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Below are some of our suggested Standard Tours.
Please remember that all our Tours can be linked • shortened • adjusted to suit your specific needs. We recommend a warm reassuring greeting at either Durban International Airport or Oliver Tambo Airport - Johannesburg Comfortable and safe transport to Leopards & Louries Bush Lodge before setting out to explore our beautiful country.
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Tours & Personalized Safaris
| Tour G1 |
Duration: 6 Days Zululand - Swaziland - KNP - Mpumalanga and Gauteng |
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Day 1: Depart 6:30. Travel to Zululand. Visit traditional Zulu Village for lunch and show. Continue to St Lucia for afternoon boat cruise on estuary. Overnight stay at St Lucia.
Day 2: Proceed to Mkuze game Reserve for morning game viewing at hides overlooking waterholes. Travel to Swaziland and visit craft market. Overnight stay in Swaziland.
Day 3: Visit glass factory I Swaziland. Travel to Lodge outside Kruger National park. Late afternoon drive in Kruger National Park. Overnight stay at Lodge.
Day 4 & 5: Early morning tea or coffee. Spend all day in Kruger national Park with comfort and meal stops at designated picnic spots to view Big 5 and other game. Overnight at Lodge. Final game drives through Kruger National Park, and then take scenic route through Mpumalanga to Pilgrims Rest, Mac Mac Falls, Blyde River Canyon and Gods Window. On to Johannesburg where tour ends on arrival in the late afternoon.
Day 6: Final game drive through KNP – take scenic route through Mpumalnga to Pilgrims Rest, Mac Mac Falls, Blyde River Canyon, Gods Window to Johannesburg where tour ends on arrival in the late afternoon or evening. |
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Leopards and Louries Tour Centre Small Operators with Big Vision
Specializing in small groups - with the emphasis on catering for
We believe that South Africa offers the Tourist a stunning exhibition of plant and animal life • history • diverse landscapes
It is the variety of South Africa's fascinating and diverse people and wealth of nature that is it's greatest asset. At Leopards & Louries we believe that these local treasures can be best experienced in the safety and knowledge of people familiar with the territory and the ways of Africa.
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| Tour G2 |
Duration: 6 Days Beach - Berg and Bush |
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Day 1: Depart Durban at 06:30 Travel to Shakaland near Eshowe in Zululand. Experience basket weaving, beer making and traditional Zulu pottery. Shakaland provides spectacular Zulu dancing show to accompany a feast of traditional local cuisine. Continue to St Lucia, a 250 000 ha World Heritage Site to board a boat for a cruise on the estuary to view large numbers of Hippo and crocodile as well as prolific bird, wildlife and diverse ecosystems. We have an overnight stay at guest lodge in St Lucia. Day 2: After breakfast launch for a 2 hour trip on a ski-boat to look for whales and dolphins. Bottle-nose dolphins are common throughout the year and Humpback Whales are guaranteed to be seen during the months May – October. To be in close proximity to the enormous Humpback Whale is an awesome experience and to observe the friendly dolphin in it’s natural environment is most rewarding. After lunch we drive to the Big 5 Umfolozi/Hluhluwe Game Reserve for an afternoon of game viewing. We stay overnight in the reserve or at a lodge just outside the reserve. Day 3: The entire day is spent searching for the Big 5 and other animals and birds which this reserve is so well renowned for. We overnight again in the reserve or at a lodge just outside the reserve. Day 4: After an early breakfast we will take one last game drive and leave late morning for the Drakensberg. Lunch will be taken en-route and we arrive at Royal Natal national park in the mid-afternoon. After booking in we may relax or take a short hike in the magnificent mountain scenery. We stay overnight at the reserve. Day 5: After a leisurely breakfast we depart for a slow drive all along the foothills of the Drakensberg range enjoying lunch at one of the many restaurants en-route. We arrive at the Sani Pass Hotel in the late afternoon. We may take an evening stroll or just relax. Dinner and an overnight stay at the Sani Pass Hotel. Day 6: Again we enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then depart for Lesotho up the famous Sani Pass and on to Sani top Chalet. Here we take lunch whilst enjoying an incredible view of KwaZulu natal. We also visit a Basutho Village to see how these tough people survive in incredibly harsh conditions. We then descend back into South Africa for a trip which includes a visit to the Howick Falls which at 95meters are higher than the Victoria Falls. We arrive back in Durban in the late evening. |
