Drakensberg and Zululand

Location: South Africa. Holiday type: Guided walking, hotel-to-hotel. Groups of 6 to 10 people. Managed by Headwater appointed agent. Activity level: 2 boots Duration: 13 days (12 nights) Hotels: Luxury/stylish. Meals: All meals. Prices from: Please call. Departs: Selected Sundays from 15 Apr '12 to 21 Oct '12   JFMAMJJASOND

Highlights Eastern South Africa has a soul and a history like nowhere else in the world; traditional Zulu villages, historic battlefields, jagged 3000m peaks, hazy savannah and blazing white beaches. A plethora of majestic landscapes and experiences that will live in your memory forever.

Day-by-day itinerary

Days 1/2 - Depart fromUK / Arrive in Drakensberg

We meet you in Durban and transfer you to your hotel at Champagne Castle (2.5hr) in time for dinner.

Day 3 - Battle Cave 14km/9mi/5hr

A riverside path lined with pink everlastings leads us beneath the shattered basalt peak of Monk's Cowl to Battle Cave. Over lunch your guide interprets the vivid rock paintings, some up to 1000 years old. We return to the hotel for a refreshing swim with a view of the 'Dragon's Back' mountaintops.

Day 4 - BlindMan's Corner 12km/7mi/5hr

On a steady ascent past lesser honeyguides in scarlet bottlebrush trees, we picnic at Blind Man's Corner beneath the giant red rock cliffs of Kathkin Peak. After lunch, look out for reedbuck and duiker as we descend via a dramatic fern lined defile to be back in time for a pre-dinner sundowner.

Day 5 - Cathedral Peak 18km/11mi/6hr

We drive north to Cathedral Peak today - our ascent reveals a panorama of red leonotis and protea splashed across high grassland. After a picnic on a ridge of fairy bell flowers with views of Rainbow Gorge, we descend to drive north again to Royal Natal National Park and our next hotel.

Day 6 - The Amphitheatre 14km/9mi/5hr

Bluebilled firefinch and orangebreasted rockjumper flit between boulders as we negotiate Thukela Gorge to the very foot of the Amphitheatre - a sheer vertical rock face over 1000m high, atop which lies Lesotho!

Day 7 - Royal Natal National Park 12km/7mi/5hr

Limestone cliffs splashed with wild hibiscus frame crystal waterfalls tumbling down from the high berg this morning - great for cooling your feet during our picnic. We pass Lookout Rock enjoying views of the entire valley, before returning to the hotel for another delicious four-course dinner.

Day 8 - Cavern Valley Walk 12km/7mi/5hr

A path from the hotel leads through red pear and Cape quince trees to Surprise Ridge for fabulous views of the Amphitheatre. We picnic by bushman paintings at Lone Rock. After lunch we return via Echo Cave, descending through ancient yellowwood trees for a chilled drink on the hotel terrace.

Day 9 - Spion Kop and Ladysmith

We head east today to walk in the footsteps of Winston Churchill on a guided tour of Spion Kop - a British defeat in the Boer War. After lunch in a local lodge, we visit the Siege Museum in Ladysmith, before arriving at our lodge hotel near haunting Isandlwana Battlefield.

Day 10 - Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift 15km/9mi/5hr

Passing Zulu villages, we walk from Isandlwana Hill - site of a British defeat in 1879 by the Zulu army - to the famed Rorke's Drift today, taking the same daisy strewn ox cart track used by the British in 1879.

Day 11 - Isandlwana to Hluhluwe

We drive through smoky blue hills down to the pineapple and sugar cane plantations of the Elephant Coast today. This is big game country, and we arrive for a late lunch on our private game reserve. Swim and relax this afternoon on your veranda as kudu and zebra graze on the hotel lawns.

Day 12 - Game Walk and Hluhluwe Safari

A very early start sees us walking from the hotel with a ranger tracking giraffe, zebra and red duiker. After lunch, we drive to Hluhluwe Game Park for a game drive safari.

Day 13 - St Lucia Wetlands 8km/5mi/4hr

We spot hippo, kingfishers and purple crested turaco in mangroves and sand forest as we climb giant sand dunes for a picnic. We descend to the crashing turquoise Indian Ocean to finish on a perfect white sand beach. Back at the hotel enjoy a delicious final dinner under the stars.

Days 14/15 - Depart South Africa / Arrive in UK

We drive you down to Durban for your flight home, or your onward flight to the Kruger National Park if you have booked extra nights.