Excursion Mid-voyage land adventure: thanda tented camp safari tour at Richards Bay

Discover a slice of heaven in Zululand during this captivating, one-night overland safari adventure at the multiple-award-winning Thanda Private Game Reserve. Nestled amidst the spectacular, approximately 34,595-acre (about 14,000-hectare) Thanda Private Game Reserve, Thanda Safari is a fascinating world of wilderness and wildlife, matched with a deep commitment to Zulu culture and environmental conservation. Your overnight Thanda Safari experience at the ‘World’s Leading Luxury Lodge’ is highlighted by exhilarating, early-morning and afternoon game drives, the best time to see many of the animal species in the Thanda Private Game Reserve at their most active. Along the way, rangers and trackers guide your search for unforgettable encounters with Africa’s Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes), along with hundreds of other wildlife, mammal, and bird species. A private boma dinner under the stars and an overnight stay in a luxury tent at the Thanda Tented Camp round out your Thanda Safari experience in grand style.

FULL DESCRIPTION:

(01MIDRCB-L) Mid-Voyage Land Adventure: Thanda Tented Camp Safari

Duration: 2 Days/1 Night

Departs from: Richard’s Bay, March 5, 2025 at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Re-join ship: Durban, March 6, 2025 at approximately 4:00 p.m.

Reserve: At least 90 days prior to sailing

IMPORTANT NOTE

This Silver Shore Mid-Land Adventure requires advance booking through Silversea Reservations no later than 90 days prior to the sail date. Requests received after this date may be accommodated on a space-available basis. Tickets are available in limited quantities, and participation cannot be guaranteed for those guests not booking well in advance. A minimum number of participants is required to operate this programme. If this minimum number is not met, Silversea reserves the right to offer the programme at a different rate based on private arrangements, or to cancel the specific departure. Cancellation fee, unless otherwise advised, 90 - 0 days prior to the initial sailing date: 100% of the programme fare per person is due.

Payment in full is due at time of final payment. Bookings made within 120 days of sailing require full payment within seven days of booking or sooner, as specified by Silversea.

All Land Adventure fares are subject to change, and not guaranteed until payment is received in full by Silversea. All Land Adventures are non-transferable, and non-refundable, within 90 days of sailing. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older. All Land Adventures are owned by independent contractors, and Silversea makes no representations and assumes no responsibility for the services provided by these operators. Land Adventures may be modified by the operators at their sole discretion.

VISA INFORMATION:

Please check with your travel professional for details regarding visa requirements for South Africa. It is the responsibility of each guest to obtain all appropriate visas before cruising.

LOCAL CURRENCY:

The local currency is the South African Rand; however, Euros and US Dollars are well-accepted by most vendors. Local ATMs are available in some locations visited, and credit cards are accepted at most larger shops and hotels (there is no shopping stop planned during this program).

Discover a slice of heaven in Zululand during this captivating, one-night overland safari excursion at the award-winning Thanda Private Game Reserve.

DAY ONE – Wednesday, March 5, 2024 – Richards Bay/Thanda Safari Private Game Reserve

Scenic drive from Richards Bay to the Thanda Safari Private Game Reserve

After disembarking the ship, meet your guide and depart for the scenic, approximately two-hour drive to the world-renowned Thanda Safari, a multiple-award-winning luxury game reserve and member of ‘The Leading Hotels of the World’.

Thanda Safari, repeatedly named the ‘World’s Leading Luxury Tented Camp’

Thanda Safari is a world of wilderness and wildlife, matched with a deep commitment to Zulu culture and environmental conservation. Thanda means ‘love’ in the language of the Zulu people, and Thanda Safari lives this ethos in the management of its approximately 34,595-acre (about 14,000-hectare) Thanda Safari Private Game Reserve, three unique properties, and community partnerships.

The Tented Camp offers a traditional, but glamourous, safari experience

Feel the beat of the wilderness with a traditional safari experience at the Thanda Tented Camp. It is camping but very glamourous, with 15 beautifully-appointed, in-suite, canvas-walled rooms, comfortable beds, and inside-and-outside showers, and the ultra-special Jabula Tent. The Thanda Tented Camp has an evocative, Hemingway-style lounge and central living area for relaxing and dining, with a swimming pool and boma where guests sit around the fire at night or enjoy a bush braai (barbecue).

Experience a world of up-close living in the wild and magnificent reserve views

All of this occurs in an evocative wilderness environment, complemented with flickering firelight and lanterns illuminating the paths to the tents at night. While the tented camp is fenced to keep out the big game, guests experience up-close living in the wild, with magnificent views of the reserve. Thanda Tented Camp is every bit of a nostalgic safari excursion. This is bush life as nature meant it to be: open and inviting, with unmatched views, scents, and sounds.

