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Kosi Bay – 2 night optional Extension
By adding this extension on you will have 3 nights in Kosi Bay area.
Want to stay longer – ask us!
In the far north of KwaZulu Natal, close to the border to Mozambique is Kosi Bay. The nature reserve is one of the most attractive places in Maputaland. Surrounding the unique Kosi Bay lake system and consisting of 4 lakes and a series of natural channels. These lakes eventually drain via a sandy estuary into the Indian Ocean. The lakes offer a variety of freshwater and saltwater habitats and are home to a tremendous variety of birds and animals including hippos and crocodiles. Between December and January loggerhead and leatherback, turtles come onto the Kosi Bay beaches to lay their eggs. This region is a must-see for nature lovers as the many rivers and lush vegetation create not only a scenic environment, but also excellent habitats for many animal, plant and bird species. The area includes the Tembe Elephant Park, where you will see the last wild elephants. At Ndumu Game Reserve, there are wild animals and over 400 bird species. The area also includes the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, a top destination for many travellers due to its prime location and string of pristine beaches, a coral reef and great snorkelling opportunities.
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Suggested
Itinerary: An ideal Self-Drive Itinerary
for Kosi Bay Extension, would
be 17 Day West Coast Magic. click
here |
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Travel
Tips: For Travel Tips in this region,
click
here |
 |
Off
the beaten track: Click
here for unordinary places to discover
in this region |
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2 night optional Extension
By adding this extension on you allow your selves 3 nights in this world heritage site.
Want to stay longer – ask us!
A very special slice of Africa, the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park offers tourists some of the most diverse wildlife and outdoor experiences imaginable. Besides Lake St Lucia - a unique, 38 000 ha expanse of lake, islands and estuary - the park incorporates an astonishing variety of habitats ranging from the Ubombo mountains to grasslands, forests, wetlands, mangroves and vegetated dunes, with magnificent beaches and coral reefs. The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park stretches along the Zululand coast from Mapelane in the south to Sodwana in the north. This diversity gives rise to a multiplicity of fauna and flora, unrivalled anywhere in South Africa. It supports an abundance of Nile crocodile and hippo, as well as rhino (both black and white), elephant, buffalo, giraffe, waterbuck, kudu, nyala, impala, duiker and reedbuck, amongst a host of other species. While swimming in the lake due to the presence of crocodile is prohibited, recreational options abound. You can dive on coral reefs or walk for miles along golden beaches; explore great dunes and wander through magical coastal forests; or roam across grassy plains as the wind carries the whistling calls of reedbuck on the alert. You can try your hand at canoeing while enjoying a wilderness trail, and if snorkelling, angling or boating take your fancy, this is the place to indulge yourself. Migrant whales cavorting along the coast, leatherback and loggerhead turtles, nesting on the beaches at night in summer, add to the park's special attractions. From Mapelane the park stretches northwards, incorporating St Lucia Game and Marine Reserves, False Bay parks, Cape Vidal, Sodwana Bay, Mkuzi Game Reserve and the Maputaland Marine Reserve.
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Suggested
Itinerary: An ideal Self-Drive Itinerary
for St. Lucia Wetlands Extension, would
be 22 Day A World in One Country . click
here |
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Travel
Tips: For Travel Tips in this region,
click
here |
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Off
the beaten track: Click
here for unordinary places to discover
in this region |
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2 night Extension
By adding this extension on you have a total of 3 nights in the Coastal Forest reserve exploring this secret of South Africa.
Want to stay longer – ask us!
Incorporated in the Maputaland Coastal Forest Reserve are a number of small-protected areas:
Lake Sibaya Nature Reserve contains the largest clear freshwater lake in South Africa separated from the coast by impressive sand dunes rising to 536 feet (165metres). The lake contains some crocs and hippos, and there are boats (with skipper) for hire for fishing trips. The pristine coastline of this reserve stretches for 62 miles (100km).
Kosi Bay Nature Reserve is a coastal reserve with a string of four lakes and a wide variety of terrain and unique eco systems in the fig tree and palm forests, mangrove swamps, freshwater lakes, sand dunes, pristine beaches and coral reefs. The lakes contain crocs and hippos, while antelopes inhabit the dry inland parts of the reserve. The mouth of the lake system considered to provide some of the best snorkelling in South Africa, but the areas is most famous for its leatherback turtles that lay their eggs in the soft beach sand from the end of October through to January. Turtle viewing allowed with wildlife rangers only.
