The Sani Pass is regarded by some as having the most spectacular views in South Africa. Originally a bridle path, it has become a ‘bucket list’ experience that is not to be missed. Walls of sandstone, cascading rivers, and hair-raising bends are just some of the highlights as your 4x4 vehicle takes you through the Barrier of Spears and into the Kingdom of Lesotho.  Visit a living Basotho village and meet its people for a true cultural experience. The highest pub in Africa welcomes you with a hearty lunch and refreshments before your journey back down the pass to Underberg. 

Take a guided walking and kayaking tour of Kosi Bay. See the local flora and fauna that thrive both above and below the water as you walk, kayak, and snorkel your way through the wonders of the bay. Meet your guide at a wooden bridge at the Kosi Mouth reserve. Follow your guide past a viewpoint overlooking the bay's estuary. Hop aboard a sea kayak and paddle through surreal mangrove channels. Keep an eye out for mangrove kingfishers. Snorkel through the part of the bay which is known for its large variety of fish species. Try to spot parrot fish, moray eels, lionfish, surgeons, trigger fish, mullet, grunters, river snappers, butterfly fish, Moorish idols, flutemouth fish, goatfish, and pickhandle barracudas. Head to the fish kraals (traditional fish trap) where you can meet the Thonga fisherman who owns the trap. Gain insight into the local practice of spearfishing and try to spear a fish of your own. Experience local flavors as your host prepares you an authentic meal. Savor fresh fish that has been perfectly prepared on sharpened sticks next to an open fire. Eat a delicious helping of maize bread and peanut soup with your fish. Have your lunch on the shoreline of the Kosi bay estuary under a shady uMdoni tree, just like the Thonga have been doing for the last 700 years. Taste some freshly harvested palm juice that has not been fermented, as well as some well fermented wine.

Start the day with a pickup from your accommodation then dive straight into your Durban adventure. Stroll through Africa’s oldest surviving Botanical Gardens and tap into its history and unique collections with a passionate horticulturist. Then meet the ‘loneliest man on the planet’, which is a tree, and discover the secret to invisibility. Next, unlock the trendy suburb of Glenwood, which is considered by many as the Arts Quarter of Durban. Explore on foot with local artists, Mooki Lion or Dane Stops, and track down the public portfolios of talented street artists. On the tour, uncover the underbelly of the city as you get into a conversation about the social issues that underpin the art. Time to meet Mama Nkosi next, also known as the dancing curator of Phansi Museum, and the head honcho of one of the largest collections of indigenous art and crafts in KwaZulu Natal. Learn about indigenous beliefs, tribal culture, and how people used the therapeutic nature of song and dance to deal with their emotions and feelings. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, taste the flavors of African cuisine and sample the popular delicacies of Durban such as bunny chow. With your energy levels restored, enter into the beating heart of the city, the Markets of Warwick. In the company of a local NGO, meet merchants peddling their wares and learn about the history, significance, and future of this remarkable space.  After the market, drive through the city center as your guide brings it to life with historical anecdotes. Finish the day at the creative hub that is Station Drive Precinct and enjoy an artisan gelato tasting with local creatives. For those who'd like to test out some craft beer, stroll over the S43 and try the refreshing flavors at That Brewing Company (at own expense).

Following collection from your Durban accommodation, begin a day about context, immersion, and relevance. Your tour starts with you meeting the dancing curator of the Phansi Museum, who introduces you to a vast collection of indigenous art and crafts before you sample some pan-African cuisine. Following that, head to Isithumba - a living Zulu cultural village. There a local resident helps you to explore the village on foot, as you begin to understand a different way of life. If the ancestors are kind you may even meet the village chief or the local spiritual healer for an immersive exchange. The Markets of Warwick are your final stop. This curious quarter represents the beating heart of indigenous culture. Meet the Lime and Imphepho Gogos (female elders), and watch them create their goods before you witness Muthi Bridge, or as the locals like to call it - Sangoma Central. Unlock this mysterious place and get a feel for where the culture is heading, before your driver returns you to your accommodation.