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| We operate Tours and Safaris in Kwa Zulu Natal - Mpumalanga - Kruger National Park - and Gauteng Province |
| Tour G3 |
Duration: 5 Days Maputoland |
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Day 1: Leave Durban 06h30 travel from Durban to Umfolozi/Hluhluwe Big5 game Reserve. we spend several hours in the reserve searching for big game and take lunch at Hilltop camp overlooking the rolling hills of Hluhluwe. we leave the reserve via the Memorial gate and set off for Mkhuze game Reserve. en-route we may stop at some local craft markets. we book into a private lodge overlooking a pan where we will stay for 4 nights. Day 2: After breakfast we will leave for Tembe Elephant Park. here we spend the day at the magnificent hides overlooking waterholes teeming with elephant and other and other game and driving through the park to return to our lodge in the late afternoon. Day3: Leave early for Ndumo Game Reserve for a trip around the magnificent Nyanuthi pan to view numerous to view numerous crocodiles and hippos and the amazing aquatic bird life. we have lunch at the pool and leave for Mkuze and our lodge in the late afternoon. enjoy a braai around the fire [weather permitting] Day 4: leave early for Kozi Bay. explore this fascinating system of lakes and estuaries and swim and snorkel at the famous "aquarium". we also observe how the local people catch fish as they have for centuries. return to Mkuze mid-afternoon and go for a game-drive at Nsum pan at Mkuze for evening sundowners. retire after dinner for our last night. Day 5: after breakfast leave for Lake St Lucia to arrive mid-morning. here we have a choice of a] a whale and dolphin spotting trip on the Indian Ocean - or - b] a trip on a launch on the St Lucia estuary to observe crocodiles hippos and other fauna and flora. we take a late lunch and return to Durban late evening where the tour ends. |
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| Tour G4 |
Duration: 2 Days Battlefields |
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Day 1: Depart early from Durban [06h30] and head inland towards South Africa's most famous battlefields. your expert Battlefields guide will give a fascinating insight into the events that took place at Isandhlwana in 1879. we proceed to Fugitive Drift to end the story of this battle and then follow up to Rorke's Drift for an account of this battle. dinner and overnight stay will be at a local Guest Lodge. Day 2: After breakfast we depart for Spionkop. from the summit a guide will tell you the tale of the tragic battle which unfolded in January 1900 between the Boers and the British. after lunch we return to Durban in the late afternoon. Winston Churchill, then a reporter, and Mahatma Ghandi, a stretcher bearer were both witnesses to this battle. Footnote: The above tour covers only the most famous of battles. There are too many battles that took place to list and may only be of interest to certain nationalities. It is preferable therefore to, with our expert advise, compile our own list of sites and visit and plan your tour accordingly. |
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Tours for local Businesswoman and Businessmen |
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Tour L1 |
Duration: 1 Day Tala game Reserve |
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Depart Durban 7am
Drive to Tala Private Game Reserve, a scenic journey of approximately 45 minutes. We spend the morning game viewing in Tala, which is a unique wildlife sanctuary with abundant game and flora. Tala is home to over 300 species of birds and big game which includes Rhino, Buffalo, Hippo, Giraffe and zebra and almost 20 species of antelope including the very rare Sable. This tour has great viewing and photographic opportunities.
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Tour L2 |
Duration: 1 Day Sani Pass - The Lesotho Experience |
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Depart from Durban at 6:30am. A scenic drive through the beautiful Natal Midlands, to the small town of Underberg. We will use a 4 wheel drive vehicle to drive up Sani Pass. Sani Pass is the highest Pass in Africa. A stop at Sani Pass Chalet for lunch – to the highest pub in Africa. This stop will provide you with incredible views of the flora and birdlife. We also visit a Basotho Village or homestead, before descending back into South Africa where we visit the magnificent Howick Falls. The Howick falls are higher than the world famous Victoria Falls. Returning to Leaopards & Louries Lodge for a traditional South African Boma meal around the fire. [weather permitting]. We then return to Durban.