Rocktail Bay is a (40km) stretch of unspoilt, undeveloped, pristine coastline where a sophisticated conservation model successfully implemented, between conservation authorities, local communities and Wilderness Safaris tour operator. A small number of visitors stay at Rocktail Bay Lodge and can experience nature walks into the coastal forest, watching turtles laying their eggs, boat trips out to sea, scuba diving and snorkelling. This eco-friendly tourism project is successfully helping to preserve the area.
The warm sea of this coastline attracts a great diversity of marine life includingloggerhead and leatherback turtles, ragged-tooth sharks and enormous whale sharks, bottlenose dolphins and humpback whales, plus a myriad of colourful reef fish and other sea creatures.
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Travel
Tips: For Travel Tips in this region,
click
here |
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Off
the beaten track: Click
here for unordinary places to discover
in this region |
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2 night optional Extension
By adding this extension on you allow your selves 3 nights in this area
The Elephant Coast forms the northeast region of South Africa's unique KwaZulu Natal Province, stretching northward from Lake St Lucia to the borders of Swaziland and Mozambique. The region gets its name from being home to South Africa's largest herd of indigenous African elephants. The Elephant Coast is one of South Africa's most beautiful and unspoilt areas. This narrow strip of land approximately 200km long and just 70km wide is home to an incredible 21 different eco-systems. Dense evergreen forests of towering fig trees stand in a lush undergrowth of ferns and wild orchids hanging from the trees. Palm savannahs with thousands of wild date and lala palms dot the white sand of the undulating landscape. Swamp forests with large raffias and tangled masses of greenery that are home to myriads of exquisite birds and behind them mountainous sand dunes that appear to shift with the sighing of gentle winds. You can enjoy the beautiful white beaches and have the option to go diving, or snorkelling. (optional excursions)
AREAS OF INTEREST:
Hluhluwe
A visitor-friendly town, convenient positioned for exploring the nearby game reserves, as well as the northern resorts of Lake St Lucia and the Maputaland coastline further afield.
Mkuze:
A peaceful town found east of the Lebombo Mountain Range in the Mkuze River Valley. It acts as a base for the highly popular Mkuze Game Reserve.
Mtubatuba:
Was once a swampland of reeds and papyrus formed in 1903 and named after the chief of the local Zulu community The town is ideally located as a base from which to explore the rich Zulu culture and world-renowned ecological reserves in this region.
Sodwana Bay:
Some of the best diving and snorkelling opportunities in South Africa are on offer in Sodwana, a veritable Mecca for those who love underwater adventure. The area is also famous for big-game fishing.
St Lucia:
The approach from Mtubatuba is breathtaking, nothing compares to views of the surrounding magic from the village itself. A particular nearby attraction is the Crocodile Centre that features a breeding programme for two endangered African species, the dwarf and long-snout crocodile. Mission Rock is a popular outdoor barbecue spot 15kms north of St Lucia.
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Travel
Tips: For Travel Tips in this region,
click
here |
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Off
the beaten track: Click
here for unordinary places to discover
in this region |
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By adding this extension on you allow your selves a total of 2 nights in Durban exploring this vibrant coastal town. Want to stay longer – ask us!
Durban is blessed with balmy weather all year round, making it a perfect holiday paradise. The beachfront is bordered by 5 star hotels and luxury apartments, all of which have an idyllic view of the Indian Ocean. The Central Business District, a hive of activity, is within easy reach of all hotels and convention venues. If however, you wish to travel further afield, there is a very competent public transport system running throughout Durban. Durban is a major gateway to Africa and is also the largest and busiest port city on the continent. Due to this, there is an extensive road network leading to and from any destination in South Africa. Durban International Airport is only a 10 minute drive from the City and is serviced daily by domestic flights, as well as international flights. With an impressive list of things to see and do Durban is sure to keep you entertained. See shark feeding time at the Aquarium. Go for a stroll around Umgeni River Bird Project. Go to the Snake Park and watch them milking venom. Learn more about sharks at the Sharks Board near Umhlanga Rocks. Check out the Natural Science Museum at the City Hall. See what’s on at the Bat Centre. Visit the Durban Art Gallery, and the Victoria Street Market. Go to the waterfront bars where you can watch ships come into the Harbor. Durban has the largest population of surfers in the country. Peppered with surf shops and spots, it's an ideal city surfing locale. There are lots of spots, from mellow beach breaks to grindingly hollow reef and beach breaks. So rent a surfboard and give it a try……
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Suggested
Itinerary: An ideal Self-Drive Itinerary
for Durban - 2 night city extension, would
be 22 Day A World in One Country . click
here |
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Travel
Tips: For Travel Tips in this region,
click
here |
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Below are the list of towns in the region, you can stay at a couple allowing yourself the freedom to move around the Battlefileds.
