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EMB7D: Comrades Marathon: Durban +
Safari
Day 1
Arrive Durban Airport and meet your Comrades
host, who will transfer you to your luxury hotel.
Check in, settle in and relax in beautiful KwaZulu
Natal with its wonderful beaches, spectacular
scenery and remarkable wildlife.
Day 2
Today is free for you to acclimatise and prepare for
the Comrades Marathon – which at 55 miles (89 km)
is one of the world’s premier ultra-marathons.
Your host will be at your disposal all day today, to
assist you in registering and collecting your race
number and T-shirt; to discuss any logistical support
you may require and provide transport to familiarise
yourself with the route.
Day 3
 Today is Comrades Day!
Your host will provide all your pre- and post-race
transfers, as well as any other logistical support you
may require.
Rise early to be at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall
before the cock crows for the 05h30 starting gun.
Feel the excitement and trepidation of your fellow
runners, as you taking on one of the greatest
ultra-marathon challenges in the world – running from
Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
This historic race, which is renowned as much for its
comradeship as for its extreme physical challenge, is
run from “gun-to-gun” – with a 12-hour “drop-dead”
cut-off at 17h30. Those not meeting intermediate cut-off
stages will be obliged to board the rescue bus and
return home that way!
The “Big Five” hills you will need to conquer on the
down run are Polly Shortts, Inchanga,
Bothas Hill, Fields Hill and Cowies Hill.
Throughout the race, friendly crowds will be lining the
streets cheering you on, and willing you to the finish
line at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. Whether you
win gold, silver or bronze – this will be a race you
will remember for a lifetime!
Days 4 and 5
 At leisure in the beautiful holiday city of Durban,
South Africa’s most popular beach resort situated on the
warm Indian Ocean, with everything you need to
relax and unwind under sunny blue skies. The long golden
beaches are magnificent and restaurants are of an
extremely high standard.
On one day visit uShaka Marine World, Durban’s
newest and most exciting aquarium and entertainment
complex situated in the old harbour area, which is being
extensively re-developed.
Here you have the opportunity of viewing the large
indigenous sharks of the Indian Ocean and a wide
variety of other sea creatures in a world-class aquarium
setting. You also have the opportunity of interacting
with dolphins, seals and penguins
and the Water World offers fun for all ages.
Interesting shops, numerous restaurants and a
magnificent private beach with spectacular sweeping
views will add more pleasure to your stay.
Day 6
This morning you will be transferred to the famous
Hluhluwe iMfolozi National Park, a scenic drive of
just over 3-hours through rural Zululand -
renowned for its spectacular beaches and outstanding
wildlife.
Check in to your luxury game lodge, relax and settle
in to your African bushveld surroundings. In the
afternoon enjoy your first thrilling safari drive in
an open-top game-viewing vehicle, accompanied by an
experienced lodge ranger.
We hope to see several of the Big 5 – lion,
elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – as well as many
other species before returning to camp and dining in the
boma, a unique African experience.
Day 7
 Up early today for a dawn open-top game drive,
when game viewing conditions are at their best. We
expect to see giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, the endangered
white rhino and many other interesting species in
addition to the Big 5.
Return to the lodge for a sumptuous breakfast, then
relax by the swimming pool or enjoy a guided walk with a
ranger to view the smaller trees, insects and flora of
the region.
In the afternoon enjoy another exciting open-top
safari drive with your lodge ranger, searching for game
in their natural surroundings in one of the world’s
greatest conservation areas. If you have not yet seen
lion, today you hope for success!
Whilst the sun sets over the park, enjoy sundowners
in the scenic hills and in the evening dine in the
atmosphere that only the African bushveld can provide.
Day 8
Time permitting, this morning enjoy another open
top safari game drive with your ranger before
breakfast. Return transfer to Durban Airport.
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