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Tour L3 |
Duration: 2 Days Beach and Bush |
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Day 1: Depart Durban at 06:30 for Shelley Beach. Drive down the N2 alongside the beautiful South Coast of KwaZulu Natal. The warm, sparkling Indian Ocean is alongside us all the way to our destination. We launch from Shelley Beach for a 1˝ hour ski-boat cruise to look for whale and dolphin, which are common at certain times of the year. We will then go on to enjoy an early lunch at the Shelley Beach Ski Boat Club. Proceed to Tala game Reserve for an afternoon of game viewing – and overnight at L&L. Day 2: Enjoy early morning tea or coffee with rusks and leave for Giants Castle in the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains. Take part in a 2 hour hike up to the Bushman’s Cave where we observe an exceptional exhibition of traditional ancient San paintings and a talk on the people and their lifestyles. We go on to lunch at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the river. We call in at Howick Falls and return to Durban in the evening.
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We encourage all visitors to make use of our accommodation in which case all departures would be from Leopards & Louries Lodge. However for those booked into accommodation in Durban - we can arrange for departures to take place from central Durban. |
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Tour L4 |
Duration: 3 Days Shakaland - St Lucia and Umfolozi |
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Day 2 Depart 05:30 after coffee and rusks [a traditional South African biscuit] for Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Big 5 Game Reserve. Enjoy a packed breakfast at a picnic spot in the Game Reserve. Spending the rest of the day searching for game and then we stay overnight at the famous Hilltop Camp in Hluhluwe. Day 3 Depart early for a game drive to try and find anything we may have missed the day before. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch at the Hilltop Camp which boasts a magnificent view overlooking the hills of Hluhluwe. Return to Durban or Leopards & Louries Bush Lodge in the late afternoon. Day 4 Proceed to Tala Private Game Reserve for an afternoon of game viewing. A sumptuous dinner and an overnight stay at Leopards and Louries Bush Lodge. Early morning tea and coffee then we leave for Giants Castle in the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains. We will take part in a hike up to Bushmans Cave, where we observe exceptional exhibition of traditional ancient San Bushmen paintings and listen to a talk on the people and their lifestyles. We go on to lunch at a beautiful restaurant overlooking the river. We call in at Howick Falls and return to Durban in the evening. |
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Leopards and Louries
The Greater St Lucia Wetlands is a World Heritage Site and consists of 13 continuous protected areas with a total area of almost 250 000ha. It is the largest estuarine system in Africa. Features include the Southern most extensions of coral reefs on the continent, wide sub-marine canyons, long sandy beaches, the highest forested dunes in the world, lake systems, swamps, extensensive reed and papyrus wetlands as well as forests and savannah.
The interplay of the Parks environmental history of major floods and coastal storms has resulted in exceptional species diversity. Natural phenomena include shifts from low to hyper saline states in the lakes, large numbers of nesting turtles on the beaches, the migration of whales, dolphins and whale-sharks off shore, and huge numbers of waterfowl including large breeding colonies of Pelicans, storks, herons and kerns. Set between tropical and sub-tropical Africa as well as the coastal influence resulted in an exceptional biodiversity including some 520 bird species.
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Leopards and Louries
Some of the bloodiest battles in South African history were fought in KwaZulu Natal as Zulus, Boers and British forces clashed over land and sovereignty. The battles, played out over almost 100 years, shaped destinies, toppled rulers and created heroes in these picturesque hills and rock formations. With an unmistakable sense of tremendous occasion the fearless spear-wielding foot soldiers of all conquering Zulu Kings first encountered the British Empires sophisticated fire power – and where each faced the unfamiliar guerilla-warfare of the Boer. Many famous battles took place in this area, the most famous being perhaps the Battle of Isandhlwana and Rorkes Drift that took place in 1879 on consecutive days. On the first day the British suffered their worst defeat in military history at the hands of the Zulus and the next day a small contingent of British men successfully defended themselves at Rorkes Drift in a battle that yielded 11 Victoria Crosses – more than any other battle in British History.
