Day 1 to 2 – Durban
Catch your first glimpse of the Elephant Coast as your plane descends over KwaZulu-Natal to land…
Rhino Ridge & The Elephant Coast
12 day Safari & Beach Holiday – from £2479
With flights from £3329
Combine exceptional wildlife viewing in KwaZulu-Natal’s oldest nature reserve with five nights of pure relaxation at its most secluded beachfront retreat.
Highlights:
- Wander Durban’s Golden Mile and explore its renowned Botanical Gardens
- Spend three nights in the heart of the ‘Big 5’ Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
- Enjoy morning and evening game drives and bushwalks into the reserve
- Relax by the Indian Ocean at the exclusive Thonga Beach Lodge
- Go snorkelling or kayaking, or enjoy sundowners by Lake Sibaya
Your Itinerary
Expand AllYou can customise your South Africa self drive holiday by adding extra nights or destinations. Just let us know what you would like to do.
Catch your first glimpse of the Elephant Coast as your plane descends over KwaZulu-Natal to land at King Shaka International Airport. Collect your hire car and head into the city, to the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani for a two night stay.
You have the rest of the day and the next to explore Durban; to wander along the Golden Mile, browse African and Indian handicrafts at Victoria Street Market, explore the Botanical Gardens or even ride the rollercoasters at uShaka Marine World!
Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani
Breakfast
Day 3 to 5 – Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Collect your hire car this morning and head north to Richards Bay, then through rolling KwaZulu-Natal…
Collect your hire car this morning and head north to Richards Bay, then through rolling KwaZulu-Natal scenery to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa.
Staying at the elegant Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge, perched on a rocky hillside with expansive views of the park, over the next three days you’ll go in search of South Africa’s famous wildlife on game drives and bushwalks, swapping safari sightings around the campfire in the evenings.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park has the greatest density of rhino in South Africa, and is also home to the other ‘Big 5’, namely lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. Your guide will also seek out cheetah, spotted hyena, zebra, giraffe and more.
Durban > Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park | 255 kms
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6 to 10 – Elephant Coast
After a final early morning game drive, depart Rhino Ridge and continue your journey north to…
After a final early morning game drive, depart Rhino Ridge and continue your journey north to the secluded beaches of the Elephant Coast, where nestled among the sand dunes you’ll find Thonga Beach Lodge, a collection of just 12 thatched rooms, each set on a wooden deck for ocean or forest views.
All meals are included in your stay, as well as a host of activities including snorkelling, kayaking, guided nature walks, sundowner excursions to Lake Sibaya and, from November to February, a chance to see turtles waddle ashore to lay their eggs. Scuba diving lessons and spa treatments are also available.
It’s a natural paradise, as about as far away from the nine to five as you can be.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park > Elephant Coast | 200 kms
Thonga Beach Lodge
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 11 – Umdloti
After a leisurely breakfast, head south today towards Durban. The small town of St. Lucia is…
After a leisurely breakfast, head south today towards Durban. The small town of St. Lucia is a good stopping point for a late lunch, and if you have time, a boat tour on the St. Lucia Estuary, home to over 800 hippo, 1,200 Nile crocodile and a wonderful variety of birdlife.
Tonight’s accommodation is the sensational Oyster Box, in the welcoming town of Umdloti, around 25 km north of the city centre. Blending understated luxury with gracious hospitality, this iconic 5 star hotel has individually decorated rooms and suites that overlook the Indian Ocean or its beautifully kept tropical gardens.
The Oyster Box has a choice of restaurants and bars in which to enjoy the evening, though make sure to leave room for its legendary buffet breakfast, complete with fresh oysters, from its own beds. A fitting finale to your holiday.
Elephant Coast > Umdloti | 350 kms
The Oyster Box
Breakfast
Day 12 – Farewell from Durban
Make the short journey this morning to King Shaka International Airport to drop off your hire…
Make the short journey this morning to King Shaka International Airport to drop off your hire car and board your flight home.
