Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban
Traveler rating
3.3/5
Based on 11 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban worth booking?
Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban is a 13-hour experience in Durban, South Africa, from $2850 per person. It scores 48 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.3/5 rating across 11 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 48 / 100
- Rating
- 3.3/5 (11)
- Duration
- 13 hours
- From
- $2850 per person
Travel through the gentle pastoral beauty of the Natal Midlands. Pass through grassy plains scattered with villages and lush farmlands and see plump cattle and thoroughbred horses graze. Take in the endless vistas and in
What you get
- Drakensberg Mountains
- Midlands Meander
- Nelson Mandela Monument
- Nelson Mandela Capture Site museum
- Air conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
About this experience
Travel through the gentle pastoral beauty of the Natal Midlands. Pass through grassy plains scattered with villages and lush farmlands and see plump cattle and thoroughbred horses graze. Take in the endless vistas and incredible scenery. Explore the magnificent Drakensberg. The day's highlights are: • See the Howick Falls • See the site where former SA President Nelson Mandela was captured in 1962 and went on to spend 27 yers in prison • Enjoy the Drakensberg *All this in one day. * Hiking in Drakensberg
What's included
Included
- Drakensberg Mountains
- Midlands Meander
- Nelson Mandela Monument
- Nelson Mandela Capture Site museum
- Air conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
- Hotel pick ups and drop offs
- Howick Falls
What you'll see and do
Howick Falls
We set off on our tour towards Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Kwa Zulu Natal at around 8:00am. From Pietermaritzburg we continue to Howick where we visit the 100m high Howick Falls.
30 minutes here · Admission included
Nelson Mandela Capture Site
We continue our tour, with our next stop at the monument erected on the spot where police arrested Nelson Mandela in 1961 as a result of his resistance to the former Apartheid government, The Nelson Mandela Capture Site.
45 minutes here · Admission included
UKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
From the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, our tour takes us through an area of gentle pastoral beauty called the Midlands Meander. We pass through grassy plains scattered with villages and lush farmlands where plump cattle and thoroughbred horses graze. Experience the Midlands Meander - Routes span more than 50 miles between Pietermaritzburg and the uKhahlamba-Drakensburg World Heritage Site including many back roads. The Midlands Meander isn’t a single attraction at all, but rather a network of more than 150 artisans, activities, restaurants, lodging and tours that have banded together to promote the rural but creative Midlands Region of KwaZulu-Natal.
300 minutes here
Drakensberg Mountains
We eventually arrive at the Drakensberg Mountains. It is very peaceful. Enjoy the mountains, the valleys, the scenery, all beyond description.
180 minutes here
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, fr
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- African Sun Safaris
Know before you go
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 11 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
The guide
7 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Value for money
2 mentionsTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Traveler reviews
11 verified traveler reviews for Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Stunning scenery with opportunity for a short hike.
Hiking at Dragons Peak was the highlight.Spectacular views and our guide Mzwe was very attentive.Was great to have hotel pick up even though our hotel was in Kloof so full marks to the company there.Did another tour with African Sun safaris and unfortunately they use very old vehicles.My daughter has lived in South Africa for awhile so was prepared for this however the vehicles would be unacceptable to many International tourists.
via Viator
Hot, old touring vehicle
We were met at the port and taken to an old very small car and advised that the air conditioning was broken, the back seatbelts did work and it will take three hours to get to Drakensberg. It was a hot day so we had to make the decision to cut our tour and only do the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and Howick Falls and a short drive around Durban. Our guide was very apologetic and did his best but it was so hot and uncomfortable in the car and to make matters worse, it wouldn't go over 80kph on the freeway. I did email the company asking for a partial refund but they never replied.
via Tripadvisor
Unacceptable!!
Our guide, Kudzi was a lovely young man but turned up in a very small old car with broken air conditioning and non-working back seatbelts and the car struggled to go more than 80kph. We had to drive 3 hours to the first stop so we decided that we would have to forego the first half of the tour as it was a really hot day and would have been too hot and uncomfortable to go that far. We ended up only doing Howick Falls and Nelson Mandela Capture Site and a short drive around Durban because of the heat. Kudzi was a good guide and very apologetic but the condition of the vehicle was unacceptable as a tour vehicle. I emailed the company about this but they have not replied. Not happy.
Response from the operator: The tour kicked off late as the ship arrived late. The vehicle was in good condition and has a perfectly working aircon. The guides are under instruction to not exceed 100km per hour. We apologise that you did not have a good experience
via Viator
Drakensberg and malsonnant Mandela capture tour
Great experience with a very caring guide in a fantastic and very diverse Kwazulu Natal. Really worth it!
via Tripadvisor
Cannot recommend this tour - there must be better value elsewhere.
The vehicle used for the tour was an old Datsun, which was wholly unsatisfactory for a full day's driving tour owing to very cramped conditions in the rear for 2 adults, as well as being unsafe, because the rear seat belts were unavailable for usage due to a seat cover. The tour driver's driving skills were at times reckless with speed limits and road markings ignored. We were very relieved to return to our hotel without a major incident occurring. Howick Falls was nice to see, albeit the approach and viewing areas are in dire need of update and maintenance. The Mandela Capture Site & Museum was excellent. The Museum's memorabilia is comprehensive and the Mandela sculpture must rank as one of the best in the world and is highly recommended to go view. The 'Midlands Meander' drive towards the Drakensberg was very uninteresting. The roads are in large parts in very poor condition and the towns passed were very run-down. Eventually, the road towards Champagne Castle provided good viewing of part of the mountain range. We were very disappointed that this tour does not go into or amongst the Drakensberg mountains, unlike the headline picture shows, which is somewhat misleading. Nor does the tour have fixed stops for drinks/lunch/toilet; the driver stops for viewing/photos only if requested. Having engaged with several Viator tours in the past in various countries, I have found them to be generally very good: however, this tour ranks by far the worst I have done.
Response from the operator: We are sorry that Lawrie did not find this tour to be confortable. The tour does take travellers to Howick Falls, Nelson Mandela Capture Site and the Drakensberg Mountains. The tour ends where the Drakensberg Road ends and it not possible to go beyond this point into the mountains except by foot. This again is not possible on a day tour.
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 13 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- 5+
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $2850 to $5490
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by African Sun Safaris, who run 31 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 55.5.
See everything African Sun Safaris runsWhy this scores 48
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Durban.
How much does Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban cost?
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Prices start at $2850 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Durban usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban take?
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Plan for about 13 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Durban is not rushed.
Is Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 48 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.3/5 across 11 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Durban, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban suitable for kids and families?
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The operator sets a minimum age of 5. Older children generally do well here, and families should factor in the 13-hour running time when deciding.
How far in advance should I book Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Durban can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Durban and add a light layer if any part of the 13-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Full Day-Drakensberg-MandelaCaptureSite-HowickFalls-MidlandsMeander from Durban start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Durban within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Durban?
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On Outty we rank every Durban experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Culture Walking Tour of Durban, Sani Pass & Lesotho 4x4 Experience Day Tour from Durban, Discover Rorkes Drift on our Day Tour from Durban. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Durban?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Durban?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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