The Drakensberg and malaria-free safari in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal

Today, you will depart from your selected airport with connecting flight(s) along the way. You are heading for KwaZulu-Natal province in South Africa.

Upon arrival in South Africa, you’ll be met at the airport by our local partner. From here, you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the Durban suburb of Umhlanga, where you’ll spend one night.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax after the journey.

Umhlanga (pronounced ”Umshlanga”) is one of Durban’s most upmarket suburbs.

If you’ve forgotten anything at home, you’re bound to find it at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping, one of Africa’s largest shopping centres, right here in Umhlanga. If you’re craving some fresh air, we recommend hopping in a taxi and heading to the beach, where both the O’Conner Promenade and the pier, ‘Whale Bone Pier’ (despite being made of concrete), make a great backdrop for photos. The lighthouse is also a popular place to visit.

Durban is known for its cultural diversity, and you can taste it in the dishes served at the area’s many excellent restaurants. You’re in for a treat this evening. For something truly local, ask for a ‘bunny chow’, a dish credited to the city’s Indian community.

After breakfast, your driver will collect you from your hotel, and you’ll set off west towards the magnificent Drakensberg mountain range.

The mountains stretch for more than 1,000 km across eastern South Africa, forming a natural border with the small kingdom of Lesotho. Since 2000, Drakensberg National Park, which lies in this region, has been on the UNESCO world heritage list.

The park is home to a wealth of endemic flora and fauna, and the mountains also shelter several threatened species. It also boasts one of the world’s largest concentrations of cave paintings, thought to be more than 25,000 years old.  

The rugged terrain of Drakensberg has been of great significance to Zulu warriors throughout history, especially under the leadership of the famous king, Shaka Zulu. The steep mountain slopes and hidden valleys served as a strategic training ground and defensive stronghold for the Zulu armies, who used the terrain to surprise their enemies and ensure their survival in war.

And let’s not forget: the mountains are home to some of South Africa’s most breathtaking scenery!

In places, the steep peaks soar to over 3,000 metres. In winter, the highest summits are often capped with snow, a striking contrast to the otherwise lush green valleys below.

Today’s drive ends at Cathedral Peak, where you’ll spend the next three nights.

En route, you’ll stop in Howick to admire the impressive Howick Falls, with time for lunch. Here, you’ll also visit the historic monument, the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, where Nelson Mandela was arrested on August 5^th, 1962. You also make another stop along the way where you’ll have the opportunity to buy lunch.

You’ll arrive at Cathedral Peak in the late afternoon.

You’ll wake to an exceptional view. The high mountains rise almost sheer on the horizon, a sharp contrast to the lower-lying forests below. A light morning mist hangs in the air, and the air is fresh and clear as the landscape slowly emerges in the first light of day.

The Drakensberg offers a wealth of activities, so we’ve left the coming days free for you to spend as you please. The area is outstanding for walking, with routes of varying length and difficulty. You can easily head out on your own, with trails starting right on the doorstep, or you can book guided walks through the hotel. You can order a packed lunch from the hotel and, even if you’re not a keen walker, it’s wonderful to pick up a picnic hamper, find a peaceful spot with a lovely view, and simply soak up the natural splendour.

The longest hike is to Cathedral Peak itself. To take on this route, you should be an experienced hiker and set aside a full day. In return, you’ll be richly rewarded with breathtaking scenery.

One of the most popular walks is the trail to Neptune’s Pools. Remember your swimwear so you can take a dip in the gorgeous emerald-green pools set amid dramatic rock formations.

If walking isn’t your thing, you can also try your hand at trout fishing, mountain biking, horse riding, or quad biking, or simply spend a few hours by the pool enjoying the views.

Your driver will collect you after breakfast. It’s time to bid farewell to Cathedral Peak and the mountains for a while and set course for the malaria-free game reserve: Nambiti Private Game Reserve.

The landscape changes dramatically today. From the high, stark cliffs of the Drakensberg, the terrain opens out into an almost flat savannah dotted with low shrubs. Despite the big change in scenery, the drive isn’t long and you’ll arrive in Nambiti around lunchtime.

