From the culture of the Zulu nation to the Portuguese and Arab influences in food and architecture of Mozambique.
- Max 12 people
- Professional Safari Guides
- Safari truck, minibus & 4WD
- 13 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches & 7 Dinners
- Entrance Fees
- 13 nights guest house / cabin / chalet
- Kosi Bay boat excursion
Highlights
- Zululand - game drives
- Kosi Bay - lake excursion & walks
- Ponta do Ouro – dolphin encounter
- Inhambane & Chizavane – beaches, snorkelling
- Kruger National Park - game drives
Information
Overnight
The accommodations on this tour are chosen for their location and the activities available. 13 nights twin share en suite chalets, lodges, hotels and casitas. The guides will sort out room allocations
Meals
13 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 7 dinners are included. Of which 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 5 dinners and are provided by the lodges. The remaining included meals are provided by the Sunway guides, prepared either at the truck or in the self catering kitchen. Meals will be eaten either under the trees near your chalet or around the campfire at the truck.
Transport
Due to sometimes poor roads we use Sunway Safari trucks with 12 seats for this tour. Potholes, rain damaged gravel roads, livestock and children on the roads can make travel slow, but at the same time you’ll pass through villages and witness the local lifestyle all the way. Game viewing in the national parks will be in the Sunway vehicle. On 5% of tours we may use Mercedes Sprinter minibuses with 12 seats and air conditioning (with trailer for equipment and baggage).
Limited participation
An essential part of your safari is participation. From carrying your own bag to your room to packing the truck in the morning – it’s all part of your adventure. Your tour leaders will do the meal preparation when required but we do ask the clients to help (on rotation) with the washing up. There are some long travel days which means early morning starts so we all need to get involved to make the day run efficiently.
Responsible Tourism
We visit Kosi Bay. This KwaZulu Natal Park is an example of how conservation and the needs of the local coimmunities can work hand in hand. The local community is permitted to harvest fish within the reserve using environmentally sutainable, traditional reed fishing nets. KZN Wildlife are pioneers in the development of sustainvle tourism
Age Policy
We accept children 12-18 with accompanying adults on scheduled tours (for private groups we can accept younger children).
If the clients are older than 65 years, then we require a medical certificate too (stating client is fit and healthy to embark on a multi-day tour covering long distances etc).
The best time to visit South Africa & Mozambique
South Africa has a lovely temperate climate filled with plenty of sunny, dry days for the most part. The main factors influencing conditions are altitude and the surrounding oceans. Temperatures drop by about 6°C for every 1000m you climb (or 3.5°F per 1000ft). The Indian Ocean, runs along the eastern coast, has a warm current and causes the eastern side to feel more tropical than the west. Mozambique, being closer to the Equator and also on the east coast of Africa, has a significantly tropical climate. South Africa and Mozambique experience winter in June, July and August and summer months are December, January and February.
Dry season is from May to September: Water becomes scarce and wildlife gather around predictable water resources.
May:- Autumn temperatures are typically 10°C/50°F to 26°C/79°F and slightly warmer in Mozambique due to the moderating effect of the ocean.
June, July & August:- Winter morning game drives can be cold at around 6°C/42°F in South Africa, with Mozambique not reaching such low temperatures, but it climbs to 23-25°C/73-77° at midday in both countries.
September & October:- Spring begins and mornings are from 12°C/53°F warming up to 28°C/82°F. It can be somewhat warmer on the South African east coast and Mozambique, with temperatures over 30°C/86°F and quite high humidity.
Green season is from November to April: Birding is fabulous, and baby season means wonderful wildlife sightings.
November & December:- Typically temperatures range between 15°C/59°F and 28°C/82°F. The northern parts of the South African east coast aswell as Mozambique, receive fascinating marine visitors such as nesting Leatherback turtles and whalesharks, as well as Humpback whales.
January & February:- These are the Summer or “Green” months, with occasional storms in the afternoon. Temperatures can reach 29°C/84°F and the humidity is high in the tropical coastal areas and also on the lowveld areas of Mpumalanga.
March and April:- Lovely, clear weather and few clouds prevail, but the nights are cooler at around 15°C/59°F. Day temperatures range from 28°C/82°F down and humidity drops. Mozambique, again is slightly warmer than South Africa at this time.
