LMHI  2018  POST-­‐CONGRESS  TOUR  TO  DURBAN  

 SUNDAY  09  SEPTEMBER  

                                     

         Fly  from  CAPE  TOWN  INTERNATIONAL  AIRPORT  to  KING  SHAKA  INTERNATIONAL  AIRPORT  (Durban)  on:            Kulula  Airlines  (www.kulula.com)    

OR          British  Airways    (www.ba.com]    

OR          Mango  Airlines  (www.flymango.com)  

OR                      **  preferred  flights  

Flight  MN  703  [09h35]**    Flight  BA  6305  [12h00]          [NOT  BA  6323  (11h45)]    Flight  JE  334  [08h50]**    Flight  JE  342  [11h45]    

                                   

AIRPORT  TRANSFER  TO  PROTEA  HOTEL  UMHLANGA    Leisure  Day  in  Umhlanga  Rocks    Umhlanga  is  an  affluent,  residential  and  commercial  town  15km  north  of  Durban.  It    is    one  of    the  safest    areas  in    the  Durban  area,  and,    as  one  of  the  most  popular  

 

 

tourist   destinations   in   South   Africa,   is   famous   for   its   splendid   beaches,  promenade  and  lighthouse.      Spend  the    afternoon  on    the  beach,  walking    the  promenade,  or    shopping  at    The    

Pearls   of   Umhlanga   or   the   Gateway   Theatre   of   Shopping,   the   largest   shopping  mall   in   the   southern  hemisphere,  before  ambling  down   to   the  Oyster  Box  Hotel  for   a   sundowner,  or   into   ‘the  village’   for  a  delicious  dinner  at  one  of   the  many  vibrant  and  excellent  restaurants.    

   

   

 

MONDAY  10  SEPTEMBER    

After  breakfast  at  the  hotel,  we  will  be  guided  on  two  tours:    Inanda  Heritage  Tour  The  Tour  takes  us  through  the  majestic  Inanda  Valley,  a  densely  populated  semi-­‐rural  area  roughly  30  km  outside  of  Durban.  On  the  tour  we  will  explore  sites  of  historical  significance:    1. Mahatma  Gandhi  spent  21  years  in  South  Africa,  and  his  life  was  shaped  by  a   number   of   events,   including   the   now   famous   incident   when   he   was  thrown  off  a  train  for  sitting  in  the  'whites  only'  section.  These  shaped  his  passive   resistance  movement.  His   communal  Phoenix  settlement  was  on  a  100   acre   farm   that   contained   his   home,   a   community   centre   and   the  printing   press   from   which   he   produced   the   Indian   Opinion.   Today   what  remains  of  the  farm  is  dedicated  to  a  museum  where  this  important  part  of  world  history  is  laid  out  on  panels  across  the  walls.      

2. John  Dube's  Ohlange  Institute,  established  in  1901,  is  the  first  educational  institution   founded   by   a   black   person   in   South   Africa,   on   donated   land.  

Dube  was   to  become   the   first  president  of   the  African  National  Congress  (ANC).     The   school's   emphasis  was   on   developing   students'   self-­‐reliance,  teaching  not  only  basic  education  but  also  vocational  skills  like  journalism,  shoe  and  dressmaking,  carpentry,  motor  mechanics  and  agriculture.  In  the  first  democratic  elections  in  1994,  Nelson  Mandela  elected  to  cast  his  vote  at  Ohlange,  as  a  sympbolic  homage  to  the  history  and  legacy  of  Dube.  

   

 

   

 

City  Tour  and  Markets  After  lunch,  we  will  visit  the  City  Hall  precinct  in  the  Durban  CBD  before  visiting  two  of  Durban’s  most  interesting  markets:    1. The   Victoria   Street   Market   is   an   Afro-­‐Indian   indoor   market   that   offers  everything  from  Indian  spices  and  incenses,  to  fresh  fruits  and  vegetables,  fabrics,   ceramics,  and   traditional  arts  and  crafts.  The   top   floor   is  popular  with   international   visitors   due   to   the   collection   of   souvenirs,   jewellery,  fabrics,   and   crafts.   It   is   one   of  Durban's   most   recognisable   pieces   of  architecture   with   11   colourful   domes   modelled   on   Indian   construction.  This  is  hardly  surprising  when  one  considers  that  Durban  has  the  highest  Indian   population   outside   of   India.   With   more   than   170   stalls,   there's  definitely  something  for  everyone!      

