SECRET SOUTH AFRICA

11 Days & 10 Nights | South Africa

Johannesburg, Phinda Private Game Reserve & Maputaland Marine Protected Area

HIGHLIGHTS

GREAT FOR

Honeymooners – Romantic cliffside and beach accommodation

Photographers – Exciting marine and wildlife sightings

AVAILABLE ACTIVITIES

Game drives

Nature walks

Scuba diving (extra cost)

Seasonal turtle hatching

Animal tracking (extra cost)

Cultural tours (extra cost)

Sundowners

Fly-camping (extra cost)

BEST TIME TO GO

High Season⊕:  July to October

Green Season⊕:  November to June

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OVERVIEW

For those who love the outdoors and are as happy under an acacia tree as they are under a palm tree, this itinerary idea is perfect. You don’t have to choose between water sports or game viewing because this trip combines both at two of South Africa’s best-kept secrets.

After jetting into the metropolis of Johannesburg, you quickly change pace and have four nights of Big 5 game viewing in Phinda Private Game Reserve. Originally farmland, this area has been carefully returned to nature with major species – like cheetah and elephant – reintroduced. Your next stop is five nights in an exceptional sea reserve at Thonga, a stylish beach lodge right on the Indian Ocean where being barefoot is taken for granted!

THIS ITINERARY WAS DESIGNED BY JOANNE

As a born-and-bred South Africa, I’ve lived in the Western Cape, Gauteng and the Free State. We have so much to offer: you can explore several different ecosystems just within our borders. It’s exciting to go from sub-tropical beaches to adventures the wild Atlantic coast – and the sensational Big 5 game viewing is definitely the cherry on the cake!

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TRIP SUMMARY

DURATION

10 Nights / 11 Days

DESTINATIONS VISITED

Johannesburg, South Africa

Phinda Private Game Reserve, South Africa

Maputaland Marine Protected Area, South Africa

ACCOMMODATIONS VISITED

InterContinental Johannesburg OR Tambo

Rock Lodge

Thonga Beach Lodge

DAILY ITINERARY

DAY 1

Johannesburg is Africa’s wealthiest and slickest city, with high-tech infrastructure and plenty of intriguing contrasts. As the regional hub for Southern Africa, you land at OR Tambo International Airport and have the convenience of spending the first night of your South African bush-and-beach break at a modern airport hotel.

The InterContinental Johannesburg OR Tambo is the perfect answer to shrug off a long-haul flight and get you revitalised for the rest of your holiday. Simply stroll from the airport and check in.

Why we love InterContinental Johannesburg OR Tambo:

  • Wi-Fi to catch up with news from home
  • Extremely convenient position
  • Restaurant on-site for easy meals
  • Swimming pool, gym and spa

In a land of contrasts, today provides an even bigger one. After a night’s rest behind the soundproofed windows of the InterContinental, you take a light aircraft and wing your way over the Drakensberg range and land at Phinda Airstrip. A private reserve in the sub-tropical province of KwaZulu-Natal, Phinda is a conservation success story.

For four nights, you can track rhino, find leopard, watch lions and perhaps even find an elusive pangolin all under the watchful eye of expert guides.

Why we love Rock Lodge:

  • Intimate stone cottages with stunning views
  • Private plunge pool overlooking the valley
  • Butler service and private dining
  • Specialist photographic vehicle

If you got a taste of a marine safari while at Rock Lodge thanks to Phinda’s proximity to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, then your next stop will take sea life to the next level. You’ll be driven to Thonga Beach Lodge in the far north. This pristine stretch of sandy beach – where yours can be the only footprints for hours – borders the Maputaland Marine Protected Area.

The warm Indian Ocean promises a fantastic stay with boating, diving and snorkelling on the menu.

Why we love Thonga Beach Lodge:

  • Truly off the beaten track
  • Diving visibility of up to 20m / 65ft
  • Premier dive site in a marine reserve
  • Kayaking, snorkelling and a spa

A gentle pace, the chance to unpack your bags and settle in, and awe-inspiring experiences are the keystones of this trip. Taking in two of South Africa’s secret gems will give you an understanding of just how much the country has to offer.

It may be tough to tear yourself away from Thonga. Today you repack your bags and are taken to Richards Bay Airport for the short flight back to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, totally rested and refreshed!

INCLUDED*

  • All activities specified
  • All transfers specified
  • All meals, drinks and sundowners specified

  • Laundry if specified

EXCLUDED*

  • International flights
  • Items from the safari shop
  • Pre- and post-itinerary accommodation
  • Visas
  • Travel insurance
  • Medical insurance, tests and vaccinations where stipulated
  • Tips / gratuities

* Subject to change. Your personal consultant will confirm all the details with you while helping you plan your safari to Africa so you have a full understanding of costs with no surprises.

PRICE IS IMPORTANT

This itinerary is here to inspire you and prices may change due to availability, season and the year that you plan to travel.
Contact us for a customised quotation

WHY BOOK WITH BIGGESTLEAF TRAVEL

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  • Established, Stable & Experienced: Founded in 2014, we are proud that we still have our first consultants working with us today. This continuity reflects the strength of our team culture, depth of experience and the long-term relationships we build with our staff, clients and safari partners.

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