South Africa and Mozambique: The best of the south
Highlights
Water activities, safari, traditional cuisine, urban culture, hiking, tropical beaches
Location
South Africa & Mozambique
Budget
from € 2,250, - p.p. excl. flight ticket
Enjoy from Durban to Sodwana Bay
We start in Durban, and from there continue directly to the beautiful southern Drakensberg Mountains! Brave the Sani Pass on the way to Lesotho and explore the area on horseback or on a scenic hike! Then it's time for the first safari, in the authentic Hluhluwe-Imflolozi park, start spotting the Big Five! From the bush, we continue to the coast of South Africa and a bit of Mozambique: diving, snorkelling, boat trips, kayaking and cultural experiences: it's all there! We conclude the trip with another beautiful safari in a private game reserve, before flying back home from Durban.
16 days in South Africa and Mozambique
Durban
Your long-awaited Africa adventure is finally underway. Today you fly, probably with a healthy dose of jitters in your stomach, towards the African continent. Prepare for lots of wildlife, pristine nature, beautiful beaches and special encounters to remember! The journey starts in tropical Durban where you will pack your car and drive on in about 3 hours to your final destination for the day. Welcome to the Soutern Drakensberg
Southern Drakensberg
Explore the breathtaking Drakensberg Mountains on horseback, an experience you won't soon forget! Start your adventure at Khotso, where more than a hundred horses roam freely. Gallop across grassy plains, climb over rocks and admire the beautiful scenery! The legendary Sani Pass is the only route that reaches the top of the Drakensberg Mountains and connects KwaZulu-Natal to Lesotho. Once a donkey trail, it is now passable for 4x4s, but still challenging. At 2873 metres, you will discover the land of the ‘people of the blanket’, where time seems to stand still. Enjoy breathtaking views from Africa's highest pub!
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
Head to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, one of South Africa's oldest parks, known for its vast terrain and dedication to rhino conservation. Here you will find an abundance of wildlife, including rhinos, elephants, lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, black rhinos, giraffes and zebras, as well as an impressive number of birds. Go exploring! Drive your own 4x4 through the beautiful hills of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, or book a Game Drive with a ranger on site. Along the routes, you will find several refuges, where you can enjoy sheltered observation of wildlife coming to drink and play by the rivers. Enjoy the beautiful wildlife of this park today!
Kosi Bay
Kosi Bay, an enchanting area where six lakes converge, forms one of the best-preserved estuaries along the Indian coastline. This natural paradise offers an abundance of flora and fauna. Explore by canoe, fishing boat or swimming the diversity of wildlife, including hippos, flamingos and various bird species. A fantastic tour is on the programme! Explore the estuary by kayak and sail through a surreal mangrove channel with five different species of mangrove trees. After snorkelling in ‘the aquarium’, learn about Thonga fish kraals and local fishing techniques. Try catching your own lunch Thonga-style! Finish with a delicious local lunch on wild banana leaves. An unforgettable experience!
Ponta d'Ouro
Explore Ponta d'Ouro, a lively village in southern Mozambique, located on the Mozambique Channel and just north of the South African border. Enjoy cosy bars, shops and surf shops, and discover fantastic snorkelling and diving opportunities. Admire the abundance of dolphins, which you can spot from the beach or swim with from a boat, an unforgettable experience! The name Ponta d'Ouro means ‘golden tip’ in Dutch, and you will soon discover why, with beautiful beaches, lush dune forests and an azure sea. Enjoy delicious Mozambican/Portuguese cuisine and various water activities, including a unique experience: swimming with wild dolphins in their natural habitat.
Sodwana Bay
Explore Sodwana Bay, an idyllic coastal village in South Africa's oldest UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wonderful diving opportunities, pristine nature and enchanting beaches await here. Spot whales between June and October and turtles from October to March. Explore the breathtaking coral reefs of Sodwana Bay, a top global destination for divers. Discover Zulu culture during a cultural experience with the Nomasonto family. Also explore Lake Sibaya, South Africa's largest freshwater lake, for an enchanting sunset and a traditional ‘farmer's roll’ at the lake. An unforgettable day of adventure and culture awaits you!
