ITINERARY – DAY BY DAY
SECTION 1
Day 1 – 10 June | Durban to Rhino Ridge
You will either be collected from your Durban hotel (own account) or King Shaka International Airport between 10-10:30am. and then transferred to Rhino Ridge, at the gateway to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Relax and take in the sweeping bush views before high tea. In the afternoon, enjoy your first game drive with sundowners and snacks.
Dinner: Welcome dinner with AWV Co-founder Kate Church and trip leader Carla Geyser.
Overnight: Rhino Ridge
Meals: Dinner & Breakfast
Day 2 – 11 June | Rhino Ridge: Game Drives & Conservation
Start your day with a sunrise game drive at 6:30am. Return for breakfast and join African Wildlife Vets for a conservation activity or visit the local community. In the afternoon, enjoy another game drive to spot rhinos, elephants, and other wildlife.
Dinner: At the lodge
Overnight: Rhino Ridge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 3 – 12 June | Transfer to Leopard Mountain
Enjoy a sunrise game drive before breakfast, then transfer to Leopard Mountain in Manyoni Private Game Reserve (11am–2pm). Settle into your luxurious accommodations and enjoy afternoon tea. Embark on an evening game drive followed by a fireside chat with the AWV team about rhino protection and anti-poaching initiatives.
Dinner: Fireside chat with AWV team
Overnight: Leopard Mountain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 4 – 13 June | Leopard Mountain: Safari & Veterinary Insights
Begin with a sunrise game drive and breakfast. Participate in a hands-on veterinary intervention or conservation activity with AWV, followed by an afternoon at leisure or additional game drive. Evening fireside discussion with the AWV team.
Overnight: Leopard Mountain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 5 – 14 June | Leopard Mountain: Rhino Orphanage & Safari
After a morning game drive and breakfast, visit the Zululand Rhino Orphanage to meet baby rhinos and learn about ongoing conservation work. Afternoon game drive or optional activity. Evening fireside chat with AWV.
Overnight: Leopard Mountain
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 6 – 15 June | Transfer to Makakatana, iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Morning sunrise drive and breakfast before transferring to Makakatana (10am–1pm). Check-in and enjoy lunch or afternoon tea. Explore iSimangaliso on your first wetland safari drive, spotting hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and birds.
Overnight: Makakatana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
Day 7 – 16 June | Makakatana: Lake St Lucia Wetland Safari
After breakfast, enjoy a morning boat safari on Lake St Lucia with picnic lunch while observing hippos, crocodiles, and diverse birdlife. Spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge or exploring the surroundings. Evening at leisure.
Overnight: Makakatana
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (Full Board)
SECTION 2 – Option to leave trip
Day 8 – 17 June | Makakatana to Cape Town
Optional sunrise eco boat trip or early game drive before breakfast. Transfer to Durban / King Shaka International Airport for your flight to Cape Town (Own Account). Upon arrival, transfer to your 4-star Cape Town hotel (TBC). Evening Dinner and Drumming.OPTION TO FLY TO JHB
Overnight: Premier Hotel Cape Town – Hotel (Standard Room) or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Own), Dinner
Day 9 – 18 June | Full-Day Cape Peninsula Tour
After breakfast, embark on a full day scenic tour of the Cape Peninsula. Highlights include Hout Bay, Chapman’s Peak, Cape Point Nature Reserve, and Boulders Beach penguin colony. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant en route. Return to hotel for dinner Own Account)
Overnight: Premier Hotel Cape Town – Hotel (Standard Room) or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Light Lunch, Dinner (Own)
Day 10 – 19 June | Cape Winelands Excursion
Spend the whole day exploring Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, and Paarl wine regions. Enjoy wine tastings, cellar tours, and a scenic vineyard lunch. Return to Cape Town in the late afternoon for evening at leisure.
Overnight: Premier Hotel Cape Town – Hotel (Standard Room) or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (Own), Dinner (Own)
Day 11 – 20 June | Table Mountain & Eco Boat Safari (Weather Dependent)
After breakfast, take the Table Mountain cable car and enjoy a guided walk with breathtaking panoramic views of the city and coastline with a bit of a city tour. Next, embark on an eco-boat safari from the V&A Waterfront to spot marine wildlife and learn about coastal conservation. Wrap up your adventure with a farewell dinner in Cape Town and some last-minute shopping at the V&A Waterfront. (All activities are weather dependent.)
Overnight: Premier Hotel Cape Town – Hotel (Standard Room) or similar
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner (Own)
Day 12 – 21 June | Home
After breakfast, transfer to Cape Town International Airport for your onward flight home. Depart with happy hearts, new friends, and countless memories from your unforgettable adventure.
Meals: Breakfast
**Please note that this itinerary and pricing may be subject to slight changes, and the expedition host will keep you informed of any updates. Terms and conditions apply, based on availability. Some activities may be weather-dependent, and while we will do our best to include them all in the itinerary, flexibility may be required. In certain areas, Wi-Fi signal may be minimal or unavailable (offering a great opportunity for a digital detox). Regarding conservation work, the safety of the animals is always our top priority, and we will do our best to participate where and when possible, guided by expert conservationists to ensure we are contributing in the most responsible and meaningful way.