Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725
Page
Example holiday
Exclusive Spa and Safari Break
We hope that this example holiday will give you give some inspiration to help you begin to plan your own dream holiday to Africa.
The next couple of pages show a summary of the itinerary, followed by a detailed page on each destination.
Important travel information for visitors to South Africa is included at the back of this document.
All the holidays we offer to our clients are tailor-made so we can adjust this trip to fit in with your travel dates, interests, preferred accommodation...and of course your budget.
All our travel consultants have extensive knowledge of travel throughout Southern and East Africa, and our strong relationships with suppliers mean that our rates to you will always be competitive.
Let us take the hard work out of planning your trip: you can get in touch either by giving us a call on +44 (0) 1483 266725, completing the Enquiry Form on our website or emailing us at info@travelbutlers.com.
We look forward to hearing from you!
The Travel Butlers Team
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725
Kulula MN615: Fly from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) departing at 13:35 to King Shaka International Airport (DUR), arriving at 14:40
Make your way into the Arrivals Hall and find the Bidvest Car Rental office. Complete the necessary paperwork - you will need to present your driving licence, passport and credit card. The keys to your hire car will then be handed over to you.
7 Day Car Rental: Group F: Audi A3 or similar - Automatic Transmission (on Super Cover)
Allow about an hour to drive to Karkloof Safari Villas. The spa offers a range of treatments and therapies at the hands of a team of highly skilled hand-picked Thai therapists. Each treatment and modality offered at Karkloof Safari Spa has been carefully crafted from a range of cultures, leaning heavily towards Eastern practices, with a range of Germanic and Western influences having been incorporated to provide you with the most relaxing experience possible.
Nambiti Private Game Reserve is set in KwaZulu-Natal on 22,000 magnificent acres of African bush. One of its major drawcards is that the reserve is situated in a malaria-free area, meaning that guests don't have to take medication before visiting. This reserve is home to the Big 5 as well as cheetah, giraffe, hippo, hyena, impala, eland and zebra. At night in clear conditions, stargazing is truly a magical experience as the sky comes alive.
After a morning game drive followed by breakfast back at the lodge, allow about 2 hours to drive back to Richards Bay Airport, where you will return your hire car and check in for your flight back to Johannesburg (check in is 90 minutes prior to the flight departure).
Kulula MN622 (ECONOMY CLASS): Fly from King Shaka International Airport (DUR) departing at 16:20 to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), arriving at 17:25
You will need to collect your bags, and then make your way to the International Departure Terminal and check in for your next flight.
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725
Page
Karkloof Safari Villas
KwaZulu-Natal: 3 Nights
Africa’s largest spa property can be found in the most tranquil and picturesque region of Kwa-Zulu Natal. The timeless Karkloof Safari Villas is conveniently located less than 30 km from Pietermaritzburg, within a 3,500 hectare game reserve that is home to game including black and white rhino, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, antelope, warthog and monkeys, as well as breath-taking waterfalls and more than 300 different species of birdlife.
All guests benefit from a private guide and private game drive vehicle, ensuring that you have a relaxed and personalised game experience that can be enjoyed at your own pace.
The timeless Karkloof Safari Spa has won numerous international awards for its world class facilities and the high level of service from internationally trained Thai therapists and staff. Guests can enjoy unlimited spa treatments and access to the spa’s hydrotherapy facilities during their stay. Personalised weight loss, detox and wellness programmes are also available at the wellness centre for those guests with specific health and fitness goals in mind.
Sixteen private and individually decorated Villas each have their own hiding place amongst the verdant trees. Settle into seamless luxury where underfloor heating takes the edge off the night chill, sunsets rival satellite television and chattering birds outdo internet connectivity. Streams trickle gently around the Villa’s, which are linked through wooden walkways, connecting them to the Spa, Lodge and dining areas.
All food is freshly prepared and organic by nature with every meal a delectable celebration of flavours.
Unlike most properties, you can check in from 8 am and check out is 8 pm on the day of departure, which means you will have an extra full day to enjoy all that is on offer here.
Example Details For Karkloof Safari Villas
Nights:
3 Nights
Adults:
2
Children:
0
Room:
1 x Villa
Includes:
All meals; beverages (except French champagne); up to 11 hours of spa treatments daily; game drives; and walking safaris are included.
Location
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725
Page
Nambiti Hills Private Game Lodge
Nambiti Private Game Reserve: 4 Nights
If you want to be seduced by the romance of Africa, and see lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino up close in the sanctuary of a 10,000 hectare private game reserve, but also you want to experience understated luxury - then it is time you reserved your place at Nambiti Hills Private Game Lodge.
A stay here will ensure you leave more relaxed and enriched than when you arrived.
