 2 flight days), in the

period of XXXX.

Key: B, L, D at the end of each day shows which meals are included; B =

breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner.

Itinerary:

For twenty-three days, this fantastic tour takes you on a journey through the most picturesque and diverse

areas of the region, where you will experience, literally, the very best of KwaZulu-Natal and both on land and

underwater. Read on and you will see why this tour will leave you with memories for a lifetime, a perfect mixture

of amazing activities and relaxing moments.

Day 1: Fly to Johannesburg

Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, you will be met by a representative of

your guesthouse and driven there. Here you can spend the evening relaxing after your flight.

Day 2: Johannesburg - Mkhuze Game Reserve

After breakfast, your guesthouse representative will drive you back to the airport where you will board a plane

and fly to Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). After a short flight our safari guide will meet you at

Richards Bay Airport and drive you to Mkhuze Game

Reserve, in the far reaches of northern KZN. Once at

Mkhuze, you can spend some time in one of the animal

viewing hides. This fantastic hide is placed in the

middle of a water hole where the animals come down to

drink. On this occasion, the animals can come to you to

be photographed and, with a little luck, you will see

rhinos or even elephants drinking! Your guide will take

you on game drives in the reserve during which you’ll be on the lookout for elephant, cheetah, African wild dog

and all the other, smaller species the park has to offer. (B,L,D)

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Day 3: Mantuma Camp, Mkhuze

A mecca for bird lovers, with over 400 species on record,

Mkhuze has an astonishing diversity of natural habitats,

from the eastern slopes of the Lebombo Mountains along

its eastern boundary, to broad stretches of acacia

savannah, swamps and a variety of woodlands and riverine

forest. An observation tower in the reserve gives an aerial

view of the park and surrounding areas. An early morning

game drive will take you to different areas of the reserve

from yesterday, to give you an idea of the amazing diversity

Mkhuze has to offer. After spending a few hours relaxing

in your chalet, in the swimming pool or browsing the gift shop, your guide will take you on an afternoon game

drive and a visit to one of the hides. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Mkhuze - Kosi Bay

Following a walking safari accompanied by an

armed ranger through the Fig Forest we will

leave Mkhuze Game Reserve and head further

north to Kosi Bay, where you will stay at the

superbly located Kosi Bay Lodge. Kosi Bay is

the northern most extent of the iSimangaliso

Wetland Park, and a beautiful lagoon where you

can visit traditional fish traps. These fish traps

have been used for centuries and the fish kraals

are spread over two of the four lakes in the azure

water. The best way to get a good idea of the

700 year old fishing methods of the local people

is on a boat trip during which your guide will inform you of all sorts of interesting facts. This afternoon will

indeed be spent on a boat cruise, where we’ll see hippo, lots of birds and beautiful scenery. During summer

(Nov-Feb) we may take you on a turtle walk along the beach and, with some luck, we’ll see either the

loggerhead or leatherback turtles laying eggs in the sand, or see the hatchlings making their way towards the

ocean. (B,D)

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Day 5: Snorkeling in Kosi Bay

Kosi Bay has a healthy estuarine system, consisting of four natural

lakes connected by channels. Kosi Bay Mouth, where the first lake

connects to the ocean, is one of the best places to snorkel in South

Africa, with over 200 species of tropical fish having been identified

here; anything from devil fire fish to different species of moray eels

and Picasso triggerfish. Following an excursion to Kosi Bay Mouth,

we overlook the estuarine system and the traditional fish traps from

the elevation of a dune, or you can enjoy a short walk to get a closer

look at the mangrove trees and associated fauna. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Kosi Bay - Tembe Elephant Park

After enjoying a hearty breakfast at Kosi Bay Lodge,

we will jump in the car for the short drive to Tembe

Elephant Park. Tembe is an amazing place; an elephant

sanctuary and a Big 5 game reserve including the

beautiful African wild dog. Accessible only with 4x4

vehicles and, with no more than ten vehicles per day

allowed entry into the reserve, you will experience a

complete wilderness feeling. In addition, Tembe is the

only place in South Africa where the indigenous

elephants of Maputoland are found. These

Maputoland Great Tuskers are quite a bit bigger than the ‘ordinary’ African Elephant found elsewhere in

the country. This afternoon you will experience a game drive in an open game viewer, during which you will be

on the lookout for these magnificent beasts. (B, D)

Day 7: Tembe Elephant Park

Fully taken care of by the lodge personnel, you will want

for nothing at Tembe. Today you will enjoy a game drive

in the morning as well as one in the afternoon. Look out

for, amongst others, lion, African wild dog and, of course,

elephants. (B,L,D)

