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South Africa school trip · 7 days

Adventure Camp

A week of bush walks, wildlife encounters and community visits in South Africa, with a game drive and a cruise on St Lucia Estuary.

Duration
7 days
Physical grade
Easy
Cultural grade
Different

About this trip

We take part in an exciting South African expedition that blends conservation, culture, and adventure. We explore diverse landscapes through wildlife experiences, bush walks, and ethical encounters while learning about conservation. We also connect with local communities through school visits and a beach clean-up. Highlights include a Big Five game drive, an elephant experience, and a boat cruise spotting hippos and crocodiles.

Trip highlights

  • Bush skills, conservation talks and camera traps
  • School visit and beach clean-up at Sodwana Bay
  • Game drive in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park
  • Boat cruise on St Lucia Estuary
Day by day: 7 days in South Africa

Your recommended itinerary, with the meals included on each day.

  1. 1

    Day 1

    Arrive in Durban and Transfer to Albizia Camp

    All meals included

    On arrival in Durban, we head straight up to the north of the province to Albizia Camp where we will settle in and go through a safety and orientation briefing.

  2. 2

    Day 2

    Environmental Awareness, Snake Talk and Bush Walk

    All meals included

    Today we start our Environmental Awareness Programme covering the many facets of conservation and wildlife management of game and game reserves in Africa. We will have a snake talk - an interpretative talk about the various species of scorpions, spiders and snakes found in South Africa. We will go through basic species identification, venom types and first-aid protocols. This will be followed by an interpretative walk. We will learn basic bush skills and tracking. While we are in the field we start our camera trap study. We'll set a little competition to see which group finds the most animals by placing the camera traps in the best positions!

  3. 3

    Day 3

    Pineapple Farm and Elephant Interaction

    All meals included

    A visit to a pineapple farm is an immersion into the world of tropical agriculture. Surrounded by rows of neatly arranged pineapple plants, the farm is a verdant landscape dotted with the spiky tops of these unique fruits. The Elephant Interaction Programme is designed to offer a close and ethical encounter with these magnificent creatures. Set in a natural environment, this programme focuses on educating participants about elephant behaviour, conservation, and the importance of responsible tourism.

  4. 4

    Day 4

    Sodwana Bay – beach clean-up and culture

    All meals included

    Today we’ll visit the students of a poorly funded rural private school and learn about their school life and home life. After that we’ll go to the beach where we split up in teams and comb the beach for any debris washed up on the shoreline. We spend time together with local children, playing football and other sports which is a great way of getting to know them.

  5. 5

    Day 5

    Full day game drive in Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park

    All meals included

    Set in the heart of Zululand, this is the oldest game reserve in Africa where Zulu kings such as Dingiswayo and Shaka hunted and put in place the first conservation laws and where today the "big five" of African legend stalk the verdant savannah. Today we will head out for a full day game drive to see the wildlife in its habitat! Established in 1895, game viewing is the prime attraction. Viewing hides overlook waterholes enabling visitors to see animals at close range. The Park covers some 96,000 ha and contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora. Hluhluwe is characterised by hilly topography, and this northern section of the park is noted for its wide variety of both bird and animal life. As the home of Operation Rhino in the 1950s and 60s, the Park became world-renowned for its white rhino conservation.

  6. 6

    Day 6

    St Lucia Estuary – boat cruise

    All meals included

    A two-hour boat cruise on the Estuary gives us the opportunity to see hippos, crocodiles and the many bird, mammal and plant species that make this a World Heritage Site.

  7. 7

    Day 7

    Depart South Africa

    Meals included: breakfast and lunch

    We transfer to Durban Airport for our return flight home, with time for last-minute souvenir shopping if schedules allow.

Itineraries can change with the seasons, local conditions and your group's needs. Ask us and we'll tailor it.

Questions teachers ask about this trip

  • How long is this itinerary?
    The suggested itinerary is 7 days.
  • Does the trip include a boat cruise?
    A two-hour boat cruise on the Estuary gives us the opportunity to see hippos, crocodiles and the many bird, mammal and plant species that make this a World Heritage Site.

Contact us to discuss your requirements in more detail:

01392 660056 orEmail us