Cruiselite Art Safari is a 12 day / 11 night package tour by Cruiselite Tours & Safaris

Day 1: Durban International Airport to Simunye Valley
We’ll meet your flight at Durban International airport from where we’ll travel north along the Dolphin Coastal, crossing the mighty Tugela River into the heart of Zulu country, stopping along the way for refreshments and lunch, arriving at Simunye Zulu Lodge in the afternoon. A group of traditional Zulus will escort us into his amazing Zulu village, where we’ll enjoy evening entertainment in the form of Zulu dancing and an insight into the local culture. This authentic experience is certainly not to be missed.

Overnight: Simunye Zulu Lodge

Day 2: Simunye Valley to Bonamanzi Game Park
After a traditional open air breakfast we’ll leave the Simunye valley behind and continue our adventure north to the coastal forests surrounding Lake St. Lucia (World Heritage Site) to Bonamanzi Game Park (look-water), which is idyllically located in the heart of Zululand. This bird lover’s paradise, with the Hluhluwe River running through it not only abounds in wonderful bird life, it also affords you the opportunity to discover many other fascinating features of nature. We’ll take an afternoon game drive and begin to look at the many aspects that make up wildlife art, eventually returning to our lodge at dusk to savour the African sunset. An open-air dinner under the stars in the Boma (enclosed stockade) will round of a perfect African day.

Overnight: Bonamanzi Game Park

Day 3: Bonamanzi Game Park
After an early morning game walk we’ll return to camp for a real bush breakfast in time to meet Chris Hearne, our photographic advisor who will go through the basics of picture taking and will accompany our group while at Bonamanzi. Today we’ll visit the Lake St Lucia Estuary for a boat cruise up the narrows of the lake in search of hippos, crocodiles. It’s not uncommon to see pods of hippo up to 30 in number. The bird life in this area is clearly very prolific and far too numerous to mention by specie. There will be ample opportunity for taking photos under Chris’ guidance in a relaxed manner. Today you’ll also have the opportunity to wander along the miles and miles of uninhabited beaches, while the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean will probably still be warm enough for a refreshing swim. After this day of adventure there will be many stories to be told around the campfire at Bonamanzi.

Overnight: Bonamanzi Game Park

Day 4: Bonamanzi Game Park
Today you’ll get your first real taste of Africa’s wildlife as we will make an early start and travel inland for about an hour to the Umfolozi/Hluhluwe Game Reserve, home of the largest population of white rhino in Africa. You are also likely to see elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe and a host of other animals that occur naturally in this, the oldest game reserve in South Africa (1897). Chris will accompany the group and assist all the members of tour with his photographic knowledge. There will be ample opportunity for sketching and sculptural activity whilst under the expert guidance of Allen. We’ll stop at the Hilltop Restaurant for lunch and refreshments along the way while making convenience stops at frequent intervals. Later in the afternoon we’ll visit a basket making centre famous for Zulu basket ware and other unique crafts on our way back to Bonamanzi. There will be time to relax with a cocktail before dinner, which will take the form of a traditional South African Braai (Barbecue). Please do not be concerned, we specialise at this sort of catering, so you won’t be subjected to “burnt offerings”.

Overnight: Bonamanzi Game Park

Day 5: Bonamanzi Game Park
For the birdwatchers this is the day for close-up encounters with an amazing variety of water birds including pelican, fish eagle, herons, flamingo and a multitude of others too numerous to mention. We’ll be travelling the waterways of the Hluhluwe River with our photographer and guide in search of these elusive feathered fowl to capture unique photos and artistic material to further our experience up close in Zululand. The afternoon will be devoted to artistic creation at one of the many bird hides and water holes. Our friend Chris will bid farewell in the morning, so now is your opportunity to share some time going through and learning more about the art of wildlife photography whilst sitting in the shade of an acacia tree watching Africa pass by.

Overnight: Bonamanzi Game Park

Day 6: Bonamanzi Game Park to Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary
Today we leave Zululand behind filled with anticipation of what adventure lies ahead. We’ll travel north into the Kingdom of Swaziland. The Swazi people still observe ancient rites and traditions under the rule of their African King. After a visit and lunch stop at the famous Swazi candle factory we’ll spend the night in the peace and tranquility of the Ezulweni valley at the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, where you’ll have the option of mountain biking, horse riding or walking tours accompanied by one of the resident rangers. Our traditional cultural evening will include Swazi dancing and an insight into their culture. Tonight, a rare experience, our accommodation at Mlilwane will be in authentic ‘beehive’ grass huts that have been slightly modified to include en suite facilities.

Overnight: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary

Day 7: Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary to Kruger National Park
We’ll bid farewell to this most attractive, albeit small, mountainous country heading north to the famous Kruger Park in search of all that this game reserve has to offer. We’ll stop along the way for lunch at one of the numerous picnic spots in the cool shade of the mahogany trees that grow prolifically in this reserve and we will arrive at Skukuza which is the largest camp in the Kruger Park and enjoy another facet of Africa that sets it apart from the rest of the world. All along the way there will be different opportunities to enhance your artistic and photographic desires and requests. Our evening meal will be taken at one of the restaurants. So far you have been able to experience an extensive cross section of natural and cultural life that you are able to take away with you for life – but wait there’s so much more to come.

Overnight: Kruger National Park

Day 8: Kruger National Park
Today, for those who would like to turn their hand to sculpture we will spend the morning innovating and creating a piece of your choice that will be completed in clay for you to take home and cast or keep as a memento of your safari. There will also be game drives for sketch artists and non-artistic partners during the day. In the afternoon we travel through the park on our way to Umlani Bush Camp which is also within the greater Kruger Park. Here you will stay in rustic luxury a step away from the norm. This is part of the “Old Africa” and an experience not to be missed. Our time here will be spent game viewing, walking and soaking up the pulse of Africa.

Overnight: Umlani Bush Camp, Kruger Park

Day 9: Kruger National Park
On your game drives in the area you can expect to see lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard, crocodile, hippo, giraffe, zebra, warthog, hyena, jackal and a huge assortment of antelope, including impala, kudu, waterbuck, steenbok, bushbuck, klipspringer and wildebeest, not to mention the very prolific bird life. Tonight we’ll head out on sunset / night game drives, which will give you the opportunity of seeing some of our nocturnal predators, such as lion, leopard and hyena. Expect to hear wonderful tales and facts about Africa, the Kruger Park and its wildlife from your guide.

Overnight: Umlani Bush Camp, Kruger Park

Day 10: Kruger National Park
Early this morning, after coffee and biscuits we’ll be taken on the walk by experienced, armed game rangers who know the whereabouts of some interesting sightings that will surely enhance the trail. After a sumptuous brunch back at camp our attention will be turned to matters artistic, creative or just pure relaxation in the heat of the African day. At night, as you retire, listening to the primal sounds of the African night you will know that you are experiencing something truly special.

Overnight: Umlani Bush Camp, Kruger Park

Day 11: Kruger National Park to Otters Den
We regretfully have to leave behind wild Africa as we travel on to Otter’s Den for the last night of our epic tour and spend the time recapping on the experience and the way forward in terms of art and all that goes with the past eleven days, encountering the many facets that make up “Allen’s Africa”.

Overnight: Otters Den

Day 12: Otters Den to Johannesburg
We leave Otter’s Den after breakfast and travel through the Drakensberg Mountains, Mpumalanga taking in various waterfalls and historic sites on our way back to Jo’burg, stopping along the way for lunch and refreshments. And so, your Cruiselite Art Safari will sadly come to an end in Jo’Burg at about 17h00.