Craig, thanks for the quick reply. &Beyond quotes the drive from JNB to Phinda as 6 hours, but you say 9 hours. Google maps also says about 6 hours. Is there a reason you think it is closer to 9? Is the driving along the way slow? I've looked at flights into RCB but they are $450 per person, however DUR was a more reasonable $200 per person.

As far as your recommendation to spend a day at the ocean, if we went the DUR route, that might give us a couple of hours to spend at the ocean on the way there and back. Do you recommend any good beaches along the way?
Thanks