Durban City Tour ( half day departing at 0900, daily )

Durban is a multi-cultural, cosmopolitan city of extreme contrasts & shaped by Zulu, Indian & early European settler history. After being picked up from your hotel, we will explore the temples, churches, architecture, sights & sounds unique to Durban. City Hall, the Playhouse complex, the Indian market where we will alight to explore & then the magnificent Emanuel Cathedral.

You’ll no doubt see street hawkers selling trinkets and curios, herbalists, fortune tellers & buskers with a tune, a smile & an upturned hat for an expected token of your appreciation of their renditions.

From the markets we’ll travel to Cato Manor , the University sports fields & the beautiful Durban Botanical Gardens where we pause for tea & crumpets in a little slice of peace & tranquility amongst the bustling city center. If you’d prefer not to go directly back to your hotel, drop off is available to the Musgrave Centre where you will find a huge array of shops, arcades & boutiques.

Shakaland Zulu Experience ( full day departing at 0830, daily )

	You will be picked up from your hotel for this wonderful insight into Zulu life as it was & how it remains today. After a pick up at your hotel we head north, following the coastline on the right & green, lush cane-fields that stretch as far as the eye can see to the left & inland. Leaving the coast & turning inland, we enter Zululand & the nKwalini Valley. Perched high on a hilltop overlooking the uMhlatusi River, birthplace of ‘King Shaka’, stands the largest Kraal in all of Zululand. Originally built as the stage set for the film & television series ‘Shaka Zulu’ the village operates as a living, working museum. Traditional tribes people live here & on arrival you will be first introduced to the pounding pulsing rhythmic beat of drums & feet as they entertain with dance & song. After the cultural performance you will tour the Kraal ; see & hear how the Zulu warriors formed their infamous ‘Horns & Head’ battle formations that stunned the British armies of the 1878-82 era.
See how their huts are made, watch millet beer brewing & get to taste it if you wish before finally witnessing a real ‘isangoma’ - witch doctor – first throw & then read ‘the bones’ in the dingy confines of an eerie, wood-smoke smelling hut. Outside you’ll likely come face to face with the head of security – this wonderful specimen of Zulu manhood stands six foot tall, head adorned in plumes of ostrich feathers, leopard kilt, lion claw necklace, antelope anklets & an assegai that is razor sharp at the ready – then he’ll dazzle you with this wide eyed smile & be only too happy to pose for a Kodak moment for you to cherish. The tribal chief makes regular appearances & is extremely accommodating posing with guests. His leopard kilt, head band & Lion Claw necklace depicts his standing in the community as ‘top dog & not to be trifled with. A short film will detail the life & times of Shaka, the leader of the Zulu nation as it rose up to defend its homelands against the British invaders. Afterwards, take time to wander the curio & craft shop, see the men carving from rough hewn logs into lifelike animal forms, priced at a fraction of their market value.

An excursion to Zululand is more than a cultural welcoming, it is a history lesson & a journey into understanding how these proud people live on in the 21st century, still today using methods that their ancestors did in yesteryear.

Hluhluwe Game Reserve ( full day departing at 0730, daily )

Leaving from your hotel early this morning, spend a day in the bushveld at the magical Hluhluwe – Umfolozi Park on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal. This beautiful reserve is home to 84 species of mammals & 425 types of different birds, some resident, some migratory. It boasts the Big 5 (Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Hippo and Leopard) as well as all manner of antelope species, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, blue wildebeest, spotted hyena & wild dog.

You will be able to witness so many animals & birds as the game drives are conducted throughout the day & lunch is served at the Hilltop Camp, set high above and overlooking the reserve. We will return to Durban late afternoon & you will be dropped off back at your hotel.

Natal Battlefields ( Durban back to Durban - 10 hour day excursion )

Travel inland via Pietermaritzburg, the capital city of Kwa-Zulu Natal, passing through the miles of sugar cane fields & forest areas of Greytown, birthplace of General Louis Botha. From here on you experience the real Natal ‘hinterland’- the rural areas of Tugela Ferry & Pomeray, where you will witness locals in traditional dress & their many bee-hive like dwellings.

