South
Africa & Mozambique
"Beach & Bush" Code: MOa14
2013 Price: € 1495 pp + local payment ZAR 1200
pp + single supp. € 360 (accommodated)
(valid Jan 2013– Dec 2013)
14 day small group participation cabin & guest house Group size max 12
people
Departs Johannesburg on Saturday at 06:30am
Ends Johannesburg on Friday @ ±18:00pm
Highlights* Swaziland - bush walk
* Kosi Bay - lake excursion & walks
* Mkuzi Game Reserve - game drives
* Moçambique beaches, deep-sea fishing, snorkelling & scuba diving
* Seafood meals
* Kruger National Park - game drives
Includes
Small Group Safari: Max 12 people
Professional Safari Guides
Transport in minibus / safari truck & 4WD
Incl Meals: Bx13 Lx13 Dx10
Entrance Fees
13 nights guest house / cabin / chalet
Use of equipment
Kosi Bay boat excursion
Safari Grade:
A comfort adventure participation tour staying in chalets, casitas and tented lodges. 8 nights with en suite facilities.
3 nights where two rooms share facilities and 2 nights multi share facilities.
Tour leader prepares meals and we eat around the camp fire or in communal dining “lapas”. Group participation in camp chores is required. This is a very relaxed, easy going safari with time to relax.
Single supplement € 360
OPTIONAL ACTIVITY PRICES
Below is a list of approximate prices, in US$, for the optional activities available on the various tours:Scuba diving 40
Snorkelling 25
Fishing ski boat 6 hours 90AIRPORT TRANSFERS
Pre / post-tour airport transfers cost € 20 per person per transfer. Please book these with your tour.
PRE & POST TOUR ACCOMMODATION / DEPARTURE POINTS
JOHANNESBURG
Johannesburg hotel: Rivonia Road Lodge
Cnr Rivonia Rd & 10th Ave, Rivonia, Sandton
Double room (bed only) € 29 per person sharing in 2013
Single room (bed only) € 58 in 2013At departure there will be short meeting to discuss final arrangements of tour & inform you about the days activities. Please bring your travel voucher & insurance policy.
Wildlife and wetlands of Zululand, magnificent beaches, snorkelling, diving, fishing, sun, sea and sand.... a tropical paradise tour that includes a bush walk in Swaziland and game viewing in Kruger National Park!
ITINERARY
Day 1 - 2 JOHANNESBURG to ZULULAND
Departing from Johannesburg at 06:30am we travel through the rolling plains of the Highveld before descending the escarpment into the heart of KwaZulu Natal where we will stay in the Mkuzi Game Reserve. The reserve was established in 1912 and has a large diversity of natural habitats. This diversity of habitat means plentiful game and abundant birdlife. Mkuzi Game Reserve is part of the Greater iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a world heritage site. We explore the reserve on game drives and visit a hide overlooking one of the waterholes to watch the game come down to drink. Mkuzi Game Reserve plays a key role in the preservation of the endangered black and white rhino, and we hope to see these amazing creatures on our game drives. [chalet / tented lodge Bx1 Lx2 Dx2]
[B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]Day 3, 4, 5 KOSI BAY
Kosi Bay Nature Reserve covers a region of fertile estuaries, mangroves, dune forest and tidal lakes. We explore this amazing eco-system on foot and also snorkel at the estuary mouth. A special feature of the Kosi Bay estuary is the traditional practice of subsistence tidal trap fishing. A local guide will lead us on a walk in the neighbouring village where we meet local Zulu people and are introduced to their culture and customs. Leatherback turtles and loggerhead turtles lay eggs on the beaches at night (November - January) and an excursion can be arranged to view this beautiful natural occurrence (own expense). [reed chalets Bx3 Lx3 Dx2]Day 6 SWAZILAND
Hlane Game Reserve is Swaziland’s is largest national park and our chalets are surrounded by beautiful African bushveld dominated by Knobthorn, Leadwood and Tambuti trees. In front of the camp is a waterhole where rhino and other wildlife come to drink. We’ll join a local ranger on a bushwalk practice our game tracking skills and see fantastic bird life. [chalet BLD]Day 7 MAPUTO
We enter Moçambique at the Namaacha border post and travel to Maputo, formerly known as Lourenço Marques. Situated on a natural harbour, Maputo is the economic hub of Mozambique. Once referred to as the “African Riviera”, Portuguese and African cultures meet in an exquisite blend of seafood and vibrant life. Sample the excellent seafood in a local restaurant (own expense). [guest house BL-]Day 8, 9, 10 INHAMBANE
