The Elephant Coast

The Elephant Coast is a region of Big Five game reserves, beautiful beaches and wetlands overflowing with wildlife. We visit the St Lucia Estuary, the largest estuarine system on the African continent with the largest concentration of hippo in South Africa! This area is part and parcel of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – a World Heritage Site – and is considered ‘one of the most abundant, naturally-endowed and beautiful pieces of real estate on earth’. After a night in St Lucia we travel further north to the exclusive Thonga Beach lodge for a beach break.  Our trip culminates with a Big Five Safari experience at Tembe Elephant Park and Rhino River Lodge. 

ITINERARY

Day 1

• Collected from King Shaka International Airport 

• Depart for St Lucia, arriving in time for lunch

• This afternoon we enjoy a boat cruise on the estuary to view pods of hippos and the Nile crocodile

• Overnight: St Lucia B&B

Day 2 & 3

• Today we depart for Thonga Beach Lodge, stopping for lunch en route

• Check in

• The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy your beautiful surroundings! 

•       The next two nights are spent at this lodge (scuba diving, snorkeling, spa facilities available and between November and January Turtle tracking tours depart  in the evenings)

• Overnight: Thonga Beach Lodge B&B

Day 4 & 5

• Depart for Tembe Elephant Park where we experience intimate encounters with some of the largest elephants in Africa

• The next two days are spent at Tembe Elephant Park where we have the chance of spotting Africa’s Big Five

• Overnight: Tembe Elephant Park full board

Day 6 & 7

• Depart for Rhino River Lodge situated in the beautiful Manyoni Private Game Reserve 

• Morning and evening safari activities daily

• Overnight: Rhino River Lodge full board

Day 8 

• After a final game drive in the African bush and a hearty breakfast we transfer to King Shaka International Airport for your flight home

*This tour package excludes flights