• Best for: Romance, Culture, Wildlife Best for: Romance, Culture, Wildlife
  • Duration: 9 Nights Duration: 9 Nights
  • From $3,149 per person From $3,149 per person
  • Best time: Apr - Sep Best time: Apr - Sep
South Africa

Battlefield Bush and Beach

This 9-night self-drive journey will take you through South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province, which is rich in diversity and history. Great battles involving two of the world’s great warrior nations and one of the world’s emerging nations were fought all over this province. This package allows you to explore some of those battlefields whilst staying in a lodge with stunning vistas over the secluded valley of the Spioenkop Game Reserve. From there you get to enjoy Big 5 game viewing in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park.
Complete your holiday with 2 nights at the Thonga Beach Lodge where you can relax and enjoy the barefoot luxury, with the sense of being on a remote beach escape.

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Your Adventure Starts Here

Discover the secrets of KwaZulu-Natal

Days 1 - 3

title-icon VIP Meet & Greet
title-icon Private Road Transfer
Battlefields, KwaZulu Natal
Gaze out over the historic Battlefields

Begin your self-drive journey from King Shaka International Airport and make your way north into the historic and culturally rich Battlefields region.

Days 4 - 6

title-icon Private Road Transfer
Mkuze, KwaZulu Natal
Welcome to Zululand

Continuing your journey to the untamed and wild Zululand. The area’s biodiversity offers both water and land-based game experiences, providing a uniquely well-rounded safari that includes Big 5, marine and wetlands animals.

Days 7 - 10

title-icon Private Road Transfer
title-icon Private Charter Flight

Your trip ends here

Kosi Bay, KwaZulu Natal
Explore Africa’s lake district

Next, drive yourself to Thonga Beach Lodge, situated on the sub-tropical KwaZulu-Natal coast.

Days 1 - 3

Battlefields, KwaZulu-Natal
Battlefields, KwaZulu-Natal
Gaze out over the historic Battlefields

Ascend the historic Spioenkop Hill and witness the site of the Battle of Spioenkop during the Anglo-Boer War.

Days 4 - 6

Mkuze, KwaZulu-Natal
Mkuze, KwaZulu-Natal
Welcome to Zululand

Mayoni Game Reserve is a hidden gem nestled in the heart of the African wilderness.

Days 7 - 10

Your trip ends here

Kosi Bay, KwaZulu-Natal
Kosi Bay, KwaZulu-Natal
Welcome to Zululand

Dive into an underwater wonderland and explore the vibrant coral reefs of Kosi Bay.

Days 1 - 3

Three Tree Hill
3 Nights - Battlefields

This eco-friendly lodge has six rooms and two cottages with an old-world charm, tasteful furnishings and private decks.

Three Tree Hill

Days 4 - 6

Rhino Sands
3 Nights - Mkuze

Rhino Sands is a five-star luxury tented safari camp, set in the riverine forest on a peninsula of the Msunduze River in the big five Manyoni Private Game Reserve located in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Rhino Sands

Days 7 - 10

Your trip ends here

Thonga Beach Lodge
3 Nights - Kosi Bay

This intimate, luxury lodge is nestled on the pristine coast of Northern KwaZulu-Natal, within the Isimangaliso World Heritage Park, in a beautiful coastal dune forest with sweeping views of the stunning beach below.

Thonga Beach Lodge
  • VIP Meet & Greet on arrival
  • 9 Nights accommodation with selected meals
  • Car Rental (Group C or similar)
  • Scheduled road transfers to Thonga Beach Lodge (return)
  • International Flights
  • Internal Flights
  • Airport taxes
  • All meals and drinks not specified
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Items of a personal nature
Ilse Steyn
From $3,149 per person
Ilse Steyn
From $3,149 per person

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Guest Testimonials

Discover why our guests select Scintilla for their travel to Southern Africa.

