SOUTH AFRICA SAFARI & SPA ADVENTURE

Day 1 Arrive Kwa-Zulu Natal

Arrive via Durban, an hour and half from Karkloof Safari Spa. Upon arrival check in to your private villa. Awarded Best Safari Spa in Africa at the Good Safari Guide Awards 2011, Karkloof Safari Spa is traditional colonial in style with a touch of contemporary. There is an emphasis on comfort throughout, with cosy sofas, roaring log fires in winter and a cooling veranda in the summer, 1000 thread count percale cotton linen and fluffy bathrobes. Each of the 16 private villas nestles independently amongst the trees. Floor to ceiling windows and private viewing decks afford the best views of the valley.

Overnight: Karkloof Safari Spa

Day 2 - 7 Karkloof Safari Spa

Enjoy six full days of pampering, relaxation and re-energising. The award-winning spa has 17 treatment rooms, all with views over the valley, and guests may book up to 11 hours of treatments daily as part of their stay. Hydrotherapy facilities include an open air Jacuzzi, kniepp pools, flotation pool, steam room & sauna and Roman bath. There is also a glass-fronted manicure and pedicure lounge and a Reflection Lounge for contemplation and wind-down time. The wellness programmes include Detox and Weight Management programmes, each adopting a holistic approach. Detox includes dietary, physical and emotional prescription with treatments including Exfoliation and Wraps to purge the body of toxins, dietary advice for re-energising and Flotation for clearing and easing the mind. Similarly, the Weight Management programme includes dietary advice and menu selection, a fitness regime, hydrotherapy and spa treatments as appropriate. The spa is staffed by professional Thai therapists. Massages, including pressure, poultice and aroma massages, are based on Thai practises. The spa offers a menu of other body treatments and facials. The vast landscapes and skies of KwaZulu Natal offer an alternative escape for one's mind. You are invited to explore the region on game drives and nature walks. Whilst this is not a region for spotting the Big Five (though three of the five make this their home), you will likely spot black and white rhino, giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo, zebra and serval. Superb for bird-watchers, there are over 300 species, including African Fish Eagle, ostrich, buzzards, kingfishers, varieties of dove and robin, as well as more unusual species such as Blue Mantled Flycatcher, Bush Bluecap and the Cape Parrot. Dining is a relaxed affair, with no fixed meal times, allowing you to eat when your body, not the clock, dictates. Choose from the decadent menu or the Raw Food Cuisine, designed to enhance detoxification and restore energy levels. All food is sourced locally. Should you wish to explore the trails and pathways, a picnic can be prepared for you.

Overnight: Karkloof Safari Spa

Day 8 Karkloof - Phinda Private Game Reserve

Depart this morning for a private transfer from Karkloof to the Phinda Private Game Reserve. Phinda covers seven eco-systems and we recommend staying at two of the four lodges within the reserve to appreciate the diversity. &Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge comprises six Cliffside stone and adobe suites reminiscent of Mexican haciendas, with bushveld views that are distinctly African. Each of the suites has a viewing/dining deck with spectacular views as well as an infinity plunge pool and outdoor shower.

Overnight: &Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge

Day 9 Phinda Private Game Reserve

Enjoy day and night game drives, bush walks or canoeing on the Mzinene River. This is the habitat of the Big Five; you may also spot cheetah and the rare black rhino. &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve focuses on conservation and community involvement and the reserve is a sanctuary for threatened and endangered species, such as cheetah and black rhino. Your guide will discuss with you the various conservation initiatives undertaken in recent years.

Overnight: &Beyond Phinda Rock Lodge

Day 10 Phinda Private Game Reserve

Depart Rock Lodge today and transfer to &Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge which occupies the wetland area on the edge of the forest. Offering a contrasting accommodation style, Vlei Lodge comprises six beautiful thatched suites looking out over the open vlei and a waterhole. Watch from your private viewing deck for zebra, monkeys and families of warthogs as they visit each morning and evening to drink.

Overnight: &Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge

Day 11 Phinda Private Game Reserve

Enjoy your final day of your African safari enjoying a game drive with a ranger, tracking in the bush or taking a river cruise. Take sundowners as the sunsets over the bush before dinner in the lodge's boma.

Overnight: &Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge

Day 12 Depart

After breakfast, transfer from &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve to Durban for your flight home