Durban, South Africa - Africa Cruises

SOS Children’s Villages are an independent, non-governmental social development organisation that works to meet the needs and protects the rights of children without parental care, providing a family-based care system that continues until adulthood. Families are built for children in need, so every child can belong to a family, where they can grow up loved and sheltered.

After a scenic hour-long drive to Pietermaritzburg, you’ll visit the Family Strengthening Programme, a community project next to the SOS Village. Continue onto the ‘White House’, the project co-ordination hub where the distribution of food parcels and programmes administration is organised. Your co-ordinator will show you round the knitting, sewing or gardening projects in the community.

Inside the SOS Children's Village, visit the kindergarten which caters for the little ones as well as children from the nearby community. After a presentation by the co-ordinator and tour of the facilities, you will spend some time at the ‘house of the week’, as chosen by the house mothers.


This excursion will operate by coach and on foot. There is approximately two hours of moderate walking on this tour; please wear flat comfortable shoes, a hat and sun block. Some of the sites visited on this tour are in extreme poverty even though they are in the process of being uplifted with the help of the Government and Non Government Organisations, so please be prepared as this tour is a ‘no frills’ experience. A donation has been included in the package cost but if guests want to give more directly to the school or community project i.e. stationery, canned foods or money, it will be welcomed, however we suggest that this is done directly to the SOS representative to ensure equal distribution. Please note that the order of visits may change in accordance with the co-ordinators at the village. Whilst photography is allowed, we ask that for any portraits, prior permission is obtained from the person.

Tala Private Game Reserve spans more than 7,000 acres. Located 1¼ hours’ drive from Durban, Tala is where you may be lucky enough to catch sight of big game such as rhino, kudu, hippo, and giraffe. You will perhaps see some of the 16 species of antelope, including the rare Sable Antelope.

Relax with welcoming refreshments and soak up the views from the open veranda before your adventure begins.

During your game drive, travel in open vehicles with experienced game rangers, who will provide information on the animals and give you an insight into this exciting area.


ACTIVITY EXCURSIONS
You and all those in your party should be aware that, in undertaking activity excursions, you will be involved in a degree of physical exertion and/or activity such as hiking, biking, snorkelling, kayaking, diving etc. By booking the excursion you confirm that you and all those in your party are in good physical and mental condition, with no history of conditions such as seizures, dizziness, fainting, heart condition, respiratory problems or back/neck problems (by way of example only). You should also ensure that no one in your party is taking medicine that carries a warning about impairment of physical or mental abilities. If you are pregnant this type of excursion may not be appropriate for you. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are fit and well enough to take part in the activities booked and you are reminded to take care for your own safety. Because of the risks associated with activity excursions, you may be asked by the excursion provider to sign a document which may affect or limit the excursion provider’s liability. Comfortable flat walking shoes are recommended.

LIABILITY
Cunard will arrange for the excursions to be performed by the relevant excursion provider. Cunard does not provide or supply the excursion services. Cunard will exercise reasonable care and skill in the selection of the excursion provider, but will not in any circumstances have a greater liability than the excursion supplier and Cunard shall not be responsible for the negligent acts/omissions of the excursion supplier. Please note that in relation to all excursions Cunard is not responsible or liable for any loss, damage, or injury sustained by you unless such loss, damage or injury arises out of a breach of legal duty of Cunard.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Before booking any activity excursions it is essential that you ensure your travel insurance extends to cover the specified activity. It is your responsibility to obtain adequate insurance.

