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10-Day Kwa-Zulu Natal Beach & Bush

Customisable Itinerary
4.7 • (1 review)

Trip Overview

Indulge in the ultimate South African beach and bush getaway on this ten-day tour through Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Heading straight to the western boundary of Africa’s oldest proclaimed Game Reserve Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, Northern KwaZulu-Natal, you'll spend your first few days on South Africa safari morning and evening and enjoying the quiet luxuries and beautiful views from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge.

Moving on, you'll travel to Kosi Forest Lodge in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, where you'll spend the next few days exploring a pristine wetland environment by vehicle, guided canoes and boats.

Finally, you'll spend the latter half of your wonderful trip by the ocean at the Thonga Beach Lodge in Mabibi Bay, in the heart of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Mabibi is a magical place of tranquil swimming bays and snorkelling reefs, coastal forests, grasslands, bush, shimmering lakes and exquisite sandy beaches.
Outdoors & Nature
Diving
Adventure
Wellness

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Itinerary

Day 1

Welcome to Kwa-Zulu Natal!

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Welcome to Kwa-Zulu Natal!

On arrival at King Shaka International, you’ll be transferred to Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge, a 3.5-hour drive from King Shaka International Airport, Durban. On arrival at the lodge, you will be greeted with a refreshing drink and given a short orientation of the lodge. After high tea on the verandah at the main lodge which offers spectacular views over the reserve, you will meet your guide for your first safari experience to explore the magnificent hills and valleys of the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Game Drive from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from King Shaka International Airport to Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Mpembheni

    KwaZulu-Natal

  • notes icon
    Notes

    On arrival at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge, you will be greeted with a refreshing drink and welcomed by the friendly team who will give you a short orientation of the lodge and its facilities before showing you to your accommodation. After a quick refresh, your team will be waiting to serve you high tea on the verandah at the main lodge which offers spectacular views over the reserve. Here you will meet your guide who will prepare you for your first safari experience, offering some useful pointers about the ‘do’s and don’ts’ of the bush.

Day 2

Safari Drives, Spa Treatments & High Tea at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

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Safari Drives, Spa Treatments & High Tea at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

After an early wake-up, you'll depart for an early morning game drive. Be sure to have a jacket and scarf as it can get really chilly on the open 4×4 vehicle. Nothing is predictable in the bush; therefore each safari offers a potentially new and unique experience. When you return, you will enjoy a hearty brunch, then relax and imbibe the natural beauty of the lodge. You may wish to spend your day being pampered in the spa, simply enjoying the endless views to taking part in other experiences.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Game Drive from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

    Free Time at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

    Game Drive from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Mpembheni

    KwaZulu-Natal

Day 3

Another Day to Enjoy Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge!

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Another Day to Enjoy Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge!

Today, you get to do yesterday all over again! If you wish, you can head out on an early morning and an evening safari today with the local ranger guides in the hope of spotting the wonderful big 5! Nothing is predictable in the bush; therefore each safari offers a potentially new and unique experience. Back at the lodge in between your safari trips, you can enjoy high tea, brunch and the spa as well as some relaxing time by the pool sipping a cocktail if you wish.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Game Drive from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

    Free Time at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

    Game Drive from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Mpembheni

    KwaZulu-Natal

Day 4

Journey to Kosi Forest Lodge in Kosi Bay Nature Reserve

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Journey to Kosi Forest Lodge in Kosi Bay Nature Reserve

After breakfast at Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge, you’ll be transferred to Kosi Forest Lodge, a three-hour drive away in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve. This 20-bed wilderness lodge offers the unique opportunity of exploring a pristine wetland environment. Kosi Forest Lodge has thatched forest rooms, on raised wooden decks, hidden in the sand forest. On arrival, you will be shown to your forest room and given time to unpack and relax before coming through to enjoy dinner on the dining deck.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Kosi Forest Lodge4 star

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge to Kosi Forest Lodge

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Mpembheni

    Nsukumbili

Day 5

Guided canoe Trip & Guided Raffia Forest Walk from Kosi Forest Lodge

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Guided canoe Trip & Guided Raffia Forest Walk from Kosi Forest Lodge

