Itinerary

Day 1

St Lucia/Hluhluwe - Champagne Valley (Drakensberg)From St. Lucia or Hluhluwe you'll drive straight through KwaZulu Natal on to Champagne Valley, ideally located between 'Central Berg (Mountain)' and 'Royal Natal'. Flowing fields will gradually make way for a increasingly hilly landscape and in the distance you'll see the peaks of the Drakensberg. You'll spend the night at Champagne Farm, located in a beautifully green area with a view of mountain tops. Once you reach your accommodation you'll have time to go for a walk through the area or to relax by the pool. In the evening you'll be able have a wonderful meal at the guest house.

Total distance on Day 1 is approximately 300km or 4.5 hours.

Day 2

Champagne Valley - DrakensbergFrom Champagne Valley you'll easily be able to reach the 'Central Berg (Mountain)' and 'Royal Natal'. You'll be able to go on hikes through both of these spectacular areas for 1 to 6 hours. The Drakensberg massive has peaks ranging from 1700 to 3500 metres and they are made up of overgrown basalt mountains which countless mountain streams run through. You'll find a very wide variety of fauna in this area. If you look closely you'll see the black eagle, the bearded vulture, badgers, different types of gnus and much more.
Naturally, the highlight of the Royal Natal Park is the 'Amphitheatre'. If hiking isn't your thing, you can also visit the the Spioenkop game reserve or the Weenen game reserve. The Weenen game reserve is known as the home of the black rhino, but it is also home to the giraffe, buffalo, zebra, ostrich, European bison and many types of antelopes. You'll spend the night in Champagne Valley once again tonight.

Day 3

Champagne Valley - Underberg (Southern Drakensberg) South of Drakensberg, on a plateau with a view of the Umzimkulu River, lies the village of Underberg. The area is known for fly fishing and it's a great place for a pick nick and a visit to the Himeville Nature Reserve and the Sanipass. Keep in mind that you won't be able to cross this pass with a regular compact car. You'll spend the night in our cosy guest house.

Total distance on day 3 is approximately 200 km or 2,5 hours.

Day 4

Underberg - Umhlanga Today you'll drive from the mountains to the coast. If you have enough time available, you could take a detour and visit the historic town of Pietermaritzburg. Afterwards it's not far to Durban and nearby coastal town Umhlanga. This is where you'll stay in a cosy guest house only 30 metres from the Indian Ocean. The average temperature here is approximately 25°C. During the winter it may be too cold to dive into the sea; however the temperature will still be ideal for a walk on the beach or to have a drink on a terrace. The town centre of Umhlanga is only a 5 minute drive from your accommodation. It's a very lively area with bars, restaurants and stores where you can buy fun souvenirs. This is a great place to have dinner in the evening, although you could also drive down to Durban Boulevard for more options.

Total distance on day 4 is approximately 177 km or 2 hours.

Tip: Have some free time left and are you looking for some rest and relaxation? Stay at the sandy beaches of Umhlanga for a few extra days. This is particularly enjoyable during November-April when the average temperature is 28 degrees Celsius.

Day 5

Umhlanga - End of moduleYour module ends after breakfast this morning, and you'll continue your trip across South Africa. From Umhlanga, it takes about 30 minutes to drive to Durban airport. Depending on how much time you have available, you'll can either fly directly back to the UK or continue your trip through the West Cape of South Africa. We often plan domestic flights from Durban to Port Elizabeth for customers to being riving along the world famous Garden Route. However, if you have a few days to spare, you could travel by land and experience a completely different side of South Africa with ourTranskei Wild Coast Drive. If you fly back home from Johannesburg then you'll start off this module in Umhlanga and end in Drakensberg. It takes about 4 hours to drive from Drakensberg to Johannesburg, which is fine if you're flying home in the evening.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Overnight stays with breakfast and trail information

Exclusions -

Car rental and park entrance fees