10 Nights
Specific Tour
16 people
English
Escape the routine and take time out for this one-of-a-kind adventure tour exploring the spectacular offerings of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Kingdom of Eswatini. Indulge daily in 3 delicious South African meals served in the most incredible settings, let us take care of all the details while you enjoy the most thrilling and memorable adventure activities set in one of the most spectacular regions in Southern Africa.
You will start this adventure with the opportunity to hike indigenous rain forests and the spectacular Tugela Gorge in the Drakensberg Amphitheatre. The Amphitheatre is home to the Tugela Falls, which at 948 metres or 3100 feet and recently classified by the World Waterfall database to be the tallest waterfall in the world. Wake up in accommodation with views of cliff faces that reach up to the blue skies of Africa. From the mighty mountains you will travel scenic routes to the beautiful coastline of KwaZulu-Natal, known as KZN.
Here you will get to relax and enjoy time on the pristine beaches of Umhlanga, one of the most popular beach destinations in South Africa. Fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean and get some rest before setting off to the famous Hluhluwe-iMfolozi nature reserve in Northern KwaZulu-Natal. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is famed for being the wildlife park that saved the White Rhino. During your stay inside the oldest proclaimed protected area on the African continent, you will enjoy campfire meals under the stars and drift off to sleep to the symphony of wild animals. On game drives through wooded hills, grass covered slopes and spectacular African valleys, you will be on the lookout for the Big 5 (Lion, Rhinoceros, Elephant, Leopard and the mighty Cape Buffalo), which are amongst the 86 special species found in this 96,000ha park.
After viewing the indigenous wonders and wildlife of the untamed South African bush, we travel to Sodwana Bay to scuba dive some of the most pristine and beautiful tropical reefs in the world. The reefs of Sodwana Bay are abundant with well protected and diverse sea creatures. You will see incredible and thriving displays of coral abundant with many species of turtle, tropical fish, sharks, rays, giant moray eels, dolphins and even whales at certain times of the year. While not diving, we will enjoy the serene and breathtaking forests and beaches of the tropical paradise that is Sodwana Bay. After enjoying some of the best diving in the world you will end your adventure in the Kingdom of Eswatini white water rafting the Usutu River.
Meet at O.R. Tambo International airport at 9AM. We will have a picnic lunch and snacks available on the road trip and comfort stops on the 5 hour drive to the Royal Natal National Park. After settling into our rooms, we will go on a short afternoon hike in the forest and take in the views of the Amphitheatre.
There will be a braai (barbeque) for dinner and a relaxing campfire to end the day.
Start the day with a hearty breakfast before setting out on the Tugela Gorge hike. We suggest taking binoculars on the hike since there is a chance of spotting Lammargeier (bearded vulture), a very large vulture only found in the Drakensberg region, amongst a multitude of other birds.
We will enjoy a picnic lunch on the hike at one of the many serene and beautiful locations along the hike and then return to camp.
Dinner will be served around the campfire, whereafter guests will retire to their mountain chalets for a good night’s rest.
Breakfast will be ready early in the morning for us to leave as early as possible for Umhlanga on the East Coast of Natal. This is a 5 hour drive, and the plan is to arrive at our beach accommodation in time for a beach view braai (barbeque) for lunch and to enjoy the afternoon on the beach and in the waves in the warm Indian Ocean.
Dinner will be a traditional Durban curry while enjoying views of the ocean. Guests will fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean outside their window.
The day will start with breakfast at our beach accommodation before we depart on the 4-hour drive up the Kwazulu-Natal coast to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi National Park.
This 96,000ha reserve with is woodlands and beautiful valleys is home to the big 5 and many other species of African wildlife.
After lunch at the nature reserve accommodation, guests must be sure to pack their binoculars for an afternoon drive around the reserve.
Dinner will be a bush braai (barbeque) at the camp surrounded by nature.
We will start the day early with a game drive and a picnic breakfast on the drive. Lunch will also be a picnic out in the bush enjoying views of nature and the wildlife. The game drive is for the whole day with a professional safari operator with 4x4 transport. Dinner will be served back at camp, followed by a campfire before bed.
Breakfast at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and then a 3 hour drive to Sodwana Bay. After settling into our rooms, we will visit the dive centre to make all arrangements and plan our dives. This will be followed by lunch and then a trip to the beach to enjoy snorkelling and sunbathing for the rest of the day. Divers requiring refresher training will do their PADI Refresher Program instead of the beach visit in the afternoon.
Dinner will be a braai (barbeque) around the campfire at the dive lodge.
The first day of diving the untamed and unspoiled tropical reefs of Sodwana Bay. We will select one of the many dive sites based on the wish list and the abilities of the dive group. All dives are exciting boat launches through the surf and a short boat ride to the dive sites due to the narrow continental shelf. Breakfast will be served after the first dive of the morning. Guests who are learning to dive and selected ‘PADI Open Water Course’ under 'More options' will join the divers for breakfast at the lodge and then spend the day doing their PADI Open Water Course pool sessions.
Lunch will be served at the accommodation for both groups and the afternoon will be spent at the beach snorkeling or relaxing while the learner divers complete the course component of their training.
