Things to do in

Pietermaritzburg

Benefit from pickup at a location of your choice in Durban, and then make your way to the historic city of Pietermaritzburg, capital of KwaZulu Natal. Take a short sightseeing tour to see the statue of Mahatma Gandhi by City Hall. Then, venture into the Drakensberg Mountains on the amazing Sani Pass into Lesotho. Travel along the 33-kilometer gravel road that straddles the sheer cliffs in a series of tight zig-zag curves. Marvel at the dramatic landscape as you head from the Sani Pass Hotel, 1,566 meters above sea level. Be amazed as your 4WD Land Rover navigates the narrow road across the border post with Lesotho. Get spectacular views of the rolling hills and endless sky. Reach the top of the Sani Pass, 3,240 meters above sea level. Enjoy a hot lunch at the highest pub in Africa at your own expense (subject to availability) and then meet the native Basotho people in a local village to learn about their everyday lives. Make your way back down the mountain to cross the boarder back into South Africa.

We depart from Durban at 7.30am and head off to Tala Game reserve for a 4x4 Game drive. This is followed by a visit to Natal Lion Park where we encounter lions and elephants. Your tour of Tala Game Reserve begins with a leisurely drive through the reserve, accompanied by one of the experienced game rangers. Keep your eyes peeled for the rhino - as well as other exciting species such as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and numerous antelope species. As you explore the diverse landscape, your guide will share fascinating insights into the reserve's history, ecology, and wildlife conservation efforts. We can stop at one of Tala's scenic picnic sites, where you can stretch your legs and enjoy a refreshment while taking in the breathtaking views. Keep your camera handy as this is the perfect opportunity to capture photos of the stunning scenery and wildlife. The Natal Lion Park, in the Natal Midlands is a wildlife haven not far from the major cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The park is home to Lion, African Elephant, Asian Elephant, Impala, Nyala,and other animal species. Birds include the Yellow Billed Kite, Long Crested Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Raven, Black Shouldered Kite, Jackal Buzzard, Grass Owl, Barn Owl, Grey Heron, Francolin, Red-chested Cuckoo, Pied Kingfisher, Fork Tailed Drongo, Thick Billed Weaver, Fiscal Shrike, Sacred Ibis, Guinea Fowl, Cape Glossy Starling, Purple Crested Bulbul and Pied Crow.The Park offers pristine African bush with lush green vegetation throughout.

Start your tour at Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal. Move on to the Mandela Capture Site, where Nelson Mandela was captured and sent into his incarceration. Head to Howick Falls, otherwise known as the place of the tall one. The waterfall is a 95 meter cascade into a broiling restless pool that the locals believe to be the place of the spirits of ancestor. To end the tour, visit the Valley of a Thousand Hills to experience and be mesmerized by the Zulu Culture and Zulu dancing at Phezulu Cultural Village and Reptile Park. Venture into traditional Zulu beehive–shaped thatched huts and learn about various artefacts, beliefs and rituals. Finish your tour with a visit to the Reptile Park where a qualified park guide will intrigue you with interesting facts about the resident crocodiles and snakes.

We depart from Durban at 8.00am and head off to Natal Lion Park for a game drive. Thereafter we head to Phezulu Safari for another game drive and a Zulu African cultural experience and Zulu dancing. We fit a lunch break in between. Natal Lion Park The Natal Lion Park, in the Natal Midlands is a wildlife haven not far from the major cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The park is home to Lion, African Elephant, Asian Elephant, Impala, Nyala,and other animal species. Phezulu Safari Park Situated in the valley of a thousand hills, Phezulu Safari Park is a very popular destination. Here there are African dance experiences to be enjoyed. We also go on a 4x4 game drive.

Your tour starts off with a visit to Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal. There you will stop at Pietermaritzburg's City Hall, which claims to be the largest brick building in the southern hemisphere. Visit the Gandhi statue before heading towards the Drakensberg mountains. Your main stop is Kamberg Nature Reserve which forms part of the Maloti- Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site and is situated centrally in the foothills of the mountains. The reserve was proclaimed in 1951 and is 6,300 ha in extent. This reserve is particularly scenic, with many walks throughout the area. The natural landscape has many rock shelters, containing San rock paintings. These were created by the San people over a period of at least 4,000 years. The rock paintings are outstanding in quality and diversity representing the spiritual life of the San people who no longer live in the region. From there, head to the small town of Howick and visit its waterfall. Howick Falls is approximately 95m high and lies on the Umgeni River. The Zulu people called the falls KwaNogqaza, which means "Place of the Tall One".   We visit the Nelson Mandela Capture Site Statue and Apartheid Museum. The Nelson Mandela sculpture comprises of 50 steel column constructions – each between 6.5m and 9.5m tall – set into the Midlands landscape. The approach to the site leads you down a path towards the sculpture where, at 35 meters, a portrait of Nelson Mandela, looking west, comes into focus. The 50 linear vertical units, line up to create the illusion of a flat image. The museum is dedicated to Nelson Mandela’s life and his struggle against Apartheid.