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Kozi Bay encompasses a wide range of habitats which include some of the largest remaining tracts of swamp, dune forest, coastal grassland and naturally occurring Lala Palms in South Africa as well as substantial mangrove swamps. The lake system also provides an insight into local fishing that is still practiced using the ancient methods of fish traps and gill netting. Where the lake system drains into the Indian Ocean a reef inside the mouth, offers superb snorkeling.
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Leopards and Louries
The world famous Kruger National Park hardly needs an introduction. Established in 1828 the Park covers an area of nearly 2 million ha [roughly the size of Wales]. It offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Africa. Home to the Big 5 as well as an impressive array of other animals and birds it is also one of the few remaining places in South Africa where the old African primeval heart still throbs. As the flagship of South African National Parks it is unrivaled in the diversity of life forms and is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and policies. National treasures include roughly: 147 species of mammals 507 bird species 114 reptiles 34 amphibians 49 fish and 336 trees [5 times more tree species than the whole of Europe]
Mammals: The Kruger National Park is one of the worlds premier game viewing destinations where all the classical big game of Africa can readily be seen. Seeing the “Big 5” has become something of a quest for many people on Safari in Africa and the Kruger National Park has more than it’s share of these beasts, but it also offers so much more. Birds: The Park has a list of over 500 species many of which are not found anywhere else in South Africa. Birds range from the largest in the world to some of the smallest and are beautiful, numerous and spectacular. Bird watching is excellent throughout the region. Vegetation: With the park being so vast there is a tremendous diversity of flora. Roads: The Kruger national Park has an enormous road network that is well maintained for tourists to travel on. It takes many years and generations of animals to build trust in human beings. This has been achieved to a great extent in the Kruger National Park and as a result big game viewing at close quarters is exceptional and continues to improve. Photographic opportunities for all forms of fauna and flora are magnificent. |
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Tala is situated only 45 minutes from Durban and is only 10 minutes from Leopards and Louries Bush Lodge. An intricate network of dirt roads allow the visitor to see a really extensive range of birds and big game including Rhino, Buffalo, Hippo and 20 species of Antelope including the rare Sable. The reserve is approximately 3000 ha in extent and incorporates thick bushveld, open savannahs and several dams to accommodate Hippo and aquatic birdlife. Tala’s accessibility is a great draw card to many busy visitors who do not have the time to travel further afield.
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Leopards and Louries
Ndumo Game Reserve is situated in Northern Zululand on the Mozambique border and is one of South Africa’s most remote bushveld reserves. Though the reserve is best known for its magnificent birdlife, game viewing can also be most rewarding. Crocodile and Hippopotamus are very common and Buffalo occur in the swampy flood plains. Black and White Rhino as well as Giraffe, Kudu, Nyala, Impala, Reedbuck, Grey Duiker, Wildebeest, Zebra are all fairly common residents and the rare Red Duiker and Suni can be seen, as well as Leopard. The birdlife is prolific and many tropical, East African forms occur at this, the Southern limit of their range. There is a wealth of aquatic birdlife on several beautiful pans in the reserve which are [large expanses of water surrounded generally by green grass, reeds and magnificent Fever Trees.] This reserve has many attractions being scenically beautiful and peaceful and caters for both bird and game viewing. Insect and reptile life is very prolific.
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Leopards and Louries
This, the oldest Game Reserve in South Africa was established in 1895. It became world famous when under the leadership of Ian Player the White Rhino was almost certainly saved from extinction in the Reserve as a result of pioneering techniques using drugs and darts guns used to capture and relocate these beautiful animals. Umfolozi/Hluhluwe is currently the closest and largest Big 5 Game Reserve to Durban in KwaZulu Natal in size and mammal diversity, and as in the Kruger National Park, game viewing, already remarkable, continues to improve as the relationship between man and beast becomes more trustworthy. The reserve also provides the atmosphere of the great Zulu nation which frequented the area in times gone by. The greatest Zulu King, King Shaka, had his Royal hunting grounds in this region and many landmarks attest to the habitation of the area. Bird life and vegetation species are also extremely prolific.
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