DAY 1 - 2 : KMIA TO MALELANE AREA Arrive at the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and pick-up your rental vehicle from the car rental depot. Continue to Buhala Game Lodge fenced into the Kruger National Park and only 15 minutes from the Malelane Gate. Watch big game come down to drink in the Crocodile River, Kruger Park's Elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, hippo and giraffe are all regulars. Truly a bird lover’s paradise with over 200 bird species which have been recorded on the property.
Mpumalanga's Panorama route, with its vast array of waterfalls, artists villages, rock formations etc. is a lovely days excursion from the property and can be arranged accompanied by a tour guide to point out the history and interesting facts of the area. (Own account) Another suggestion is an open vehicle game drive into Kruger National Park, view the big and tall to the small and vulnerable creatures. Look out for members of the Big Five before returning to the Lodge with many stories to tell. End the evening off indulging in the superb international quisine and extensive wine list Buhala has to offer.
Overnight: Buhala Lodge, Malelane area [B]
DAY 3 : MALELANE AREA TO MAPUTO Time permitting, enjoy breakfast and take an early game drive through the Kruger National Park. Alternatively enjoy an early morning walk, followed by a fabulous breakfast buffet before your departure to Maputo.
Continue to Mozambique via the Komatipoort border post. After customs formalities, continue to Maputo, formerly known as Lourenço Marques, a bustling port city whose engaging Mediterranean atmosphere imbues a lively nightlife and vibrant fruit and craft markets. The city is also renowned for its colonial Portuguese architecture and impressive skyline.
Make your way to the Holiday Inn Maputo. The hotel is magnificently situated right on the beachfront and the rich Portuguese heritage of the attractive city is echoed in the continental décor throughout the hotel.
Optional Activity:The Museum of Revolution. This museum chronicles Mozambique's war for independence from Portugal. Enjoy sundowners and relax at the outdoor pool situated right on the beach, overlooking the Indian Ocean before dinner (own account).
Overnight: Holiday Inn Maputo, Maputo [B]
DAY 4: MAPUTO TO INHACA ISLAND Early morning wake up before sitting down to a full English buffet breakfast while enjoying panoramic sea views. You will be transferred by the hotel to the Maputo Marina Harbour for a boat transfer to the Island of Inhaca - a delightful holiday island off the Mozambican coast, 35km from Maputo. The Island boasts beautiful beaches, a mangrove-lined coastline in the north and brightly coloured reefs off its west coast. It encompasses large areas of unspoiled evergreen forest and bush land. The wildlife in the area includes species such as loggerhead turtles and birds such as pelicans and flamingo’s.
The picturesque bungalow-styled Pestana Inhaca Island Lodge is set in a tropical garden on Inhaca Island, which lies like a magnificent emerald in the turquoise Indian Ocean. You can enjoy walks on the island and meet some of the locals or ask to be transferred to the uninhabited Portuguese Island, a 5 minute cruise away by speedboat, for a day of complete tranquility. This tiny, uninhabited haven is a protected reserve which is home to countless birds, exotic marine life and wide, unspoiled beaches. Hidden lagoons and mangrove trees add to the magic of this beautiful island. Relax on your deckchair at the swimming pool or lie on the coconut fringed beach next to your hotel and watch a flock of Flamingo’s ascend into the tropical night sky. Enjoy dinner.
Overnight: Pestana Inhaca Island Lodge, Inhaca Island [B;D]
DAY 5 : INHACA ISLAND Enjoy freshly baked scones and pastries to temp the palate for a full buffet breakfast.
Spend your day lazing in the comfort of your bright and airy chalet or stroll around the picturesque tropical gardens. You can also take a leisurely swim in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean and soak up the glorious African sun. If you are feeling energetic, take advantage of the water sports such as windsurfing, kayaking, water-skiing, paragliding, banana rides or join a fascinating tour of the area. You can also enjoy snorkeling at Santa Maria which is out of this world!
The resort has a salt swimming pool, tennis court, pool tables and tennis table. You can also take a tour of the island by tractor which will take you to the Maritime Museum or the Lighthouse. You can also visit the little pub in the village next to the lodge, with stalls set out under mango trees and enjoy a drink or experience the delicious seafood meals on offer.
Have lunch at the hotel or arrange for a picnic basket which can be enjoyed on a leisurely sunset tour. Enjoy pre-dinner cocktails at the swimming pool. Then tantalise your tastebuds with the array of fresh seafood and fine cuisine served under the trees with a local band playing.
Overnight: Pestana Inhaca Island Lodge, Inhaca Island [B;D]
DAY 6 : INHACA ISLAND TO MAPUTO Have a delicious breakfast before your transfer back to Maputo by boat.
Enjoy your last day at leisure in Maputo by unwinding on the glorious sunshine drenched beaches and the tempting waters of the Indian ocean to return home completely relaxed and revitalised.
You can also participate in the following optional excursions: The oldest historic site in Maputo is the fort, where you can patrol the ramparts, look at the old cannons or just sit and rest in the grassy courtyard. A must-see is the train station, designed and built in the early 1900s. Other highlights include the Botanical Gardens, the National Art Museum which has a fine collection of Mozambique’s best contemporary artists and the lively Municipal Market, where fruit, spices and basketwork are sold. You can also visit the Catholic Cathedral, located on the Prace da Independencia, an imposing white building with a beautiful tower. For sheer curiosity value, one can visit the incongruous Louis Trichardt Memorial Garden, a Voortrekker Monument-like construction erected on the spot where the Great Trek leader reportedly succumbed to malaria.
One can also take a trip to Ponta Malongana, “Place of the Children” (122 km from Maputo and accessible by 4x4 vehicles only), which is famous for its beautiful beach with white sand and a blue-green sea. Dolphins, whales and white sharks are a regular sight at Malongane.
The Maputo Elephant Reserve is situated 79km south of Maputo and is famous for its elephant herds. Flamingos can also be seen on the large inland lakes near the sea.
Continue to the HI Maputo and unwind with a cocktail to the view of palm trees silhouetted against the Indian Ocean. Enjoy dinner.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Maputo, Maputo [B]
DAY 7: MAPUTO TO KMIA Enjoy breakfast and continue to the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport for your flight to Johannesburg.
Time permitting; you can depart on a half day Johannesburg city tour before your outbound flight. Skyscrapers tower over chic boutiques, aromatic Indian bazaars, and African muti (medicine) shops where traditional healers dispense advice and herbal remedies.
Another option would be to arrange for a half day tour of SOWETO (South Western Township). Visit the mining hostels, Baragwaneth taxi rank, Chris Hani Baragwaneth Hospital; stop at Freedom Square, Regina Mundi Church, a Shebeen, the Hector Pieterson memorial and the Mandela family museum. On your tour you will meet Soweto residents and get a feel for township life, the vibrancy and the hardships.