You'll wake up in the morning surrounded by beautiful trees. You will join the Kosi team at the lodge for a hearty breakfast before your day of activity. One of Kosi’s highlights is the two-hour canoe trip on the Kosi Lakes and along the Sihadla channel where the scenery peaceful and breathtaking. You will return for a delicious lunch and a siesta before embarking on your afternoon activity. In the afternoon you can enjoy a walk through magnificent raffia palms, the tallest in the world!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Kosi Forest Lodge4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Guided Canoe Tour of Kosi Lakes

    Raffia Palms Forest Walk

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Nsukumbili

Day 6

Journey from Kosi Forest Lodge to Thonga Beach Lodge

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Journey from Kosi Forest Lodge to Thonga Beach Lodge

Today, you will be transferred from Kosi Forest Lodge to Coastal cashews where you will be collected by staff from Thonga Beach Lodge, set on the secluded Mabibi Bay, in the heart of the iSimangaliso (formerly Greater St Lucia) Wetland Park. Mabibi is a magical place of tranquil swimming bays and snorkelling reefs, coastal forests, grasslands, bush, shimmering lakes and exquisite sandy beaches. It’s clear warm waters offer superb snorkelling and fantastic offshore scuba diving.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Thonga Beach Lodge4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Turtle TrackingOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Kosi Forest Lodge to Coastal Cashews

    Private Driver from Coastal Cashews to Thonga Beach Lodge

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Nsukumbili

    Manzengwenya

    Nkundwini

Day 7

Snorkelling & Scuba Diving at Mabibi

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Snorkelling & Scuba Diving at Mabibi

Today, you'll have the day free to spend as you wish. The activities at Thonga Beach Lodge include scuba diving, open ocean experiences, kayaking and sundowners at Lake Sibaya, guided snorkelling, seasonal turtle drives/walks, Tsonga Cultural tours and forest walks. Whether you are a walker or a diver, take advantage of the wealth of activities that await you in this beautiful hideaway, or simply relax with a spa treatment on the beach deck.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Thonga Beach Lodge4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Snorkelling at Thonga Beach Lodge

    Scuba Diving at MabibiOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Manzengwenya

    Nkundwini

Day 8

Guided Forest Walks & Sundowners on Lake Sibaya

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Guided Forest Walks & Sundowners on Lake Sibaya

Today, you can take a walk on the wild side and head out on foot to explore this natural wonderland through coastal forests, unspoiled sandy beaches and grasslands. There are over 296 bird species in the area, 2,200 flowering plants, 282 butterfly and 228 spider species. In the evening, you can say cheers to the sun after another perfect day in Africa. Lake Sibaya is a perfect spot to watch an iconic sunset over southern Africa’s largest freshwater lake.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Thonga Beach Lodge4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Guided Forest Walks from Thonga Beach Lodge

    Sundowners on Lake Sibaya

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Manzengwenya

    Nkundwini

    KwaZulu-Natal

Day 9

Spa Day & More Snorkelling at Thonga Beach Lodge

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Spa Day & More Snorkelling at Thonga Beach Lodge

Today is another day to spend as you wish in Mabibi. You may want to enjoy some open ocean experiences, kayaking and sundowners at Lake Sibaya. You may want to take part in one of the Tsonga cultural tours and forest walks. Perhaps, on your last day, you may want to head to the spa at Thonga Beach Lodge and indulge in a range of natural, invigorating treatments. Of course, there's always more snorkelling and diving to be done so take advantage of the many wonders of the ocean!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Thonga Beach Lodge4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Spa at Thonga Beach LodgeOptional Activity

    Snorkelling at Thonga Beach Lodge

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast, lunch and dinner

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Manzengwenya

    Nkundwini

Day 10

Departure Day

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Departure Day

Today, it is time to say goodbye to your wonderful South Africa safari & beach experience as you head back to the airport in Durban for your departing flight.

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Thonga Beach Lodge to King Shaka International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Manzengwenya

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What’s included?

  • 9 nights accommodation
  • 11 activities
  • 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 9 dinners
  • Airport transfer
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

What’s not included?

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entrance fees
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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