8 Day Durban, Bayala & St Lucia

Overview

Your journey begins in the vibrant, bustling city of Durban. With its warm hospitality, perfect weather conditions, and the best Indian cuisine you will ever taste, Durban sets the tone for what is still to come.

Fairlight Beach House is the ultimate beachfront residence in the exclusive village of Umdloti, only 10 minutes from King Shaka International Airport. This family-run guest house offers warm hospitality and a home-away-from-home feeling. Each of the eight individually decorated rooms offers panoramic sea views of the finest swimming beach just a few meters away. The guest house also features a two-bedroom, two-bathroom luxury apartment, perfect for families or friends traveling together. Within walking distance are some of the finest restaurants and a long stretch of beach with tidal pools to explore over the next two days.

Your three-day safari adventure begins as you head along the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, passing well-known Umfolozi and Hluhluwe Game Reserves, to the private reserve of Bayala. Bayala Private Safari Lodge & Camp is a down-to-earth, family-run lodge that offers a relaxed ambiance and an open vehicle safari experience. Activities at the lodge include morning and afternoon game drives, as well as guided bush walks.

After an exhilarating safari experience, St Lucia offers a different adventure for the next two days. It forms part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and its estuary boasts one of the highest concentrations of hippos and crocodiles in Southern Africa. What makes this area magnificent is that the park is South Africa’s first World Heritage Site and includes nine percent of the country’s coastline. Activities include a cruise on the St Lucia Estuary, horse riding, a guided night game drive at iSimangaliso Wetlands Park’s eastern shores to spot four of the Big Five (no lions), the beautiful beach of Cape Vidal, a crocodile center, a butterfly house, and much more.

Lidiko Lodge is set in beautiful lush gardens, rich in color and fragrances. The lodge offers four luxurious accommodation units, each with an ensuite and private patio. Facilities include an outdoor lounge, bar, library, sparkling pool, and complimentary WiFi. Centrally located in the town of St Lucia, Lidiko is a mere 5-minute walk to stunning coastal forest walking trails, all the restaurants in the village, the Zulu craft market, the lake, and just 3 km from the entrance to the Cape Vidal route as well as the beaches.

This tour is ideal for solo travelers, couples, friends traveling together, and families. It is created based on past client experiences, but you are welcome to replace your accommodation to a level that suits your comfort preference and budget. Our travel experts will be happy to assist you with alternative options.

Itinerary

Day 1 - 2: Arrive Durban, South Africa

This morning, you arrive in the sunny city of Durban. You will collect your car rental and drive to your guest house where you will spend the next two days exploring the ocean, indulging in exquisite cuisine, and experiencing the laid-back city life of Durban. There are various tour options in Durban, so please ask one of our travel experts for more information.

Day 3: Durban to Bayala Game Reserve

After an early morning swim and scrumptious breakfast, your safari adventure begins as you drive approximately three hours along the lush scenic route towards Bayala Game Reserve. On arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by the staff of Bayala and shown to your room. In the late afternoon, you will venture out on your first Big Five game drive.

Day 4 - 5: Bayala Game Reserve

The next two days focus on safari as you venture out on morning and afternoon game drives, with the option to do guided bush walks in between. Private game reserves provide an exhilarating safari experience because the number of guests on open game vehicles is limited, and skilled rangers and trackers are permitted to drive off-road. This is a huge advantage when looking for animals. Be sure to have your camera ready as you come up close to the beautiful animals of the bushveld.

Day 6 - 7: Bayala to St Lucia

After a final morning game drive and a heartwarming breakfast, you bid farewell to the African bush and travel towards the town of St Lucia. On arrival, you will check into your lodge and have the next two days to explore the beauty of this region. A recommended activity is a cruise on the Estuary and a visit to the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park.

Day 8: Depart St Lucia

This morning, you bid farewell to your adventure in KwaZulu-Natal as you drive to Richards Bay Airport for your flight back to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo Airport. Here, you will return your rental car and connect with your onward flight back home.