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Day 8: Tembe - St Lucia

Following an early morning game drive in Tembe we will pack up the vehicle and head

south to St Lucia. Bordering the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first

World Heritage Site, this little coastal town is unique in many ways. After all, you

won’t find hippos grazing the grass verges in many other towns in South Africa! The

St Lucia Estuary, which separates the town from the ‘mainland’, is home to hippos,

crocodiles and a huge variety of water birds, which can all be viewed during a boat

cruise on the estuary. Upon arrival at your B&B, the rest of the day is yours to

either familiarise yourself with the town or just relax at the B&B. (B)

Day 9: Estuary Walk & Boat Tour

This morning, after your delicious breakfast at the B&B,

you will enjoy a walk around St Lucia Estuary, where you

will get a good overview of the estuary system. Later in the

day you will get to enjoy the estuary from the water during a

boat tour. The boat tour will give you up close encounters

with hippos, possibly crocodiles, and you’ll also get to see

the wonderful variety of water birds resident on St Lucia

Estuary. St Lucia has a good array of restaurants so meals

in town will always be delicious with many choices. (B)

Day 10: Close Encounters with Elephant and Big Cats

Today is your day of close encounters you will never forget! Experience a

close encounter with elephants at a nearby sanctuary. These individuals

were rescued as youngsters after the culling of their family. Hand reared

but wild, they have become habituated to humans and experiencing them up

close is an excellent way to learn about these majestic beasts. Later in the

day we will make our way to a nearby cat sanctuary where you will get to

experience a close encounter with cheetah and other, smaller, cats. This

sanctuary focuses on the rehabilitation of cats and the tour of their premises is an excellent educational tool.

(B)

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Day 11: Wetland Game Drive

Your guide will drive you through the Eastern Shores Game

Reserve en route to the beach at Cape Vidal for some

snorkelling and lunch. The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is known

as the ‘premier bush and beach destination’ and has completely

different ecosystems from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and Tembe

Elephant Park. After the drive through the wetland park, where

you should see rhino, kudu and other, smaller species, you can

enjoy a few hours on the beach, swimming or snorkelling at low

tide. Lunch is served at the beach and the day will draw to a

close with a game drive through the wetland park as you return to St Lucia. (B,L)

Day 12: Zulu Cultural Tour

Your tour guide for this activity will collect you from your B&B in St Lucia and drive you

to his home village for a genuine experience of contemporary Zulu life. Here he will take

you around the village, giving you lots of interesting information on the Zulu culture and

way of life. The tour includes lunch, served at his mother’s house. You will also visit a

Sangoma (traditional healer), a crèche, a high school class or attend part of a mass service

at a church. Your guide will then drive you back to St Lucia (B,L)

Day 13: Relax

A free day today will give you the chance to browse the local shops

for some souvenirs. St Lucia also has an internet café in case you’d

like to send some emails, or perhaps photos, to the folks back home.

Got energy left? Of course you can book a horse ride on the

beach or through the bush, book a scenic flight, visit the butterfly

house or crocodile centre, or choose any of the other 1001

activities St. Lucia has to offer (costs for your own account). (B)

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Day 14: St Lucia – Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve

Approximately 60km inland from St Lucia, this Big 5 game reserve is internationally renowned for its rhino

conservation efforts and large rhino population. With its stunning savannah landscapes and rolling hills,

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi provides not only excellent game viewing but also wonderful photographic opportunities.

This afternoon we will enjoy a game drive through this wonderful terrain, keeping an eye out for members of the

Big 5. Tonight we’ll stay in comfortable chalets in an unfenced camp inside the park. (B,L,D)

Day 15: Hluhluwe – iMfolozi

An early morning game drive will see us exploring a different part

of the reserve from yesterday, still on the lookout for members of

the Big 5 which we may not yet have seen, as well as the many

species of antelope. After lunch and a few hours relaxing in your

chalet, you can choose to go on either an afternoon game drive or

a night drive which will give you the opportunity of seeing the

nocturnal species you may not yet have seen. (B,L,D)

Day 16: Walking through the African Bush

This morning you can go on a guided walking safari

during which your armed guide will hope to show you,

amongst other things, the black and/or white rhinoceros.

An important part of any walking safari is to look for

tracks and your guide will be able to tell you many

important facts about the animals whose tracks he finds,

as well as how fresh the tracks are and in which direction

the animal is heading. It is also during walking safaris that

you learn to respect nature and the animals you might

encounter. After relaxing during the middle of the day,

you can venture out on an afternoon game drive, looking

out for the Big 5, as well as all other species the park has to offer. (B,L,D)

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Day 17: Hluhluwe-iMfolozi - Eagles Nest B&B, Krantzkloof

Make the most of your morning game drive because this is your last chance on this holiday to experience the

African bush. The morning game drive takes us out of the park through the eastern gate, after which we make

our way to the Eagles Nest B&B in Krantzkloof, on the outskirts of the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve. With

the beautiful view at our disposal, we’ll enjoy a relaxed evening in order to process all the experiences thus far.

