DAY 1: SOUTHERN DRAKENSBERG

Leaving Durban we travel inland through the spectacular Valley of a Thousand Hills to Underberg, where we spend time enjoying the awe-inspiring scenery of the Ukhahlamba- Drakensberg World Heritage Site. There is a range of optional activities* available including walking trails, San rock art sites, horse riding, canoeing and even river tubing. Gaze on the impressive Giants Cup, flanked by the mighty Hodgesons Peaks in the background.

We ascend Sani Pass to the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, a small landlocked country with its own border crossing. The pass rises to an altitude of 2865m and is considered the highest pass in South Africa. The views are magnificent and we may even spot the endangered lammergaier (bearded vulture) from the heights. A visit to a Basotho village provides us with an insight into the traditions and way of life of these hardy mountain people. Lunch is enjoyed at the highest pub in Africa before we begin the descent back down the Pass.

Heading for the northern part of the Drakensberg mountain range our evening’s accommodation overlooks the Amphitheatre, a spectacular 8km stretch of cliff from where the Tugela Falls drop a sheer 850metres in 5 different stages. We have time to walk in the gorge, swim in the fresh mountain streams or explore San rock art sites with a trained custodian.

A leisurely drive brings us to the small town of Dundee. Visit the Talana History Museum, situated on the site of the first battle in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899. The museum has a large collection of war memorabilia and provides much information about the history of a region, which holds many secrets. Famous names from history including Winston Churchill, Mahatma Ghandi and King Shaka are amongst those who roamed this great African landscape where war after war was fought. The area has the largest concentration of Battlefields in Africa and we will visit the Anglo-Zulu Battlefields at Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift, made famous in the Michael Caine movie "Zulu".

Once the hunting preserves of the old Zulu Kings and proclaimed a Nature Reserve in 1895, Hluhluwe is one of the oldest game reserves in Africa. Home to "Operation Rhino" the park played a large role in bringing the white rhino back from the brink of extinction. We overnight in Umfolozi Game Reserve which is now connected to Hluhluwe by a linking corridor reserve allowing the animals free movement over 96 000 hectares. The reserves are home to a wide variety of African animals including the Big 5: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.

Granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 1999, the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park protects five interconnected eco-systems. We take an afternoon hippo cruise on the estuary, which boasts nearly 2000 crocodiles, 800 hippo and 40 breeding pairs of the African fish eagle.

Visit a traditional Zulu Village and be introduced to some of the customs, traditions and culture of the amaZulu – the People of Heaven, where we are also treated to an energetic dance performance.

Our final drive takes us through rolling hills of sugar cane, bringing us back to Durban. Known as the city of sunshine and smiles with its Golden Mile of beaches, Durban also hosts a wealth of shopping and outdoor attractions. *Optional, at own expense