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Price Guide
10 Nights - £1,695pp

Flight inclusive price from UK

Tour Info
  • International Flights from UK
  • Taxes
  • 10 nights accommodation
  • Breakfast
  • Full Board on Safari
  • 7 days Car Rental
  • Airport Transfers by arrival
  • Game Drives on Safari
  • National Park Fees
  • ATOL Protection
  • Travel Trust Protection
  • Based on 2021 - 22 Prices

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Self Drive KwaZulu-Natal

Misty Drakensbergs

Misty Drakensbergs

Typical road scene

Typical road scene

Morning at Three Trees, Spioenkop

Morning at Three Trees, Spioenkop

Typical scenery

Typical scenery

Leopard Hills safari

Leopard Hills safari

Oyster Box Hotel

Oyster Box Hotel

 

Self-Drive KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal is one of the most spectacular regions of South Africa and self-drive holidays are the perfect way to explore this beautiful area.

Beginning in Johannesburg, take a day to discover a city in transformation. Many visitors are put off from visiting Johannesburg but there are some great places to stay, and a visit to Soweto and the Nelson Mandela Museum can count amongst the highlights of a South Africa holiday.

Self-driving through Kwa-Zulu Natal is a great way to experience this region and the journey begins with a drive south to the battlefields region with stays at Spioenkop and Fugitives Drift.

It's not necessary to be a history buff to be moved by the stories and surroundings of these infamous battlefield sites - just be sure to check-out Michael Caine in Zulu before departure.

From the Battlefields head to a safari lodge in Zululand for two nights in this stunning Big 5 Game Reserve, with game activities included.

This self-drive South Africa holiday culminates on the Indian Ocean coast with 2 nights in a beachfront lodge in the iSimangaliso Wetlands.

Drop the car off at Richards Bay for your flight back to the UK.

Inclusions

  • International flights from the UK
  • Domestic flights in South Africa
  • Accommodation
  • Breakfast
  • Full Board on Safari
  • Arrival transfer by Private Car
  • 7 days car rental
  • Daily Game Drives on Safari
  • ATOL Protection
  • Travel Trust Protection

Accommodation

  • 2 nights Johannesburg
  • 2 nights Drakensburg
  • 2 nights Battlefields
  • 2 nights Safari Lodge
  • 2 nights iSimangaliso

Day 1: Fly UK to Johannesburg

Overnight flight UK to Johannesburg.

Day 2: Johannesburg

You will be met at the door of your aircraft with your name on a paging board, and your documents handed over to you.

From here you will be assisted through immigration, baggage collection and customs and shown to your onward private transfer to your chosen hotel in Johannesburg.

Overnight Johannesburg. Breakfast included.

Day 3: Johannesburg

Today enjoy a full day tour of Johannesburg including the Nelson Mandela Museum, Soweto and central Johannesburg.

Overnight Johannesburg. Breakfast included.

Day 4: Spioenkop - Battlefields

Your car will be delivered to your hotel today for the start of your self-drive KwaZulu-Natal journey. Full driving instructions are included for your journey.

Overnight Three Trees Spioenkop. All meals included.

Day 5: Spioenkop

Enjoy a half-day tour of the Battlefields at Spioenkop, an important event in the Anglo-Boer War and a battle in which Winston Churchill, Mahatma Ghandi and Louis Botha all played a part.

Overnight Three Trees Spioenkop. Breakfast included.

Day 6: Fugitives Drift

Today enjoy a leisurely drive from Spioenkop to Fugitives Drift, perhaps the most famous of all the Battlefield sites.

It is possible to join the afternoon tour of Rorke’s Drift today but we suggest doing the Battlefield Tours in chronological order, which means seeing Isandlwana first and Rorke’s Drift afterwards in a full day.

Overnight Fugitives Drift. All meals included.

Day 7: Fugitives Drift

Enjoy a full day tour of the Battlefields in the company of an expert guide.

Begin with the gripping account of the Anglo-Zulu battle at Isandlwana before proceeding to Rorke’s Drift in the afternoon for the culmination of this remarkable story.

Overnight Fugitives Drift. All meals included.

Day 8: Zululand

From the Battlefields head across KwaZulu-Natal to Leopard Mountain, a Big 5 Reserve in northern Zululand.

Your stay includes 2 game drives daily as well as a midday activity to a hide overlooking a waterhole.

Overnight Leopard Mountain. All meals included.

Day 9: Zululand – Leopard Mountain

Enjoy a morning and evening Game Drive

Overnight Leopard Mountain. All meals included.

Day 10: Shaka’s Rock

Today drive south towards Durban for 2 nights in the small coastal village of Shaka’s Rock, 30 minutes north of Durban and a great place to unwind.

Overnight Comfort House. Breakfast included.