From the culture of the Zulu nation to the Portuguese and Arab influences in food and architecture of Mozambique. Beaches, excellent diving to big game viewing and bush walks with local ranger. The accommodation, particularly in Mozambique is simple and the roads can be slow. Local facilities are limited so most of the meals are prepared by the Sunway crew. Malaria prophylactics are recommended. This is an easy paced, relaxing safari for those looking for a different experience in Southern Africa.
Day 1 - 3 Johannesburg to Zululand
- tented lodge Bx2 Lx3 Dx3
[B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner]
Zululand, home of the nation forged by King Shaka Zulu – stretches from the warm Indian Ocean, across the rolling green hills to the Drakensberg Mountains. We depart Johannesburg at 06:30am, travelling across the Highveld before descending into the heart of KwaZulu Natal known for its rich culture and spectacular wildlife. Our lodge for the next 3 nights is situated on a private nature reserve. We explore the natural serenity of the bush on a morning walk followed by an exciting afternoon game drive in Mkuzi Game Reserve. Mkuzi plays a key role in the preservation of the endangered black and white rhino and we look forward to watching from a hide overlooking a waterhole, as the animals quench their thirst. On the third day we explore Hluhluwe Game Reserve in the morning with lunch at one of the picnic spots on the Hluhluwe River. Returning to the lodge in the early afternoon we have some time to enjoy the tranquillity of the bush or take a swim before venturing out on a late afternoon guided bush walk.
Day 4 Kosi Bay
- Chalet BL-
Kosi Bay Nature Reserve covers a region of fertile estuaries, mangroves, dune forest and tidal lakes. This afternoon we walk down to the lake to explore this amazing eco-system by boat and the following morning we take a 4WD transfer to the Kosi estuary mouth. A special feature of the Kosi Bay estuary is the traditional practice of subsistence tidal trap fishing. We have time to swim, walk on the beach or snorkel the shallow reefs in the estuary mouth.
Day 5 - 6 Ponta do Ouro
- Lodge BLD
Ponta do Ouro is the ocean lover’s mecca of Southern Mozambique. A highlight of this safari is the opportunity to join a local dolphin research team on ocean safaris. Research since the early 1990s indicates that there are approximately 400 individual dolphins moving through the Ponta do Ouro area, of which about 150 are resident. We have 2 boat launches planned which gives us a chance to snorkel on the shallow reefs, view dolphins and whales from the boat, and hopefully swim with dolphins if their activity at the time permits us to enter the water. A wild dolphin encounter is an extraordinary wildlife experience. (Should weather prevent a boat launch then a portion of your local payment will be refunded).
Day 7 Maputo
- Hotel BL-
Maputo, formerly known as Lourenço Marques. Situated on a natural harbour, Maputo is the economic hub of Mozambique. Once referred to as the “African Riviera”, Portuguese and African cultures meet in an exquisite blend of seafood and vibrant life. Sample the excellent seafood in a local restaurant (own expense).
Day 8 - 9 Inhambane
- Chalets Bx2 Lx2 Dx1
Travelling north along the Indian Ocean coastline, we drive through mango and cashew nut plantations en-route to the town of Inhambane. Arab influences are strong in Inhambane dating back to when slaves, ivory, gold and spices were traded. Explore Inhambane and its 200 year old cathedral and we visit the enchanting fresh produce market before moving to Praia de Barra. Sit back, relax and enjoy the warm sea and expansive white beaches. For the more energetic, there are optional activities such as dhow rides, scuba diving, fishing and surfing (own expense).
Day 10 Chizavane
- Casitas BLD
We turn south along the coast to a secluded fishing lodge on the beach north of Xai-Xai. The lodge is perched on the coastal dunes with a magnificent view of the surrounding natural bush and expansive beach. Low tide exposes a long rocky reef parallel to the beach, which creates a shallow, calm pool ideal for snorkeling and swimming. For our last night on the beach we enjoy a fish braai (barbeque) dinner at the lodge restaurant overlooking the warm Indian Ocean.
Day 11 - 12 Kruger National Park
- Chalets Bx2 Lx2 Dx1
Leaving the Indian Ocean coast, we travel through the Limpopo Transfrontier Park and enter Kruger National Park, South Africa. An icon of nature conservation, Kruger is big game country! As we make our way to our camp, we enjoy an exciting game drive and hope to spot lions, giraffe and elephant among others.
Day 13 Greater Kruger
- Lodge BLD
The following morning we are up early and we spend the day exploring the national park before we leave and head to our private game lodge. Relax around the pool or the camp fire on our final evening in the tranquil African wilderness.
