9 Day Kruger & KwaZulu Fly-Drive Explorer

Kruger to KwaZulu Natal: A Big 5 Safari & Beach Self-drive tour

Overview

Combine two of South Africa’s safari bucket list destinations with a classic beach holiday on this 9-day self-drive safari. Enjoy understated luxury in the heart of the Kruger National Park at a wildlife-rich private concession with night-time safari experiences second to none. Followed by lazy beach days at enchanting Ballito Bay and end off seeing endangered wildlife such as the cheetah, black rhino and the Big 5 at Phinda Private Game Reserve. Experience top class snorkeling, diving, game watching, cultural learning and beautiful accommodation throughout.

Itinerary

Day 1 - 3: Kruger National Park

Today you depart from Johannesburg's OR Tambo Airport on a scheduled flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. On arrival, you will collect your vehicle and make your way to the lodge in the renowned Kruger National Park.

Your time at Rhino Post Safari Lodge is spent exploring the incredible fauna and flora of the Kruger National Park. There are a total of 147 mammal species to be seen in the park, particularly the Big 5, and over 500 species of migrant and resident birds.

Enjoy early morning and late afternoon open-vehicle game drives, as well as night drives in a 170km area of park. If you consider yourself to be adventurous, you could also spend a night on the sleep out deck located in the bushveld.

Accommodation: Rhino Post Safari Lodge

Day 4 & 5: Durban

Today you bid farewell to the Kruger as you travel back to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport for your scheduled flight to King Shaka International Airport in sunny Durban. On arrival, you will collect your baggage and make your way to the Car Rental desk where you will collect your vehicle and drive just under 30 minutes to the beautiful residential area of Ballito.

Overlooking the Indian Ocean in a coastal forest is the luxurious Zimbali Lodge, which will be your home for the next two days.

During your stay at Zimbali, you can look forward to several activities of offer at the lodge and around Durban; including tennis, swimming, bird and butterfly watching, forest walks, spa treatments, visits to Gateway shopping mall and Ushaka Marine World, mountain biking, cultural tours, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, golfing and dolphin tours.

Chat to your consultant about the various tour options available to you during your stay.

Accommodation: Zimbali Lodge

Day 6 - 8 Phinda Private Game Reserve

After a sumptuous breakfast, you gather your belongings and travel towards the pristine Phinda Game Reserve where you will check into your luxurious lodge.

Phinda Private Game Reserve spans across 28 555 hectares and is home to an extraordinary number of wildlife species, including the famous Big 5, cheetah, wild dogs and 415 bird species.

During your stay at Phinda, you can look forward to dawn and dusk open-vehicle game drives, bush walks, morning boat cruises on the Mzinene River and rhino tracking on foot. One can also visit an authentic Zulu village and enjoy seasonal turtle drives in the evenings.

Accommodation: Phinda Zuka Lodge

Day 9: Departure

Today you bid farewell to the bushveld as you journey back to King Shaka International Airport. On arrival, you will return the rental vehicle  and connect with your onward travel arrangements.

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Location and getting there

Rates & Pricing

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$ 600 USD
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$ NaN USD
$ 600 USD
Rates are starting prices per person, per night sharing.
With specials, we always use the best promotion available, please contact our experts for more guidance.
100% REFUNDABLE BOOKING
We can arrange travel insurance that will make this booking totally refundable.

Inclusions

3 nights at Rhino Post Safari Lodge with all meals and 2 game activities per day
2 nights at Zimbali Lodge with breakfast
3 nights at Phinda Zuka Lodge with all meals and 2 game activities per day
Flights: Johannesburg -> Nelspruit -> Durban
Car rental arranged for pick up in the Kruger & KwaZulu Natal
Big-5 Game Viewing on safari
Phinda Zuka Lodge: Interpretive Nature Walks and Big Game Viewing Walk
Phinda Zuka Lodge: Maputaland Beach Adventure (additional cost)
Phinda Zuka Lodge: Indian Ocean Scuba Safari (additional cost)
Phinda Zuka Lodge: Turtle Nesting Adventure (additional cost)
Phinda Zuka Lodge: Ocean safari (additional cost)

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Meet your travel advisor

Get in touch with Keith to start planning, our resident expert on this safari. Remember, our price is the same as going direct - see our best price guarantee!
To find out more about our 100% fully refundable bookings, ask Keith or click here.
Keith Kudzai Chideme

