South Africa: Big Five Marathon, Entabeni - Beach Tour

Package Overview

Participate in the challenging Big Five marathon or half marathon, run through Entabeni Game Reserve in South Africa's Limpopo province. This is a tough race, run on rocky and sandy terrain with some difficult hills, but you will be rewarded with some breathtaking scenery and the amazing experience of running through big game territory. All transfers, park fees & game drives included.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Waterberg Mountains • Entabeni Game Reserve • Big Five Marathon • Game Drives
• Bird Watching • Durban • uShaka Marine World • Zulu Village
• Golf • North Coast Beaches

Day wise Itinerary

• Day 1 : Arrival

  You will be met at Johannesburg Airport and transferred 2.5-hours to the malaria-free Entabeni Game Reserve in the Waterberg Mountains, a UNESCO biosphere renowned for its diversity of plant and bird life.
  
  After checking into your lodge enjoy a game drive in your private game reserve, where game viewing opportunities should present themselves almost immediately. Hope to see several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe, as well as some of the Big Five, before dining under the stars.
• Day 2 : Entabeni Game Reserve

  Rise at dawn to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day, and enjoy a thrilling open top safari with a lodge ranger into the 22,000 hectare Entabeni Game Reserve. This malaria-free 22,000 hectare private game reserve in Limpopo province is the largest wildlife reserve in the Waterberg region, with many beautiful sandstone monoliths, ravines and waterfalls.
  
  You can hope to see several of the Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino - as well as many other interesting species such as giraffe, zebra and various antelope. Bird watching is outstanding and you can also see hippo and crocodile in the dam.
  
  Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and in the late afternoon enjoy another thrilling game drive with a lodge ranger.
• Day 3 : Entabeni

  Today collect your race number and register for the Entabeni marathon or half marathon. You will also be driven along the route to familiarise yourself with it.
  
  Also enjoy thrilling morning and afternoon game drives in Entabeni Game Reserve.
• Day 4 : Day at Leisure

  After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to Lakeside Lodge for the start of the Entabeni Big Five marathon (09.00) and half marathon (09.15), although the presence of wildlife may delay the start.
  
  This challenging race sets off from the upper escarpment, running on red sandy roads past Ravenside Lodge and the Entabeni Monolith to the lower plateau. At Hangklip View Point you will backtrack to Yellowwood Valley, where the surface is very uneven with loose stone terrain - including rocks, pebbles and potholes. This is the steepest and most difficult part of the course, as you descend steeply for 3 km down a hard paved surface.
  
  Once you reach the game reserve below the route becomes much flatter, but you will be running through deep sand for the next 9 km (or 2 km loop for the half marathon). You will then turn back and run up the dreaded Yellowwwod Hill to Long Drive, a narrow valley with easier dirt trails. The last 4 km of the route is fairly hard, as you run halfway down the ridge over uneven stoney ground, but the views over the plateau and lake are breathtaking. There are quite a few hills and the surface is loose, so you do need to take care as you head for the finish line and congratulate yourself on an amazing achievement!
• Day 5 : Entabeni Game Reserve

  Rise at dawn to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day, and enjoy a thrilling open top safari with a lodge ranger into the 22,000 hectare Entabeni Game Reserve. This malaria-free 22,000 hectare private game reserve in Limpopo province is the largest wildlife reserve in the Waterberg region, with many beautiful sandstone monoliths, ravines and waterfalls.
  
  You can hope to see several of the Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino - as well as many other interesting species such as giraffe, zebra and various antelope. Bird watching is outstanding and you can also see hippo and crocodile in the dam.
  
  Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and in the late afternoon enjoy another thrilling game drive with a lodge ranger.
• Day 6 : Durban

  After some final game viewing, transfer 2.5-hours to Johannesburg Airport for your onward flight.
  
  You will be met at Durban Airport and transferred to your hotel on the warm North Coast, renowned for its wonderful beaches and excellent holiday weather.
  
  Check in and relax on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean.
• Day 7 : Durban

  Today we recommend an optional tour of the highlights of Durban.
  
  We start with a visit to uShaka Marine World, situated in the old harbour area that is being extensively re-developed. You will have the opportunity of viewing large indigenous sharks of the Indian Ocean and a wide variety of other marine animals - including turtles, dolphins, seals and penguins. Here there are snorkelling ponds with over 5,000 fish.
  
  In the afternoon we drive along Durban beachfront, with its colourful markets, to Moses Mabhida Stadium which was built for the 2010 World Cup. This stadium has a cable car (40 stories high), which offers wonderful views of Durban and its coastline.
  
  Our day finishes with a visit to the Sharks Board in Umhlanga, for an audio-visual presentation and shark disection (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday only).
• Day 8 : Durban North Coast

  At leisure to relax on the warm golden beaches of the Durban North Coast.
  
  Many optional activities are available such as a marine cruise to search for dolphins, turtles, sharks, whales (in season) and other fascinating sea life. Championship golf, horse riding and deep sea game fishing are also available.
• Day 9 : Durban North Coast

  At leisure to relax on the warm golden beaches of the Durban North Coast.
  
  Many optional activities are available such as a marine cruise to search for dolphins, turtles, sharks, whales (in season) and other fascinating sea life. Championship golf, horse riding and deep sea game fishing are also available.
• Day 10 : Durban North Coast

  At leisure to relax on the warm golden beaches of the Durban North Coast.
  
  Many optional activities are available such as a marine cruise to search for dolphins, turtles, sharks, whales (in season) and other fascinating sea life. Championship golf, horse riding and deep sea game fishing are also available.
• Day 11 : Departure

  Transfer to Durban Airport for your flight home.

Inclusions

• Hotel
• Sightseeing

Price & Rates

Package Start From

• Durban, South Africa, Africa

Terms & Conditions

This Tour is Offered by

• Ancient Olympia Ilias, 270 65, OlympiaGreece
• XXXXXX9527 View Contact
• XXXXXXXXXX@gmail.com View Mail ID

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