Ultimate KwaZulu Natal Explorer

Pick up your rental car from Durban Airport and drive to Fordoun Spa, Hotel and Restaurant - a luxuriously renovated 1800s farmhouse set in the tranquil and leafy KwaZulu Natal Midlands. Unwind in style and indulge in a variety of wellness treatments at the Fordoun Spa.

Go horse riding or mountain biking for an exhilarating start to the day or enjoy magnificent views from a hot-air balloon. Take a leisurely walk around the lovely hotel grounds and pay a visit to the herb garden and resident spiritual and medicinal healer, Dr Ndlovu.

Travel from Fordoun to the foothills of the breathtaking Drakensburg Mountains and make your way to Three Tree Hill Lodge.

Wake up to bird calls at this idyllic, family-run lodge and start the day with panoramic views of the Drakensberg range. After breakfast, head off on a fascinating battlefield tour which includes visits the Boer War sites of Spioenkop and Colenso as well as Chieveley, where Winston Churchill was captured. This is a culturally-rich experience which is not to be missed, highlighting as it does the historic significance of the region.

Three Tree Hill Lodge overlooks the Spioenkop Game Reserve and provides excellent game viewing opportunities. Game drives and horse-back safaris are conducted in the reserve but guests can also spot rhino, giraffe and various antelope species from the privacy of their own room.

At the end of a relaxing stay at Three Tree, say goodbye to the magnificent Drakensburg and wind your way to one of South Africa's conservation gems - the Phinda Resource Reserve - and a stay at the unique Phinda Forest Lodge.

Phinda Forest Lodge is a luxurious, minimalist chalet set in the middle of a forest and is a wonderfully secluded refuge from which to explore this extraordinary private reserve.

Enjoy exciting game drives in search of the Big 5 and other classic African animals. Phinda is famous for its up-close cheetah sightings and has a bird count of well over 400 species. It's also a destination that can be enjoyed on foot: head off on an informative nature walk with expert guides to learn more about the reserve's intricate ecosystems.

Phinda can also arrange a scenic riverboat cruise to fully absorb the reserve's beautiful setting, and since the coast is not far, deep-sea fishing excursions can also be organised.

Drive to the luxurious Coco de Mer Boutique Hotel in Ballito, situated in an indigenous forest, for your final night.

Coco De Mer is a little slice of paradise offering intimate service, superb fusion cuisine and remarkable views of the Indian Ocean.

Explore the hotel's tranquil gardens or stroll on white sandy beaches - there is simply so much to see and do here. The coastal setting means a host of exciting marine activities including scuba diving,  fishing, kite surfing and whale watching while 4x4 trails and golf courses may tempt those who want to keep their feet on dry land.

Return your rental car to Durban Airport and say goodbye to KwaZulu Natal.