Hi Cuan.  Just wanted you to know we have had an amazing time in Namibia!  What an experience!  Yesterday we stopped off at a bar in a very remote village after tracking elephants and had beers and danced with the locals which was fantastic.  Between the orphanage, stops in many villages, the kids we’ve gotten to meet, the Himba village and of course all the animals it has just been incredible.  You organized quite a trip for us!  And now, Botswana!!!

The Soloman Family, USA

My week in Namibia was sensational and went seamlessly. From the welcoming pickup from the airport to the beautiful accommodations and fascinating road-trip across much of the country, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Of particular note, the food at Hoodia Desert Lodge was impeccable and the al fresco lunch prepared by the guide after the visit to Deadvlei and Sossusvlei was simply magical. The sundowners at both Hoodia and Onduli Ridge were top-notch, each offering breathtaking views and fabulous Namibian gin cocktails and bites. What made the entire journey so easily enjoyable was the daily itineraries and maps presented to me upon arrival and the overall organization and attention to detail. My solo sojourn was truly flawless, and I will recommend it widely!

Sarah Scott, ZA

Cuan, everything going to plan so far with stunning weather and excellent service and amazing wildlife in Etosha!! Thanks again for your professionalism. Everything has been magical, and we have definitely brought some luck with us being the first group to find the elephants only after 10 minutes of looking !! Really appreciate your help, and I will be recommending you to our friends back home.

Tom Last, AU

Our guide Charlene was out of this world. She was charming, intelligent, and fun and she showed us the best of Cape Town while also educating us on the journey Cape Town has taken from Apartheid through today. We were fascinated, engaged, and overjoyed to spend our final days in Africa with her. She is truly outstanding.

Paul & Wendy, UK

The trip was FANTASTIC, and our guide Marcus was absolutely superb! We took all of his recommendations for our last free day in the city and can’t thank him enough for the stellar suggestions.

Thomas & Mary Louise, Canada

Please convey my thanks to the Cape Town guiding teams! Without a doubt our most memorable moment of the trip was our visit to the Cape Peninsula with our guide, Chizzy. A major positive, thrilling time. The penguins, picnic and swim at the reservoir, continual birthday celebrations for Jack’s 18th Birthday were all home runs.

Suzanne, Jack & Family, USA

The most important thing for me to tell you is that we had a fabulous time with James exploring the Peninsula of Cape Town! Along with our visit to the Zeitz Museum, our day with James was a highlight of the time we spent in South Africa. He was friendly and open about discussing his experiences growing up with apartheid which I really appreciated. I enjoyed the towns we visited, the restaurant where we had lunch, our visit with the penguins, and our hike out to the shipwreck. Thank you!!

Emma & Lori, USA

Well, we finished up Cape Town this evening, heading to safari tomorrow. We loved the country tour and winery tour, absolutely amazing. Also, our guide for both days, was one of the best we have ever had. We couldn’t imagine a better time and she couldn’t be more flexible. Thank you for setting up this first part of the vacation and setting us up with the tours.

Cory & Heather, USA

It was great! Everything worked out perfectly! We absolutely loved the Sidecar experience – wow, was that fun! We loved our guide in Cape Town, Josh, he was the BEST! He was so fun. We took him for dinners and played golf with him! We just thought Cape Town was fantastic. Wine Country was great. Fantastic.

Joseph, Marsha & Family, USA

On Saturday, we met our guide, Charlene, who was OUTSTANDING. We had missed the Zeitz Museum, and she was happy to let us rearrange our schedule so that we could tour it as well as taking me to a beautiful craft market to buy gifts.  On arriving in the wine country, we enjoyed an amazing lunch at La Motte.  With Charlene's background in wines, she was able to recommend the best wineries to visit on the winetram, as well as several good restaurants in the area.

William & Constance, USA

Cape Town was so scenic and beautiful.  Had an interesting visit around town and to the houses of parliament with a very accommodating guide James.  James made that whole experience everything it was and deserves a lot of credit. What a great place to visit!  What phenomenal food!  What masters of hospitality they all are in Africa!

Jeffery & Barbara, Canada
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