6-day Package Tour –

 

Kwazulu-Natal Drakensberg,

Battlefields Route & Midlands Meander

 

A barrier of upward-pointing spears for the Zulu name “Quathlamba”, describes the craggy pinnacles that form the most spectacular part of the Great Escarpment of Southern Africa’s major watershed. The name “Drakensberg” derives from Dutch, meaning “mountain of the dragon”, for the jagged peaks seem like a natural domain for these fabled creatures.

Explore the intriguing history of the bygone battlefields, while enjoying spectacular wildlife scenery.

 

     Itinerary:

 

If you arrive a day or two early, we recommend booking an excursion to Soweto or the Apartheid Museum.

 

You will be picked up at any of the following spots for the start of the tour between 8 am and 9 am:

1. O.R.Tambo Airport, 2. Gautrain Centurion Station,

3. Your centrally located hotel, 4. Home pick up

Please request a quote (amatungulutours@gmail.com) for home pick up, or if your hotel is not on our route. (Between the O.R.Tambo Airport and our destination.) Pick up point must be indicated on the booking form.

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Day 1: Leaving from the O.R. Tambo airport in Johannesburg, we head to the province of Kwazulu Natal to discover the Battlefields Route. A cross-shaped Memorial in honour of British Soldiers who died during battles around the Volksrust and Amersfoort areas is to be visited in the town of Volksrust. (Lunch en-route) We spend the night at Ndaka Safari Lodge at Nambiti (or similar) and enjoy a game drive to see the big 5 (elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard and buffalo). (D)

 

Day 2: We head to Ladysmith and tour the Ladysmith, Elandslaagte and Isandlwana Battlefields. Lunch is enjoyed en route, and we stay for the second night at the Ndaka Safari Lodge (or similar). After a morning game drive on the third day, we leave for Winterton in the Drakensberg. (B, L, D)

 

Day 3:  As we head to the Drakensberg Boys Choir’s Wednesday-afternoon concert, we visit the Thokozisa Lifestyle Centre at the Eastern side of Champaign Valley to view some Zulu arts and crafts and have lunch at the restaurant. Now we visit the Dragon Rock Reptile Centre and then head over to the Drakensberg Boys Choir concert. We spend the night at the Monks Cowl Golf Resort (or similar). (B)

 

Day 4: We head out to do the Drakensberg Canopy Tour and then to the Midlands Meander route, and visit the Wine Cellar and Mouse Trap Deli, Marrakesh Cheese and Chocolate Heaven where we savor a drink at the delightful Bierfassl restaurant. Tsonga shoes and bags are next, and then we visit the Mandela Monument. We overnight at Fern Hill Hotel near Howick (or similar). 

 

Day 5: We are on our way to the Dundee-Rorke’s Drift area for a tour of the battlefields and historical sites of Blood River/Ncome/Talana. “By 1836 relations between the British rulers in the Cape and the Dutch settlers had reached an all- time low. They decided to pack-up their worldly goods load them onto covered wagons and head into the largely unknown interior of South Africa. Thus began in 1836 the exodus that would be recorded by history as ‘The Great Trek’! The north, west and eastward movement of this exodus of Trekkers, who became known as Voortrekkers inevitably led to conflict with the indigenous peoples who inhabited the hinterland. Trek leader Piet Retief and his party were killed at King Dingane’s capital of Mgungundlovu in February 1838…”. Lunch is enjoyed en route, and we spend our last night at The Lapha in Dundee (or similar).

 

Day 6: Heading on our way back to the airport in Johannesburg, you can go to the Apartheid Museum as an optional activity.

 

We recommend booking an excursion to Freedom Park Museum, the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria and other places of interest if your flight is due a day or more later.