And who knows, if we’re lucky we'll see the Crowned Eagle which is resident in this natural area. (B)

Day 18: Eagles Nest B&B - Thendele, Royal Natal National Park

After breakfast we’ll quietly make our way towards the

magnificent Drakensberg. Words cannot describe this place.

From the chalet, we can see the impressive Amphitheatre, a cliff

of between 500 and 1000 meters high and 5 kilometers long.

The Tugela Falls waterfall is in this region and is the second

highest waterfall

in the world, at

more than 900

meters. However, in the afternoon we’ll first head towards the

Cascades Waterfalls. (B, D)

Day 19: Tugela Gorge Walk

Put on your walking shoes! For walking

enthusiasts, there is a brisk walk on today’s

programme. We’ll walk along the contour

towards the base of the Amphitheatre Wall

where the Tugela River has carved a tunnel into

the sandstone. This is a playground for

photographers. Those who would prefer not to

walk the 7km there and 7km back can quietly

enjoy the beautiful view or do a shorter walk from

camp (B, L,D)

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Day 20: Thendele - Didima Camp, Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve

At 4:30 in the morning, nature lovers are already up to their knees in the Tugela River, attempting to take the

most beautiful photos of the Amphitheatre. First a sunrise shoot, followed by breakfast and then it's time to

leave. We’ll drive to Didima Camp, another beautiful location in the Drakensberg. In the afternoon we can

take a short walk or rest, enjoying the magnificent view. (B, L)

Day 21: Rainbow Gorge or Fern Valley

After the optional sunrise shoot, a day hike is on today’s programme. We can go to either the beautiful

Rainbow Gorge or the Fern Valley, depending on how fit we feel. Rainbow Gorge is a lovely walk through

woods to a gorge

carved by a river. The

Fern Valley is filled

with tree ferns which

are also worth

photographing. In the

afternoon we have, of

course, a sunset shoot

of Cathedral Peak

itself. (B, L)

Day 22: Didima - Richard's Bay Airport

Your trip is, unfortunately, almost over. Depending on your flight, we can visit the San Rock Art Museum

where the life and rock drawings of the Bushmen are recorded. Then we’ll drive you to Richards Bay Airport.

From there you’ll fly to Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport, from where you’ll catch your plane

home. We trust that this trip has given you experiences that you will cherish forever. (B)

Day 23: Arrive in the Netherlands

Please note that guests are welcome to adjust the timing of the itinerary to their liking (if circumstances allow of

course). We are, after all, offering Tailor Made Safaris!

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Price per person:

The law requires us to quote our tours in South African Rand. For the most recent exchange rate see

www.XE.com. Your plane tickets (if applicable), however, are booked by a Dutch Travel Agent. These you

will pay directly into their account and in Euro.

Guided Tailor Made Safari as per itinerary above:

Based on 2 travelers: ZAR 49.900 per person

Based on 4 travelers: ZAR 38.700 per person

Based on 6 travelers: ZAR 34.400 per person

Based on 8 travelers: ZAR 30.900 per person

The guided tour includes: all land transport in South Africa, climate taxes, private vehicle, private guide, all

accommodation, all activities indicated, all entrance fees, all tolls and parking fees, all indicated meals (other

meals you eat in local restaurants on your own account. A meal in a restaurant costs on average 8-10 Euros

per person).

The guided tour excludes: airfares, travel and cancellation insurance, any additional meals and drinks,

additional excursions, activities and/or extensions, gratuities for guides and local restaurants.

Zie appendix voor een duidelijk overzicht wat er wel en niet inbegrepen zit in de reis.

Please note: Accommodation can potentially differ from the establishments mentioned in this itinerary (if fully

booked). In such cases we will look for suitable and similar accommodation, without charging extra. Any

changes will be discussed with you. Accommodation and plane tickets can be booked by us only after you have

confirmed your booking with us.

The ANVR Travel and Booking Terms & Conditions apply to your booking with us. For more information

see:

http://www.safarisopmaat.nl/uploads/2/0/8/1/20817686/safaris_op_maat_anvr-reis-

_en_boekingsvoorwaarden.pdf

We are happy to adjust the above itinerary if desired. Only after you are completely satisfied will we proceed

to a possible booking. So please do not hesitate to contact us should you want any changes to be made, or if

you have any questions.

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Looking forward to your reply,

Best Regards,

Nick van de Wiel

Owner/MD Tailor Made Safaris

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