Categories
Trip Report

Overnight Safari Tour Trip Report for 26 Aug 2022

It was great to get back into the bush with a last minute wildlife safari tour to the Hluhluwe IMfolozi Game Reserve

Two coral trees are backlit by the rising sun. Silhouetted in the trees are two samango monkeys.
The rising sun at Hluhluwe imfoloz Game Reserve silhouettes two Samango Monkeys in Coral tree.

It was all a little last minute but I was asked to conduct an overnight, 2 day tour to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve for 2 international business men working in Durban.

I collected the guys from their hotel in Ballito and we headed out to the first destination which was St Lucia, a 2,5 hour drive north from Durban. On the way we chatted a great deal about Durban, the history, what’s happening currently etc.

We got to St Lucia at lunchtime and since the two hour cruise wasn’t scheduled until 1pm, we decided on a lunch in St Lucia at a favourite restaurant, the “Ocean Grill”.

After lunch my guests boarded the boat and went off on their 2 hour cruise where they spotted quite a few hippo and a lonely crocodile sunning itself on the river bank. They got some great sightings of birds as well.

Hluhluwe Imofolozi Game Reserve

After the cruise we left St Lucia at around 3pm and headed for the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve, arriving at the main gate at 4pm. I signed us in and we started on the drive from the main gate to Hilltop Camp where we were staying; this usually takes around 30min/45min though it took quite a bit longer for us because of all the animal sightings!

Shameless Advertising Plug

The company owner and tour guide, Shelldon Wells, poses for a selfie at the St Lucia estuary. The dark waters of the estuary are behind him.

I offer a number of different safari tours from Durban to Big 5 game reserves such as Phinda, Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve and more. If you would like to find out more about the wildlife safari tours I offer, then check out my safari tours page and get in touch!

On the way to the camp we spotted rhino, buffalo, giraffe, nyala, impala and a Martial eagle kill; this meant instead of the usual 45min it took us 90min! It was totally worth it and my guests were really pleased. After checking in my guests went for a rest and then we met at 7pm for dinner and finally headed to bed.

Open Vehicle Game Drive

One of the definite experiences everyone needs to try is the open vehicle game drives. I had arranged for my two guests to enjoy their own personal open vehicle experience for the 4 hours on day two. So after making sure they had some coffee and breakfast packs, I delivered them to the waiting vehicle and off they went.

I then went and grabbed some breakfast, filled the vehicle up with fuel, cleaned the windows, loaded luggage and checked us out. When my guests got back they were so excited as they had seen a huge herd of elephant and spotted some lions! That means they got to see 4 of the Big 5 as well as loads of other wildlife.

We then decided on a bit of lunch at Centenrary Center which was an hour away so they got to enjoy a game drive through a new area of the park where they got to see more giraffe, zebra, nyala and kudu. After lunch my guests were so thrilled with the amount of game they saw already that they were happy to call it a day and head back to Durban.

Tour Gallery

Here are just a few pictures taken by me over the two days.

A man is seated in the passenger seat of a vehicle. He uses his cellphone to take a picture of some impala antelope grazing nearby. It is late afternoon and the sun shines into the vehcile.
A client take an image of an Impala while on a late afternoon game drive
A man sits in the passenger seat of a motor vehicle and looks out the window at some giraffe in the distance
A guests enjoys the view of giraffe browsing in the late afternoon.
Two flowers of the coral tree stand out against a blue sky. The tree is only beginning to flower
The coral tree
A large antelope called a nyala is walking through a picnic site.
A male nyala walks though our picnic site while we’re enjoying a coffee break.
The open safari vehicle that we use at the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve
The Boma Restaurant at Hilltop Camp
A pontoon boat is tied up against a send pontoon boat. The pontoon boats are moored in an estuary called St Lucia.
Guests are busy a quick safety briefing before heading out on a 2 hour cruise of the St Lucia estuary
The amazing views of the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve

Ready to Book Your Overnight Safari Tour

Want to experience a safari tour to one of the best game reserves in South Africa? Get in touch with me for more information on this tour and the other safari tours that we offer.