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| 9 Day Coastal - South Africa & Mozambique 4x4 |
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| Durban, St Lucia, Hluhluwe, Sodwana Bay, Kosi Bay, Maputo Elephant Reserve, Maputo, Inhaca Island.
This panoramic route goes through the most pristine wilderness areas and Heritage sites in South Africa and after some serious 4x4 ends on the magnificent beaches of Mozambique. Be taken aback by the Elephants of Tembe and fly to Inhaca Island, ending in Maputo, this route has it all.
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Arriving in Durban you will pick up your hire car. Today is your day at leisure and with an impressive list of things to see and do Durban is sure to keep you entertained. See shark feeding time at the Aquarium. Go for a stroll around Umgeni River Bird Project. Go to the Snake Park and watch them milking venom. Learn more about sharks at the Sharks Board near Umhlanga Rocks. Check out the Natural Science Museum at the City Hall. See what’s on at the Bat Centre. Visit the Durban Art Gallery, and the Victoria Street Market. Go to the waterfront bars where you can watch ships come into the Harbour.
Overnight Durban
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Today you will drive to the coast where you will find the St. Lucia Wetlands. St Lucia Estuary is one of the tourism focal points of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, a recently declared World Heritage Site. The Park comprises a number of conservation areas, the oldest of which is the St Lucia Game Reserve, established in 1895. St Lucia Estuary is the gateway to the Eastern Shores of Lake St Lucia. The region contains the highest vegetated dunes in the world, extensive and diverse wetland systems, as well as coastal grasslands with an associated fauna which includes the Africa's highest density of common reedbuck. Numerous waterfowl, grassland, forest and sea birds provide an attraction to birdwatchers from around the world. You can go for long romantic walks, go on a boat tour on the Lake of St. Lucia or on a game drive in the well-known Hluhluwe / Umfolozi National Park or visit a Zulu village.
Overnight St Lucia Wetlands
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This morning we will drive through the Hluhluwe area towards Sodwana Bay, Situated north of the Elephant Coast. Sodwana Bay is also a diving and fishing destination. The Elephant Coast is one of South Africa's most beautiful and unspoilt areas. This narrow strip of land approximately 200km long and just 70km wide is home to an incredible 21 different eco-systems. Dense evergreen forests of towering fig trees stand in a lush undergrowth of ferns and wild orchids hanging from the trees. Palm savannahs with thousands of wild date and lala palms dot the white sand of the undulating landscape. Swamp forests with large raffias and tangled masses of greenery that are home to myriads of exquisite birds and behind them mountainous sand dunes that appear to shift with the sighing of gentle winds. You can enjoy the beautiful white beaches and have the option to go diving, or snorkelling (optional excursions).
Overnight Sodwana Bay
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Although not much distance to cover we suggest that you depart Sodwana Bay early for the challenging drive along sand tracks through the Maputuland Coastal Forest Reserve. Stop at one of the shops in Sodwana Bay and buy a picnic lunch and stock up on water. This sup-tropical paradise has pristine forests and wetlands with strings of lakes and marshes. The marine ecologies include deserted beaches and coral reefs. You can stop at Lake Sibaya for a dip in the clear water and relax a while on its shores. Drive via Lala Nek and Black Rock and stop somewhere along the way to have your picnic lunch. In season from November - end January, it is possible to go on a walk to see the endangered Leather Back turtle coming to lay its eggs above the high water mark. Later in the season the hatchlings make the long trek towards the waters edge and uncertain survival. Kosi Bay is a system of 4 lakes ranging from freshwater to saline that feed into the ocean.
Overnight Kosi Bay
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After breakfast, you set off for the Mozambique border at Ponta do Ouro. After clearing the border formalities you drive along the coast and enter the Reserva Especial dos Elefantes do Maputo (Maputo Elephant Reserve) through the south gate. This Elephant Park was proclaimed in 1964. The Reserve is situated some 70 km south of Maputo along the southern shore of the Bay of Maputo. This area falls within an international centre of plant diversity and contains numerous endemic plant species. The Reserve's northern boundary cuts across the Machangula peninsula and follows the coastline down the Mozambique Channel. The western boundary is drawn along the western shore of the Rio Fúti at a distance of 50-100 metres from the river following the old fence line. The exact alignment of the Reserve’s southern boundary is not clearly demarcated. Estimates vary from 100 to 300 elephants resident in the Reserve and an unknown number in the forest area south of the Reserve and in the Fúti corridor. After seeing the Elephant Park, you will return to Maputo where you overnight in this Portuguese flavoured City.
Overnight Maputo
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Travel
Tip: Click
here for Travel Tips in this region |
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Depart early and drive to Maputo where you will leave your vehicle at the airport for your light aircraft transfer to Inhaca Island. Inhaca Island is situated across the bay of Maputo, just 40 km from the capital city of Maputo.
It is easily accessed with daily air transfers, just 10 minutes light aircraft transfer from Maputo. There are also some boat companies that arrange boat transfers for larger groups. Inhaca Island has a lot to offer, from boat trips to the nearby Portuguese Island, which is a totally deserted island with magnificent white sandy beaches, and excursions to the Marine Biology Museum or the Inhaca Lighthouse. There is also a small village to provide some local colour or souvenir hunting.
Overnight Inhaca Island
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Today is your day to explore the Island. Excursions can be arranged to Portuguese Island, the Biology Station, Light House Beach, the Mangrove swamps, as well as the Santa Maria Wall. Also available are Sunset cruises and Whale Watching excursions.
Overnight Inhaca Island
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Travel
Tip: Click
here for Travel Tips in this region |
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Departing the Island you will arrive back in Maputo for another night in this "Afro-pean" City. Go to one of the well known retraunts where you can feast on beer and peri peri prawns, after which you can go to one of the many nightclubs in the city. Maputo's name reputedly has its origin in an old, fierce tribal leader, Maputa, who once ruled over the region.
Overnight Maputo
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Depart your hotel and drive to Maputo international Airport to connect with you flight to Johannesburg. Here you can either connect with your onward connection or take a look at our other self drive extensions for a longer holiday.
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Travel
Tip: Click
here for Travel Tips in this region |
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8 nights accommodation as per itinerary
Meals as per basis at Lodge / B&B / Hotel
7 days car hire
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Flights
Optional Activities
Travel insurance
Entrance / Concession fees
Additional meals and beverages
Personal insurance
Additional nights
Visas if required
Guide / driver
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* Prices are guidelines only and are subject to change
We do suggest if you not a 4x4 enthusiast, that you allow a guide to accompany you in a lead vehicle for this terrain is serious 4x4 challenge – especially when it has been raining. |
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