Day 14 Johannesburg
- - B - -
Our final day on tour starts with an exciting game walk. We explore the private game reserve on foot with our rangers. While the opportunity to see big game on foot exists our guides will also take the time to interpret the tracks and signs of the African bush. We head back to the lodge for brunch before we return to Johannesburg in the evening, sun-tanned, laid-back and ready to rejoin life. Tour ends at +/-18:00 at the hotel.
Please note: we do a free drop off at Johannesburg airport on day 16 at 17:00pm so you can book your flight out for the last day of tour.
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Jacqueline (Germany)
- Sep 25
Eithan (NLD)
- Jun 25
I’m back in The Netherlands after the amazing safari I had with Sunway. First the organization was second to none, Food was varied, wholesome and always more than enough, the crate of fresh fruit in the van was a nice touch. Accommodation was at its best very good and at its most rustic, adequate and clean. Our guides Cloud and Ayibongwe, were cool and collected in all situations, passionate about their jobs, the animals, and local folklore. They could cook and drive well (Cloud). Both were also interested in our lives. Please convey my compliments about Cloud and Ay to the powers that be, they are strong assets and compliment your organization. Sunway can’t guarantee the dynamics of the group, but our group gelled from the first day. Also, animals, but we seemed to have been very lucky as got to see all the five plus cheetah. It was an amazing experience.
Patrick & Julia (Germany)
- May 25
With the trip MOa14 (South Africa & Mozambique) we once again spent an absolutely fantastic African vacation. Transfer/pre- & post-night/additional day tour: The transfer to and from the airport was very good and quick. Rivonia Road Lodge is well located. Although it is very basic accommodation, it is perfectly adequate as a start and end point for a round trip. The check-in and on-site service, including breakfast and other food and drink options, are perfectly adequate The tour/accommodation: Once again, we were delighted with the tour and its many different facets. We would rate all of the various accommodations as Good and Very Good. Even though the rooms in some of the accommodations were very basic, they were all clean and fully functional (including air conditioning). However, this “shortcoming” was more than made up for by the excellent location/view. Some of the other accommodations left nothing to be desired in terms of the room. Breakfast was very good in all the accommodations and the food was also fantastic where dinner was offered by the lodge. We encountered very friendly staff at all the accommodations. We would particularly like to emphasize the two Sunway-owned accommodations Zululand Lodge and Makuwa Safari Lodge. Everything was absolutely perfect here and we could have spent even more time there 😉 What we also really liked about this tour was that, after long days of driving in the tour vehicle, we had at least 2 overnight stays in the destination lodges, so that there was no “stress” at all, but everything was absolutely relaxed (in contrast to how we felt on the first day of the Botswana tour) Guides & vehicle: With Christopher Zulu and Lloyd Mafudzi we had two absolutely fantastic guides who enriched us a lot. Lloyd is a great driver. We had an incredible amount of fun. We learned a great deal about the countries we visited, their history and cultures as well as the natural environment thanks to the numerous and extensive explanations provided by the two guides. The two guides made us feel that we were in good hands at all times. Be it during the trips, the border crossings, the walks and the city tour in Maputo. They also organized the check-in procedures at the accommodation perfectly. There was not even the slightest waiting time at check-in at any accommodation. The food prepared by the two guides Lloyd and Christopher (breakfast, lunch and dinner) was absolutely fantastic. On the third last day, the vehicle (Red Elephant) had to be changed due to a defect. However, the two guides and the entire Sunway team resolved this situation extremely quickly and professionally. A replacement vehicle was on site in just a few hours. In this case, our group consisted of 8 people (without guides). This offered enough space in the “Red Elephant”, but with a full tour (12 people) we can imagine that it would be a bit cramped. The “Red Elephant” is basically a very good vehicle for these tours, but we find game drives in open vehicles to be more authentic and they simply offer a better view for everyone (especially if the tour is fully booked). In our opinion, the “safari feeling” simply comes across better in open vehicles. Due to our defective vehicle and the open replacement vehicle, this wish was unintentionally fulfilled 😉 We would like to thank Elephant-Tours as travel agent and Sunway Safaris as tour operator for a perfect vacation. It was certainly not our last vacation in Southern Africa. We would use Elephant-Tours and Sunway Safaris again at any time and would recommend them without reservation.