Day 11: Shaka’s Rock

Enjoy the day at leisure.

Overnight Comfort House. Breakfast included.

Day 12: Durban - UK

Drive to Durban’s King Shaka Airport to drop the car and check-in for your flight back to the UK.

Day 13: UK

Arrive back in the UK

The Battlefields

A visit to the battlefield sites of Kwazulu-Natal is a real highlight of a visit to this region of South Africa.

The iconic setting of Isandlwana was the scene of an infamous British defeat in 1879 when a Zulu force of 25,000 men annhilated the main body of British troops before the less catastrophic events at Rorke's Drift.

The 1979 film Zulu Dawn commemorated the events and is well worth a watch prior to a visit. The Isandlwana Battlefield is a moving site, with white stone cairns marking the sites of buried soldiers.

Immediately after Isandlwana, the Zulu warriors advanced to the main British Camp at Rorke's Drift where fewer than 100 British soldiers defended the camp until a relief force arrived.

Rorke's Drift was commemorated in the 1964 film Zulu starring Michael Caine.

A few km from Rorke's Drift is Fugitives' Drift, where 2 British soldiers died in an attempt to rescue the Queen's Colours.

Other famous battlefield sites of Kwazulu-Natal include Blood River, the site of a famous battle between the Voortrkkers and the Zulus and Spioenkop where the British and the Boers slogged it out.

Ladysmith was the scene of a famous siege during the Boer War as well as being the hometown of the world famous Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

How to See The Battlefields

The Kwazulu-Natal Battlefields are best experienced as part of a guided tour although Rorke's Drift has an excellent Orientation Centre.

The Battlefields can be done as a day trip from Durban although many visitors experience them as part of a self drive Kwazulu-Natal holiday.

The Battlefields aren't especially easy to reach however and can be difficult to find.

Where to Stay

There are some great accommodation options close to the Battlefield sites and a night or two spent in this area of Kwazulu-Natal can be highly rewarding.

View Holidays in Detail

To view a sample holiday, click on one of the links below. This will open the itinerary up in a new window.

All of our South Africa Holidays are completely tailor made and we can put together any kind of itinerary to suit your interests and budget.

We have many other options so if you have a particular hotel in mind just let us know and we'll put together a price and itinerary for you.

Contact Us:

Call us now to speak to a South Africa holiday expert about your South Africa holiday.

Call us now on 0333 7000 747

Click to enquire by email

Open 09:00 - 17:30 Mon - Fri. 09:00 - 12:00 Sat.


10 Night Self Drive

10 Night Self Drive

10 Nights - Standard

Self Drive KwaZulu Natal holiday. Drive from Johannesburg to the Indian Ocean coast through stunning scenery.

2 nights Johannesburg, 2 nights Drakensburg, 2 nights Battlefields, 2 nights Safari Lodge, 2 nights iSimangaliso.

10 nts from £2,495 pp

10 Night Self Drive

10 Night Self Drive

10 Nights - Superior

Self Drive KwaZulu Natal holiday. Drive from Johannesburg to the Indian Ocean coast through stunning scenery.

2 nights Johannesburg, 2 nights Drakensburg, 2 nights Battlefields, 2 nights Safari Lodge, 2 nights iSimangaliso.

10 nts from £2,695 pp

10 Night Self Drive

10 Night Self Drive

10 Nights - Deluxe

Self Drive KwaZulu Natal holiday. Drive from Johannesburg to the Indian Ocean coast through stunning scenery.

2 nights Johannesburg, 2 nights Drakensburg, 2 nights Battlefields, 2 nights Safari Lodge, 2 nights iSimangaliso.

10 nts from £3,195 pp

13 Nights Self Drive

13 Nights Self Drive

10 Nights - Deluxe

Self Drive KwaZulu Natal holiday. Drive from Johannesburg to the Indian Ocean coast through stunning scenery.

2 nights Johannesburg, 2 nights Drakensburg, 2 nights Battlefields, 2 nights Safari Lodge, 2 nights iSimangaliso.

10 nts from £3,195 pp

13 Nights Self Drive

13 Nights Self Drive

10 Nights - Deluxe

Self Drive KwaZulu Natal holiday. Drive from Johannesburg to the Indian Ocean coast through stunning scenery.

2 nights Johannesburg, 2 nights Drakensburg, 2 nights Battlefields, 2 nights Safari Lodge, 2 nights iSimangaliso.

10 nts from £3,195 pp

13 Nights Self Drive

13 Nights Self Drive

10 Nights - Deluxe

Self Drive KwaZulu Natal holiday. Drive from Johannesburg to the Indian Ocean coast through stunning scenery.

2 nights Johannesburg, 2 nights Drakensburg, 2 nights Battlefields, 2 nights Safari Lodge, 2 nights iSimangaliso.

10 nts from £3,195 pp