dossier

Drakensberg and Zululand

Days 1 - Arrive in Drakensberg Mountains
We meet you in Durban and transfer you to your hotel at Champagne Castle (2.5hrs) in time for dinner.

Day 2 - Battle Cave 14km/9mi/5hr
A  riverside path lined with pink everlastings leads us beneath the shattered basalt peak of Monk’s Cowl to Battle Cave. Over lunch David interprets the vivid rock paintings, some up to 1000 years old. We return to the hotel for a refreshing swim with a view of the “Dragon’s Back” mountaintops.

Day 3 - Blind Man’s Corner 12km/7mi/5hrs
On a steady ascent past lesser honeyguides in scarlet bottlebrush trees, we picnic at Blind Man’s Corner beneath the giant red rock cliffs of Kathkin Peak. After lunch, look out for reedbuck and duiker as we descend via a dramatic fern lined defile to be back in time for a pre-dinner sundowner.

Day 4 - Cathedral Peak 18km/11mi/6hr
We drive north to Cathedral Peak today – our ascent reveals a panorama of red leonotis and protea splashed across high grassland. After a picnic on a ridge of fairy bell flowers with views of Rainbow Gorge, we descend to drive north again to Royal Natal National Park and our next hotel.

Day 5 - The Amphitheatre 14km/9mi/5hr
Bluebilled firefinch and orangebreasted rockjumper flit between boulders as we negotiate Thukela Gorge to the very foot of the Amphitheatre – a sheer vertical rock face over 1000m high, atop which lies Lesotho! Returning, look out for baboons and bushbuck , before a relaxing swim in the pool.

Day 6 - Royal Natal National Park 12km/7mi/5hr
Limestone cliffs splashed with wild hibiscus frame crystal waterfalls tumbling down from the high berg this morning – great for cooling your feet during our picnic. We pass Lookout Rock enjoying views of , before returning to the hotel for another delicious four -course dinner.

Day 7 -    Cavern Valley Walk 12km/7mi/5hr
A path from the hotel leads through red pear and Cape quince trees to Surprise Ridge for fabulous views of the Amphitheatre. We picnic by bushman paintings at Lone Rock. After lunch we return via Echo Cave, descending through ancient yellowwood trees for a chilled drink on the hotel terrace.

Day 8 - Spion Kopand Ladysmith
We head east today to walk in the footsteps of Winston Churchill on a guided tour of Spion Kop – a British defeat in the Boer War. After lunch in a local lodge, we visit the Siege Museum in Ladysmith, before arriving at one of the finest lodge hotels in South Africa at haunting Isandlwana Battlefield.

Day 9 - Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift 15km/9mi/5hr
e walk from Isandlwana Hill – site of a British defeat in 1879 by the Zulu army , to the famed Rorke’s Drift today , taking the same daisy strewn ox cart track used by the British in 1879. We pass Zulu villages and fields of corn, listening to chilling tales from our battlefield guide. With luck you’ll enjoy a spectacular lightning display from your terrace this evening.

Day 10 - Isandlwana to Hluhluwe
We drive through smoky blue hills down to the pineapple and sugar cane plantations of the Elephant Coast today. This is big game country, and we arrive for a late lunch on our private game reserve. Swim and relax this afternoon on your veranda as kudu and zebra graze on the hotel lawns.

Day 11 - Game Walk and Hluhluwe Safari
A very early start sees us walking from the hotel with a ranger (the only one of the big 5 in this reserve. After lunch, we drive to Hluhluwe is the docile white rhino), tracking giraffe, zebra and red duiker Game Park to track down the big five from the safety of a game drive safari vehicle.

Day 12 - St Lucia Wetlands 8km/5mi/4hr
We spot hippo, kingfishers and and purple crested turaco in mangroves and sand forest as we climb giant sand dunes for a picnic. We descend to the crashing turquoise Indian Ocean to finish on a perfect white sand beach. Back at the hotel enjoy a delicious final dinner under the stars.

Day 13 - Depart South Africa
David drives you down to Durban for your flight home, or your onward flight to the Kruger National Park if you have booked extra nights.