It was among the picturesque hills and rock formations of the Battlefields those fearless, spear-wielding foot soldiers of the all-conquering Zulu kings first encountered the British Empire's sophisticated fire- power. Where each faced the unfamiliar guerrilla-warfare tactics of the Boer - descendants of the west European settlers who five generations earlier had claimed divine right to this 'Promised Land'. The Zulu also believed the bountiful terrain between fabled Drakensberg Mountains and golden Indian Ocean beaches to be their own 'Heaven on Earth'. Seventy years of bitter and merciless head-on confrontation proved as pivotal to South Africa's geo-political evolution as the wars that forged modern Europe and established the freedom, identity and boundaries of North America.
Ladysmith Town is where you will find the Howitzers that proudly served through these bloody battles. The legacy of the Zulu Kingdom's, blood-soaked conflicts today lives peacefully reconciled in the fascinating myriad of Battlefield Sites, Historic Towns, National Monuments and Museums. While knowledgeable, friendly and accredited local guides guarantee hour upon hour of enthralling stories, catapulting you between today and yesteryear.
KwaZulu-Natal's Battlefields Towns:
Babanango
Colenso
Dundee
Eshowe
Estcourt
Glencoe
Greytown
Ladysmith
Melmoth
Newcastle
Nquthu
Paulpietersburg
Rorkes Drift
Ulundi
Utrecht
Volksrust
Vryheid
Weenen
Winterton
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Travel
Tips: For Travel Tips in this region,
click
here |
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By adding this extension on you allow your selves a total of 3 nights in the Drakensberg area – this will give you the option of 3 / 4 day hikes in the area
Want to stay longer – ask us!
The Drakensberg situated in KwaZulu Natal is divided into 3 main regions namely the Northern Drakensberg, the Central Drakensberg and the Southern Drakensberg.
The Northern Drakensberg forms the watershed for the Tugela River. Royal Natal National Park with the Hotel is a very popular part of the Northern Drakensberg. The peak Mont-aux-Sources (3282ft) is the highest peak in this part of the Berg, which stretches as far as Cathedral Peak. (3148ft) Bergville, meaning “Mountain Village”, is a small village on the road that leads to the Northern Drakensberg.
The Central Drakensberg is the most popular part of the Drakensberg and has a higher population due to its easy access right into the mountains with breathtaking scenery. Here you feel truly humbled by the sheer beauty and magnificence of the awesome peaks to be seen. No matter how often you return, the mountains take on a different beauty depending on the weather and the light. The highest peak in the Central Drakensberg is Champagne Castle. (3248ft)
The Southern Drakensberg stretches from Champagne Castle to Bushman’s Nek further south. Giant’s Castle (3314ft) and Wilson’s Peak (3342ft) are the highest points in the Southern Drakensberg.
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Suggested
Itinerary: An ideal Self-Drive Itinerary
for Drakensberg Mountains - 2 nights extension, would
be 22 Day A World in One Country . click
here |
|
Travel
Tips: For Travel Tips in this region,
click
here |
|
Off
the beaten track: Click
here for unordinary places to discover
in this region |
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2 night optional Extension
By adding this extension on you allow your selves a total of 3 nights in Zululands Ndumu Game Reserve
Want to stay longer – ask us!
The Ndumu Game Reserve (area 10,000ha/25,000ac), situated in northeastern Zululand, on the Mozambique border, is one of the most interesting and most attractive in South Africa. It lies on the flood plain of the Pongola River, an expanse of wetland with tropical and subtropical habitats. In summer, it is extremely hot in this area, with high air humidity. The rivers, which flow through the reserve, lined with gallery forests. There are more than 200 species of trees, including some giant specimens of marula, wild fig trees and the fever tree. Ndumu Hill (115m/377ft) covered with a forest of acacias and the dense forests and swamps occupied by large numbers of mammals, including hippopotamuses and crocodiles, various species of antelope, cheetahs and zebras. In the wetland, areas are large numbers of insects and birds (some 400 species). For many tropical birds from East Africa, this is their farthest point south. The animals are sometimes difficult to sight in the dense forest: the best places for seeing them are along the rivers and on the many flood lakes.
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Travel
Tips: For Travel Tips in this region,
click
here |
|
Off
the beaten track: Click
here for unordinary places to discover
in this region |
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Highlights: Are you aged 18 – 105? Are you planning a trip to Southern Africa? Do you want to meet interesting people in unique places?
www.africatraveltips.com
is a new exciting Africa travel centre and we are looking for tourists in different age groups,... |
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