Travelling north along the Indian Ocean coastline, we drive through mango and cashew nut plantations en-route to the town of Inhambane. Arab influences are strong in Inhambane dating back to when slaves, ivory, gold and spices were traded. Explore Inhambane and its 200 year old cathedral and we visit the enchanting fresh produce market before moving to Praia de Tofu. Sit back, relax and enjoy the warm sea and expansive white beaches. For the more energetic, there are optional activities such as dhow rides, scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing and surfing (own expense). [casitas BLD]Day 11 BILENE
We turn south along the coast to the town of Bilene situated on the shores of the crystal clear Uembje lagoon. The lagoon is 8km wide and 27km long with white, sandy beaches, and is separated from the Indian Ocean by a narrow strip of sand dunes. We spend the afternoon exploring the lagoon with options of kayaking and snorkeling (own expense), and swimming in the shallow, calm waters. We enjoy dinner at a local restaurant overlooking the lagoon (own expense). [casitas BL-]Day 12 - 13 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Leaving the Indian Ocean coast, we travel through the Limpopo Transfrontier Park and enter Kruger National Park, South Africa. An icon of nature conservation, Kruger is big game country! We enjoy exciting game drives and hope to spot lions, giraffe and the mighty elephant among others. Relaxing in the tranquil bush we experience a land forgotten by time, a true African wilderness. [chalet BLD]Day 14 JOHANNESBURG
After an early morning game drive we return to Johannesburg in the evening, sun-tanned, laid-back and ready to rejoin life. Tour ends at 18:00pm. [- B - -]RACK Price: (valid 1st Jan 2013– 31st Dec 2013)
€ 1 495 pps + local payment of ZAR 1 200
Single supplement: € 360 pp (If you are traveling on your own, you will “room” with
another of same gender client. You do not pay extra when booking as a single person. If however you request a single
room, then you'll pay the single supplement.)
2013 DEPARTURE DATES
Due to the early departure time of this safari we recommend that you stay in Johannesburg the night before safari. Please indicate if you require assistance with airport transfers and hotel reservations in the notes section of the booking process.
Johannesburg hotel: Rivonia Road Lodge
Cnr Rivonia Rd & 10th Ave, Rivonia, Sandton
Double room (bed only) € 29 per person sharing in 2013
Single room (bed only) € 58 in 2013Start Date
2012-12-30 E - Guaranteed - Limited space2013-03-03 G
2013-03-24 E
2013-04-14 E
2013-06-16 E
2013-07-07 E
2013-07-14 G
2013-07-28 E
2013-08-04 E
2013-08-18 G
2013-08-25 E
2013-09-08 E
2013-09-15 E Guaranteed
2013-09-29 E
2013-10-06 G
2013-10-20 E Guaranteed
2013-10-27 E
2013-11-10 E
2013-11-17 E
2013-12-01 E
2013-12-08 E
2013-12-22 G
2013-12-29 E
E - English guide & G - German speaking guide
DETAILED TOUR INFO
In a nutshellAn exciting destination with an exotic flavour! Beautiful and unexplored.
Exciting trip with culture, history, wildlife, adventure, diving, fishing, walking and beaches.
Zululand wilderness, Swaziland bushveld, Kruger NP, Moçambique beaches and seafood!
Why travellers like this trip
Variety - a tour that covers the beaches and the bush - wildlife and relaxing beaches. See the magic of Mkuzi, explore the Kosi Bay estuary, swim and snorkel in Moçambique, search for rhino on foot in Swaziland and enjoy exciting game drives in Kruger National Park.
National Parks and wildlife areas - We visit the awesome Big 5 of Kruger National Park, Mkuzi Game Reserve game viewing hides, Kosi Bay Nature Reserve estuaries and dune forests and also go on a game walk in Swaziland to see rhino at close quarters!
Culture and history - An exotic mix of African and Portuguese culture. History of slaves traded for ivory and spices in Moçambique.
Scenery - African bushveld and beautiful white beaches that go on for miles!
Small group - travelling in groups of up to 12 people creates a friendly, holiday atmosphere.
Walking - every opportunity to get out and walk in KwaZulu Kosi Bay, Swaziland and on the beaches of Moçambique.
Adventure - activities available include: game walks, game drives, deep-sea fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving.
Accommodation
Camping - for 6 nights on safari we stay at designated campsites in national parks, on private land and in towns. Campsite facilities are at best basic, but generally clean. There are hot but sometimes only cold showers, restaurants, washing facilities at most of the campsites. Some camps in Moçambique have simple reed enclosures for showers but do have flush toilets!
Your operator supplies all the camping equipment with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow. The dome tents we use are 2.2 x 2.2 x 1.8 metres and putting them up or down takes only 5 minutes. Tents have built-in insect nets. We supply mattresses, which are about 5 cm thick, warm and comfortable. The camp chairs have a backrest.