This excursion will operate by coach and open vehicle. From the coaches, you are required to walk 500 yards, over rough ground and up a few steep steps to board one of a variety of ten and 30 seated game-drive vehicles. Sunscreen, sunglasses and hats are essential. This tour is not suitable for those with injuries or conditions, which may be affected by the bumpy ride. The roads in the game reserve are gravel with inclines and certain parts of the game-drive can be bumpy. Guests are not permitted to use cellular phones or smoke during the game drives. Pregnant women and children under 12 may not participate. Due to extremely limited capacity, early booking is recommended. Guests are advised that the 4x4 vehicles do not have seat belts fitted, it is not permitted for participants to stand up whilst the vehicles are in motion. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

Shakaland began life as a film set for the television epic 'Shaka Zulu' and is the largest operation where one can experience the traditional Zulu lifestyle, at a recreated Zulu village. Upon arrival at Shakaland, you are invited to join the Nandi experience. Re-live the excitement and romance of the days of King Shaka, the King of the Zulus, in this authentic recreation of the Great Kraal, overlooking the Umhlatuze Lake in the heart of Zululand.

Experience the fascinating rituals and the intriguing customs and beliefs that form the fabric of Zulu life. Walk through the village and see displays of Zulu women creating beadworks, weaving mats, sculpting pottery, baking bread and even brewing beer. Zulu men show you how to make spears and shields and build a hut. Zulu dancers perform rhythmic drum dances and tribal members recreate a ritual by the Sangoma traditional healer.

This tour will also include a short audio-visual presentation and time at leisure to visit the curio shop.

A traditional buffet luncheon will be served in the Kwabonamanzi Restaurant overlooking the Umhlatuze Lake.


This excursion will operate by coach and on foot. Journey time to/from Shakaland is approximately two hours each way. Comfortable, non-slip shoes and a sun hat are essential. The tour involves a total of two hours’ walking / standing including steps and uneven ground. It is Zulu custom for unmarried women to go topless. The village visited is a recreated village as there are no longer any authentic Zulu villages to visit. The village has mostly gravel ground, which can be slightly muddy after heavy rain. Most of the tour takes place outdoors and involves quite a bit of walking. No photographs or videos may be taken of the Sangoma (traditional healer).

Diverse cultural influences from Asia, Africa and Europe have each contributed to Durban's development and unique character. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of this sub-tropical city from the comfort of an air-conditioned motor coach.

Follow the palm tree-lined Victoria Embankment, passing the Vasco Da Gama Clock, the Dick King Statue, the imposing Durban Club and the Yacht Club en-route, reaching Currie Hill, stopping briefly to take in the panoramic views of the City.

Continue onto the Durban Botanical Gardens to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the gardens, which house a wide variety of local flora. Drive past the Old Market Square, which represent the City Hall in Belfast and serves as Durban's municipal offices. Glimpse the Natural History Museum and Post Office before continuing past the Old Inland Revenue Building and Reserve Bank, before driving to the Moses Mabhida Stadium for a photograph stop.

Drive along the Golden Mile beachfront, where Zulu’s, resplendent in their colourful regalia, transport visitors in their colourful rickshaws. Pass by the Juma Mosque, which is reputedly the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and is famous for its massive golden dome and turrets.

This excursion will operate by coach and on foot. To fully enjoy this tour, some walking is required at the Botanical Gardens. Please take care of personal belongings at all times in Durban. The sequence of highlights may vary to avoid congestion. Flat, comfortable walking shoes and sun hats are strongly recommended.

The Sanctuary is dedicated to the conservation of indigenous raptors and is the base to ongoing research, breeding and rehabilitation projects for birds of prey. The majority of these projects run ‘behind the scenes’ to ensure that the integrity of the wild birds is not compromised and that a high release success rate is achieved.

The Sanctuary is also home to a wide selection of captive-bred or ‘non-releasable rehabilitation’ birds of prey. These raptors can be viewed in their ‘micro-environment’ enclosures by anyone who wishes to visit and learn about South Africa’s magnificent aerial predators. Education and awareness is paramount to the effective conservation of our environment and its creatures. To facilitate this, a specially trained group of raptors are flown in daily flight displays. These demonstrations allow the raptors themselves to become both teachers and ambassadors for their wild counterparts, so that members of the public can experience these normally rare and elusive birds first hand.

Before the return drive, enjoy refreshments of tea, coffee and scones in the Sanctuary coffee shop and time to browse the curio shop and art gallery.


