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Tour Dates 2009:
| 02 - 09 October 2009 |
| 04 - 11 December 2009 |
Tour Information :
This is a very unique tour and we are not aware of any comparable product in the tourism market. The tour has been developed for the person who loves nature. The wide variety of indigenous trees, plants, flowers, bird and tree life is really exceptional. The forests we visit also differ substantially. It is also important to note that all of the forests we visit, with the exception of one, are vehicle friendly which means that we will traverse the forest by vehicle. It is therefore not necessary for you to be an experienced hiker to join this tour. The one forest that cannot be explored by vehicle, does require a fair amount of hiking (not mountain climbing). For those unable to walk, there will be an alternative program for this day.
Day 1 - Richards Bay
Our tour starts early morning at the Durban International Airport. From there we depart en route to our first destination at Richards Bay.
Weather permitting, we take a boat cruise in the harbour. There will be an alternative program if the weather doesn’t allow this excursion.
Day 2 - Ngoye Forest
After a hearty breakfast we depart for a visit to the Ongoye Forest, a short distance from Richards Bay. This forest is most probably one of Natal’s most impressive forests. It is a wet, ever green forest on the first escarpment from the coast and lies at a height of 400 meters above sea level.
The importance of this forest lies in the fact that it forms an exceptional link with the tropical forests of Tanzania, Malawi and Kenia in the north as well as with the forests in southern Natal, Transkei and Tsitsikamma and Knysna in the south.
There are numerous rare and endemic plants, trees and animals in this forest, not even mentioning all the flowering plants.
This forest is indeed worthy of a visit, especially for indigenous tree lovers and bird watchers.
At lunch time we return to Richards Bay.
Day 3 - Nkandla Forest
Today we travel to
the Nkandla Forest and our trip there takes us through the most dramatic
mountain scenery in the whole of Zululand.
There are huge patches indigenous bush and numerous streams and rivers traversing the area, especially the Umhlatuze River and its tributaries. The largest of the bush areas is the Nkandla Forest. There are still several antelope species and leopards present in the almost impenetrable brushwood between the tall trees. A distinctive feature of this forest is the ravine which is up to 600 meters deep in places. The Mome River flows through this ravine in a series of waterfalls. The Nkandla Forest is also the last resting place of the Zulu king, King Cetchwayo. He took refuge in this forest after his defeat by Zibhebhu. He died there on the 23rd of April 1884.
This forest is also worth a visit, especially for lovers of indigenous tree and bird watchers. This forest is vehicle friendly.
Our overnight accommodation is the Amatshe Nezempisi Chalets. They offer self catering units which means that dinner will be a braai and pap.
Day 4 - Karkloof
After breakfast we take to the road again with Karkloof Nature Reserve as our destination for the day. En route to Karkloof, we travel through small towns such as Nkandla, Kranskop and Greytown. The landscape en route is unknown to many people but really beautiful. After our arrival at Karkloof Nature Reserve, there should be sufficient time to stretch our legs in the forest adjacent to our accommodation.
Day 5 - Karkloof
After breakfast we take a leisurely drive through the Karkloof Forest. This forest is one of the largest remaining mist belt forests in KwaZulu Natal. The forest starts at a height of 800 meters above sea level at the confluence of the Karkloof and Mgeni Rivers and reaches a height of 1 700 meters above sea level against the top slopes of the Gilboa Mountain.
This is an exceptional forest with exceptional flora. 32 Tree species can be found here, as well as several rare ferns and a very rare orchid, Neobolusia tysonia. The area is also ideally suited for bird watching. Several butterfly and smaller animal species can also be found here. This forest is also vehicle friendly. We will stop periodically to stretch our legs or to give those who want to walk the opportunity to go ahead on foot.
We continue our journey to Dragons Peak in the Northern Drakensberg where we will spend the night.
Day 6 - Bush Reserve No 2
Today we visit a forest known as Bush Reserve No 2. This is a very good example of an endemic Drakensberg Montane forest. We will also explore this forest by vehicle to learn more about the habitat, trees and plants found here, as well as animals and birds.
Day 7 - Rainbow Gorge
This is especially for people who still enjoy walking. For those unable to walk, we arrange a visit to Falcon Ridge at Cathkin Peak where they will be able to watch a show of a variety of birds of prey. It is really something exceptional.
After a scrumptious breakfast the rest of the group will depart to Didima Camp in the Cathedral Peak area, from where we will hike to Rainbow Gorge. It is a two hour hike deep into the bush en then two hours back again. It is not a difficult hike as we move slowly and the route is almost horizontal to the mountain into the gorge. You need not be an experienced hiker.
This is also one of the most beautiful and largest forests in the Northern Drakensberg and offers an amazing variety of trees, plants, flowers and birds. It is also a Montane forest but differs from Bush Reserve No 2 in many respects.
After a light lunch we return to our accommodation at Dragons Peak where we will relax after the morning’s activities.
Day 8 - Last day and back to Durban
After breakfast it is time to go home and we depart on the last leg of the tour back to Durban.
Our journey may end here but this unique tour of the rain forests of Natal will certainly live on in the memory of all concerned.
@ JJ Du Preez / Pumba Tours
Destination RSA (Pty) Ltd trading as Pumba Tours
PO Box 101016
Meerensee
Richards Bay 3901
Tel: 035 753 3677/ 753 3962
Fax: 035 753 5875
e-mail: pumbatrs@iafrica.com
Price:
The total price for the full duration of this 8 day tour amounts to R7 450 per person sharing. There will be a levy of R960 per person not sharing.
The price includes the following:
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All traveling costs
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All accommodation
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All gate and entrance fees to the different parks and sights as set out in the itinerary
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Transport in luxury four wheel drive vehicles
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On board refreshments in the form of mineral water
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All meals as per the itinerary (two meals per day plus other meals as per the itinerary)
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Passenger and Public liability insurance
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Well trained drivers and accredited guides
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We would like to mention that we take more or less 750 photos during the tour. These photos will be placed on CD and made available free of charge to tour members. You will also receive a complimentary high quality DVD of the tour with photos, music and captions. Duration of the DVD - more or less 45 minutes.
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Complimentary DVD of the entire tour