South
Africa School Tour (example)
Boer War, Zulu War and Game Reserve
Day
1
Durban - Drakensberg (D)
On your arrival at Durban International Airport you will
transfer to your hotel in Southern Drakensberg, stopping
en-route in historic Pietermaritzburg to visit the Victorian
Railway station where the Mahatma Gandhi was forcibly removed
from a train and so vividly portrayed in the epic film Gandhi.
You will visit the historic Imperial Hotel where the last
of the Napoleonic line, Louis, stayed before being tragically
killed at Nqutu in Northern Natal during Anglo-Zulu War
of 1879 by a Zulu impi. You will view Victorian buildings
including the City Hall (the largest all-brick building
in the Southern Hemisphere) epitomising Victorian architecture.
Day
2
Drakensberg - Lesotho (B D)
Today you will go on a 4 wheel drive excursion up the Sani
Pass (third highest jeep track in the world) into the Mountain
Kingdom of Lesotho. Here you will meet with South Sotho tribesmen.
Day
3
Drakensberg (B D)
After breakfast you travel alongside the spine of the Southern
and Central Drakensberg Mountains with amazing views, then
on to the Giants Castle Game reserve in the central Drakensberg.
The grandeur of Giant's Castle, one of the highest peaks in
the Drakensberg and the Giants Castle are a visitor's dreams
come true. The fabulous Main Caves house some of the finest
rock art created anywhere in the world. Day
4
Drakensberg – Spioenkop (B L D)
Today is a full day tour of Spioenkop. You visit the site
of Churchill’s capture by the Boers during the Armoured
Train incident and visit the grave of Lt. Freddy Roberts VC,
only son of Field-Marshal Lord Roberts. If there is sufficient
time you will also visit the Battle of Colenso.
Spioenkop is probably one of the most bloody and futile battles
of the Natal Campaign. Personalities such as General Redvers
Buller, General Louis Botha, Winston Churchill and the Mahatma
Gandhi all feature through Spioenkop.
No unit that served during the Boer war is as well known to
Australians as the Bushveldt Carbineers. Not only because
of the many great deeds that they performed in battle, but
also because of the infamous deeds of some of its members.
To some extent this has overshadowed the many fine actions
in which the unit was involved.
Any visit to an Anglo Boer War Battle site would be incomplete
without a close look at the hugely controversial executions
of ‘Breaker’ Morant of the Bushveldt Carbineers.
Was Breaker Morant a hero, scapegoat or rogue? You examine
the facts. Day
5
Drakensberg – Isandlwana - Rorke’s Drift
- Dundee (B L D)
After breakfast you will transfer to Dundee and on to Isandlwana
in the morning and travel in the footsteps of Lord Chelmsford
and his invading forces. Following the chronological order
of the day you then move on to Rorke’s Drift, where
you enjoy an afternoon’s tour of Rorke’s Drift
Battle site at the time of day that the Zulu attack took place
over one hundred years ago. Overnight at nearby Dundee.
Day 6
Dundee – Hluhluwe (B L D)
On this morning to Hluhluwe via Vant’s Drift, Nqutu,
Babanango and Ulundi. This route is spectacular and is one
of the few remaining areas where the local Zulu people may
still be seen in traditional dress. You can enjoy a visit
to the eMakhosini Valley en route, the site of Dingane’s
Palace and a brief stop at the battle of Ulundi, the final
battle of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. After Ulundi we enter
the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Reserve via Cengeni Gate, into Umfolozi
Game Reserve and onto Hilltop Camp in Hluhluwe Game Reserve.
From the moment you enter the Cengeni Gate you are able to
view the game around the area. The various game reserves in
northern KwaZulu Natal are relatively small in size, but they
are amongst Africa’s finest. Hluhluwe is a rich landscape
of misty forests, grass covered hills and dense thickets,
which sustain 84 mammal species.
Hluhluwe Game Reserve is situated in northern Zululand. The
reserve was established on 30th April 1895 and is the oldest
game reserve in Africa.
This reserve, together with the Corridor and Umfolozi Game
Reserves, is managed as one protected area. Hluhluwe is characterised
by hilly topography and is thus a particularly scenic reserve.
This area is noted for its wide variety of both bird and animal
life. Most of the big game species including lion, elephant,
white and black rhinoceros, buffalo, leopard and giraffe occur
in the reserve.
You will arrive at Hilltop Camp in time to check-in and embark
on a night game drive in open Land Rovers with rangers. Day
7
Hluhluwe (B D)
Departing early you venture out on a morning game drive followed
by breakfast. You then depart for nearby St. Lucia to spend
the rest of the day enjoying everything the Greater St. Lucia
Wetlands National Park has to offer, including a boat cruise
to observe Nile Crocodiles and Hippo on the estuary.
Returning to Hilltop Camp in Hluhluwe late afternoon and you
have another opportunity to go on a night game drive. The
game drive is preceded by an early dinner. Day
8
Hluhluwe (B D)
Today is again spent viewing the amazing game that the Hluhluwe
Game Reserve has on offer. Day
9
Hluhluwe - Durban (B)
This morning can be taken at a leisurely pace before checking
out of your accommodation. You are able to take a last look
at the game reserve as you travel of Hluhluwe and back to
Durban Airport.
Your tour ends when your transfer is complete. NB:
B Breakfast D Dinner
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