Depart from Durban at 6.00am and head off to Drakensberg, a 2,5hour long journey passing through Pietermaritzburg and Howick. In Drakensberg we do a 2 hour hike into the mountains. This is followed by a short lunch break (own expense). The Drakensberg offers breathtaking landscapes, including towering peaks, deep valleys, and stunning waterfalls. The region is also home to an abundance of wildlife, including baboons, elands, and zebras. Visitors can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, horse riding, and fly-fishing, among other activities. The Drakensberg Mountains are a natural wonder that offer visitors an unforgettable experience of South Africa's stunning beauty, rich culture, and exciting outdoor adventures. The largest mountain range in South Africa is a truly magical place. It’s no wonder that J.R.R. Tolkien saw this landscape as inspiration for the part of Middle Earth called the Misty Mountains. The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is home to 35 000 examples of San rock paintings and a huge diversity of protected plant and animal species.

Depart from Durban at 7.30am and head off to Tala Game Reserve for a 4x4 game drive experience. This is followed up by a drive to Natal Lion Park, 30minutes away, for another wildlife experience where we get to see lions and elephants. Finally we go to Phezulu Safari in late afternoon where we visit the Reptile Park. Other activities in Phezulu such as the game drive and African cultural dance are an optional extra. We do a game drive in Tala Game Reserve. Tala game reserve is home to more than 380 bird species, as well as big game like Rhino, Kudu, Hippo, Giraffe and the rare Sable antelope. Plant species found in this area include the Fiery Aloe, the imposing Euphorbia and fragrant Wild Sage. The landscapes at this game reserve are characterized by a mix of acacia thornveld, open grassland and sensitive wetland, providing exceptional game and bird viewing opportunities. In this picture perfect setting, guests are able to escape from the hurried pace of modern life, to a place devoid of stress and crowds. We do another game drive in Natal Lion Park. The Natal Lion Park, in the Natal Midlands is a wildlife haven not far from the major cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The park is home to Lion, African Elephant, Asian Elephant, Impala, Nyala,and other animal species. Birds include the Yellow Billed Kite, Long Crested Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Raven, Black Shouldered Kite, Jackal Buzzard, Grass Owl, Barn Owl, Grey Heron, Francolin, Red-chested Cuckoo, Pied Kingfisher, Fork Tailed Drongo, Thick Billed Weaver, Fiscal Shrike, Sacred Ibis, Guinea Fowl, Cape Glossy Starling, Purple Crested Bulbul and Pied Crow.The Park offers pristine African bush with lush green vegetation throughout. From Natal Lion Park we go to Phezulu Safari Park. Here we go into the Reptile Park. We watch the crocodiles sun themselves on the banks of their ponds or marvel at the wide variety of venomous and non-venomous snakes. Other activities in Phezulu Park such as the game drive and African traditional dances are optional extra for the guests. We depart for Durban in late afternoon to conclude our tour.

The tour starts off with a visit to Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal. Stop at Pietermaritzburg's City Hall, which claims to be the largest brick building in the southern hemisphere. Visit the Gandhi statue also before heading towards the Drakensberg mountains and Giants Castle Reserve. Giant's Castle is situated on a grassy plateau among the deep valleys running down from the face of the High Drakensberg, offering glorious views. At Giants Castle reserve, there is a large sandstone cave containing prehistoric San rock art. The San and Khoekhoe people were hunters and gatherers who roamed South Africa for thousands of years. This cave is one of the biggest and best-preserved painted sites in southern Africa. This cave is an easy 30 minutes’ walk from the camp office and regular guided tours are taken through this unique exhibition. A visit to Giant's Castle offers the privilege of entering the world of the San as well as the opportunity to study a varied and exciting range of habitats. From there, head to the small town of Howick and visit its waterfall. Howick Falls is approximately 95m in height and lies on the Umgeni River. The Zulu people called the falls KwaNogqaza, which means "Place of the Tall One".   Then visit the Nelson Mandela Capture Site Statue and Apartheid Museum. The Nelson Mandela sculpture comprises of 50 steel column constructions, each between 6.5m and 9.5m tall, set into the Midlands landscape. The approach to the site leads you down a path towards the sculpture where, at 35 meters, a portrait of Nelson Mandela, looking west, comes into focus. The 50 linear vertical units, line up to create the illusion of a flat image. The museum is dedicated to Nelson Mandela’s life and his struggle against Apartheid. After the tour, head back to Durban by late afternoon.