You are now in a 9,000-hectare private game reserve that boasts outstanding biodiversity, with more than 40 species of mammal (including the Big Five), hundreds of bird species, and varied landscapes ranging from savannah and bushland to wooded areas along the rivers.

Nambiti is one of South Africa’s great nature restoration success stories.

In 2000, the area was dominated by extensive farmland, enclosed by barbed-wire fences, and the soil was depleted. Thanks to targeted efforts to return the land to its natural state, Nambiti is today one of South Africa’s most successful conservation projects. The old agricultural structures were dismantled and wild animals reintroduced, and today the reserve is home to apex predators and a wealth of other wildlife – a true gem for safari enthusiasts.

Your first game drive awaits this afternoon and could serve up anything from lions and elephants to giraffes – perhaps even a rhino.

Back at the lodge, dinner awaits before you can tuck yourself up under the duvet for a good night’s sleep.

A typical day on safari in Nambiti starts at sunrise. The animals are most active in the morning and evening, so it’s best to head out on the day’s first game drive while there’s still a chance of a bit of ‘action’. Around midday, when the sun is high in the sky, most animals rest in the shade.

A game drive lasts a good three hours, and it’s impossible to know in advance what the outing will bring. You might find a pride of lions that brought down a buffalo in the night and are now feasting, or perhaps the elephants are on their way to a waterhole for a drink. It could be that a group of giraffes has chosen the very track you’re driving along as the perfect lookout post. Keep an eye on the skies, too: vultures circling the same spot for a long time can signal a kill nearby. Storks and eagles invariably impress, but the smaller, often brilliantly colourful birds turn heads as well.

By mid-morning you’ll return to the lodge, where a hearty breakfast awaits. Around midday you’ll do as the animals do: relax, take a dip in the pool, have lunch, and get ready for the afternoon game drive. That, too, lasts a good three hours, depending on what you spot. After the safari, a lovely dinner awaits back at the lodge.

Once again you’ll rise with the sun and head out on the tour’s final game drive – perhaps you’ll tick off a few more species on your personal checklist.

Back at the lodge, you’ll have breakfast, after which you’ll check out and will be collected by your driver – ready for another dramatic change of scenery.

From Nambiti, you’ll drive south. Soon you’ll leave the reserve’s savannah behind and will be once more surrounded by rolling hills and green pastures. After a couple of hours’ driving (depending on traffic and how many stops you make along the way), the jagged mountains slowly begin to reappear on the horizon.

There are stops during today’s drive where you can buy lunch. By late afternoon, you’ll reach your hotel, where you’ll stay for two nights. The rest of the day is at your leisure before dinner awaits at the hotel this evening.

Sani Pass is one of South Africa’s best-known and most dramatic mountain passes. The pass rises to almost 2,900 metres above sea level, and today you’ll head up through it on a full-day excursion.

You’ll set off from the hotel after breakfast, and almost immediately the views open out across broad valleys, rivers, and mountain slopes. Along the way, you’ll spot grazing cattle and small waterfalls beside the road.

As you climb higher, the landscape becomes more rugged and open. The vegetation changes, the temperature often drops a little, and the views grow ever more dramatic. The final kilometres towards Sani Pass itself are marked by steep gradients and tight hairpin bends, where you can clearly feel the altitude and the area’s alpine character.

At the end of the winding road lies the Kingdom of Lesotho. From the border, there are views across the surrounding mountain scenery on both sides, and the weather can change quickly – from sunshine and clear visibility to mist or a cool wind.

On today’s tour, you’ll cross the border (so remember your passport) and have lunch at Africa’s highest pub. Simple, hearty food is served here, which you can enjoy with views over the mountains.

If time permits, you can visit one of the area’s many small villages, where most residents are herders.

You’ll be back at your hotel in South Africa in the afternoon, with the rest of the day at your leisure. There are plenty of walking trails in the area around the hotel, or you can simply unwind by the pool.

After breakfast, it’s time to bid farewell to South Africa’s beautiful mountains. You’ll then head back to Durban airport, where your journey home begins. You can also choose to extend your tour with a stay in Cape Town, the beautiful city in the south of South Africa.

You’ll land at your selected airport after an unforgettable tour.