Dinner will be served early in the evening to enjoy rest before the second day of diving.
Second day of diving for experienced divers and the first dive for qualifying divers (in the ocean). We will dive early again – since the best dives are the earliest and then enjoy breakfast after the first dive. We will return to the beach for a second dive after breakfast.
Lunch at the dive lodge and then the afternoon relaxing on the beach.
Dinner will be a braai (barbeque) at the dive lodge around the campfire.
The final day of diving. We will dive early again – since the best dives are the earliest and then enjoy breakfast after the first dive.
Learner divers will return to the beach for their fourth and final qualifying dive after breakfast. Experienced divers will enjoy their fifth and final dive. Divers may choose to purchase an additional dive on this day.
Lunch at the dive lodge and then an afternoon relaxing on the beach or at the pool at the lodge.
Dinner will be a braai (barbeque) at the dive lodge around the campfire.
Day ten starts early with an early breakfast at the dive lodge and then a 5 hour drive to Eswatini to get to the adventure group ‘Swazi Trails’ for lunch and to set out on the white water rafting adventure for the afternoon.
At completion we will check in to our Swazi accommodation for the night where we will enjoy dinner and a campfire.
Breakfast at the Swazi accommodation before driving back to OR Tambo. This is a 5 hour drive, and the intention is to arrive back at OR Tambo International Airport around lunch time. This allows for guests to fly home or travel to their next destination in the afternoon or later in the evening.
The trip plan has been carefully designed to make optimal use of the time available. Guests arriving from abroad must ensure that they factor in time for passport control and baggage retrieval. This can sometimes take up to 2 hours at OR Tambo International airport. Flights must be selected with the earliest possible arrival time on the first day of the tour. Guests should land at a time that allows them to be at the tour departure point at 9AM on Day 1 of the tour. A suggestion may be to arrive the night before and book into one of the many airport hotels at OR Tambo International Airport. Information on the departure point and time will be provided in a pack of documents after purchasing the tour.
This all depends on the season in which you plan to visit and the locations on the specific tour you book. There is a list of items to pack that can be seen by following this link What to pack checklist.
Our professional guides are locals and familiar with the country as a whole and will make every effort to avoid any unfortunate incidents. The locations have been carefully selected for being scenically beautiful and safe.
We highly recommend that you have travel insurance and/or comprehensive medical insurance in case of an emergency. It is necessary to provide us with this information before you arrive so that we can assist in ensuring you have access to private healthcare facilities and services.
The alternative is government healthcare facilities where you may not receive specialised treatment, especially in the event of a diving related emergency. It's always advisable to get dive accident cover from Divers Alert Network (DAN).
Please consult the article ‘Your Step-by-Step Visa Guide’ under Stories, Tips and Guides for more information on countries that require Visas and those that are exempt. You must carefully read up on the countries that are included in your tour, all tours include time in South Africa.
The tours are designed to accommodate qualified divers and guests who want to learn to dive. Select the PADI Open Water Diver Course under 'More options' when booking. The training is provided by world class dive operators, at an additional cost and learners will receive certification after completing the course. Diving gear is included in the course. Course theory component must be completed electronically before arriving for the tour. PADI Course Registration and login will be sent to you after booking.
If you haven’t dived for six months, international best diving practice recommends that you do a PADI ReActivate Scuba Refresher Program. You can do this before the trip or it can be done while on tour. We have factored time in for refresher training and you can select it under 'More options' when booking.
Diving forms a key part of all our tours so there are limited spaces available for non-divers for each trip. There is an add-on where your partner/friend can learn to dive at an additional cost. Course theory component must be completed electronically before arriving for the tour. PADI Course Registration and login will be sent to you after booking. If this however is not an option your partner/friend is welcome to join at an adjusted tour fee less the cost of diving. We do not however provide alternative activities while the group is diving.
Yes, you can if you are qualified just select the number of the dives you would like to dive with nitrox under 'More options' 'Nitrox/Enriched Air (Per Dive)'. If you are not qualified yet and would like to be select 'PADI Enriched Air (Nitrox) Specialty' to enrol. Course theory component must be completed electronically before arriving for the tour. PADI Course Registration and login will be sent to you after booking.
The rental gear is good quality, so this is not necessary, but as divers we understand if you bring gear along. Please check with your airline regarding the limitations on dive gear. Dive computers are not provided, it is advisable to bring along your dive computer.
There are larger units available at a number of the venues. We will strive to book these as per guests requests and needs.
Children 10+ accompanied by a legal guardian are welcome on the tour. They will also be expected to participate in all your activities since we do not provide alternative activities while the group is engaged in a planned activity.
Yes, select the special dietary requirements option under ‘More options’ when booking on the website. Guests must advise African Scuba and Safari of their specific dietary requirements on their information forms.
Guests may choose to enjoy meals at restaurants during the 10 night tour at their own cost and where such establishments are available.
Only tour operator in Africa to offer these all-inclusive experiences
Tour packages include accommodation, transport & meals
PADI Professional Divemasters
Certified Rescue & Emergency First Responders
Professional tour guides
Member Since 2024
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