St Lucia Safari
7 days - Richards Bay to Richards Bay
The St Lucia Safari is a privately guided horse safari in and around the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park in Zululand. This is an incredible corner of Africa, so fantastic it is a classified UNESCO World Heritage Area. The Park covers a mosaic of landforms that have created a vast array of different habitats to support a very wide variety of animals, plants and birds. The park has the highest bird count in Africa, with over 500 species, has Africa's tallest forested dunes and is the southern-most breeding spots for turtles in Africa.... and all of this runs alongside 220 kilometres of white, sandy pristine beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, where turtles nest and whales and dolphins play in the surf.
Each safari is tailor made to suit individual needs and can be for any duration, however we require a minimum 2 nights stay and need a minimum of 2 guests to run a safari. We recommend a stay of 6 nights/7 days as this gives long enough to settle into the ride and allows an opportunity to range further through the differing biomes of the Park A fully qualified guide, with a back up rider, leads each ride. The riding is excellent, the horses forward going and well schooled and the game viewing is good all year. You can expect to see a wide variety of antelope, kudu, bushbuck, red and grey duikers, warthogs, bush pigs, wildebeest, hippopotamus, zebra, crocodiles and the endangered coastal oribi. If you are lucky you may also see rhino, leopard and buffalo.
Non-riding partners are welcome. There are a number of other activities available ( some are at extra cost) including night game drives, whale watching (Jun to Nov) kayaking and snorkelling.
This itinerary makes an ideal add-on to our other South African safaris, a perfect combination to our Cape Tour or a superb holiday by itself. Please allow an additional 2 nights for the flights from London.
- Day 1 (L,D)
- You will be met at Richards Bay airport and transferred to your camp. After lunch you will be introduced to the horses and head out on a ride to see some of the area and to whet your appetite for longer rides over the next few days. Back to camp for sundowners then hot showers before a sumptuous meal.
- Day 2 (B,L,D)
- You are woken with a tray of fresh coffee or tea and biscuits, ready to rise early for breakfast and a chance to ride out to explore the area and find the game while it is at its most active. The morning ride is usually the longer ride of the day and often at a faster pace than the afternoon ride, this however is tailored to suit you. Return to camp for lunch, and perhaps a siesta. After afternoon tea head back into the saddle for the afternoon ride
returning for sundowners, hot showers and another delicious meal. - Day 3 to Day 6 (B,L,D)
- Wake with a tray in your tent, a light breakfast, then into the saddle and ride for the morning or drive out further into the Park to meet the horses who will have been trucked out earlier. Lunch could be a picnic in the bush or back at camp depending on the ride. One day while you are having lunch the horses are trucked down to the beach at Cape Vidal where you meet them later for a ride along one of the pristine beaches. This is a beautiful long stretch of beach with the warm water of the Indian Ocean rolling in beside you, it gives another perspective of the Park and if lucky you may see dolphins in the surf or whales travelling by. A trip to the beach or into the markets in St Lucia to see the local handicrafts, snorkelling over coral reefs, dawn kayaking, night drives, whale watching and turtle tours in season can also be arranged. You return to camp each evening for sundowners, showers, warm fire and dinner.
- Day 7 (B)
- Your last day of safari, after a final early morning wake up and breakfast go for a short ride before returning to camp to prepare for departure. You will be transferred to Richards Bay airport in time for your flight.
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- Cost per Person:
- Ride Only: £1,285
- Includes: Transfers from Richards Bay, accommodation and meals as indicated and all riding.
- All Inclusive: From £2,030 depending on the season.
- Includes: Flights, taxes, transfers from Richards Bay, accommodation and meals as indicated and all riding.
- Single Supplement: Please note that this ride only operates for a minimum of 2 guests.
- Departure Dates: Daily.
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The Accommodation:
This is a completely luxurious safari. The tents are large old style colonial tents with headboards for storage and a kist at the end of each bed to put your bag on. There are kilims over the tent base and large screened windows along each side to let in light and views. The front tent flaps also roll back to hook at the sides to give an even wider view.
The beds are made up with beautiful heavy white cotton linen, duvets and pillows and covered with soft cotton spreads. Big, thick fluffy towels are laid out. Each tent has a verandah with canvas chairs in which to relax and watch the bush.
Shampoo, body lotion, shower gel, soap, mosquito repellent and torches are all supplied. There is a zippered door between the main bedroom and the en-suite bathroom. The bathroom is roofed and private but partially open so you can still gaze at the trees while you shower. A bucket shower can be filled with hot water whenever required. The bathroom has a chemical toilet, which can be augmented by the 'long drop loo' during the day.
- Food & Drink: The food is sumptuous and of a world class standard with plenty of local produce and local seafood being used. Meals are served with silver and crystal and at night the table and mess tent are candlelit. A range of spirits and a choice of different South African wines is included. Most dietary requirements, strong food desires or dislikes can be catered for.
- Laundry: Can normally be arranged to be done at least once during the week.
- Children: Children of 12 years or older are welcome providing they are competent riders and accommpanied by an experienced adult rider.
- Non-Riders: Non-Riders are welcome. We can organise an array of additional activities for non-riders. These are activities are not included in the ratesand will need to be paid for locally. Some activities are time, tide or season dependent and so are not always available. Possibilities include: kayaking trips, snorkelling trips, whale watching (June-Nov), turtle tours (Nov-March), night drives in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, Boat Cruises on the Estuary, cultural tours, bird watching, golf, bicycle trips, and guided drives to Umfolozi and Hluhluwe Game Reserves.