Best of KwaZulu-Natal 9-Day Tour

9-Day Tour

King Shaka International Airport, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – Midlands & Drakensberg – Zululand & Elephant Coast – North Coast – King Shaka International Airport, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

Tour Information

Top bird endemics and specials: African Broadbill, Blue Swallow, Cape Parrot, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Drakensberg Siskin, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Green Barbet, Green Malkoha, Ground Woodpecker, Gurney’s Sugarbird, Knysna Turaco, Orange Ground Thrush, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Southern Bald Ibis, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Spotted Ground Thrush, Woodward’s Batis.

Top mammals: African buffalo, African elephant, African wild dog, black rhino, white rhino, blue duiker, Cape clawless otter, spotted-necked otter, suni, Cape porcupine, caracal, cheetah, common eland, southern african giraffe, hippo, honey badger, leopard, African lion, oribi, Temminck’s ground pangolin, red duiker, Syke’s (Samango) monkey, serval, side-striped jackal, Sloggett’s ice rat, spotted hyena, thick-tailed bushbaby.

Private wildlife and birding guide
Accommodation (may change subject to availability, in which case similar will be found)
All breakfasts, dinners, tea and coffee
All ground transport – maximum 6 participants and 1 guide per luxury touring vehicle
Bottled water in vehicles
All entrance fees, conservation and community levies to parks and reserves
Trip guide and personalised checklist
Specialist guide fees – 1 day Sani Pass 4×4 Tour, uMkhuze fig forest walk

All airfares
Airport departure taxes or visa fees
Travel and medical insurance (incl. personal equipment and repatriation)
All lunches, snacks and drinks (except bottled water)
Optional excursions
Specialist guide fees and activities not specified
Items of a personal nature
Laundry and telephone charges
Tips and gratuities for guides and local restaurants
Anything else not mentioned in “Includes”

Distance:

Total driving distance (including around sites) = 1,750km.

Scheduled Dates:

Or alternate dates on request

Duration:

9 days, 8 nights.

No. of Pax:

Maximum 6 guests per vehicle and per guide.

Tour Starts:

At King Shaka International Airport in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Tour Ends:

At King Shaka International Airport in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Price:

2024: ZAR 41,950.00 per person sharing, and ZAR 4,750.00 single supplement.

2025: ZAR 45,650.00 per person sharing, and ZAR 5,150.00 single supplement.

Terms and Conditions apply
Minimum of 4 participants per vehicle required to undertake the trip. Should the number of guests change, the cost of the tour and the per person cost will change accordingly
The species mentioned in the itinerary represent only some of those we may possibly view on the tour, however, none can be guaranteed
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions at the time and other factors beyond our control
Tour group is responsible for paying for all guide meals

Tour Insight

This birding and wildlife safari takes you through spectacular landscapes to extraordinary destinations in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, including two World Heritage Sites renowned for bird and mammal sightings and numerous Important Birding Areas. The tour showcases KwaZulu-Natal’s rich biodiversity, and we optimise your chances of encountering many endemics, specials and other highly sought-after species.

The itinerary covers a wide altitudinal range from near sea level to 2 900 metres and, therefore, many varied habitats supporting a wide variety of species.

The route offers an extensive bird list of over 600 species. Our sightings goal is 320+ bird species in summer (including 8 endemics, many raptor and owls) and 250+ in winter. We also expect to encounter more than 50 mammal species, including the Big 5, and many other large and nocturnal predators, along with diverse reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, and orchids.

Tour Overview

Comfortable private lodges and national park resorts. Luxury accommodation can be arranged at your request (additional cost).

The climate is subtropical, mostly hot during the day in the summer and cooler in the evenings, with a chance of mist. Rain is usually in the form of summer convection thunderstorms, and cool, wet weather is possible in the event of a cold front moving up from the south in the winter months, with frost and even snow possible at high altitudes. This is a summer rainfall region, averaging between 700mm and 1 100mm annually. The driest month is July; the most rainfall falls in January. Temperatures range from -5°C (23°F) in winter to 32°C (89.6°F) in summer, with an average maximum of 28°C (82.4°F) and an average minimum of 10°C (50°F). The warmest month is February. 

Numerous forest types, woodlands, savanna, wetlands, riverine areas, grassland, mountains, cliffs, rocky slopes, shorelines and estuaries, indigenous scarp and mist belt forests, which host many regional endemics, threatened and endangered mammal and bird species, as well as great floral diversity. Each destination offers extraordinary scenery, providing you with unparalleled photographic opportunities.

Optional extensions:

Wakkerstroom – add 2 days to explore the renowned and abundant Mpumalanga highland and wetland region of Wakkerstroom.

Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon and Magoebaskloof – add several days to explore the Blyde River Canyon and iconic Kruger National Park. We will be travelling from northern KwaZulu-Natal through Eswatini.

Tour variation:

This set-departure tour is also available as a private or custom tour on request. Kindly submit an enquiry with your preferred dates and group size.

Exploring the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains (2 nights)

A birding day trip by 4×4 up into Lesotho via the scenic Sani Pass

Birding the lush grasslands, misty wetlands, leafy forests and streams of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands (1 night)

Searching the verdant bushveld region of Zululand and Maputaland for large and predatory mammals and extraordinary bird diversity of St Lucia, the Eastern Shores and Mkhuze Game Reserve (4 nights)

Exploring towering forests and mangroves in search of several ground and treetop endemic birds (1 night)

A fig forest walk in Mkhuze

Big 5 mammals in Mkhuze and iSimangaliso, and numerous rare small mammals

Visiting two World Heritage Sites – the Maloti-Drakensberg Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Medium-paced with optional mid-day breaks (advisable on hot days). If you’re a keen photographer (and so are we), there will be many opportunities to capture moments to make you the envy of your friends!