$6,285 pp (USD)
This tour is offered in GBP.
Show rate in GBP
Arrival
Arrival
Day 1
Durban & St Lucia
Durban & St Lucia
On arrival into Durban, you will be met by the rest of your group, as well as your Pictus Safaris tour leader and your local guide. From Durban, it is a short drive to the small town of uMdloti, where we overnight. There will be a pre-tour briefing at the hotel this evening, with the remainder of your day at leisure to catch up on rest after a long inbound flight.
- Main Destination:
- Umdloti Beach (Beach, South Africa)
- Accommodation:
- Fairlight Beach House
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
St Lucia
St Lucia
We continue our drive along the Kwa-Zulu Natal coastline this morning for two-and-half hours, before arriving at the popular resort town of St Lucia. After settling in to our comfortable guest house accommodation, there will be a few hours of leisure time before we take to the nearby estuary for a boat cruise, shared with other visitors to the region.
Whilst this cruise won't deliver big game, it is a great way to get up close and personal with hippopotamus and Nile crocodile, and photographic opportunities of both species will abound. We then return to our guest house for dinner and some rest.
- Main Destination:
- St Lucia (iSimangaliso WP, South Africa)
- Accommodation:
- St Lucia Kingfisher Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
It will be an early start this morning, as we aim to arrive at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi by dawn. This gives us a chance to enter the park when wildlife is at its most active, and we are sure it will be well worth it!
Hluhluwe is arguably Kwa-Zulu Natal's premier wildlife destination. All of the 'Big Five' are seen regularly, as are large packs of the charismatic wild dog, and the beautiful cheetah. White rhino are particularly common, and Hluhluwe actually once protected the only remaining southern white rhinos in the world. A full-day game drive gives us a great chance of spotting lion, white rhino, elephant and buffalo and, if very lucky, cheetah, wild dog and leopard are all entirely possible. We will once again return to St Lucia this evening.
- Main Destination:
- Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve (South Africa)
- Accommodation:
- St Lucia Kingfisher Lodge
Wildlife in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi GR
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
St Lucia
St Lucia
Our final morning in St Lucia will begin with a trip out to sea, weather permitting. The waters of the Indian Ocean around St Lucia are particularly rich in marine life and, at this time of year, we hope to be rewarded of sightings of cetaceans including sperm whale, pilot whale, striped dolphin, common dolphin and Fraser's dolphin.
Returning to St Lucia in time for lunch, this afternoon is set aside for guests to enjoy the quaint charms of the town ahead of a busy few days to come. We overnight at our comfortable local guesthouse once more this evening.
- Main Destination:
- St Lucia (iSimangaliso WP, South Africa)
- Accommodation:
- St Lucia Kingfisher Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Manyoni GR
Manyoni GR
We leave St Lucia behind today, embarking on a ninety-minute drive inland on good roads to arrive at Kwa-Zulu Natal's best-kept secrets - Manyoni Game Reserve. This small reserve packs a real punch and, after settling into our comfortable lodge, we will head out on an afternoon game drive.
Manyoni protects some of Africa's most iconic species. Lion, buffalo, elephant, white rhino and black rhino are particularly common, and we will aim to spend significant time with some of these species today. However, the real jewel in Manyoni's crown is its resident pack of wild dogs, that have thrived here in recent years, and we will dedicate time to locating these elusive and charismatic predators this evening before returning to the lodge for dinner.
- Main Destination:
- Manyoni Private Game Reserve (South Africa)
- Accommodation:
- Rhino River Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Manyoni GR
Manyoni GR
Our full day today is spent exploring Manyoni on morning and afternoon drives today. Lion, leopard, wild dog, elephant and rhino will all be key targets for us today as we drive the park at a leisurely pace, offering plenty of time for photographic opportunities. When not on drive, our comfortable lodge is a great place to relax, and we will overnight here tonight.
- Main Destination:
- Manyoni Private Game Reserve (South Africa)
- Accommodation:
- Rhino River Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Tembe
Tembe
Following a final morning drive in Manyoni today, we make another ninety-minute journey today to the famous Tembe Elephant Park. Best known for being home to some of Africa's last 'big tuskers' (elephants with huge sets of ivory), our afternoon drive tonight will focus on these gentle giants. The park, on the border with Mozambique, also has impressive densities of big game including lion, leopard and wild dog, and every game drive is packed full of enjoyable sightings.
We return to our comfortable lodge for dinner tonight.
- Main Destination:
- Tembe Elephant Park (South Africa)
- Accommodation:
- Tembe Elephant Lodge
Wildlife in Tembe Elephant Park
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Tembe
Tembe
Our full day today is spent enjoying the wonders of Tembe on rewarding morning and evening game drives. Key targets, naturally, will include the large herds of elephant that give Tembe its unique character. It is also worthwhile focussing on the unusual ungulates that find a refuge in the park, such as nyala and suni, and the birding, which at this time of year can be challenging but extremely rewarding.
When not on drive, we will base ourselves at our lovely lodge, where we overnight.
- Main Destination:
- Tembe Elephant Park (South Africa)
- Accommodation:
- Tembe Elephant Lodge
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Hlane Royal NP
Hlane Royal NP
Today we are not only bound for a new reserve, but an entirely different country! Entry formalities into eSwatini are normally very straightforward and we hope to arrive into this tiny country's flagship reserve Hlane Royal, by mid-afternoon. We will head out on an evening drive, focussed on this reserve's well-monitored population of lion and white rhino before returning to the lodge for dinner and some rest.
- Main Destination:
- Hlane Royal National Park (Eswatini)
- Accommodation:
- Bhubesi Camp
Wildlife in Hlane Royal NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10-11
Lower Sabie
Lower Sabie
Heading back into South Africa, the next two days will be spent searching for wildlife around Lower Sabie in the southern reaches of the world-famous Kruger National Park. Renowned as arguably the finest area for wildlife-viewing in the Kruger, leopard and lion sightings are an everyday occurrence here. Elephant, buffalo and rhino are likely to be seen, alongside a parade of different antelope species. Each evening will be spent at the rest camp in Lower Sabie, with one night drive included, which gives us a superb chance of spotting leopard, serval or even caracal.
- Main Destination:
- Southern Kruger National Park (South Africa)
- Accommodation:
-
Lower Sabie Rest Camp
Wildlife in Kruger NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 12-13
Satara
Satara
The centre of the Kruger marks the point at which the dense bush of the south dissolves into expansive, open plains. Here, therefore, we stand a good chance of spotting Kruger's famous mega-prides of lion, as well as the park's few remaining cheetah. A night drive is once again on offer here, and we recommend guests look out for honey badger around camp after dark.
- Main Destination:
- Central Kruger National Park (South Africa)
- Accommodation:
-
Satara Rest Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 14
Hoedspruit
Hoedspruit
This morning, the group is transferred to Hoedspruit Airport for their homeward flights.
- Main Destination:
- Hoedspruit Airport (Hoedspruit, South Africa)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
