Safari`s Op Maat - Tailor Made Safaris

The Best of the “Elephant Coast” and the Drakensberg
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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