Cabins - for 3 nights in Kosi Bay we stay in A-frame cabins. These are basic twin rooms with beds, linen and insect nets and shared ablutions.
Casitas – for 3 nights in Inhambane (Barra peninsula) we stay in reed and thatch casitas. These are basic twin or quad rooms with bed and mattress and shared ablutions.
Guest House - 1 night in Maputo we stay in a guest house. We may have twin or double rooms all with en-suite facilities. The guest house is central and convenient.
Transport
On foot - easy to moderate walks throughout the tour.
Vehicle - for longer distance travel, place to place, we use custom built safari trucks with 12 forward facing seats. Comfortable touring and good for game viewing. Large, sliding windows and viewing hatches give everyone a good view; or Toyota Hiace minibuses with 10 forward facing seats (roof rack and trailer for equipment and baggage). There are a couple of long days of travelling but the vehicles have a comfortable cruising speed. The emphasis of the trip is "getting out and doing things".
Local Payment
A local payment is required on this safari and this will be collected by ther tour leader on departure. This covers a portion of the local operational costs including entrance and park fees. This ensures that a major portion of your tour price goes directly into the country you are visiting, benefiting local communities and contributing to the conservation of the area.
Participation
An essential part of your safari is participation – from putting up your tent (while camping) or packing away in the morning to helping with meal preparation and cleaning up – it’s all part of your adventure and when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly. Your tour leaders will do all the meal preparation but we do ask the clients to help with the washing up. Team spirit is part of the fun!
Shopping
Craft shopping in Mozambique and KwaZulu Natal is limited but you may find some small local vendors with carvings or batiks. Zululand is renowned for its grass weavings.
Food
We pride ourselves on giving very good healthy meals to our clients and will provide three meals per day, except 2 dinners in Maputo and Kosi Bay where we try out a local restaurant.
The tour leaders do the shopping and meal planning for each group. He/she will always try to obtain fresh produce wherever possible. A rough idea of what these will consist of is: Breakfast - cereals or coffee and toast or the occasional fried breakfast, Lunch - cheese, cold meats, salads on bread or rolls, Dinner - braais (local barbecue), potjies (stews), stir fries etc. We use regular plates, cups and cutlery. All cooking and eating utensils will also be provided.
We do cater for special dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarian or allergies.)
We will supply fruit squash served with breakfast and tea or coffee served with breakfast and dinner. All other beverages will be for your own expense. We will not supply bottled drinking water although it is available at many shops on tour.
Difficulty
Anyone who is generally active and in good health should enjoy this trip. Simple campsites are enjoyed by the outdoor enthusiasts, you will get dusty on occasion; but this is Africa!
Everyone is asked to help out with the running of camp on tour. In other words if everyone spends a little time setting up camp, preparing meals and cleaning up then the tour will run smoothly and everyone will have a good time. Participation is the name of the game.
KwaZulu Natal and Moçambique can be hot and humid in the summer rainy months (December – March) so drink lots of water.
There is plenty of time to relax and unwind on the beaches, after all this is your holiday!
Things you should know
Includes park entrances.
You will need a valid passport and visas for entry into Swaziland, Moçambique and re-entering South Africa. Please note that the Moçambique visas can be arranged in advance but can also be obtained at the border. Moçambique entry border is Namaacha from Swaziland and exit border is Ressano Garcia into South Africa.
Travellers cheques are not accepted anywhere in Moçambique on the tour route. We suggest you take US$ or South African Rand cash for this trip.
Common questions about this trip
What do I need to bring? A warm sleeping bag, comfortable clothes for warm days and cool evenings, walking shoes, a raincoat, hat and sunglasses, sun block, swimsuit, a water bottle and a small pair of binoculars also comes in very handy and most importantly - a sense of adventure!
Is it safe? KwaZulu Natal and Moçambique are relatively safe and your guide knows the countries intimately and will endeavour to show you the best parts while looking after you. In the cities, such as Maputo, keep a careful eye on your belongings and don’t leave anything lying about - petty theft is rife. In the wild areas your guide will brief you on the necessary precautions, follow this advice and you will be fine. Be aware of your personal belongings and you will have a great trip!
Do I need malaria tablets? Yes, the trip passes through malaria areas and prophylactics are recommended.
Can I buy camera film? Film and other accessories are not readily available on tour - we suggest you bring all the film and everything else you expect to need. A camera with a zoom lens from wide angle to telephoto, 35-200mm, is advisable to capture both scenic and wildlife shots.
Can I wash my clothes on tour? There are facilities for hand washing your clothes along the way.