Tessa (UK)
- Nov 24
The most memorable or exciting part of the holiday is impossible to pinpoint because there were so many breathtaking moments. Seeing our first herd of elephants marching with their babies was deeply emotional, and spotting our first cheetah was simply incredible. Inhambane felt like a tropical paradise, and the final lodge at Makuwa was stunning. Our two guides, Ayi and Iton, were absolutely brilliant and added so much to the experience. For travelers considering this holiday, be prepared for some long drives by bringing a book and a neck pillow to nap comfortably. There are plenty of stops along the way for snacks and drinks. It’s also a good idea to pack mosquito spray and lightweight long-sleeved tops and trousers for the evenings. You don’t need to bring too many clothes, as you’ll have opportunities to wash items during the trip. This holiday absolutely benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts, and supported conservation. We stayed in locally owned and run accommodations, used local guides, and worked with a locally based host company. We enjoyed plenty of local food, especially fresh fish in Mozambique, and used shared transportation without any domestic flights. We also had opportunities to purchase crafts from local artisans, supporting the local economy. Overall, this was an incredible first trip to Africa for me, far exceeding my expectations. My travel partner, who had already been to Africa, also loved the trip and achieved her goal of seeing a cheetah. It was the perfect balance of bush and beach, and I highly recommend it. This experience was a solid five stars.
Toby (NZ)
- Nov 24
Erika
- Nov 23
The tour provided was amazing! Our guides, Chris and Allan were awesome and did all they could to provide us with the experience of a lifetime.
We were traveling as a private group of 9 people, family and friends, aged between 25 and 65. We booked the tour as private since our needs and expectations might have been a little bit different from those of ussual travelers, and we needed the tour to proceed at our own pace. As some of us did not speak English, everything needed to be translated to Czech and our guides always gave me the time to explain everything to our group in our language. Also gave us plenty of shopping time as we requested because we do like to support the local economies, bring souvenirs and taste all that we can. Also provided us with coffee stops that we needed as some of the transfer distances were very long and affected by bad traffic. And provided fresh fruits during the whole tour, which was awesome.
Our tour started with unexpectedly bad weather for the first three days, but in that time we stayed in tents in one of the Sunway Lodges and the crew there also did their best to keep us comfortable. They even washed our totally muddy shoes!
During the rest of the tour, the weather was great (with some exceptions). We have seen 4/5 of the big five and plenty of other animals. We even saw jackals, hyenas and honey badgers! Our tour guides always stopped and adjusted the vehicle, so we could take beautiful pictures and told us information about the animals we saw. Also, during the journey they told us about the locals, customs, history and all that we needed to understand the countries we visited better. Also, when we wanted group pictures, our tour guides were there to take them.
Food during the whole tour was great, no matter if it was provided by the lodges, local restaurants or cooked by the guides. Honestly, I took the bits when the guides cooked (with our help ofc 🙂 ) as real fun. All the accomodation provided was good, and sometimes we just wished we could stay longer. But the countries were beautiful and sadly, two weeks was the longest vacation we could do. In overall, I can only recommend Sunway as a tour provider. And big thanks to Chris and Allan. You were the best!
Hella-Sabrina
- Jul 23
Well, I personally was very fascinated by Mozambique. Since I know Africa quite well by now, police controls and road conditions were quite relaxed for me, for the other three already a challenge. I must say to the two guides Ephraim and Onory: TOP! Onory was a great cook and perfect driver and both content and knowledge transfer very well positioned! There was of course another “special feature”, the fact that unfortunately we could not use the border crossing in the Limpopo National Park on the day we wanted to go back from Mozambique to South Africa. Thus, five hours were driven in vain, we had to go back, choose the border at Maputo, arrived at Kruger only around 8 pm and were accompanied by rangers to the lodge. The reason for not crossing was striking lodge staff who, according to the rangers, police and villagers had “created roadside ditches and were throwing rocks at anything that approached.” Kudos to the guides who were quite professional in not letting their concern show and handled everything calmly and objectively and here for Sunways: a new lodge was organized in the Kruger and the rangers who then accompanied us were then on the spot. Yes unfortunately we lost half a safari day in the Kruger, but were “compensated” for it the next two days. In the Kruger itself there were then wonderful encounters, for example with the rare wild dogs and incredibly many elephants, leopard and more. A very special highlight was a lioness with her four cubs. In general, we have seen very very many young animals! In Mozambique, a highlight was on the beach of Chizavame, where we suddenly saw whales near the beach. But also Inhambane was quite remarkable as well as the city life in Maputo. A quick conclusion: I would recommend this trip to anyone who is traveling to Africa for the first time and wants some adventure. Mozambique has totally fascinated me, also by the hospitality and openness of the local people. And finally, once again a big praise for the overall organization by Sunway and the two guides.
