Days
8
South Africa
This itinerary is diverse and original, stretching from sub-tropical forests endless sandy beaches. Many the activities available: game drives, walking safaris, canoeing and excursions by 4×4. You will be exploring the swamps and the sub-tropical forests of the Mkhuze Game Reserve, the beaches and the lagoons of the Elephants Coast, the bushy hills of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve.
Possible extensions:
4×4: the 9 last km to get to Kosi Forest Lodge are made of snaky sand tracks through local Tsonga villages. Kosi mouth is about 1 hour drive from the Lodge, mainly on gravel roads and sand tracks through the Raffia forest in the end. To reach Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve or Sodwana Bay, one can drive along Lake Sibaya on narrow sand tracks through the coastal forest.
Canoe: an easy and pleasant excursion (included) from the Kosi Forest Lodge. You will be paddling on the gentle waters in the middle of the Raffia forest, home to hippos, crocodiles, vultures and the majestic African Fish Eagle.
Hiking: in the Raffia forest (from the Kosi Forest Lodge), or in the ghostly Fig forest in the Mkhuze Game Reserve.
Natal Shark Board: from Durban, leave at dawn on board of Natal Shark Board’s boat to monitor the shark nets off the city beaches. This was a pioneer and controversial project. One hand, shark attacks dropped dramatically; on the other, the nets can occasionally kill also other sea creatures, like turtles and dolphins.
Snorkeling: in the Kosi mouth, where you can spot schools of colorful fishes who join the lagoon with the high tide. You can still find some small reefs in the lagoon.
Durban: the Miami of Africa, with its vibe and the beautiful skyline along the ocean. The starting and ending point of this trip.
Hluhluwe-Imfolozozi: a magnificent reserve with a hilly landscape, perennial rivers and sub-tropical forest. Home to the big 5, though the icon of the reserve is by all means the Rhinoceros. A great conservation project, a successful story who paved the way to many others in Africa.
Kosi Mouth: stunning lagoons where the fresh water of the lakes meet the Indian Ocean, with only a strip of sand in between. The water temperature is very pleasant even in winter, while in summers can be boiling! Be careful to protect yourself by the right sun lotion, especially when snorkeling. We have seen even black people changing the skin on their back after a very short while!
uMkhuze Game Reserve: beautiful game reserve, part of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, now honored by the “big 5” status, following the reintroduction of lions. However, truth be told, the scarcity of roads doesn’t help with animals spotting, especially with regard to the large predators. Better to wait patiently at one of the hides of the reserve, strategicamente posizionati vicino. Mkhuze is a real haven for birdwatching, particularly in the summer months (November-March).
Pick-up of your vehicle at King Shaka International Airport of Durban and transfer to you accommodation. Dinner at leisure. (guesthouse)
Don’t miss the opportunity to join the boat of the Natal Shark Board, out on the sea to monitor the shark net. After breakfast, drive to uMkhuze Game Reserve, in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal. Safari in the afternoon. Accommodation at the Mantuma restcamp. (safari tent, B / D)
Full-day spent exploring this beautiful game reserve, with its swamps, dams and sub-tropical forest. We will stop at some hides in search of birds and all wildlife coming to drink. Besides birdwatching, which is really great, Mkhuze enjoys a good population of white rhinos. At the reception, you can book a walk into the Fog forest. Though the focus is on the trees and the environment, you can bump anytime into a herd of rhinos or elephants. This is why you will be escorted by an armed ranger. And don’t forget this is now a big 5 reserve! (safari tent, B / L / D)
We leave Mkhuze to Kosi Bay. Just a few km before the border with Mozambique, we will turn on a gravel road and finally on sand tracks through the Raffia forest, to reach the stunning Kosi Mouth. We will spend the day by the lagoon, to relax on the beach, swim, snorkel or walk along the endless sandy beach overlooked by dunes covered by the coastal forest. Overnight at the Kosi Forest Lodge, the best accommodation of the area. (lodge, B / L / D)
A full-day excursion by boat to the beach of Bhanga Nek, where we will have our pic-nic lunch. Return to the lodge in time for dinner. (lodge, B / L / D)
During the days at Kosi Bay, we will also have the chance to explore the Raffia forest on foot or by canoe.
Safari in the main world rhino sanctuary, a success story in wildlife conservation. Accommodation in bungalow at the restcamp or in a bushlodge (min 4 pax), set in secluded wilderness areas. A zulu guide will be available for morning walks in the bush. The reserve is home to all big 5 and other large predators like the spotted hyena, the cheetah and the wild dog. Beautiful and diverse landscapes, with valleys, green hills and perennial rivers. (bushlodge, B / L / D)
Enjoy your brunch when back from the morning game drive, then check-out and departure to the King Shaka International Airport of Durban.
The spectacular Isimangaliso National Park is a composition of 8 different ecosystems made of lakes, swamps, coastal and sub-tropical forests, endless sandy beaches, coral reefs and lagoons. In the picture, the colorful lagoon at Kosi Mouth.
The beautiful uMkhuze Game Reserve offers several dams and hides from where one can spot birds and other wildlife, especially in the heat of the day.
To reach the sandy beaches of Cape Vidal from the town of St Lucia, you have to drive through beautiful grassy plains. An experience you can also do by horse.
The small town of St Lucia, in the wetlands, is one of the bases from where to explore the Isimangaliso National Park. One of the most popular excursions is the cruise along the river, just a stone's throw from the ocean. You will likely see crashes of hippos and huge crocodiles.
The northern coastal area of the Kwa-Zulu Natal is known as the "elephant coast" (or also as Maputaland). Here you can find the last coastal forest of South Africa, where the dunes reach the Indian Ocean.
The endless sandy beaches of the elephant coast. Far from the crowds.
The whale shark is a gentle giant of the ocean. It's completely harmless. Its diet, as for the cetaceans (which is not) is made of plankton and krill. It's present in the waters of Sodwana Bay all year-round, though the best spotting period is between October and May.
The Thonga Beach Lodge is the most exclusive accommodation of the entire Elephant Coast, the only one with direct access to the beach. The service is excellent and the ambiance is informal. Guests can join several activities. The highlight, beyond diving, is turtle tracking in season (November to February).
In the area of Kosi Bay, near the border with Mozambique, you can explore the Raffia forest on foot or by canoe. Both excursions are complimentary from the Kosi Bay Forest Lodge, the best accommodation in the region.
A network of river and lakes find their end in the lagoon of Kosi mouth, at the border with Mozambique. The lagoon is separated from the Indian Ocean by a strip of sandy beach. In the picture, the fishing traps used by the Thonga people.
The fishing traps at Kosi Mouth.
From November to February is the turtle nesting season for the Leatherback (in the picture) and the Loggerhead. Tracking is done at night, escorted by local guides. Don't miss it!
In November and December the turtles mostly lay and bury their eggs in the sand. In January and February, the baby turtles start their survival struggle coming out from the sand and trying to reach the ocean. Birds and ghost crabs are often on their way for the feast. But this is nothing, comparing to what is expecting them in the ocean, where only one out of one thousand will manage to survive.