9 Day Safari
From ZAR 100,815 p.p.s.
Overview
This 9 Day Safari Package combines two top South African destinations offering you the best wildlife and beach experience in the game-rich savannas of the Phinda Private Game Reserve and the tropical beaches of Thonga Beach Lodge. Your journey starts from Durban where you will be collected and transferred to Phinda Mountain Lodge.
At Phinda you will enjoy the rich savannas ideal for big game and wildlife experiences as well as the delicious cuisine and breathtaking scenery. Phinda is home to a magnificent variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, but is best known for its large population of cheetah and black rhino.
Then to Thonga Beach Lodge, the epitome of luxury on the Maputaland Coastline. Here you are spoilt for choice with an array of land and water activities that include turtle tracking from November to February, snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking & sundowners on Lake Sibaya, open ocean cruises, guided forest walks, bird watching, spa treatments and Tsonga cultural excursions.
On your last day you will be transferred back to Durban for your onward journey.
Highlights
- Thrilling Big 5 wildlife safari at Phinda Mountain Lodge
- Unique sightings of cheetah and black rhino at Phinda
- Pristine wilderness at Thonga Beach Lodge
- Endless beaches and freshwater lakes
- Fantastic coral reefs for scuba diving & snorkelling
Itinerary
DAYS 1 – 5
PHINDA MOUNTAIN LODGE, PHINDA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE, ZULULAND
Suite – Full Board
On arrival at King Shaka International Airport in Durban you will be met by a driver from Phinda Mountain Lodge who will display a Welcome Board with your names on it. You will then be transferred by road (3.5 hours) to Phinda Mountain Lodge in And Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve located in north-eastern Zululand, KwaZulu Natal Province.
You will enjoy the huge diversity of game, plant and birdlife from your safari vehicle and on bush walks. Look out for Phinda’s special species like cheetah and black rhino as well as the Big 5. Savour an unforgettable wildlife experience in a magical environment. Thrilling game activities include early morning and late afternoon into evening game drives as well as bush walks where you can enter the space of wild animals and get up close and personal to nature.
Phinda Mountain Lodge is perched on a hilltop with wraparound views of the Lebombo foothills and bushveld.
Your accommodation is in a Suite featuring an ensuite bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower, and a plunge pool. Facilities include a private veranda, personal bar and coffee station, air conditioning, heating, overhead fans, internet access and a safe.
Lodge facilities include a swimming pool, boma, bar, wellness offering and fitness centre. Wifi is available in all the rooms and guest areas.
Phinda Private Game Reserve is not just a place to explore. It is a place that reveals itself, layer by layer, through moments of awe, insight and quiet connection. From Big Five sightings to black rhino tracking, from beach walks to cultural encounters, every experience invites you to look closer and feel more deeply. Your ranger and tracker will follow the signs of the wild in open vehicles, tracking animals such as a leopard stalking prey in the early morning or a pride of lion resting under the shade of a tree.
The combination of thrilling wildlife encounters, luxury lodge, tantalizing food, the excitement of stories around the campfire and the sounds of the bush will make your safari a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And don’t forget the special birdlife that create a unique bush atmosphere with their calls, beautiful plumage and constant antics.
Included : Accommodation, three meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand beers and spirits, teas and coffees, refreshments on game drives, laundry, safari activities, guided bush walks, emergency evacuation cover, transfers from Durban and to Thonga Beach Lodge, and conservancy fees.
DAYS 5 – 9
THONGA BEACH LODGE, MAPUTALAND, ISIMANGALISO WETLAND PARK
Ocean View Room – Full Board
Today you will be transferred to Thonga Beach Lodge and have a 4×4 ride through the dunes, a journey of about 2.5 hours.
Thonga Beach Lodge is located on the azure shores and pristine coastal wilderness of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park in Northern Kwazulu Natal Province, a paradise of white beaches, blazing corals and freshwater lakes.
Your accommodation is in an Ocean View Room offering views of the Indian Ocean, a large bedroom opening onto a secluded balcony with facilities that include an ensuite bathroom, air conditioning, overhead fans, mosquito nets, coffee & tea, mini bar and electronic safe.
Lodge facilities include indoor and outdoor dining areas, bar, lounge, swimming pool, beach deck, wifi lounge and a spa.
Activities include turtle tracking from November to February, snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking & sundowners on Lake Sibaya, open ocean cruises, guided forest walks, bird watching, spa treatments and Tsonga cultural excursions.
Mabibi is regarded as one of the best snorkelling sites in South Africa. The coral reefs along this protected stretch of coastline are home to thousands of species of tropical fish. The rockpool snorkelling area is home to mostly juvenile fish, but you can see octopus, fire fish, moray eels and electric rays too. The snorkelling is in the bay, about 400 metres south of the lodge. Snorkelling is tide dependent and is best at low tide. Guests can also experience the thrill of snorkelling in the open ocean on shallow reefs.
Scuba diving at Thonga Beach is phenomenal, with reefs located only a short distance from the lodge. Shoals of game fish, sharks and schools of bottlenose dolphins are often encountered.
Thonga Beach Lodge is located in the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, an internationally recognised World Heritage Site that is one of the most biodiverse regions in all of Africa. The 358,534 ha and 220 km long reserve is a tropical paradise of crystal clear water, marshland, swamp and coastal forests. Inside the reserve is Lake Sibaya which has 100 kms of untouched shoreline and is South Africa’s largest freshwater lake. Hippo and crocodile bask in and around the lakes and the reserve provides a haven for a variety of rare fish, flora and fauna.
Included : Accommodation, meals, use of snorkelling equipment, guided walks, kayaking and sundowners at Lake Sibaya, cultural tours to Mabibi Community, road transfers and Park Fees.
DAY 9
END OF SAFARI
Today you will be transferred toKing Shaka Airportin Durban for your onward journey.
1 2 Go Tours wishes you a safe and thrilling journey that will leave lasting memories and a desire to return.
Rates
- 1 May – 30 Jun 2026 – ZAR 100,815 per person sharing
- 1 Jul – 31 Dec 2026 – ZAR 106,770 per person sharing
- 1 Jan – 30 Apr 2027 – ZAR 110,580 per person sharing
- 1 May – 30 Jun 2027 – ZAR 107,145 per person sharing
- 1 Jul – 31 Dec 2027 – ZAR 113,735 per person sharing
Rates based on 2 people sharing
Single supplements may apply
Accommodation subject to availability
Flights not included
Inclusions
Phinda Mountain Lodge – Accommodation, three meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand beers and spirits, teas and coffees, refreshments on game drives, laundry, safari activities, guided bush walks, emergency evacuation cover, transfers from Durban and to Thonga Beach Lodge, and conservancy fees.
Thonga Beach Lodge – Accommodation, meals, use of snorkelling equipment, guided walks, kayaking and sundowners at Lake Sibaya, cultural tours to Mabibi Community, road transfers and Park Fees.
All road transfers included
Flights not included
