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6 Day Buffalo Coach Tour | Departing Johannesburg |
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Detailed Itinerary for our 6 Day Buffalo Coach Tour | Departing Johannesburg. Please note this itinerary is an example only and may differ slightly from the final tour itinerary. Please note all aspect of this itinerary are subject to change.
6 Day Buffalo Coach Tour | Departing Johannesburg 6 DAY BUFFALO COACH TOUR – SJD6
DURATION | 6 Days | DEPARTURE DAY | Monday | PICK UP SERVICE | From Sandton area hotels, others on request | LANGUAGE DEPATURES | All departures in English with dual German/English on selected departures | INCLUDES | - 5 breakfast
- 1 Lunch
- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Porterage at hotels
- Sightseeing as specified
| ITINERARY | DAY | HOTEL | DAY 1 | MONDAY | SABI RIVER SUN or similar | DAY 2 | TUESDAY OR Private Game reserve option | PESTANA KRUGER GATE LODGE or similar SABI SABI or LION SANDS | DAY 3 | WEDNESDAY | PESTANA KRUGER GATE LODGE or similar | DAY 4 | THURSDAY | ROYAL SWAZI SUN or EZULWINI SUN or similar | DAY 5 | FRIDAY | HILLTOP or ITHALA | DAY 1 | JOHANNESBURG – MPUMALANGA | MONDAY | 08h00 10h00 10h30 11h00 13h30 14h30 16h15 16h45 17h00 ± 18h00 | An early departure from Johannesburg, travelling eastward toward the famous Blyde River (Happy River) Canyon. ± 15 km after Witbank (Middelburg) we have our first stop Continue, and turn off the national road at Belfast, passing through the town which is famous for its sheep & trout farming We pass through the little village of Dullstroom and travel towards Lydenburg, stopping here for lunch (optional and for own account) Depart Lydenburg for the Three Rondawels for a scenic stop. Arrive at the Three Rondawels - South Africa’s 2nd most photographed natural phenomenon after Table Mountain. Depart for God’s Window travelling through Eucalyptus and Pine plantations Arrive at God’s Window for a view of the edge of the escarpment taking in the Kruger National Park and the huge plantations of the so-called Lowveld. Continue towards Graskop, starting our descent of the plateau. Arrive in Hazyview for your overnight stay | ± 400 Km,± 8 hrs - ½ hour ± 62 km ±1 hour ±80 Km - 1 hr 20 Minutes ½ hour 15 minutes, weather permitting ± 60 km | DAY 2 | STANDARD OPTION MPUMALANGA | TUESDAY | | * Wake up times for Day 2: (depending on season) Sept – March: 04h00; April: 04h30; May - Aug: 05h00 | | ±05h30/06h00* 09h30 10h15 11h00 13h00 15h00 | Coach departs the hotel for Kruger National Park with all the passengers for an early morning game drive taken in a Springbok Atlas coach Arrive at gates and proceed into the park and enjoy a game drive (in the coach) through the park There is a stop to enjoy a packed breakfast Proceed through the park on the coach, dropping off the Private Game Reserve option pax at Skukuza (see below), & continue to Malelane Arrive Malelane for lunch (optional and for own account) Afternoon at leisure or take an open vehicle game drive (for pax own account) to experience the “smells and sounds” of the bush. Overnight | ±43km – ½ hour ± ¾ hour (B) | | INFORMATION: - No feeding of animals in the park
- No picking of flowers/ plants in Park
- Laundry opportunity
| | DAY 3 | MPUMALANGA | WEDNESDAY | | Wake up times for Day 3: Sep – March 04h00; April 04h30; May – Aug 05h00 | | 06h00 09h30 10h15 ±13h30 | This morning passengers are met at Malelane for an open vehicle game drive in the Kruger National Park. In this world famous reserve we should encounter the full spectrum of wildlife - from “the Big Five” to insects and sunbirds. There is a stop to enjoy breakfast Depart for Malelane while enjoying a game drive Arrive at Malelane in time for lunch (own account) Afternoon at leisure or enjoy an open vehicle game drive (optional and for own account) Overnight | ±80km ± ¾ hour (B) | DAY 2 | PRIVATE GAME RESERVE OPTION HAZYVIEW – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – SABI SABI /LION SANDS | TUESDAY | | INFORMATION: These option passengers must have their bags ready for their transfer after the breakfast stop - only one overnight bag per person Clients can leave their main suitcase with the guide | | 05h30 06h00 10h00 ±12h30 16h00 | Depart for Kruger National Park Arrive at the gates and proceed into the park and enjoy a game drive (In the coach) through the park Breakfast stop at a picnic spot Coach transfers pax to Skukuza airport. Meet rangers and transfer them to the Lodge Arrive at the lodge. Check in and proceed to lunch. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure until the late afternoon game drive Pax enjoy a late afternoon game drive before dinner. In this world famous reserve we should encounter the full spectrum of wildlife from the 'Big 5' to insects and sunbirds After dinner, the rest of the evening is at leisure | ±43 Km – ½ hour ± 4 hours ± ¾ hour Lunch included Overnight at Sabi Sabi (FB) | DAY 3 | LION SANDS/SABI SABI - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – MPUMALANGA | WEDNESDAY | 06h00 09h45 10h30 11h00 13h00 | Early morning game drive followed by breakfast at the lodge. After breakfast pax are transferred to Skukuza Airport Option pax are met by the Springbok Atlas coach at the airport Coach departs Skukuza and pax enjoy a game drive through the park in the coach Arrive at Malelane where your afternoon is at leisure to relax or enjoy an open vehicle game drive (optional and for own account) | ± 250 km for day ±80 km | DAY 4 | MPUMALANGA – SWAZILAND | THURSDAY | | INFORMATION - Passports are necessary at the border post.