The Nambiti Big 5 Game Reserve is 23 km east of Ladysmith in the extraordinarily beautiful and geographically diverse KwaZulu-Natal region. Daily game drives - one in the morning and one in the afternoon - depart from the lodge to get you close to Nambiti's nature and wildlife. Your extremely knowledgeable guide will plan a personal safari that takes into account your particular interests and requirements.
The reserve is also close to the famous battlefields of the Anglo-Boer War and various other historic sites, and is also not far from the spectacular Drakensberg mountains, making this the perfect stop over en-route to or from these other South African holiday highlights.
The 5* Nambiti Hills Private Game Lodge offers intimate and luxurious accommodation. There are 8 luxury suites and one honeymoon suite, and each suite has a private viewing deck and an interior featuring a contemporary eclectic mix of local African design.
The main lodge's dining and lounge areas provide panoramic views of rolling hills and savannah by day, and thousands of stars in the clear night sky. There is also a pool deck with sun loungers around a refreshing swimming pool.
The spa offers a range of relaxing treatments for your 'downtime' in between game drives.
Example Details For Nambiti Hills Private Game Lodge
Nights:
4 Nights
Adults:
2
Children:
0
Room:
1 x Luxury Suite
Includes:
Brunch, high tea and dinner daily; tea/coffee; snacks; the Rhino Conservation Levy; and 2 game drives per day are included.
Please Note: As the animals are wild, it is not possible to guarantee what you will see during your safari.
Location
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725
Page
Important Travel Information For South Africa
Passport, Visa and Entry Requirements
Latest Travel Updates
For up-to-date travel information from the UK government, please check:
Normally, holders of the following passports do not require a visa to enter South Africa when travelling as a tourist for stays up to 90 days: United Kingdom; United States of America; Canada; Australia; Ireland; Belgium; Netherlands; Italy; France; Germany; Spain, Switzerland.
If you are a passport holder from another country, please contact your local South Africa High Commission or Embassy for up-to-date visa requirements, as citizens of certain countries (including New Zealand) are required to obtain visas before travelling. Please note that if you are applying to the Embassy for your visa, some visas can take a long time to be processed so please do take this into consideration, as it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa in place before you travel.
Children under 18 years of age who require a visa to enter South Africa may be required to provide additional information when applying for the visa including an unabridged birth certificate and affidavit if travelling with only one parent. There are also additional rules for unaccompanied minors and/or South African children - details available on request or via the SA Department of Home Affairs at http://www.dha.gov.za.
Please note that anyone travelling to South Africa should have a valid return ticket and a valid passport. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 30 days from the date of exit from South Africa. However, some immigration officials still request that a passport should have at least 6 months validity from the date of entry to South Africa so to avoid problems on arrival, we advise that your passport meets this requirement instead. The passport must also have sufficient pages for entry/exit stamps - AT LEAST 2 BLANK PAGES.
South Africa has implemented biometric capturing at all ports of entry. This may result in some delays at land borders so you should allow additional time for border crossings.
PLEASE NOTE: Countries can change their entry requirements at any time. Travel Butlers try to ensure that the information displayed here is correct, but the onus remains with the traveller to verify the information with the relevant High Commission or Embassy and ensure that they can comply with the applicable entry requirements.
Medical
You are advised to contact your doctor or clinic around 4-8 weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations and to get their professional medical advice regarding travel to South Africa.
To help avoid heatstroke, drink plenty of bottled water/fluids, and keep out of the midday sun.
Tap water is purified and safe to drink in major cities and towns, however, we do advise that you do not drink the water in more remote places such as the camps in the National Parks - the water may be safe to drink, but it simply is not worth the risk, as bottled water is widely available.
Whatever you do, do not drink water from any river lake without firstly purifying the water. Always take water with you when you go on a hike, and have a bottle in the car on a long journey to avoid dehydration.
There is a risk of malaria in and around the Kruger National Park/Mpumalanga Province, the Limpopo (Northern) Province, and the north-eastern part of KwaZulu-Natal - check with your doctor about suitable antimalarial tablets. Try to avoid mosquito bites wherever possible - wear loose long-sleeved clothing and trousers, and use a repellent on clothing and exposed skin.
There is no risk of yellow fever in South Africa, so a yellow fever vaccination is NOT required for travellers whose sole destination is South Africa. However, in accordance with International Health Reguations, South Africa requires all travellers over one year of age arriving from a yellow fever risk country, or having been in transit longer than 12 hours at the airport of such a country, to have a yellow fever certificate. These countries include Kenya and Uganda but it is up to the traveller to check the full list here https://nathnacyfzone.org.uk/factsheet/60/yellow-fever-maps
If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 10177 and ask for an ambulance.
