AFRICA TC JOURNEYS
Coast to Country: KwaZulu-Natal, Battlefields & Big Five
11 days | 2 adults
Trip highlights
Begin on Umhlanga’s beachfront beside the red-and-white lighthouse.
Visit Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift with battlefield guides.
Stay above the White iMfolozi River at Mthembu Lodge.
Take morning and afternoon game drives in mFulaWozi.
Cruise Lake Jozini beneath the Lebombo Mountains.
Start with two nights beside the Indian Ocean in Umhlanga, then travel inland to Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. At Fugitives’ Drift, the ridge of Isandlwana and the Buffalo River Gorge make the landscape part of the battlefield story. Next, spend three nights at Mthembu Lodge above the White iMfolozi River, with daily drives in mFulaWozi. Finish further north at Ghost Mountain Inn, with a drive through the Lebombo range and a boat trip on Lake Jozini.
Days 1-2: Umhlanga
The Oyster Box stands on Umhlanga’s beachfront beside the red-and-white lighthouse. The site began as a coastal cottage in 1863, its roof used as a navigation beacon for ships. Spend two nights with the ocean and promenade close by; start the day with the Indian Ocean in view before the route turns inland towards the battlefields.
Days 3-4: Fugitives’ Drift
Fugitives’ Drift looks out over Isandlwana, while the Buffalo River Gorge cuts through the landscape below. Guided battlefield tours visit Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, tracing the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War across two very different settings: open ground beneath Isandlwana’s hill and the close confines of Rorke’s Drift mission station. The slopes, crossings and distances help bring the history into focus.
Days 5-7: mFulaWozi Wilderness
Mthembu Lodge’s suites were hand-built by members of the Mthembu clan, stone by stone, on the banks of the White iMfolozi River. From the lodge, look across the river and surrounding wilderness. Morning and afternoon drives take you into mFulaWozi with a guide to search for elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and lion. After an early start, return for lunch and a pause in the midday heat before the next drive.
Days 8-10: Ghost Mountain and Lake Jozini
Ghost Mountain Inn sits near Mkuze, at the foot of its namesake. Drive through the Lebombo ridgelines before reaching Lake Jozini; board the boat and scan the banks for elephants, hippos and crocodiles. On some days, elephants swim or drink at the water’s edge. Return to the inn for the evening; after three nights, transfer back to Durban for your flight.
