WPQ12D: Wedding: Drakensberg Mountains + Hluhluwe + Beach

Day 1

You will be met at Durban Airport by your host and transferred 3-hours to the spectacular uKhahlamba Drakensberg Mountains, recognised as a World Heritage site for its unspoilt natural beauty and vast collection of San Bushmen rock art paintings.

Known locally as the Barrier of Spears, the dramatic Drakensberg Mountain range runs right down Southern Africa from the Great Rift Valley. Visit the Didima Bushman Rock Art Centre before checking in to your romantic mountain resort.

Day 2

Relax and enjoy a romantic day of leisure in your spectacular mountain setting.

Your host will discuss your wedding arrangements and show you the small stone chapel, with its beautiful mountain views, as you relax in your magnificent surroundings.

The mountains offer superlative scenery and fresh mountain air, making it ideal for walking at any level of fitness (your hotel will organise guided walks each day – typically one short walk and one long walk, plus a walk to a San Bushmen painting).

Your resort has a swimming pool and also caters for the following activities:

• Fly Fishing
• Horse Riding
• Tennis on floodlit courts
• Lawn Bowls
• Badminton
• Mountain Biking
• Table Tennis
• Darts and Pool
• Golf (9-holes)

The mountains also offer outstanding bird watching – particularly raptors, but also sunbirds, waxbills and numerous other species found in the grasslands, riverine scrub and natural forests.

Day 3

Wake at leisure on this your WEDDING DAY.

This morning enjoy some luxury pampering at the spa.

Around midday meet your Marriage Officer to discuss your wedding and the significance of the commitment you are about to make to each other. This is your opportunity to raise any special requests you may have regarding the ceremony.

Then relax and enjoy every moment of this your special day, without any of the pressures of a formal wedding, as you exchange vows high up in your mountain chapel, in one of the most romantic settings in the world with superb open views! Your photographer will record special moments under warm blue skies, as you create memories of a lifetime.

After exchanging your vows, toast your marriage with champagne and celebrate with a romantic candlelit wedding dinner to complete your special day.

Days 4 & 5

Enjoy breakfast in bed this morning as Mr and Mrs!

At leisure to relax in the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains.

Day 6

Today transfer 4-hours through the rolling hills of the Natal Midlands to Durban and onward to the splendid beaches of the North Coast.

Check in to your hotel situated close to the warm Indian Ocean.

Day 7

This morning continue 3-hours to the famous Hluhluwe iMfolozi National Park.

On the way we stop at an authentically reconstructed Zulu Village to experience Zulu life and culture, and stop at a self-help project to give you the opportunity of supporting the local community by purchasing one of their handmade products.

Check in to your luxury game lodge situated near the entrance to the park and enjoy your first game drive in an open-top game-viewing vehicle into the vast Hluhluwe iMfolozi National Park. Hope to see several of the Big 5 - lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino & leopard – as well as many other interesting species, before dining under the stars!

Day 8

Up early today for a dawn open-top game drive, when game viewing conditions are at their best. Expect to see giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, the endangered white rhino and many other interesting species in addition to the Big 5 today.

Return to the lodge for breakfast and relax by the lodge swimming pool, before setting out again in the late afternoon for another game drive, searching for game in their natural surroundings in one of the world’s greatest conservation areas. 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!

Days 9 to 11

This morning enjoy a final open top game drive, before transferring to your North Coast beach hotel, situated 40-minutes north of Durban. Check in, settle in and relax on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean.

KwaZulu Natal is South Africa’s favourite beach holiday destination, with its warm sweeping beaches and reliably good holiday weather all year round.

Umhlanga and Ballito are popular beach resorts, 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. Your hotel is splendidly situated close to the beach, with its own swimming pool.

Local activities include horse riding, golf, quad biking and deep-sea fishing.

The casinos and nightlife of Durban are within easy reach, as well as several outstanding shopping malls. All you need for a wonderful beach holiday!

Day 12

Today enjoy an excursion to uShaka – South Africa’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 day.

Day 13

Transfer to Durban Airport for your flight home.