South Africa Birding Special - Self Drive

Arrive independently to Cape Town International Airport and receive your VIP meet & greet. You will then be taken to the car hire area to pick up your 5 day rental. Your car will be a Group L (automatic, aircon & power steering) Toyota Rav 4 AWD or similar, and will be provided on a Premium Package basis. You will then make your way to the beautiful Abbey Manor Guest House high on the slopes of Table Mountain. The rest of the day will be at your leisure, and you may wish to explore some of this vibrant city on foot, or simply relax in the comforts of your guest house.

4 nights’ accommodation at Abbey Manor Guest House with breakfast included.

Over the next 3 days you can set your own pace as you enjoy some time to discover the wonders of Cape Town and its magnificent surroundings. You may wish to venture out for a drive around the Cape Peninsula and visit areas such as the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Boulders Beach Penguin Colony and the many picturesque beach towns and harbours all within a short drive of Cape Town city centre. You could explore around Cape Town’s best birding hotspots including Westcoast National Park, Langebaan, Rondevlei Nature Reserve, Cape Flats-Westlands, World of Birds in Hout Bay, Strandfontein Sewage works and Intaka Island, Century City. Or you could simply enjoy the delights of the city centre and V&A Waterfront where you will find fantastic restaurants, bars and markets, or visit Robben Island.

This morning you will return your hire car to Cape Town International Airport and take your included flight to Durban King Shaka International Airport.

Upon arrival in Durban, you will collect your next hire car (same conditions and group) and make your way to the excellent Makakatana Bay Lodge which is perched along the banks of Lake St Lucia within the UNESCO World Heritage listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Settle into your very comfortable accommodation and soak up the enchanting views on offer. Depending on your arrival time, there may be time for an activity before enjoying your first meal at the lodge.

3 nights’ accommodation in a luxury suite at Makakatana Bay Lodge on a fully inclusive basis. Your stay here includes all meals, local beverages, teas, coffees & scheduled lodge activities.

For the next two days you can immerse yourself in your outstanding natural surroundings as you enjoy some of the activities that the lodge has to offer. This includes early morning game drives and afternoon wetland safari drives. Full day boat safaris, beach safaris and Hluhluwe/iMfolozi Park Game Drives, as well as specialised birding tours can also be arranged. Throughout your time here, wildlife and birdlife sightings could include: giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo, zebra, hyena, waterbuck, serval, porcupine, genet, leopard, elephant, hippo, crocodile and over 530 species of birds!

Today you will drive to the area of Mkuze, approximately 1 hr 15 mins drive, where you will check in to the award-winning Ghost Mountain Inn. In the heart of Zululand, at the foot of the legendary Ghost Mountain, the inn is perfectly located for exploring the area’s many game and coastal reserves.

3 nights’ accommodation in a Superior Room at Ghost Mountain Inn with breakfast included. Activities included: Half Day Jozini Boat Cruise | Mkhuze Game Reserve Fig Forest Walk/Game Walk/Bird Walk

Over the next 2 days you can choose to explore at your leisure or partake in the included activities designed to discover the wildlife, history, scenery and cultural wealth of Zululand and the Elephant Coast. These include a Lake Jozini Boat Cruise and Umkhuze Game Reserve game walks and bird walks. Game drives are also available. uMkhuze harbours an astonishing diversity of habitats which are home to an array of wildlife including black and white rhino, elephant, lion, giraffe, leopard, cheetah, buffalo and a multitude of plains game. The birding here is also exceptional, with over 420 species having been recorded.

Today you will drive to the other end of the stunning iSimangaliso World Heritage Park, where this time you will be based in the Kosi Lake area. After an approximately 2.5 hr drive, you will check in the welcoming Kosi Forest Lodge. This is a prime birding destination and may offer up some of the best birdwatching highlights of your trip. Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to partake in some activities today, or simply relax and soak up the atmosphere of your tranquil and unique surroundings.

3 nights’ accommodation in a Forest Room at Kosi Forest Lodge. All meals and scheduled activities are included.

For the next two days you can enjoy the activities that the lodge has to offer, some of which are included as part of your package. These are guided canoe trips on the winding Kosi Lakes system which offer a peaceful yet exciting exploration of the area’s natural wonders, and guided Raffia Forest Walks which will see you meander through the pathways of the giant Raphia palm trees in Kosi Bay where a vibrant array of birdlife abounds.

Optional activities which can be enjoyed from the lodge include boat trips on the lake, snorkelling at Kosi Mouth, turtle tracking (seasonal only), and fishing.

As your itinerary comes to an end, you will drive to Richards Bay Airport (approx. 3 hr 45 mins drive) where you will return your hire car and take your homewards or onwards flights. Please note: international airfare is not included in your package.