What our guests say about Keith

November 7, 2024
Keith Chideme is fantastic!
If you’re looking for someone to help you plan the trip of a lifetime, look no further than Keith Chideme. Keith has been nothing short of extraordinary in helping me create a month-long dream trip to South Africa for myself and 11 family members. His patience, kindness, and thoughtfulness throughout the entire process have been remarkable. Keith went above and beyond, engaging in countless conversations to make sure every detail of our six-destination itinerary was just right. He worked tirelessly to balance my budget with my desire for an unforgettable experience, finding deals and creative solutions that I would never have managed on my own. His dedication and expertise gave me complete confidence that this trip will be everything I’ve dreamed of and more. One of my favorite aspects of working with Keith was the personal touch he brought to every interaction. Whether through voice messages, phone calls, or texts, he was always patient, thorough, and thoughtful in explaining every aspect of the itinerary. I never once felt rushed or overlooked—he truly cared about making this trip perfect for us. I can’t imagine planning this trip without Keith. Knowing he has my back has been such a comfort, and I feel completely at ease knowing we are in such capable hands. My entire family is incredibly excited about this incredible adventure, and I know I’ll be contacting Keith for all my future travel plans. He is an absolute gem and a true professional. Thank you, Keith, for everything!
Melissa Solomon
,
US
October 25, 2024
Keith was amazing
Keith was amazing! We spent a lot of time on the phone and he was so helpful to curate the perfect honeymoon for my husband and I. Thank you Keith!
Jenna Watry
,
US
October 25, 2024
My travel consultant was Keith Chideme…
My travel consultant was Keith Chideme and he was great to work with. Keith was always available to answer questions and very responsive. My trip was easy to book and pay through safari.com and everything worked out perfectly. I would use them again in future.
Stefan Botes
,
US

Customer Testimonials

4.9
out of 5 based on
Nov 7, 2024
Keith Chideme is fantastic!
If you’re looking for someone to help you plan the trip of a lifetime, look no further than Keith Chideme. Keith has been nothing short of extraordinary in helping me create a month-long dream trip to South Africa for myself and 11 family members. His patience, kindness, and thoughtfulness throughout the entire process have been remarkable. Keith went above and beyond, engaging in countless conversations to make sure every detail of our six-destination itinerary was just right. He worked tirelessly to balance my budget with my desire for an unforgettable experience, finding deals and creative solutions that I would never have managed on my own. His dedication and expertise gave me complete confidence that this trip will be everything I’ve dreamed of and more. One of my favorite aspects of working with Keith was the personal touch he brought to every interaction. Whether through voice messages, phone calls, or texts, he was always patient, thorough, and thoughtful in explaining every aspect of the itinerary. I never once felt rushed or overlooked—he truly cared about making this trip perfect for us. I can’t imagine planning this trip without Keith. Knowing he has my back has been such a comfort, and I feel completely at ease knowing we are in such capable hands. My entire family is incredibly excited about this incredible adventure, and I know I’ll be contacting Keith for all my future travel plans. He is an absolute gem and a true professional. Thank you, Keith, for everything!
Melissa Solomon
,
US
Nov 7, 2024
Mel was incredible
Mel was incredible, she found great options and was quick to always aim for our comfort, I was very satisfied!!!!
Larissa Santos
,
AU
Nov 6, 2024
Lindi Weeks - Safari.com. A Pleasure to Work With.
I recently had the pleasure of working with Lindi Weeks of Safari.com to plan our dream safari, and I couldn't be happier with the experience! From start to finish, she was incredibly patient, answering every question I had and addressing all my concerns. Her knowledge of safari destinations, wildlife, and logistics is truly impressive – it’s clear she’s a seasoned expert in the field! Beyond being well-informed, Lindi is an all-around wonderful person to work with. She was understanding of our budget and needs, and she crafted an itinerary that perfectly balanced adventure, relaxation, and unique wildlife encounters. At every step, I felt like I was in great hands, knowing Lindi had thought of every detail to make our trip as memorable as possible. If you're considering a safari adventure and want someone who is knowledgeable, patient, and truly cares about making your experience unforgettable, I highly recommend Lindi
brawh
,
US
Nov 5, 2024
This is the second time this year we…
This is the second time this year we have used Shann Shaw at Safari.com. She is outstanding in her role and is always so flexible and helpful. She literally goes beyond expectations and nothing is ever to much for her and there is never any frustrations when plans have to be re-started if flights arriving later than expected. She also comes up with wonderful ideas for trips and not just limited to Safari's but for hotels in South Africa as well. i don't normally write reviews but Shann deserves every accolade that comes her way. thank you so much - Bryan & Jo
Bryan
,
GB
Nov 5, 2024
was really go service and will always…
was really go service and will always use her for future bookings when visiting the park
Bradley
,
ZA
Nov 5, 2024
The booking team is very helpful and…
The booking team is very helpful and always on top
Werner Untrieser
,
DE
Nov 2, 2024
We can't thank Shann enough!!!
We can't thank Shann enough for her exceptional help in planning our trip! She went above and beyond to ensure every detail was perfect, from booking our flights and safari to arranging seamless transportation. Shann was incredibly responsive, always available to answer our questions and offer guidance. Her dedication and attention to detail truly made our trip stress-free and enjoyable. We *highly recommend* her to anyone looking for top-notch service and a worry-free travel experience!
Tanaya Peck
,
US
Nov 2, 2024
Excellent customer service and quality safarisOur customer service rep was prompt and…
Our customer service rep was prompt and polite in responding to our query. She automatically included transportation to and from the safari lodge, which saved us so much time and effort and worry! Other safari companies did not provide this service. From a few questions asked she chose 3 fantastic options for us, exactly what we were looking for. She was also very patient in answering our questions about each lodge and was knowledgeable in her responses. I would highly recommend this company and am excited to go on the safari that she helped us choose!
Connie K
,
CA
Nov 1, 2024
Lindi is the best!
Lindi has been an amazing travel agent. We were a large party (7) and she was able to accommodate for everyone. She is so knowledgeable and made the process easy!
Ali
,
US
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