Anna
- 19 Sep 19
We recently returned from a safari through South Africa and Mozambique, including stops in Zululand and Swaziland. This was our first trip to South Africa, so it was not without some trepidation. Well, our holiday was up to, and actually exceeded, all our expectations. The places visited, accommodations, activities, food and general organization were excellent. Our guide Clinton, did everything to make this trip amazing. He was really professional and knowledgeable of wildlife, and at the same time friendly and good humored. A perfect driver. We’ve always felt safe! I would highly recommend this trip to everyone. Thank you Sunway Safaris for excellent organization, we’ll travel with you again.
General Comments
- 17 Oct 18
1# The guides were very good friendly, polite, have a big knowledge very helpful.
2# Outstanding skilled guides polite, friendly, informative at all times available and helpful.
3# Huge knowledge, guides were very friendly and polite the food was very good enjoyed it really.
Elise
- 27 Sep 18
I returned from my trip to Africa this past weekend, and wanted to share my experience with your team. My friend and I were on the Moa14 tour which departed Johannesburg on September 2, 2018. I had such an amazing experience on this tour. I wanted to commend our guides Jacques and Joe. Jacques was a strong leader and competent driver. Joe was so helpful and always positive. They both were very knowledgeable about the people, cultures, and fauna/flora. They were patient with our group and very professional, but still were a lot of fun to be around! I was able to see and experience everything I had hoped to, and even some surprises that truly made my trip incredible. Please extend my warm thanks to them both. I have been raving to people at home about my experiences with Sunway, and am already trying to save up for another tour in Southern Africa!
Marion Zimmermann
- 19 Feb 16
I just want to say thank you for a great tour. Our guides Tony and Brian were excellent and very helpful during the whole tour. Tony is a very safe driver with a great knowledge of nature and wildlife. So when I will book a Botwana tour I want to book the tour with this guide. He inspired me to discover more of the beautiful african countrys by talking about the great beauty of Africa.
Elena Ekzhanova
- 15 Nov 15
Thanks for the tour! It was splendid and very interesting.
Serena Ward
- 19 Oct 15
This is the second time I have done a safari holiday in Africa and the first time with Sunway. I was certainly not disappointed and infact the holiday and accommodation were far better than I had expected.
I did a 2wk ‘beach and bush’ from Johannesburg through Swaziland and Mozambique. the tour was very well organised, guides Farai and William highly knowledgeable on all our questions, either flora or fauna, and did their jobs very professionally.
The tour included 3 nights in several places, a welcome break from the long days in the truck, which obviously was a big part of the trip. We did several safaris in a couple of parks, and saw loads.
The food on the tour was top quality and rarely convenience foods, lunches often picnics on the road sides and dinners usually a fabulous meal around the camp fire. The ‘permanent tents’ were far from being tents, all with very good sanitary and hot water, and the places we stayed one night in were more 4* than basic.
The programme, although it included thousands of kms and long travelling days was…excellent. I think the entire group would agree that there was nothing we would have changed in hindsight. well done to the guides and organisers.
Heike Liebrecht
- 29 Mar 15
Interesting tour with a lot of variation and very good guiding team. No problems with organisation.
Gregg Herron
- 29 Mar 15
The trip overdelivered. William and Tony made the trip as they were efficient, friendly, professional and all around great company. The other guests were also great.
Amanda Bailey
- 19 Aug 13
I would just like to send a personal message to say a very BIG thank you for a fabulous adventure c/o Sunway Safaris. The itinerary was super, we loved the bush and beach combo. Ben was a star on every level, and it was hard to believe it was only Solly’s first safari with your company – a real asset. We have told so many people about our wonderful time, and have been loaning your brochure to lots of interested friends – I hope they book with you, and have the same great experience we. Again, many, many thanks. Amanda, Terry, Beau & Jade (I’m sure Ros will send her own thanks)
Birgitta Langhammer (Switzerland)
- 7 Jul 12
I chose this trip from the description in the ad, and so it was as i had expected.
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