Pre and Post Congress Tours The Congress Secretariat has arranged an itinerary of pre and post Congress tours to make your trip to the 7th WWC a lifetime memory..go for it!

Post-Congress -- Friday 9th November to Thursday 15th November 2001

DAY 1: Collect from Durban International Airport early morning. Brief orientation tour of Durban. Depart from Durban and travel along the scenic Dolphin coast and into Zululand. Head for Lake St Lucia and the jetty where we will board for a launch tour of Lake St Lucia, to hopefully see crocodile, hippo and waterfowl on this the largest Marine Lake in Africa, recently proclaimed a World Heritage site. Overnight at a Lodge in the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park area.

DAY 2: Visit and walk the eastern shores of Lake St Lucia. Wilderness area. We would then proceed to the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Park where we would spend two nights at the world renowned, Hilltop Camp. The accommodation here is brick under thatch chalets, each with their own private bathroom. The meals would be at the excellent Mapunye A la Carte restaurant. This first evening we will go on a night drive in an open game-viewing vehicle. This to improve on your chances of seeing some of the nocturnal species such as leopard (always difficult to find), lion, hyena, genet, bush babies and then the other nocturnal animals such as the owls and nightjars. 

DAY 3: A walk programme visiting the Wilderness Area could possibly be arranged. Alternatively, the day will be spent on extended game drives in open game drive vehicles to various different areas of the Park. This is the game reserve famous for "Operation Rhino" which brought the white rhino back from the brink of extinction. Now you should see just how successful the Nature Conservation Service has been. Lunch at the restaurant or a picnic at some viewsite. Dinner and overnight at Hilltop Camp.

DAY 4: On to the Itala Game Reserve in the north of Zululand where we spend the night. The Itala experience combines excellent facilities with superb game viewing and bird watching in a beautiful setting. You check into your thatched chalet, which is situated close to the visitor's centre, which has a fully licensed restaurant, bar and an open game viewing deck, which overlooks a small pan. Other amenities include a swimming pool built around a giant rock. With the exception of lion, all the major game species occur in Itala. Of the 30,000 ha, about a quarter is open bushveld and much of the remaining area consists of steep valleys with dense vegetation. A portion of this rehabilitated farmland has been set aside as an Wilderness Area. Animals occurring in the reserve, that are considered rare and endangered include, greater bushbaby, leopard, honey-badger, brown hyena, pangolin, tsessebe and the martial eagle amongst others.

DAY 5: After an early breakfast we leave the Itala Game Reserve travelling through scenic countryside and rural community areas to Ulundi. It was here that on the 4th of July 1879 the British Imperial Army defeated the Zulu army of King Cetswayo and broke the mighty Zulu order. Interpretation of the Battles and present status of the area. From here we depart for the Isandlwana Lodge where we overnight.

DAY 6: Full interpretations of the Battle of Isandlwana and the defence of Rorke's Drift. Depart for the Giant's Castle Game Reserve in the uKahlamba Drakensberg Park - World Heritage Site. Overnight Giant's Castle.

DAY 7: After breakfast walk to the Main Caves and San Interpretation. Depart for Durban and connecting flight out. En route we will travel through the beautiful Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal and briefly visit Pietermaritzburg, a City rich in the pioneer history of the Province.

Please note: Your safety and security is the priority of your hosts, who will collect and return you to your overnight accommodation or the airport. All guides are registered by SATOUR and have had in excess of 5 years experience, all have a current first aiders certificate and have English as their mother language. Expert input from specialist would be provided at the various venues and group interpretations. 

Your hosts are members of a number of controlling authorities and in particular the South African Tourism Services Association, SATSA, which has strict membership criteria. Members have to comply with all industry requirements and to be financially secure. Cellphone communication is provided, subject to network connection, which is good. All overnight destinations have telephone.

Tariff includes all transport, accommodation, all meals, park and guide fees, community levies, excursions and then also refreshments whilst travelling. We also pay the gratuities that are "obligatory"(meal service, game walk guide). Not included would be your personal and bar purchases and telephone calls.

COSTING FOR THE ABOVE ITINERARY:

This 6 night/7 day safari would cost US$1,659.00 per person sharing with a single supplement of US$339.00. Price based on a minimum of 20 people.