DAY ONE/TWO/THREE – ARRIVAL DAY
ST LUCIA/RICHARD BAY OR DURBAN TO HLUHLUWE IMFOLOZI
12 FEBRUARY to 14th February 2023 (3 nights)
Airport pick-up. Welcome to South Africa! Your adventure begins when you are greeted at King Shaka Airport in Durban, by Carla Geyser. Please make sure you arrive BEFORE 11am in Durban. (I would encourage heading straight to Durban from JHB or perhaps spend the 11 February 2023 there. I can assist with extra accommodation in Durban or Umhlanga). Please chat with me about options.) We will then be shuttled to Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park (HIP) which will take about 4 hours, and where we will be dropped off on our first night at Rhino Ridge which is situated in the heart of HIP, This will be our home for the next three nights.
This glass-wrapped lodge rests on a ridge overlooking Africa’s oldest proclaimed game reserve, capturing the suspension between Earth and sky. Down below, a waterhole, frequented by a diversity of wildlife, pulls your eye away from the extraordinary views, forcing you to slow down and connect with the Earth.
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge is proud to be associated with the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (HIP) and its historical success story of rhino conservation in Southern Africa. They are the first luxury safari lodge to be established within this world-renowned Big 5 game reserve, which we will explore on various game drives and walks. We are honoured to call the “home of the rhino” our home too.
Activities: There are few things more iconic to Africa than setting out at dawn in an open game viewing vehicle and watching the crimson sun creep over the horizon as a herd of majestic elephants ambles across the dusty road in front of you. These are the experiences, and unique wildlife encounters that we take utmost pleasure in providing for our guests on our safari drives in the spectacular Hluhluwe iMfolozi Game Reserve, a vast haven for protected species such as rhino, elephant, leopard, and wild dog.
Conservation Project: One of the mornings will be flagged for working closely with the conservationists and wildlife vets from HIP and African Wildlife Vets. Ideally, we would be actively involved in the collaring of 2 Elephants or similar conservation work. PLEASE NOTE: Nothing is guaranteed, and the elephant’s safety is ALWAYS a priority. We will do everything we can to ensure we are included in this highly skilled operation.
Accommodation: Rhino Ridge Lodge
Type: Luxury Bush villas (Single/ Sharing occupancy)
Meals: Full board
Website: https://www.rhinoridge.co.za
DAY FOUR/FIVE/SIX/SEVEN – HIP TO SODWANA TO KOZI BAY/BHANGA NEK
15 FEBRUARY 2023 to 18 FEBRUARY 2023 (4 nights/ 5 days)
After breakfast at Rhino Ridge, we’ll transfer the group to Sodwana for a light lunch, We will then be collected by the team from Thonga Trails and transported to Bhanga Nek. The next few days we will explore, walk on the beach, look for Turtle hatchlings, we’ll do an excursion to the estuary for snorkeling. We’ll enjoy sundowners while overlooking the unique lake system, and the Michelin chef Damien will prepare a delicious meal for you. We meet Andy Coetzee from Thonga Trails, who will guide us for the next few nights and days. To see more about the Thonga Trail look at https://www.thongatrails.com/the-trail
DAY EIGHT/NINE/TEN – SODWANA TO MABIBI
19 FEBRUARY 2023 to 21 FEBRUARY 2023 (3 nights)
After breakfast at Sodwana, and an Ocean Experience we will transfer you to Thonga Beach Lodge, this will be our home for three nights, and we will get to explore the beaches and oceans and just RELAX and REFLECT on what we have achieved over the past few days.
The lodge will provide all meals here; we can do more walks along the beach looking for the hatchlings. Thonga Beach Lodge is situated in the protected world heritage site Isimangaliso Park. Twelve luxurious thatched rooms (a few with private pools) are discreetly nestled into the dune forest overlooking Mabibi beach. With no development 100 miles up or 60 miles down the beach, this beach and marine wilderness sanctuary is unrivaled.
Thonga Beach Lodge is proud to have played a role in Maputaland’s world-renowned turtle success story. Leatherback and Loggerhead turtles have laid their eggs on this ancient shoreline for thousands of years. Thonga Beach Lodge and the Isibindi Foundation continue to play a role in protecting this breeding ground.
Activities: Involve Kayaking, Snorkelling, Sundowers on Sibaya **All activities are weather dependent and will be arranged accordingly
Accommodation: Thonga Beach Lodge
Type: Eco-friendly elegant Forest and ocean rooms (Single/ Sharing occupancy)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Website: https://www.thongabeachlodge.co.za/
DAY ELEVEN – SODWANA – JOHANNESBURG/DEPARTURE
22 FEBRUARY 2023
Early breakfast, we catch our road transfer back to Sodwana or to Durban King Shaka Airport where you can catch a domestic flight up to Johannesburg. Menzies Meet and Greet can assist you with International Departures, where your return flights home can be booked in the early evening – from 19h00 onwards. Some guests have opted to stay in Sodwana a few extra nights and will fly out of Richard Bay a few days later. (please chat to Carla about options)
You are among friends when you are with us. Together, we are in a safe space, and you have the freedom to be yourself and explore. Whether you have never left your home country or are a seasoned solo traveller, this trip will offer you adventure, friends, and breathless beauty.
*Please note this Itinerary and Price may change slightly, but the expedition host will keep you posted and updated if anything does happen. Terms and conditions apply due to availability. Please note that some activities are weather dependent, and we will do our best to accommodate them in our itinerary.