2. The  Durban  Muthi  Market   offers   an   opportunity   to   explore   the  world   of  African   traditional   healing.   We   will   witness   a   variety   of   traditional  medicine,   also   known   as   ‘muthi’,   being  made   and   prepared   for   sale.   The  market's  stalls  are  stocked  full  of  various  organic  ingredients  which  range  

from   crocodile   teeth   and   snake   skins,   to   a   wide   range   of   fresh   plants,  barks,   roots,   seeds,  powders  and  potions.  The  market  offers  an  authentic  engagement  and  insight  into  a  fascinating  centuries-­‐old  medical  tradition.  

 In   the   late-­‐afternoon  we  will  return  to  the  hotel   in  Umhlanga   for  an  evening  at  leisure.  

   

   

   

 

TUESDAY  11  SEPTEMBER    

CHECK  OUT  OF  PROTEA  HOTEL  UMHLANGA  

 After   breakfast   we   will   check   out   of   the   hotel   and   embark   on   our   once-­‐in-­‐a-­‐lifetime  guided  tour  to  the  Hluhluwe-­‐iMfolozi  Park,  located  approximately  280km  north  of  Durban:    Hluhluwe-­‐iMfolozi  Park  The  Hluhluwe-­‐iMfolozi  Park   is   the  oldest  proclaimed  nature   reserve  in  Africa.   It  covers   an   area   of   960  km²   and   is   known   for   its   rich  wildlife   and   conservation  efforts.  The  park   is   the  only   state-­‐run  park   in  the  province  of  KwaZulu-­‐Natal  in  which   each   of   the  ‘big   five’   game  animals   [elephant,   rhinoceros,   Cape   buffalo  (wildebeest),   lion   and   leopard]   can   be   found.  Due   to   conservation   efforts,   the  park  now  has  the   largest  population  of  white  rhino  in  the  world.     In  addition  to  the  ‘big  five’,  we  will  be  able  to  see  spotted  hyena,  jackal,  giraffe,  zebra,  warthog,  mongoose,   monkeys,   tortoises,   lizards,   and   a   wide   variety   of   buck,   including  

nyala,  eland,  kudu,  impala,  and  waterbuck.  

   

   

 

 

CHECK  INTO  HILLTOP  CAMP  

 A  late-­‐afternoon  game  drive  will  provide  a  wonderful  introduction  to  the  Africa  bush,  with  the  opportunity  to  witness  the  extraordinary  African  sunsets  and  to  hear  the  bush  come  alive.  After  the  game  drive,  we  will  retire  to  the  Hilltop  Camp  for   dinner   (included)   and   enthusiastic   outdoor   conversations   about   the   great  excitement  of  the  day.      

WEDNESDAY  12  SEPTEMBER    

An  early-­‐morning  (second)  game  drive  will  afford  us  the  splendour  of  the  African  sunrise  and  an  opportunity  to  catch  the  night-­‐time  predators  [lion,  cheetah  and  leopard]  before  they  settle  for  the  day.    We  will  enjoy  a  mid-­‐morning  breakfast  before  checkout  out  of  our  accommodation  ahead  of  the  trip  back  to  Durban.  

 

CHECK  OUT  OF  HILLTOP  CAMP  

 En   route   to   Durban,   we   will   visit   the   Emdoneni   Lodge   to   get   up-­‐close-­‐and-­‐  personal   with   four   of   Africa’s   endangered   wild   cats   and   the   Isimangaliso  Wetland  Park:    

Emdoneni  Cat  Rehabilitation  Project  (ECRP)  The   ECRP   seeks   to   raise   awareness   of   the   cheetah,   caracal   (lynx),   serval   and  African  wildcat,  and   their  conservation   through  education  and   interaction  with  animals   that   cannot   be   re-­‐wilded   or   reintroduced   into   protected   areas. Adult  participants  will  have  an  opportunity  to  enter  the  enclosures  and  get  really  close  to  all  four  cat  species.    Isimangaliso  Wetland  Park  The   Isimangaliso   Wetland   Park   is   South   Africa's   very   first   UNESCO   World  Heritage  and  the  third  largest  protected  area  in  South  Africa.  The  Wetland  Park  covers  332  000  hectares.   Lake   St   Lucia   is  Africa's   largest   body   of   fresh  water  and  is  home  to  over  1  200  crocodiles  and  800  hippopotami  and  large  flocks  of  water  birds  including  flamingos,  pelicans  and  ducks.      