Manyoni Private Game Reserve
Manyoni Private Game Reserve, located in the heart of Zululand, is world-renowned for its spectacular safaris and rich cultural traditions. Originally part of WWF's black rhino project, Manyoni is now a top conservation destination in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Explore 23,000 hectares of beautiful Zululand landscape! Head out early with your guide to spot wildlife in the vibrant bush. After a delicious breakfast, relax by the pool or with a book, ready for another safari in the late afternoon. Enjoy every moment of this adventure!
Departure
Everything comes to an end, including this wonderful adventure through South Africa and Mozambique. With a nice healthy colour on your cheeks, you board the plane and with your eyes closed and your seat reclined, you dream away about the cool adventures you've experienced. Unspoilt nature, lush wildlife, inspiring people & vibrant cities. You now have plenty of stories to recount to your family and friends later by the fireplace. Welcome home! An adventure over, but another set of experiences richer.
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What our travellers say about us
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Auralie Blauwbloeme32 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We had a fantastic trip through Namibia with two families with teenagers. The trip was fully planned according to our wishes and tailored to the composition of the group. The personal approach, the communication, the preparation… everything was top-notch. Our next trip to Africa will be with Charlie's Travels again!
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RJ65 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Wow!! What an amazing trip we took through Kenya with Charlie's Travels. Self-drive, highly recommended, and wonderfully taken care of from start to finish! Thank you so much ❤️🍀
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GoeVerhaal.72 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We booked our honeymoon to Namibia with this organization, and how fantastic was it? We received clear information beforehand, they used a detailed app, and we received thoughtful messages before and during the trip to check in. Truly an organization with a heart for the mission of showcasing the beauty of Africa. When we looked into the organization further after the trip, we understand why. Thank you for everything! We didn't feel like just a number, received incredibly quick answers to questions before and during the trip, and received a beautiful, customized itinerary where everything was perfectly arranged everywhere on-site. You gave us the trip of a lifetime ❤️ Best regards and see you again! Laura and Arne
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Merel Doreleijers87 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I look back with immense pleasure on my pioneering trip to Madagascar with Charlie's Travels. What made this trip so special for me was its off-the-beaten-track nature. We visited places you wouldn't easily get to as an ordinary tourist, saw beautiful nature, and had a lot of contact with the local people. That made the experience very authentic. One of the biggest highlights was driving off-road myself. In addition, there were so many unexpected moments that I won't soon forget: a football match against the locals in the Tsaranoro Valley, unexpectedly finding myself in a local sacrificial ritual, and a canoe trip that went very differently than planned. We thought we were going on a sailboat trip, but it turned out to be a few leaky canoes. In hindsight, it actually became one of the best memories of the trip for me. That is also the charm of a pioneering trip: not everything goes as planned, but it is precisely those unexpected moments that make the adventure complete. I also appreciated the variety of accommodations. From homestays, B&Bs, and hotels to sleeping in a tent under the starry sky. That fit perfectly with the adventurous nature of the trip. I do think, however, that a pioneering journey isn't for everyone. You need to be flexible and be able to accept that plans sometimes change. If you can surrender to that and simply enjoy the journey as it unfolds, that is precisely what yields the most beautiful stories and memories. The reason I am not giving 5 stars is that the communication before and during the trip was sometimes a bit disorganized. I would also have liked to see more transparency regarding certain costs. In my opinion, those are areas where Charlie's Travels can still improve. Despite that, I look back on a fantastic trip full of special experiences and memories that I won't soon forget. If you are looking for an adventurous, authentic journey off the beaten path and are open to the unexpected, then I can certainly recommend a trip with Charlie's Travels.
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Martijn van Heest89 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Sjoerd from Charlies Travels organized my trip through Morocco, and it was fantastic! Due to limited time, I skipped the big cities and mainly visited the less crowded places in the interior. For a large part of the time, I stayed with families and experienced just how warm the culture of this country is. My 'guides' felt more like friends; they were hospitable, took me to visit family, and managed to strike a perfect balance between 'going on with life' while showing me the most beautiful spots in Morocco. For me, the added value of Charlies lay in selecting these amazing, not always obvious places, and the accompanying partners/guides/families who were willing to give me an inside look. Highly recommended for everyone!