Umdloti > Durban | 10 kms
Your Itinerary
You can customise your South Africa self drive holiday by adding extra nights or destinations. Just let us know what you would like to do.
Day 1 to 2
| Durban
Catch your first glimpse of the Elephant Coast as your plane descends over KwaZulu-Natal to land at King Shaka International Airport. Collect your hire car and head into the city, to the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani for a two night stay.
You have the rest of the day and the next to explore Durban; to wander along the Golden Mile, browse African and Indian handicrafts at Victoria Street Market, explore the Botanical Gardens or even ride the rollercoasters at uShaka Marine World!
Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani
Breakfast
Day 3 to 5
| Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Collect your hire car this morning and head north to Richards Bay, then through rolling KwaZulu-Natal scenery to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa.
Staying at the elegant Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge, perched on a rocky hillside with expansive views of the park, over the next three days you’ll go in search of South Africa’s famous wildlife on game drives and bushwalks, swapping safari sightings around the campfire in the evenings.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park has the greatest density of rhino in South Africa, and is also home to the other ‘Big 5’, namely lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. Your guide will also seek out cheetah, spotted hyena, zebra, giraffe and more.
Durban > Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park | 255 kms
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 6 to 10
| Elephant Coast
After a final early morning game drive, depart Rhino Ridge and continue your journey north to the secluded beaches of the Elephant Coast, where nestled among the sand dunes you’ll find Thonga Beach Lodge, a collection of just 12 thatched rooms, each set on a wooden deck for ocean or forest views.
All meals are included in your stay, as well as a host of activities including snorkelling, kayaking, guided nature walks, sundowner excursions to Lake Sibaya and, from November to February, a chance to see turtles waddle ashore to lay their eggs. Scuba diving lessons and spa treatments are also available.
It’s a natural paradise, as about as far away from the nine to five as you can be.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park > Elephant Coast | 200 kms
Thonga Beach Lodge
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 11
| Umdloti
After a leisurely breakfast, head south today towards Durban. The small town of St. Lucia is a good stopping point for a late lunch, and if you have time, a boat tour on the St. Lucia Estuary, home to over 800 hippo, 1,200 Nile crocodile and a wonderful variety of birdlife.
Tonight’s accommodation is the sensational Oyster Box, in the welcoming town of Umdloti, around 25 km north of the city centre. Blending understated luxury with gracious hospitality, this iconic 5 star hotel has individually decorated rooms and suites that overlook the Indian Ocean or its beautifully kept tropical gardens.
The Oyster Box has a choice of restaurants and bars in which to enjoy the evening, though make sure to leave room for its legendary buffet breakfast, complete with fresh oysters, from its own beds. A fitting finale to your holiday.
Elephant Coast > Umdloti | 350 kms
The Oyster Box
Breakfast
Day 12
| Farewell from Durban
Make the short journey this morning to King Shaka International Airport to drop off your hire car and board your flight home.
Umdloti > Durban | 10 kms
This Self Drive Includes
11 nights accommodation
11 nights car hire, with unlimited kilometers
Meals as stated
Activities and experiences as detailed in the itinerary
Airport transfer
Comprehensive insurance with nil excess
Flights & More
Ask your FREEDOM Consultant to include Economy, Premium or Business Class flights for a complete ABTA and ATOL protected package.
They can also add extra nights and experiences in places you choose, to create the exact holiday you are looking for. Popular options include:
- Extra nights on safari, by the beach or at The Oyster Box
Next Step
Please get in touch with our Africa Experts to start planning your holiday. You’ll have a single point of contact from your first enquiry through booking.
Rhino Ridge & The Elephant Coast
12 day Safari & Beach Holiday – from £2479
With flights from £3329
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing a twin or double room. Seasonal variations may apply, please call Freedom Destinations for more information and availability. Accommodation specified is subject to availability and may be substituted to a similar standard.
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