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725
Page
Important Travel Information For South Africa
Continued
Languages And Culture
The 11 official languages are Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana, Sotho, Tsonga, Swati, Venda and Ndebele. Whilst many visitors will hear at least a couple of the tribal languages during the course of their stay, it is possible to travel extensively and comfortably with just English as a language.
The South African society is quite liberal, as gay marriage was legalised in 2006 nationwide and everyone’s rights are protected under the constitution. In some more rural areas, however, the local people may not be quite as liberal thinking, so whilst everyone is of course entitled to their own sexual preferences and gender identity, we would advise all clients of the LGBT+ community to refrain from public displays of affection (including kissing and holding hands) and to be as discrete as possible about their relationship if travelling to a rural/remote area.
Travel Butlers Ltd
Astra House
The Common, Cranleigh
Surrey GU6 8RZ, United Kingdom
tel: +44 (0)1483 266725
Page
Book With Confidence
Travel Butlers have 20 years experience of booking travel to Africa and the Indian Ocean for clients from all around the world. In this time we have supported clients through disruptions caused by numerous unexpected events including natural disasters, localised disease outbreaks and airline cancellations. Nobody can be certain exactly what will happen in the future, however Travel Butlers can offer you peace of mind and flexibility to ensure that you feel confident booking a holiday with us.
Flexibility and peace of mind before you travel
Our team are specialists in travel to Africa and the Indian Ocean, and we are constantly monitoring the changing situation regarding travel to the region. If your trip cannot go ahead due to specific travel restrictions related to Covid-19 then we will get in touch to offer you the choice of the following:
Postponing to a later date
Switching to another destination
Receiving a full refund of all monies paid to Travel Butlers for the trip, providing the balance due has been paid in full
The specific Covid-19 travel restrictions are defined as follows:
The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel or your booked country is placed on the red list
The government in your country of residence (non-UK residents) restricts all but essential travel
The destination you are travelling to has entry restrictions in place that prohibit you travelling, such as closed borders or extended quarantine requirements
International flights are cancelled without alternative routing available for you to use to reach the destinations in the itinerary
We would not normally be able to confirm that your trip cannot proceed due to travel restrictions until a couple of weeks before the start of your trip, however should you want to look at postponing or altering your trip before then we would aim to be as flexible as possible.
If we confirm that your trip is unable to proceed due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, then we will not charge you an amendment fee if you choose to postpone your trip or move it to another destination. We may need to adjust the cost of your trip to reflect the new dates, particularly if those coincide with a more expensive season of travel or higher grade of accommodation. Equally, if the cost of your postponed trip is less, we will reduce the cost accordingly.
You should still take out travel insurance that includes Covid-19 to cover you in the event that your trip can go ahead but you are unable to travel due to illness or a change in your personal circumstances. If there are no travel restrictions in place that mean your trip could not go ahead but you need to cancel due to illness or a change in your personal circumstances then our normal terms and conditions would apply. You should ensure that your travel insurance provides adequate cover for cancelling due to illness, including Covid-19, and you may be able to make a claim against your travel insurance depending on the cover offered by your policy.
Support whilst you are away
We offer 24/7 telephone assistance to all our clients whilst they are away, and also have partners in each country that are able to assist with any PCR tests or other issues that might arise during your trip.
If you fall ill whilst you are away, or if your trip is disrupted due to Covid-19 whilst you are travelling, then our experienced team will be on hand to assist you in whatever way you need. You would need to pay any additional costs incurred due to illness or travel disruption whilst you are away, however you may be able reclaim these expenses on your travel insurance depending on the cover offered by your policy. Travel Butlers will be able to assist by providing supporting documentation for your claim.
Financial protection for your Travel Butlers holiday
All of the holidays we sell are 100% financially protected through our ATOL and ABTOT bonding so your money is in safe hands when you book a Travel Butlers holiday. Furthermore, our business is well positioned to navigate through the challenges which the travel industry is currently facing.
Finding suitable travel insurance that covers Covid-19
You can now get insurance that offers cover for disruption related to Covid-19, and these policies could include cover for:
cancellation if you or anyone covered by the policy gets a positive coronavirus test in the two weeks before you travel
medical costs if you get coronavirus while you are away
additional transport and/or accommodation expenses if you fall ill with coronavirus while you are away
Not all policies offer this kind of cover, not necessarily even all policies from the same provider, so you should ensure you check the policy details carefully before buying your insurance.
Travel Butlers have 20 years experience of booking travel to Africa and the Indian Ocean for clients from all around the world. In this time we have supported clients through disruptions caused by numerous unexpected events including natural disasters, localised disease outbreaks and airline cancellations. Nobody can be certain exactly what will happen in the future, however Travel Butlers can offer you peace of mind and flexibility to ensure that you feel confident booking a holiday with us.