After lunch, check-in, some free time and afternoon tea, proceed for an afternoon game-drive

After lunch and check-in, some free time at leisure is made available to freshen-up before returning to the main lodge for afternoon tea. Following afternoon tea, meet your rangers and trackers, then depart for an afternoon game drive, the best time to see many of the animal species here at their most active.

Enjoy unforgettable encounters with the Big Five and abundant wildlife, mammal, and bird species

During this exclusive, up-close experience, the rangers and trackers guide your search for unforgettable encounters with Africa’s magnificent Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes), along with an abundance of other wildlife, mammal, and bird species. In addition, the rangers and trackers share their extensive knowledge of the wild and animal-tracking capabilities, along with ancient Zulu stories of the bush.

Take an optional guided safari bush walk to explore your surrounds on-foot

You can also take a guided safari bush walk, which sharpens your senses whilst learning to read animal behaviour in the wild. At the conclusion of your game-drive, return to Thandi Safari for some free time in your luxury tent to freshen-up before dinner.

Experience an evening boma by firelight, and a lantern-lit dinner beneath the stars

This evening, when warm firelight welcomes you to the traditional African boma, wide-eyed bush babies watch inquisitively from the dense foliage above whilst you indulge in an intimate, lantern-lit feast beneath a canvas of stars (weather-permitting).

Overnight accommodations in a Tent at the Thanda Tented Camp – Thanda Private Game Reserve

DAY TWO – Thursday, March 6, 2024 – Thanda Safari Private Game Reserve/Durban

After an early-morning wake-up call, tea and coffee, take a final game-drive

Following an early-morning wake-up call, coffee, tea, and rusk are served at the lodge. Afterward, meet your skilled ranger and tracker guides, then board your open-air, 4WD safari vehicles and depart for a final, early-morning game-drive.

Experience awe-inspiring encounters with the Big Five, and an abundance of other wildlife

Along the way, experience awe-inspiring encounters with Africa’s Big Five (lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffaloes), and marvel at the incredibly diverse wildlife, mammal, and bird species found in the beautiful Thanda Private Game Reserve. Following your early-morning game-drive, return to the lodge for breakfast.

After breakfast at the lodge, check-out and commence the return drive to Durban

After breakfast and check-out, re-board your coach and commence the scenic, approximately 4-hour drive back to Durban.

Transfer to the pier and ship

Upon arrival at the port of Durban, transfer to the pier and embark the ship.

Please note: This Mid-Voyage Land Adventure involves an extensive amount of off-road driving and a moderate amount of walking, at times over uneven, bumpy, slippery, cobblestone, and natural surfaces, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coach and open-air, 4WD safari vehicles, and several steps at the Thanda Tented Camp. The ride may be rough at times, and guests will experience bumpy, jerking motions. This tour is recommended for active guests in good physical condition. This tour is not suitable for pregnant guests, guests with neck and/or back problems, guests with heart and/or respiratory conditions, guests prone to motion sickness, guests with limited mobility, and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear lightweight, cotton safari wear (long-and-short-sleeved shirts and pants) with flat, sturdy, and closed-toe walking or hiking shoes, and bring sun protection, insect repellent, any necessary medication, and local currency or credit cards for purchases from the ship; a light, weatherproof jacket is recommended for early-morning and evening game-drives. Guests must be at least 6 years old to participate on this tour; minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 18 years old. Guests must carry their passports and ship’s ID at all times. Guests must be at least 18 years old to be served alcoholic beverages. Guests are not permitted to use cellular phones during the game drives. Guests are not permitted to speak loudly, or stand up on the game drive vehicles, as this disturbs the animals. Smoking is not permitted during the game drives. No food may be taken into the reserve on the open-air, 4WD safari vehicles. Guests are advised not to wear jewellery on this excursion. This is a malaria-risk area; please make sure the necessary medication has been taken. The open-air, 4WD safari vehicles utilised on this tour are not covered, and guests are therefore exposed to the elements. Although frequently encountered on this type of tour, wildlife and bird sightings are not guaranteed. Due to the prevailing weather conditions and movement of dangerous wildlife on the game reserve, the tour sequence, timings, and itinerary are subject to change by the lodge management without prior notice. The driving time between the pier and Thanda Safari Private Game Reserve is approximately two hours in each direction. A signed waiver is required to participate on this tour. Space on this tour is extremely limited; we suggest you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Programme Includes:

One-night stay in a Tent at the Thanda Tented Camp – Thanda Private Game Reserve

One breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner, with drinks included  

Ranger, tracker, and guide services

Early-morning tea

Dinner in your own private boma under the stars (weather-permitting)

Morning and afternoon game drives in open-air, 4WD safari vehicles

Optional guided safari bush-walk

All sightseeing and transfers as per itinerary

Not Included:

Any meals and drinks not specified above, gratuities to drivers and tour guides, laundry, telephone calls, cancellation insurance, and other personal items.