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Victor Bijlsma159 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Went on a pioneering trip to Senegal, Gambia & Guinea-Bissau with Charlie's Travels. It was special to visit such pristine countries without mass tourism. The difference between Senegal & Gambia was already significant – and the trip was very diverse. From beaches and big cities to eco-lodges & local markets. Highly recommended to utilize the expertise of Charlie's team; it saved a lot of hassle :)
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Jasper M.180 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Had a fantastic pioneering trip with Charlie's through Senegal, the Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau 💯 World-class tour guides and a fun group!
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Casper Berkhout266 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We went to Uganda and Kenya for almost a month and we did not leave dissapointed! Our goal was to visit "off the beaten track" destinations and experience real local culture and Charlie's did not let us down. In Uganda we saw TONS of wildlife, with the bike safari in Lake Mburo being the undisputable highlight... unforgettable. We spent a day with the Batwa people, which was a unique culturally enriching experience. In Kenya we got to relax at the beach in a luxurious resort and get our tan on! All the tour guides that were organized by Charlie's were both knowledgable and wonderfully enthusiastic. This was the most memorable vaction in years, and we would reccomend booking a trip with Charlie's to anyone (if you are adventurous enough of course ;) ).Posted on Google![]()
Maikel Hurts283 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Angola surprised me in ways that are difficult to put into words. The country is raw and pure, with landscapes that seem to breathe: the red earth glowing in the sun, endless savannas disappearing into a haze of warmth, and the ocean incessantly beating its rhythm against the coast. With Xavier Rudd playing through the car speakers, everything took on an extra layer of meaning. His music—those earthy sounds, that peace and freedom—seemed to become one with the landscape. As the road wound through villages full of color and smiling faces, it felt as if every song had been written especially for this moment.
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Wolfeew283 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I've been to Africa with Charlie's multiple times – Kenya, Uganda, and most recently to Angola: Friendliness and rawness personified, a delightful mix of pure Africa and Portuguese influences. Beautiful, untouched nature, tranquility, and fantastic people. From desert to jungle, from canyons to waves crashing against the rugged coast – what a country. It's wonderful to be taken under Charlie's wing!
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Hanneke283 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Angola with Charlies was amazing! Remote and real pioneering. A great country to discover with friends. One big adventure, from camping in the beautiful desert to making memories for life with proud locals. Went home with a big smile and would love to be back soon!
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Jan284 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Fantastic organization, in short. We traveled to Namibia with a group of 7, and CT guided us through the entire process to set it up exactly how we wanted. During the trip, "our" travel coach Nick was also attentive, asked how we were doing, and arranged a few things for us, such as a New Year's breakfast. CT works with local organizations that we felt comfortable with.
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Tessa Tuk321 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Last October, I went on a pioneering trip to Malawi with Charlie's Travels, and it turned out to be a unique experience. The moments that stuck with me the most are the beautiful hike through Nyika National Park, where we camped in the middle of nature and zebras walked past our tent in the morning; and the evening we all dove into a local pub and danced the night away with the locals. The paradisiacal Likoma Island and the car rides through the stunning African landscape, with spontaneous stops at local bars along the way, are also memories that will stay with me for a long time. Malawi is called 'the warm heart of Africa,' and that is exactly how it felt. It was amazing to discover this country with Charlie's Travels and a wonderful group of people. Highly recommended!
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Lisa Snepvangers335 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
We went to Kenya for a month with our family of 5, all arranged by Charie's Travels, and it was AMAZING. We wanted a mix of off-the-beaten-path and comfort, a mix of adventure and vacation, and they made it all happen. Everything from planning the trip and airport pick-up to hotel bookings and activity arrangements went smoothly. We really had the most amazing time! (so much so that I'm writing this review years after taking this trip, cause we're still talking about it!) Definitely recommend booking your trip with Charlie's Travels!Posted on Google![]()
Saskia Looijen342 days agoTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
It was a fantastic experience to go pioneering in Malawi with Charlie's Travels. Truly the warm heart of Africa, with very friendly and open people. Malawi is a country with so many different things to do. We explored the lesser-known north: hiking in Nyika National Park with stunning views over colorful hills, an exciting boat trip across Lake Malawi, and beach vibes and lots of beautiful birds on Likoma Island. There are also beautiful bays and hidden spots along Lake Malawi. The roads are getting better but offer challenges here and there, which is highly recommended for the more adventurous traveler. The setup and organization by Charlie's Travels were excellent, always flexible and tailored to everyone's wishes.
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