Beach & Big 5

9 Days / 8 Nights

On the morning of your arrival at Durban International Airport you'll be warmly welcomed by the Immerse Yourself Crew who will be your guides throughout your dive safari. After a 3hr drive north into Zululand you will arrive at the 4star Zululand Tree Lodge to spend 4 nights in the Ubizane Game Reserve adjacent to the world famous and oldest game reserve in Africa, the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Your stay at the Ubizane Reserve will be spent in stilted cabins of the Tree Lodge nestled in a tranquil Yellow Fever Tree forest. In the late afternoon you will get your first taste of Africa with a game-drive as the sun goes down. Dinner is served in the bush under a starry African sky. The perfect start to your African dive safari!

 

Early the next morning as daylight breaks you will find yourself on a game drive in Hluhluwe game reserve, giving you another chance to spot the Big 5. Breakfast will be served back at the lodge, and after which you will have some time to relax around the pool and enjoy lunch at your own time. Afternoon tea will be followed by another game drive in the Ubizane game reserve which has most of the African wildlife incl. various species of antelope, Giraffe and one of the Big5, Rhino. Sundowners will be enjoyed along the drive, followed by dinner and relaxing with some good wine and friends around the campfire.

 

The next two days will include two game drives as day, a morning drive in the Hluhluwe National Reserve and an afternoon drive in Ubizane Reserve. Middays can be spent relaxing around the pool with bar area and lunch at own leisure.

 

On the morning of day five you will have a last opportunity to spot the Big 5 in the Hluhluwe game reserve. Breakfast will be served back at the lodge after which we will depart for the beautiful little coastal town of Sodwana Bay. Exquisite scenery will surround you as we enter this World Heritage site, the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park with its pristine lakes and winding river estuaries, dense coastal forest and some of the world’s highest natural sand dunes protecting miles of golden beaches and tropical coral reefs rated amongst the Top10 in the world. This beauty forms the backdrop for your four day stay in Sodwana Bay. The afternoons will be spent exploring the area or relaxing before sundowners are served as the African sun sets.

 

Next morning after breakfast we will head down to the beach for your first 2 dives. Exciting beach launches in a RHIB takes you beyond the wave breaks into the open Indian Ocean where we will explore some of the top tropical coral reefs in the world, as well as be on the lookout for the two gentle giants, the Whale Shark and the Manta Ray as it is their season as well. Your surface interval will be spent on the beach and a small brunch will be provided before the fun begins again. Early afternoon will be yours to spend at your own leisure before we take you on an optional outing through the nature-reserve followed by sundowners on the beach.

 

The next two days you will again do two morning dives leaving the afternoon open for group activities or your own leisure time. We can organize off-road quad biking, Micro-light flights around the bay, hippo and croc spotting at Lake Sibaya at dusk or just relaxing on the beach with a cooler box packed with refreshments. In the evenings relax around a campfire or on your terrace or join us for a cold beer at one of the little African pubs.

 

The arrival of day nine marks the end of your stay in Sodwana Bay. You'll enjoy breakfast at own leisure before you will have some time to freshen up and prepare for our mid-morning departure back to King Shaka International in Durban. With new friends made and plenty of amazing stories to go home with the Immerse Yourself guide will transfer you to the airport and wish you a fond farewell with safe travels and hopes of seeing you again soon!


 

Day 1 - Arrive and Tree lodge (Ubizane Game Reserve)

Day 2 - Tree lodge

Day 3 - Tree lodge

Day 4 - Tree lodge

Day 5 - Tree to Sodwana (Sodwana Bay Lodge)

Day 6 - Sodwana

Day 7 - Sodwana

Day 8 - Sodwana

Day 9 - Sodwana to Airport

 

 

Safari Includes:

 

Safari Excludes:

 

 

Flights: This safari starts in Durban. It is best to arrive sometime before lunch. International flights from the UK, Europe or America generally fly via Johannesburg or Cape Town, but there are some direct flights to King Shaka International. We are usually able to arrange internal flight connections from Johannesburg or Cape Town to Durban for you should you require this service.

 

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us dive@scubasafaris.co.za

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