Isibindi Bush and Beach Fly-in safari | South Africa | KwaZulu Natal

This fly-in safari begins in Johannesburg and combines a safari in the Kruger National with time at the glorious Coastal Maputaland beach and wetland area for the ultimate bush and beach combination. The 8 night fly-in safari has two departures a week on Saturday and Wednesday and can included just two lodges or up to four of Isibindi's lodges. We can arrange any of the possible combinations but we feature the three lodge option on the website.

Meals	Full Board and Activities
Accommodation	Combination of Game lodges, Coastal lodges and Tented Camp
Departure Dates	Saturdays or Wednesdays
Transport	Light charter flights and road transfers
Price Includes	All meals, activities as specified in the itinerary, charter flights and road transfers
Price Excludes	Drinks (except local drinks at Plains Camp), gratuities, motorised watersports and extra activities, items of a personal nature
Minimum Number	2
Climate	Sub-tropical
Best time to go	Year round destination but best from April to October or Nov to February for the turtle tracking season on the coast
Health Requirements	Malaria area so anti-malaria medication and sunblock is required
Combines well with	Cape Town and the Winelands
Other Ideas
Notes

Day 1 : Depart Johannesburg for 2 nights at Rhino Post Safari Lodge, Kruger National Park, FBG
On arrival at Johannesburg Airport, you are met and transferred by road to Benoni airport where you meet your pilot and begin your fly-in safari. You enjoy the 1½ hour light aircraft flight down to Skukuza airstrip in the heart of the Kruger National Park. Here you are met and transferred by open game vehicle back to the lodge for the start of your Kruger safari. Rhino Post Safari Lodge is a 16-bed lodge, set on the banks of the Mutlumuvi riverbed, within a 12,000 hectare private concession in the Kruger National Park. Rhino Post Safari Lodge was built using natural materials of stone, wood, thatch and canvas to create an authentic bush ambience. The utmost care was taken to minimise the environmental impact of the lodge, and to that end, no concrete was used in the building's foundations. Each of the eight luxury suites includes bedroom and lounge area with impressive views of the riverbed from the bathroom, outdoor shower and private deck. The suites are set out in an open plan style with wooden floors, thatched roofs, canvas walls, minibar, telephone and an overhead fan. Each ensuite bathroom includes a freestanding bath, twin basins, separate toilet and an outdoor shower. The main lodge, with its extensive wine cellar, cosy fireplace and bar, is the perfect spot for a sundowner, overlooking the waterhole in the dry river bed. For something special, spoil yourself with a little pampering in the rejuvenation centre. Approximately 10km north-east of Skukuza, the concession shares a 15km boundary with Mala Mala in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve, with game moving freely between the two reserves. Rhino Post focuses solely on game drives whilst its sister lodge, Plains Camp, and the sleep-out camp, focus on walking safaris. Usually clients combine one or two nights at Rhino Post before continuing to Plains Camp for walking safaris. Note: On this fly-in safari, you can choose to spend all four nights at Rhino Post, all four night at Plains Camp or split your time in the Kruger between the two camps. The choice is up to you, subject to availability of course.

Day 2 : On safari in the Kruger National Park
A typical day would include an early start, a cup of fresh coffee or tea, after which guests set out on a game drive. Returning to the lodge the guests enjoy a leisurely brunch and time to relax around the pool and watch the abundant wildlife amble down to the waterhole. In the late afternoon after a delicious high tea, you enjoy an evening game drive, winding down with sundowners, watching an African sunset and spotting nocturnal animals in the park. Afterwards sumptuous meals are served in the camp's dining area, which is set under magnificent Tamboti trees.

Day 3 : Head to Plains Camp for 2 nights, Fully Inclusive
Today after a final early morning game drive, you swap the tyres for your own feet as you head off to Plains Camp to enjoy a walking safari. (Or you can opt to stay another two nights at Rhino Post Safari Lodge if you prefer that.) You are transferred by road (30 mins) to the camp and settle in.

Plains Camp is the only camp specializing in walking safaris in the Kruger. The concession comprises of environmentally sensitive areas with huge diversity of both fauna and flora ? an ideal setting for wilderness walking safaris.

Built in authentic pioneer tradition, Plains Camp has the serenity of a 19th century naturalist's bush camp. Mahogany furniture with brass hinges and leather straps, copper taps in the bathroom and various surveying tools and Africana memorablia complete the 'Out of Africa' ambience. Plains camp has four comfortably furnished African explorer-style tents all en suite with overhead fans. You can sit on your raised wooden deck and watch game quietly traverse the plain in front of you. In keeping with the ethics of Rhino Walking Safaris 'tread lightly on the land' policy, no trees were cut down in the construction of this camp and no concrete was used - all structures are canvas and wood. There's an open lounge and dining area with outdoor fireplace. This camp was specifically designed for low energy consumption and makes use of solar power and limited generators for its power needs such as overhead fans.