We  will  take  a  2-­‐hour  boat  trip  on  the  largest  estuarine  system  in  Africa,  the  St  Lucia   Estuary,   where   we   will   be   able   to   get   a   close-­‐up   view   of   the   antics   of  hippos  splashing  in  the  water,  Nile  crocodiles  basking  in  the  sun,  and  enjoy  the  spectacular  bird  life  of  the  estuary,   including  a  possible  sighting  of  the  African  Fish  Eagle.  

   

   

 

 

CHECK  INTO  COASTLANDS  HOTEL  

 Upon  arrival  in  Durban,  we  will  check  into  the  hotel,  and  enjoy  a  shared  dinner  (included)  at  a  local  Indian  restaurant,  before  retiring  to  bed.        

 

   

   

 

THURSDAY  13  SEPTEMBER    

After  breakfast  at  the  hotel,  those  members  of  the  tour  party  who  are  leaving  for  flights   in  the  late  afternoon  will  check  out  of  the  hotel,  ahead  of  the  visit  to  the  Durban  University  of  Technology  [DUT].    

CHECK  OUT  OF  COASTLANDS  HOTEL    Durban  University  of  Technology  –  Faculty  &  Ukuba  nesibindi  Clinic  The   Department   of   Homoeopathy   at   the   Durban   University   of   Technology   has  been   offering   a   Master’s   degree   in   Homoeopathy   since   1989.   This   academic  programme   is   relatively   unique,   outside   of   India,   in   providing   a   complete   and  robust  full-­‐time  medical  training  in  Homoeopathy.    Our   visit   will   include   visits   to   the   Anatomy   dissection   halls   and   museum,  laboratories,   the   university   library,   the   Homoeopathy   department   and   on-­‐campus  clinic,  as  well  as  an  off-­‐campus  community  clinic  that  has  been  operating  in   the   nearby  Warwick   junction   for   13   years.   Participants   will   be   afforded   an  opportunity   to   engage   with   staff,   students   and   patients   to   share   in   a  homoeopathic  success  story.    At  this  point,  we  will  bid  farewell  to  our  colleagues  who  are  returning  home  on  Turkish   Airlines,   and   proceed   to   an   end-­‐of-­‐tour   lunch   at   the   DUT   Conference  Centre.  

 

 

AIRPORT  TRANSFER  TO  KING  SHAKA  INTERNATIONAL  (1)  Turkish  Airlines  (www.turkishairlines.com)    

OR  Flight  TK  43  [15h55]  

 

Durban  Botanical  Gardens  After   lunch,   we   will   take   a   short   stroll   to   Africa’s   oldest   surviving   botanical   garden,   established   in   1849.   The  Durban  Botanical  Gardens   is  famous  for  its  extensive  cycad  collection,  including  Encephalartos  woodii,  one  of  the  rarest  plants  in  the  world.  The  tranquil  beauty  of  the  garden  will  be  the  perfect  antidote  to  the  excitement  of  the  previous  two  weeks  in  South  Africa,  ahead  of  the  trip  home!    

AIRPORT  TRANSFER  TO  KING  SHAKA  INTERNATIONAL  (2)  Emirates  (www.emirates.com)    

OR  Flight  EK  776  [18h40]    

 

Those  participants  who  have  elected  to  spend  a  little  more  time  in  South  Africa,  are  encouraged  to  explore  other  areas  of  Durban,  the  natural  beauty  of  the  South  Coast,  or  to  head  inland  to  the  majestic  Drakensberg  mountain  range.  

Oribi Gorge

Durban Beachfront

Cathedral Peak [Drakensberg]