Onward to Fugitives Drift – the site where remnants of the British forces who fled Isandlwana lost the Regimental colour flag, only for it to be found weeks afterward, abandoned in the river. Here too, the graves of Lt Cognhill & Lt Melville – heroes on a day of total chaos when 1300 of their comrades in arms were over-run & slaughtered by the Zulu ‘impi’. To Rourke’s Drift – it was here at this small supply station, 125 able bodied & 12 hospitalized men who were outnumbered by what should have been impossible & overwhelming odds, fought off 7000 Zulu warriors during the late afternoon & early hours of the 22nd & 23rd of January, 1879. A fascinating museum onsite commemorates this historic engagement.

The final stop is a highlight – a visit to the battlefield at Isandlwana. Commandeered as an ideal camping position because of the tower like rock structure & high ground providing views across the rolling, rocky terrain below, Isandlwana turned out to be a British disaster, when their wagons, defensive positions & battle tested troop lines were destroyed in two hours of fierce hand to hand combat by swarming Zulu warriors. After the battle was over & a Zulu victory secured, the warriors disemboweled the British dead, thereby in their beliefs allow the spirits to fly free to an afterlife. Despite this site today being quiet & peaceful, the hackles undoubtedly will tingle on the back of your neck as your guide recounts events as they unfolded on that fateful afternoon in January of 1879. You will leave these historic battlegrounds much more aware of the significance of the Zulu feats & return to your hotel in Durban by early evening.

Holiday Inn Garden Court South Beach (Beachfront Modest Hotel)

Situated on the beachfront known as ‘Golden Mile’ & 18 kms from Durban International airport, this hotel is close to dolphinarium, cinemas, ten-pin bowling, beaches & squash courts. It has 414 comfortable modestly appointed rooms, all with private bathroom & showers, air-conditioning, television & tea & coffee making facilities. It has its own swimming pool, restaurants & bar with secure undercover car parking for guests provided.

Holiday Inn Garden Court Marine Parade (Beachfront Hotel)

Situated on Durban’s ‘Golden Mile’ , 20 kms from the International airport every sea facing room has magnificent views of the Indian Ocean. All suites and rooms have a individual controlled air-conditioning, television, tea & coffee making facilities & room safes. Services include same day laundry, baby-sitting & vending machines for drinks & ice. The hotel has its own swimming pool, restaurants & bar with undercover security car parking available for guests.

Seaworld, Dolphinarium, Fitzsimmons Snake park are all within walking distance.

The Balmoral (Beachfront Hotel)

Situated on Durban’s ‘Golden Mile’, 21 kms from the International airport & close to the city center. Fully renovated it reflects a stately historic elegance. 95 tastefully decorated en-suite guest rooms with the choice of double, executive twin & superior categories. Each room is air-conditioned with 57 being sea view & 38 having courtyard views. All rooms have security safes. A sparkling guest swimming pool, undercover security parking, breakfast room, dining area & bar are featured. For guests wishing to explore the neighbourhood, the Balmoral is located close to a host of restaurants, bars & nightclubs.

Holiday Inn Durban – Elangeni (Beachfront Hotel)

Situated on Durban’s ‘Golden Mile’ facing the Indian Ocean all rooms have a wonderful sea aspect view. 447 tastefully redecorated en-suite bedrooms, providing air-conditioning, security safes, television, hairdryer, trouser press, guest bathrobes & 24 hour room service. There are 3 superb restaurants specializing in Indian, Japanese and International cuisine, 2 lively bars & outdoor swimming pool lounge area. An excellent location & classified as good value for money.

The Royal (Luxury City Hotel)

Situated in the center of the downtown area, it overlooks the harbour and downtown city square, 15kms from the International airport. The Royal is a graceful 70 year old grand lady. Completely refurbished while retaining the elegance of an Edwardian history, it is recognized as one of the finer hotels in the country & certainly, of Durban. The top of the house restaurant provides amazing panoramic views of the harbour & the Ulundi serves wonderful Eastern fare. Guests have access to the pool deck and bar area & the hotel provides for security garaged car parking. Sophistication is the theme throughout the hotel & service is premium. Each room has a private bathroom, separate bath & shower, writing desk, television, radio, fax & e.mail modem, security safe & individually controlled air-conditioning.