The Zulu Kingdom opens its heart on this evocative two week itinerary. Landscapes provide the drama as you self drive into dramatic mountains, pristine Indian Ocean beaches, immense natural water worlds, and untamed safari wildernesses. Then its residents lay on the charm, from thousands of white rhinos to traditionally dressed warriors, long-tusked elephants to hippos wading beside your canoe.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Natal Midlands - Drive Into the Lush Natal Midlands
After arriving in Johannesburg International Airport, you'll catch a connecting flight to Durban where your rental car awaits. A long ascent takes you away from the coast and into the fertile Natal Midlands, an area that almost resembles Italian Tuscany at first glance. Rich green hills are punctuated by vineyards and old farmhouses, while an unmistakably fresh smell filters through the car window. But you're in Africa. Zulu locals wave hello on winding country roads, dressed in inconceivably colorful clothes. Stunning rivers and lakes roll past as you keep driving uphill, glimpses of the dramatic scenery that will accompany your fourteen day trip. And then you ascend to the elegant boutique hotel, a living ode to old-world charm with sweeping views over the lush Natal Midlands.
What's Included:
Day 2 - 3
Ukhahlamaba Drakensberg Mountains - Rock Art and Dramatic Views
Day 4
The Evocative Battlefields of the Zulu Kingdom
Day 5 - 6
Safari Adventure in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park
Day 7 - 8
iSimangaliso Wetland Park - The Remote Beauty of Kosi Bay
Day 9 - 10
Tembe Elephant Park - Africa's Giants
Day 11 - 12
St Lucia - Exploring the Wetlands
Day 13
Ballito - Soaking up the Sun on the Dolphin Coast
Day 14
Ballito - Return to Durban
Trip Highlights
- Come face to face with Africa's largest elephants, most of them frolicking in waterholes just meters from your face, tusks almost as long as their trunks. Tembe Elephant Park also offers the Big Five and a delightful supporting cast
- Savor the dramatic scenery of the uKhahlamb Drakensberg Mountains, the peaks rising almost vertically and towering over a serene land of hiking trails and fascinating San rock art
- Drive through the world's greatest white rhino habitat, almost 10% of the planet's population living in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park. They're not alone, and the full Big Five will keep you company on a spectacular two day South Africa safari experience
- Lose yourself in the immense water world of iSimangaliso, a pristine habitat of lakes, hidden beaches, sandy forest, and hippo covered estuaries
- Get guided through the evocative Zulu battlefields, listening to remarkable tales and sensing the secrets that fill ancient forts and eerie graveyards
- Relax on the deserted beaches of St Lucia and Ballito on the Dolphin Coast, or wander into the nature reserves that surround this idyllic strip of Indian Ocean coastline
Starting Price
$9,100 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.95 stars based on 1173 reviews.
Zicasso's trip planner and his team were amazing! He worked with us to plan the perfect trip to South Africa and Zimbabwe. From the moment we landed in Johannesburg until our flight home from Cape Town, everything was seamless and flawless. We can't thank him and his team enough. If you are looking to visit South Africa and beyond, I highly recommend our agent and his team!!! He and his team will be the first to be contacted if we venture to the African continent again. Thank you again! We can't thank you enough!
Reviewed By David M.
Our trip was amazing and Zicasso's travel company and our agent could not have been more helpful in planning the trip and making sure it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She listened to our desires and planned a trip that met all our requirements. She was very patient in making little modifications until we were completely satisfied.
When we encountered some delays during the trip, she was very responsive in helping notify people on the ground and rescheduling our activities so we didn't miss a thing.
She was very knowledgeable about Southern Africa and selected exceptional lodging facilities for us. The accommodations were not only beautiful, but the staff were extremely professional, friendly, and attentive.
I would highly recommend this travel company if planning an African adventure!
Reviewed By David B.
Zicasso's tour agents planned an amazing trip; everything was perfect and every detail was covered! Their recommendations on when to go, where to go, and what to see were spot on.
Reviewed By diane B.
This was a trip of a lifetime. We are not sure we will ever be able to top it! I have never cried leaving a place before because I was so sad it was over, but I did... three times! From the incredible food and views in Cape Town to the unforgettable adventure at the buffalo camp to the amazing views of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, we cannot say enough good things about our experience.
We've used Zicasso several times and have always had a great experience. That's why we keep coming back! But our experience with this travel agency was above and beyond all our expectations. The way our travel agent crafted our trip to meet our desires; stayed in constant contact via text, phone and email; provided us a departure call to walk us through every step of the trip before we left; and stayed connected throughout our trip to ensure we were having a good time and help us tweak some things along the way was customer service like we have never received. We would work with this agency and our agent again in a heartbeat and recommend them to friends and family.
Reviewed By Allison B.
Zicasso's travel agents were excellent at providing a luxury trip. I also sincerely appreciated that they respected my budget. Every detail was expertly planned and completely stress-free.
Reviewed By Amanda G.
Zicasso's travel agent was a blessing. Her organizational skills were excellent. The trip plan app was used daily during our trip. What a wonderful tool. Our agent had all the pertinent information in the app and at our fingertips. The trip exceeded our expectations. I would definitely recommend using our travel agent and Zicasso to all my friends.
Reviewed By Tom O.