- Certain Nationalities require visas and have to be obtained before travel - pax to check with their travel agents
| ± 335 km to travel today | 08h30 11h00 11h10 12h15 13h00 13h30 14h00 | After an early breakfast, we depart Malelane and enter the Kingdom of Swaziland and travel through beautiful countryside (plantations). Stop at Komati valley look-out point for scenic photo opportunity Depart and travel along hilly road Visit the Ngwenya glass factory en route. There is time to explore the factory through the viewing deck where you can watch the local craftsmen at work. There is also a shop where you can buy various products Visit to the well known candle Factory. Depart candle factory for your hotel. Arrive in the beautiful Ezulwini Valley and check in to your hotel with an opportunity to enjoy lunch (optional and for own account) The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, with an opportunity to visit a craft market Activities offered at your hotel: Golf, health spa, swimming, tennis, squash, casino, hot water springs nearby | ±40 minutes to the Swazi border ±10 minutes ±45 minutes Refreshment stop, coffee shop ±30 minutes ± 5 minutes from entrance to hotel (B) | | INFORMATION: The Swazi people don’t like photos taken of them. In their culture every photo taken takes away the spirits of their ancestors | | DAY 5 | SWAZILAND - ZULULAND | FRIDAY | | INFORMATION: Passports are necessary at the border post | +330 km to travel (± 470 km if at Itala) | 07h30 09h15 ±10h45 11h00 14h40 15h00 | After breakfast we depart hotel and travel southwards towards the border. Just after Big Bend there is a refreshment stop at Riverside before the Swazi-Zululand border crossing Enter northern Zululand We arrive at Dumazulu/Vula Zulu/Shakaland for the presentation of Zulu culture and dancing Lunch at cultural village (included) Arrive at Hluhluwe Gate. Drive to Hilltop Rest Camp or (Ithala*) in Hluhluwe Game Reserve for overnight stay. Passengers will either enjoy a night drive or an early morning game drive – depending on Reserve’s management Overnight at Hluhluwe or Ithala* | 30 minutes. 30 - 45 minutes 59 km to border from Riverside ± ¾ hour From Big Bend to Hluhluwe gate ± 1 hr ± 40 minutes (BL) | | INFORMATION: Hluhluwe Game Reserve is different from Kruger Park with hills and stunning views. Swimming pool, supermarket, bar & restaurant. The town of Hluhluwe has all amenities - chemist, bank, doctor *NOTE: Overnight may be in the Ithala Nature Reserve for certain departures. Depending on availability of accommodation | | DAY 6 | ZULULAND – DURBAN | SATURDAY | 06h00 08h45 ± 09h30 13h30 14h30 ±15h15 | Begin the day with an early morning game drive in the Game Reserve. Finish game drive and enjoy breakfast Depart the game reserve, and continue towards Durban, stopping en route at a cultural village En route we pass traditional Zulu kraals, Eucalyptus plantations and sugar cane fields Optional (for own account) lunch stop in Umhlanga Rocks en-route to Durban Depart for Durban. Arrive in Durban and check into your hotel. The rest of the late afternoon and evening is at leisure. Overnight in Durban. | ± 315 km 1 hour in total (lunch for own account) (B) | | INFORMATION: Passengers can be dropped off, on request, at Durban International Airport | | 6 Day Buffalo Coach Tour | Departing Johannesburg 6 DAY BUFFALO COACH TOUR – SJD6 |