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Durban
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Kingdom of the Zulu
With
Tekweni Ecotours
Departing from
Durban
,
South Africa
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**Day One**
Leaving Durban at 7:00 am we travel north into rural Zululand to the spectacular Lake St Lucia Wetland Game Park. The park is a World Heritage Sight and has five various ecosystems.
Relaxing on a boat with a raised deck we will have excellent views of Hippopotamus family pods, Nile Crocodile and many other interesting wetland life. Birds most commonly seen on this trip include the African Fish Eagle, the Goliath Heron and many Kingfisher species. Exploring the beach during lunch highlights the biodiversity of the area that will be covered over the next three days. Settling in to our accommodation we head down for the floodplains to watch the sunset and see Zebra, Waterbuck and Warthog move off for the night. Dinner is catered for on a crackling fire, listening to the sounds of the African night and feasting on traditional African Bush cuisine.
*Lunch and dinner provided
**Day Two**
An early rise will ensure a good start for all your tracking skills to find the “BIG FIVE” in one of the oldest proclaimed reserves in Africa, the Hluhluwe / Umfolozi Park. This is home to one third of the worlds Rhino population. Animals most commonly sighted are the White or Black Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe, Zebra and many species of Antelope.
Our raised vehicles will often allow us to enjoy the opportunity of spotting Lion, Cheetah and the endangered species of Wild Dog. Breakfast and lunch is served at one of the picnic sites within the Park.
We leave the park just after lunch to enjoy an afternoon walk in the Sand
Forest or have the option of a horse ride at an additional R 120-00 for 2 hours. Please note the horse ride is an optional extra and both activities are provided for dependant on the group consensus.
*Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
**Day Three**
Traveling on dust tracks we head deep into “cat country” to catch up on
all the animals we may have missed the day before. This section of the
park allows for great viewing at one of the many “hides”, a place to watch
animals from at a waterhole. The photographic opportunities are endless as the day varies from frolicking Warthog, to masses of Antelope and
the bulk of Rhino and Elephant as they compete for the best spot in the waterhole. We return to Durban at approximately 8:00pm.
*Breakfast and lunch provided
NOTE DINNER IS NOT INCLUDED FOR THE RETURN EVENING BUT TRANSPORT IS PROVIDED FOR THE MANY VIBRANT RESTAURANTS.
Accommodation in dormitory room included at a Hostel of your choice
Breakfast not included
**Day Four**
Departing from your accommodation at approximately 9:00am we head west towards the Valley of 1000 Hills. Traveling along the old road gives us scenic and majestic views of the rolling valleys in the surrounding area to the Zulu Village.
On our arrival we meet up with a community guide who is skilled at
explaining traditional Zulu customs, beliefs and contemporary life in the
rural village. A visit to the local “Sangoma” {Spiritual healer} will offer in-depth experiences of what it means to have a spiritual status. The rest of the day is as flexible as the people we meet, stopping off on occasion to,share experiences or even a drink at the “Shebeen” {Informal drinking
establishment}. A traditional Zulu meal is served as we learn of Zulu culture with regards to eating and marriage rituals. The tour is a two-way cultural experience and we recommend guests ask as many questions as possible because this is your opportunity to experience Zulu culture in a way that very few will. The voice of song can be heard as the traditional Zulu dancing starts. Visualize the stories behind the dancing and be prepared to get right into it.
As the day slowly comes to an end the day-trippers return to Durban
and the overnighters having been introduced move on to their Zulu
family for the evening. The member of the community you stay with holds a high position within the community as you are treated to true Zulu hospitality where you will eat, drink and sleep true Zulu life.The community guide is aware of every foreign travelers needs and is
in tune with what’s on the go, where and when. Accommodation is set in a hamlet of “Nguni” style huts amongst the village. Ideally situated on the East-facing slope overlooking the Umgeni River. Breakfast is served in the morning.
*Lunch and dinner provided
*Breakfast on morning of day 5 provided
**Day Five**
The van will arrive at approximately 8:30am to collect guests as you head off towards Pietermaritzburg preparing for the start of your Drakensberg adventure.
Climbing almost a mile in altitude we head for the Drakensberg peaks,
through forgotten farming villages and rural Zulu Kraals. Our stop is at a
working farm in the “Little Berg” where we head off on horseback up the
mountain for lunch and to take in the magnificent views of the 3000-meter
Drakensberg escarpment. End off the day by going for a short walk to
explore the surroundings or just relax on the deck and watch the sunset.
Accommodation is in comfortable round huts with linen supplied.The winter months can be especially cold with temperatures reaching below zero and recommend warm clothing for the evenings.
*Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
Guests only starting the tour on Saturday, breakfast is not included
**Day Six**
After a hearty breakfast we spend the day hiking in the mountains.
The walk will depend on the ability and motivation of the group. The walk is considered to require a certain degree of fitness but can be done at a reasonable pace for all walkers. Paths are clearly marked and allows for guests to rest or move back down the mountain to just sit by the river, soak in some sun and view the mighty Drakensberg escarpment.
Crystal clear rivers offer endless swimming opportunities, as valleys
hide secret waterfalls and numerous Bushmen paintings on cave walls.
The aim is to reach the escarpment where we will have chance to see
Bushmen paintings of the past illustrating a traditional way of life.
Eagles are often spotted in the sky and the surrounding grasslands are
home to Baboons, Eland, Reedbuck and more. In the evening we return
to satisfy our hunger, built up by the day’s activities.
*Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided
**Day Seven**
After breakfast a quick change of vehicles and off to the Sani Pass to
journey up the spectacular pass into the Kingdom of Lesotho. The pass
climbs over 1200m in 20Km and is only accessible by 4 by 4 vehicles.
The trip includes a visit to a Basotho village for a cultural interaction
allowing guests to create their own comparison of Zulu culture and the
culture of the people of Lesotho. A picnic lunch is served at the highest
pub in Africa. Please note guests’ eating at the chalet is an optional extra.
Leaving the pub we head back down the mountain and back to Durban
arriving at approximately 7:00pm.
*Breakfast and lunch provided
Included: Services of Tekweni guideBoat cruise to view hippoAccommodation on specified tour days1 night free dormitory accommodationSleeping bags at no extra charge A horse ride in the Drakensberg MountainsMeals on specified daysServices of community guide and host
Not Included: Cameras are acceptable but the guide may request certain scenes not be photographed. Please respect thisTimes given are merely guidelines and can alter based on weather conditions Credit card payments are subject to a 5% surchargeTravelers cheques and for
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| Tour Details |
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Tekweni Ecotours
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Tekweni Ecotours
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| Tour Advice |
| Tour Category:
4WD Tours
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| Fitness Required: Low |
| You should bring: | | Good walking shoes or hiking bootsRainproof jacket or poncho’s are suppliedWarm clothes for cold eveningsCamera and plenty of filmA hat and sun blockSleeping bag if you have or we will supply Swimming costume and towelSpending money for personal items suc |
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| Company :
Tekweni Ecotours
|
| Days: 7 |
| Departs :
Durban
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Durban
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