A walking safari affords guests the ultimate, close-to-the-wild experience, and a chance to focus on the smaller bush inhabitants including birds, insects and butterflies. You can also discover the interesting worlds of trees, grasses, flowers, geology and ecology - of course, occasionally big game can be seen on walks - including rhino, buffalo and lion. The heat of the day will be spent at the camp, enjoying the small Africana book collection or the plunge pool overlooking the plains, which is often host to zebra, buffalo, giraffe, elephant, rhino and lion. Afternoon walks and sundowners complete a fulfilling African experience before dinner back at the camp.

Day 4 : On foot in the Kruger National Park
After an early morning wake-up and an invigorating cup of fresh coffee in the lounge, you set off on trail. The middle part of the day is spent relaxing around the lodge prior to an afternoon game walk.

If you wish, you can also experience a night in The Sleep-Out. The elevated wooden Sleep Out platforms are located within the concession, approximately 1½ hrs walk from Plains Camp. You arrive at the platforms in the early evening carrying a lightweight rucksack containing a change of clothes, a pillowcase, a sheet inner for the sleeping bag and refreshments. After hanging up mosquito nets and preparing beds, sundowners can be enjoyed on the platforms that also overlook a waterhole. While dinner is prepared on an open fire, you enjoy sounds and senses, heightened as you share the wilderness at night, while being safely guarded by our observant guides. The rumble of the elephant passing by or the roar of the lion at the nearby waterhole, are the only noises that might disturb you in this peaceful wilderness. The following morning, you enjoy a light snack after which you head back to Plains Camp for a hearty brunch.

Day 5 : Fly to Thonga Beach Lodge for 4 nights, Full Board and non-motorised activities
After a final early morning walk, you bid a fond farewell to your guides and return to the airstrip where your pilot flies south to Coastal Maputaland. This is a very scenic flight first over the Kruger and then Swaziland and weather permitting on a coastal path hugging the beaches of the Indian Ocean. On arrival at the airstrip it is a 45 minute road transfer to the lodge.

Note: You can opt to spend four nights at Thonga, or four nights at Kosi Forest Lodge or have two nights at each lodge for a change of scenery. It all depends on your preferred activity levels!

Thonga Beach Lodge is an exciting and refreshing wilderness destination on the shores of the secluded Mabibi bay in Coastal Maputaland. The lodge lies in the heart of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, an internationally recognized World Heritage Site, and there are no other developments within a 50km section of its pristine beach. Mabibi Beach is a magical place of tranquil swimming bays, sandy beaches, snorkelling reefs, coastal forest and shimmering lakes. The lodge, nestling high in the canopy of the dune forest, offers panoramic ocean views. It has a spacious airy beach feel with a stylish outdoor eating area, a secluded upstairs seating area with a dvd player for children, a open air bar and wooden walkways leading to the rooms. 12 eco-friendly suites are decorated in a chic ?Robinson Crusoe? style, five with sea views and seven with forest views. (Distance to the beach varies between 30 and 120 metres only.) The thatched en-suite rooms have been carefully constructed in the coastal dune forest to ensure minimum impact on the environment whilst still ensuring maximum comfort. Each has a double vanity, a large stone bath, indoor/outdoor shower, separate toilet, bar fridge, ceiling fan, air-conditioning, mosquito net and private balcony.

Day 6 : Activities at Thonga Beach Lodge
Activities at Thonga Beach Lodge include snorkelling from the beach, swimming, bird-watching and sundowner cruises or guided canoe trips on Lake Sibaya (included in the rate) and various additional activities such as scuba diving and diving courses, an Ocean experience looking for whales and dolphins and cultural village visits. Turtle tracking is a highlight for summer visitors from November to February.

Day 7 : Alternative Stay at Kosi Forest Lodge
This tour is priced on 4 nights at Thonga but you may like to split your stay.

DESCRIPTION OF KOSI FOREST LODGE
Kosi Forest Lodge has an appealing setting amid the mangroves, swamp figs and ferns of the Kosi lake system in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve. This 16-bed wilderness lodge offers guests the unique opportunity of exploring a pristine wetland environment by guided canoes, by boat and on foot. Its activities are split between enjoying guided canoeing on the tranquil lakes, nature and birding walks in the ancient raffia forest, boat cruises through the 18km lake system, examining the ancient Tsonga fish traps, and nearby beach activities such as snorkelling, swimming at the secluded Bhanga Nek beach. Home to the Palm Nut Vulture and Pel's Fishing Owl, the area can also be explored by keen birders at their leisure. This bush lodge offers eight comfortable thatch and canvas rooms on raised wooden decks, hidden in the sand forest. Each has a romantic bathroom, with a sunken open-air bath for star-gazing and outdoor shower.

Day 9 : Return to Johannesburg
After 4 relaxing days by the beach, swimming, snorkelling and diving, you are transferred back to the airstrip for the 1½ hour flight back to Johannesburg arriving in the early to mid afternoon in plenty of time to catch an onward flight to Cape Town or a homeward flight.

	1 May 2008 to 31 Aug 2008
Per person sharing	ZAR R 19,800

Prices may be based on current exchange rates and are subject to change prior to booking.

We recommend this fly-in safari fif you want to combine a safari with some time on the beach with the minimum of fuss. One of our consultants will gladly help you with any questions you may have.