8 Day Battlefields, Bush & Beach Safari

Days 1 & 2

You'll be met on arrival at King Shaka International Airport by a member of the team who will help you collect your hired vehicle and give you directions on how to find your lodging for the next two nights at Fugitives' Drift Lodge in a standard room with full board. (If you don't wish to drive yourself, transfers can be arranged at extra cost).

The lodge is close to the well-known battlefield sites of Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana where the British were defeated by fierce Zulu warriors. This incredibly scenic area is rich with monuments, museums, memorabilia and historical artefacts. On the second day, you'll set off for a fascinating Battlefields half-day tour, choosing either the morning tour to Isandlwana or the afternoon tour to Rorke's Drift, both steeped in history.

Days 3 & 4

After breakfast, you'll set off to the renowned Phinda Private Game Reserve, within easy striking distance of iSimangaliso/Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in northern KwaZulu-Natal and not far from the sub-tropical eastern seaboard.

Phinda is famous for its plentiful wildlife, diverse habitats and its superb choice of safari activities. It's more lush and green than many other South African game reserves because it falls within the coastal rainfall region. This Big Five reserve has seven distinct ecosystems which create a haven for a wide variety of wildlife, from the beautiful cheetah to the endangered black rhino and lesser-seen game like the tiny forest Suni, one of the world's smallest antelope.

There are only six lodges in this 23,000-hectare wildlife haven, and no day visitors are allowed, making for an unhurried, uncrowded safari experience in very scenic surroundings. You will spend two nights at Phinda Mountain Lodge or Phinda Forest Lodge, including full board, soft drinks, local wines, spirits and beers, tea and coffee, emergency medical evacuation insurance, laundry and daily lodge activities. These include twice-daily game drives in open 4x4 safari vehicles, nature walks, excellent bird watching and various optional activities.

Days 5, 6 & 7

After your final Phinda breakfast, you will make your way to the pickup point, where you will be met by staff from Thonga Beach Lodge, who will take you to the lodge.

Set in the heart of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the lodge is some 25 km north of Sodwana Bay, close to the Mozambique border. A sub-tropical beach paradise, Thonga is remote and offers vast stretches of pristine beaches, coastal forests and intricate lakes. Enjoy swimming in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean or incredible snorkelling and scuba diving off the coral reefs.