Sandy Beaches and Drakensberg Mountains

From St. Lucia or Hluhluwe you'll drive straight through KwaZulu Natal on to Champagne Valley, ideally located between 'Central Berg (Mountain)' and 'Royal Natal'. Flowing fields will gradually make way for a increasingly hilly landscape and in the distance you'll see the peaks of the Drakensberg. You'll spend the night at Champagne Farm, located in a beautifully green area with a view of mountain tops. Once you reach your accommodation you'll have time to go for a walk through the area or to relax by the pool. In the evening you'll be able have a wonderful meal at the guest house.

From Champagne Valley you'll easily be able to reach the 'Central Berg (Mountain)' and 'Royal Natal'. You'll be able to go on hikes through both of these spectacular areas for 1 to 6 hours. The Drakensberg massive has peaks ranging from 1700 to 3500 metres and they are made up of overgrown basalt mountains which countless mountain streams run through. You'll find a very wide variety of fauna in this area. If you look closely you'll see the black eagle, the bearded vulture, badgers, different types of gnus and much more.
 
Naturally, the highlight of the Royal Natal Park is the 'Amphitheatre'. If hiking in South Africa isn't your thing, you can also visit the the Spioenkop game reserve or the Weenen game reserve. The Weenen game reserve is known as the home of the black rhino, but it is also home to the giraffe, buffalo, zebra, ostrich, European bison and many types of antelopes. You'll spend the night in Champagne Valley once again tonight.

Today you'll drive from the mountains to the coast. If you have enough time available, you could take a detour and visit the historic town of Pietermaritzburg. Afterwards it's not far to Durban and nearby coastal town Umhlanga. This is where you'll stay in a cosy guest house only 30 metres from the Indian Ocean. The average temperature here is approximately 25°C. During the winter it may be too cold to dive into the sea - however the temperature will still be ideal for a walk on the beach or to have a drink on a terrace. The town centre of Umhlanga is only a 5 minute drive from your accommodation. It's a very lively area with bars, restaurants and stores where you can buy fun souvenirs. This is a great place to have dinner in the evening, although you could also drive down to Durban Boulevard for more options. 

Tip: Have some free time left and are you looking for some rest and relaxation? Stay at the sandy beaches of Umhlanga for a few extra days. This is particularly enjoyable during November-April when the average temperature is 28 degrees Celsius.