Days 1 & 2: St. Lucia
The tour departs from Durban and travels up along the scenic north coast passing through sugarcane fields and on towards St. Lucia.

The town of St. Lucia is situated on the northern side of the estuary, the largest in Southern Africa, and is totally surrounded by the Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park and a World Heritage Site. From your guest house one can arrange a variety of marine and land-based activities and excursions into the Park and surrounding ecosystems and rural communities such as:

• Whale Watching
• Estuary cruises
• Canoing
• Horseback riding
• Cultural excursions
• Turtle tours
• Night safaris
• Snorkeling

*Please note some of the above activities are season dependant.

Overnight: St. Lucia (B)

Days 3 & 4: Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve

We depart St. Lucia and travel towards Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve.

Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve is set in the heart of Zululand, covering an area of 96 000 hectares, we find the oldest game reserve in Africa (established in 1895). Being one of the largest game parks in South Africa, this reserve is renowned for its wide variety of bird and animal life. The Park also became world renowned for its white rhino conservation. Besides the ‘Big Five’, elusive cheetah, wild dogs and many other well-known bushveld species inhabit the park, offering visitors a rich game viewing experience.

Centrally situated in the Umfolozi section, Mpila camp commands magnificent views of the Wilderness area.
The safari tented camp at Mpila consists of seven 2-bedded and two 4- bedded units, all with bathroom en-suite. Each unit has a veranda and is electrified. A fully equipped kitchen and dining area is connected to each tent by a wooden boardwalk. Barbecue facilities are available. These units are self-catering and are serviced daily.

Overnight: Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve (B, L & D)

Days 5 - 7: Kosi Bay
The Kosi Bay Nature Reserve lies on the coast in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal and surrounds the unique and beautiful Kosi Bay lake system which is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site. This system consists of four lakes and a series of inter connecting channels which eventually drain via a sandy estuary into the Indian ocean.

Kosi is one of the most fascinating and beautiful pristine lake systems on the African coastline, a get-away-from-it-all coastal paradise. Activities revolve largely around water sports, walking trails and sport fishing activities including deep-sea, surf, estuary and fly fishing. Snorkeling is always popular and guided walks around the lake system can be arranged.
Kosi Bay Camp features three rustic cottages. These include a six-bed cottage with three bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms, lounge/dining room and kitchen with a large viewing deck with barbecue facilities. The five-bed cottage features two bedrooms, two bathrooms with showers, lounge/dining room and kitchen and the two-bed cottage has an open plan room with bathroom, kitchenette and lounge/dining area combined.

Overnight: Kosi Bay (B, L & D)

Days 8 & 9: Mkuze Game Reserve

Mkuze, like most of Zululand's game reserves, has suffered from the atrocities of the Nagana campaign and was deproclaimed in 1939 to allow for the systematic eradication of every living wild animal and finally aerial spraying of DDT. Mkuze survived and in 1954 was reinstated as a game reserve under the control of the Natal Parks Board. If, after the game eradication, a ranger saw an animal he would doff his hat out of respect for the animal’s ability to survive the slaughter. Today Mkuze abounds with wildlife and is internationally renowned for its bird life, of which there are 460 species.

Marine deposits and fossil beds bear testimony to the fact that Mkuze was once part of the seabed with the Lebombo Mountains forming the coastline. Although the vegetation is typically described as bushveld, it is diverse in its habitats and provides adequately for a wide variety of fauna (78 mammal, 460 bird and 64 reptile species). Many of the game species were reintroduced after their populations were totally decimated during the infamous Nagana campaign.

A unique characteristic of Mkuze are the seasonal pans that, through annual flooding, are filled and provide ideal habitats for a host of birds, animals and plant life. 84km of road gives the visitor access to almost every habitat, while well-sited game viewing and bird watching hides have been constructed to take full advantage of the abundance of wildlife around these pans.

Mkhuze is one of the most rewarding bird-watching areas in the world. The official bird list has been compiled from records dating back 30+ years with 428 species being recorded there. Although it is unlikely to see all these species over a number of visits, let alone one, it remains one of the most profitable birding areas all year round.

Mkhuze lies at the southwestern extremity of the Mozambique coastal plain. Consequently, several species more commonly found on the coastal plain and tropical areas to the north may be found in Mkhuze. Some specialities include: the Lesser blackwinged plover, African broadbill, Yellow-spotted nicator, Stierling’s barred warbler, Neergaard’s sunbird, Pinkthroated longclaw, Rudd’s apalis, Woodward’s batis and the Yellow white-eye.

The abundance of bird life can be ascribed, amongst other geographical phenomenon, to the diversity of soil type and the resulting vegetation that occurs in the reserve.

Overnight: Mkuze (B, L & D)

Day 10: Return to Durban

On our return to Durban, we will stop in at Eshowe and visit the Dlinza Forest for a short guided tour before making our way back to Durban.

** The Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk is a unique experience even for non-birders, and should not be missed!

END OF AFRICAN INSIGHT ARRANGEMENTS