Silversea Expedition Cruises To RICHARDS BAY

Depart the quayside and travel in a northerly direction along the national road. Arrive at St Lucia and continue to the Bhangazi gate of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

You start your game drive in the Eastern Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a section of South Africa's 1st World Heritage Site. This Game Reserve is divided by some of the second highest vegetated dunes in the world with Zebra, Kudu, Buffalo, White Rhino, Leopard, Wildebeest, Nyala, Elephant, Warthog, Wild Dog, Hyenas. Some of these can be spotted from the open game drive vehicles, and an educational overview of the Park will be given by a qualified tour guide.

Continue to Mission Rocks, a rocky beach 12km's into the Park, to enjoy some refreshments.

Continue to Cape Vidal where you might have the opportunity to do some snorkelling, if the tide and ocean conditions permit. While enjoying the beach and ocean, a barbeque lunch will be prepared. Return to iSimangaliso Wetland Park gate and re-board the vehicles for your transfer back to the quayside in Richards Bay.

Explore the wildlife that lives on the Eastern Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a section of South Africa's 1st World Heritage Site, and go snorkeling if conditions permit. The iSimangaliso Game Reserve is divided by some of the second highest vegetated dunes in the world with zebra, kudu, buffalo, white rhino, leopard, wildebeest, nyala, elephant, warthog, wild dog, and hyenas. Some of these can be spotted from the open game drive vehicles, and an educational overview of the Park will be given by a qualified tour guide.

Depart the quayside and travel in a northerly direction along the national road to the small town of St Lucia.

Arrive at St Lucia and continue to the Bhangazi gate of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in open 4x4 vehicles.

Continue to Mission Rocks, a rocky beach 12km's into the Park, to enjoy some refreshments. Travel to nearby Cape Vidal where you may have the opportunity to do some snorkeling, if the tide and ocean conditions permit. While enjoying the beach and ocean, a barbeque lunch is prepared.

Return to the town of St. Lucia and back onto Richard's Bay harbor, after a memorable day.

Depart the quayside and drive along the National Highway towards Mtubatuba, and then continue north to Dumazulu, which means "Thundering Zulu".

Explore the culture and traditions of the Zulu tribe during this unique and informative visit to Dumazulu Traditional Village.

The Dumazulu Traditional Village is home to more than 50 Zulu residents that form part of a living museum. It is the largest Zulu village of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, and the only Zulu village to be opened up to tourism by King Goodwill Zwelithini, who placed the Royal Zulu stamp of approval on the objectives and authenticity of Dumazulu.

Upon arrival, you will be introduced to your guides, who will invite you into the chief's homestead, or kraal. Here, you have the opportunity to observe and learn more about the various Zulu traditions, including basket-weaving, spear- and shield-making, beadwork, pot-making, sangoma bone-throwing, and spectacular Zulu dancing.

Return transfer to Richards Bay.

Depart the quayside and travel to Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Centre.

The aim of the Emdoneni Cat Rehabilitation Centre is to care for wild Cheetahs, Serval Cats, African Wildcats and Caracal (Lynx), which have been orphaned or injured in the wild and are in need of care and rehabilitation. There is intention to breed where possible and release the offspring back into their natural habitat.

On arrival at Emdoneni, embark on a guided tour and learn more about these fascinating creature's habits and the conservation efforts to save them.

Re-board the coach for your return transfer to Richards Bay.

Embrace the spectacular beauty of Lake Mzingazi in a relaxing new way during this memorable, full-day golfing excursion at the Richards Bay Country Club.

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 30-minute transfer to the Richards Bay Golf Club. Situated along the shores of beautiful Lake Mzingazi, this approximately 5,577-yard (about 5,100-metre) Par-71 golf course is among the most scenic and challenging layouts in Zululand. Co-designed by Gary Player, it was upgraded by Peter Matkovich in 2007.

Upon arrival, register at the Pro Shop, then warm up on the driving range before commencing your 18-hole round of golf. At the conclusion of your golf outing, commence the approximately 30-minute transfer back to the pier.

Discover the breath-taking natural beauty and abundant wildlife of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve during this panoramic, full-day game-drive excursion.

Richards Bay, National Road, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, Memorial Gate

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 1.5-hour drive north along the National Road en route to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. Truly one of the most fascinating parts of Africa, this expansive reserve preserves the wildlife of Zululand, along with the beauty, charm and tradition of its natural surrounds. Upon arrival at the Memorial Gate and after a brief comfort stop, receive your safety and tour instructions, then begin your guided safari adventure aboard an open-air, 4WD safari vehicle.

Guided Game-Drive, White Rhinos, Abundant Bird and Animal Species

Your panoramic, approximately two-hour game-drive traverses the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. The reserve has become renowned for its small population of rare, white rhino, along with a spectacular variety of bird and animal species, including the elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, cheetah, mountain reedbuck, kudu and warthog. During your game drive, you may have the opportunity to encounter many of these beautiful animals from up-close. At the end of your game drive, return to Memorial Gate. After a comfort stop, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 1.5-hour drive back to the pier.