This excursion will operate by coach and on foot. Comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen are recommended and please note that credit cards are not accepted in the curio shop and art gallery.

Follow the palm tree-lined Victoria Embankment, towards the Golden Mile and pass by the Juma Mosque, famous for its massive golden dome and turrets. Continue, north up the coast to Ballito, a small holiday town located 25 miles north of Durban, that was originally a sugarcane farm. This stretch of the North Coast shoreline is known as the Dolphin Coast and sightings are commonplace, but not guaranteed.

Umhlanga Rocks is situated just north of the vibrant city of Durban on the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, and has the fantastic accommodation, up-market office parks and shopping centres. The golden sandy beaches stretch northwards for more than 125 miles, all the way to the spectacular world heritage site, Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. Inland from Umhlanga, endless fields of sugarcane give way to the tumbling area of the 1000 Hills, the massive Inanda Dam and mystical hidden valleys of Zululand.

Visit a local hotel for high tea before departing back to Durban, stopping briefly at Currie Hill to take in the panoramic views of the city including the Old Market Square, representing the City Hall in Belfast and serving as Durban's municipal offices. Glimpse the Natural History Museum and Post Office before continuing past the Old Inland Revenue Building and Reserve Bank.


This excursion will operate by coach and on foot. To avoid congestion the order of sights may vary.

In the heart of the Natal Midlands is Howick, where you will find the magnificent Howick Falls, a fantastic display of over 300 feet, almost in the centre of the picturesque town itself. Known to the Zulu people as KwaNogqaza - Place of the Tall One - the Falls were first seen by European adventurers in the early 19th century.

Luncheon will be served at the Granny Mouse Country House and includes a choice of house wine or a soft drink.

In 1985 Fèe Halsted-Berning lived on the farm, Ardmore, in the Champagne Valley under the shadow of the Drakensberg Mountains. Her first art student was Bonnie Ntshalintshali whose natural aptitude for ceramic art soon attracted other students. This led to the creation of Ardmore Lavendula, the largest ceramic art studio in South Africa, situated close to Nottingham Road and Mooi River. The large group of sculptors and painters who produce ceramics under the Ardmore label amply demonstrate the diversity of talents that has emerged under Fèe's tuition. There will be time to visit the ceramic shop to see some of the prestigious handcrafted designs.


This excursion will operate by coach and on foot. This tour involves walking over some uneven ground. Comfortable non-slip walking shoes are recommended. A donation will be made to the Ardmore Excellence fund from the sales of this tour, which helps increase the opportunity of training for artists. In order to avoid congestion, the order of sites visited may be rotated.

Journey to the Valley of a Thousand Hills to see modern and olden day African tribal cultures in the traditional and spectacular homeland of the Zulu. First shaped by the flow of the great Mgeni River, then by the culture of the Zulu tribes, and finally by the coming of European man, the Zulu drum still beats in these hills.

Phezulu, a recreated Zulu village, is a ‘must-see’, where you can enjoy a small taste of Africa. Dancing and singing are important parts of the Zulu culture and you will get a feel for their power as you watch a spirited display of traditional tribal dancing, complete with beating drums and Zulu dress. Afterwards, explore the Zulu cultural huts and gain fascinating glimpses into African tribal culture.

Become introduced to Phezulu’s impressive reptile park. Take home vivid images of Africa’s most renowned snakes and learn more about the country’s crocodiles.

Refreshments will be served during the tour and there will be time to browse through the curio shop for Zulu crafts and souvenirs.


This excursion will operate by coach and on foot. Comfortable, non-slip shoes and a sun hat are essential. The tour involves steps and uneven ground. Highlights may operate in reverse order. It is Zulu custom for unmarried women to go topless. There are paved pathways and some uneven, sandy terrain, where the show will be held. The village has mostly gravel ground, which can be slightly muddy after heavy rainfall. There is a wooden boardwalk, with a few steps, through the snake & crocodile enclosure. In order to avoid congestion, the order of sites visited may be rotated. The village visited is a recreated village as there are no longer any authentic Zulu villages to visit.