Go on an unforgettable adventure tour in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve. Depart the quayside and travel in a northerly direction along the national road. Your road transfer ends upon arrival at Memorial Gate, where a short comfort stop is made before embarking the open vehicles.

The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve preserves not only the wildlife of Zululand, but also something of an indefinable charm and tradition of the natural surroundings. This is truly one of the most fascinating parts of Africa and has become well known for its small population of the rare, white rhino. In addition to rhino, the reserve has a spectacular variety of bird and animal life, including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, cheetah, mountain reedbuck, kudu and warthog.

At the end of your game drive, you will return to Memorial Gate and re-board the vehicles for your transfer back to the pier in Richards Bay.

Take a leisurely 2-hour cruise along Lake St. Lucia, home to the Nile crocodile and hippos. Depart the pier for the drive north to the Narrows of the St. Lucia Estuary, which forms part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage site.

Upon arrival in St Lucia Town, embark your boat for a leisurely 2-hour cruise on Lake St. Lucia. The vessel goes at walking speed all along the shoreline of the St. Lucia Estuary, and the enthusiastic skipper/captain will tell you more about the Hippo's and Nile crocodiles that inhabit St. Lucia. The lake has the largest concentration of hippo in South Africa.

This is home to the Nile crocodile, hundreds of hippos and abundance of different kinds of bird species, of which a favorite is the African Fish Eagle and the Mangrove Kingfisher. Learn more about the mangrove swamps and the 5 different eco systems of the St. Lucia Estuary.

Intermittent stops at the sightings will ensure that you are allowed to get good photographic opportunities and you are guaranteed to at least see plenty hippo throughout this trip from up close, and possible sightings of Buffalo and Waterbuck.

Upon return from your boat cruise, return drive to the quayside in Richard's Bay.

Depart from the quayside in Richard's Bay and drive by coach via Empangeni to Shakaland, and Duma Zulu Village. Shakaland was built initially for Shaka Zulu, a TV mini-series about King Shaka that was made in South Africa in the mid-1980s, but the attention to detail by the set designers meant there was little work needed to transform it into an authentic cultural experience.

Upon arrival you are met by a Zulu guide and served a welcome refreshment. Then you are invited to relive the excitement and romance of the days of King Shaka, the King of the Zulus.

Walking through the village, you will see a variety of displays including Zulu women creating beadwork, weaving mats, sculpting pottery, baking bread and brewing Zulu beer. The Zulu men will show you how to make a spear & shield and how to build a Zulu 'beehive' grass hut. Your guide will interpret the daily activities and you will have the opportunity to view a short audio-visual presentation.

Next, you are invited into the Chief's Hut where Zulu dancers will perform rhythmic drum dances and tribal members will recreate a ritual by the Sangoma (traditional healer).

Following this performance, a traditional Zulu buffet dinner will be provided at a restaurant overlooking the Umhlatuze Lake.

Before re-boarding your coach for the return drive to Richard's Bay and your awaiting ship, some leisure time is available to explore the village on your own and to visit the local curio shops.

Explore Richards Bay at your leisure during your full-day (8-Hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking driver/guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Richards Bay at your leisure during your half-day (4-Hour) sightseeing tour via private car. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking driver/guide in an air-conditioned car and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Richards Bay at your leisure during your full-day (8-Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customize your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking driver/guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Explore Richards Bay at your leisure during your half-day (4-Hour) sightseeing tour via private van. Customise your own itinerary or choose to see an overview of the area's highlights.

Depart the pier with your English-speaking driver/guide in an air-conditioned van and discover the city and surrounding areas at your own pace. Your exclusive tour concludes back at the pier.

Take a journey in to a haven for gigantic hippopotamus and fierce crocodiles during this half-day boat cruise on Lake St. Lucia.

South Africa's abundant bird and wildlife species are yours to discover during this scenic cruise at the St. Lucia Wetland Park - now known as iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Depart the pier for the drive north to the beautiful iSimangaliso Wetland. Upon arrival, embark your boat for a leisurely two-hour cruise on Lake St Lucia. Along the way see mangrove swamps, prolific birdlife, oyster banks with stories of days gone by, the second highest vegetated Dunes in the World.

You may also catch sight of the basking and nesting sites of the Nile crocodile and the hippos that make their homes in the estuary - the greatest confluence of crocodiles and hippos in South Africa.

Following your cruise, disembark your boat and re-board your coach for the return drive to the pier.

Go birding on the greater St. Lucia Wetlands Reserve, a recently proclaimed World Heritage Site and one of South Africa's oldest reserves established back in 1895. The lake itself covers an area of about 38,000 hectares and is one of South Africa's most important waterbird breeding areas.

St. Lucia offers birders some of Zululand's best birdwatching. With over 420 species recorded in the area, you can be assured of some great birding in one of South Africa's most bio-diverse areas.

Depart from the quayside in Richard's Bay and head to St. Lucia Wetlands. Upon arrival in St. Lucia, embark on a 2-2.5-hour bird watching walk with a qualified nature guide. Continue your birdwatching on foot with waterbuck and reedbuck grazing in the background and hippos snorting from the pans makes for an extra special birding experience.

After a memorable day, return to the pier in Richards Bay.