Going on safari for the first time is something you are unlikely to forget. I take quite a few visitors on safari in KwaZulu-Natal, and I am often asked the same questions before we set off.
So, if you are thinking about booking a safari tour while you are in Durban, here are 5 Things to Know Before Going on Safari in KwaZulu-Natal.
1. You don’t have to go to Kruger
This is probably the first thing I want to point out.
Kruger is absolutely one of South Africa’s best known safari destinations, but if you are staying in Durban, you have some excellent wildlife experiences that are much closer to home.
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve is a particularly good option for a safari from Durban, either a 1 day safari or multi-day safaris, and it is one of the places I regularly take visitors.
It’s the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa and thanks to the efforts of Dr Ian Player, was instrumental in breeding rhino back from the brink of extinction.
From Durban, the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve is only 2,5 hours of King Shaka International airport, and the best part is that you can stop at St Lucia for the hippo cruise and Emdoneni for the cheetah tour on the way.
You can have a proper Big Five safari experience without spending several days travelling across the country.
2. A safari is not a zoo
I always tell people this before we enter the reserve: we cannot guarantee what we are going to see.
The animals are wild and they don’t follow an itinerary.
Sometimes we can drive around for a while before finding anything particularly exciting. Then suddenly we come across elephants, rhino, lions or a herd of buffalo.
That unpredictability is actually part of what makes a safari so enjoyable. If I or any other wildlife guide could guarantee wildlife sightings, you would be visiting a zoo!
Having said that, there are some animals that I can pretty much guarantee seeing simply because there are a lot of them; zebra, impala, giraffe, buffalo and many others. Predators are little more difficult as there are fewer of them.
3. The early morning is worth getting up for
If you are not normally a morning person, you may find yourself becoming one on safari.
For the most part, predators are most active at dusk and dawn so typically you want to be out on the road nice and early.
Apart from targeting predators, the early morning is often a great time to be out in the reserve as there is something quite special about being there as the day starts and the begins to shine on the African veld.
It can be chilly, particularly in winter, so bring something warm. You can always take it off later when the sun comes up.
4. Bring the right things
You don’t need a huge amount of equipment for a safari, but there are a few things I would recommend bringing.
Comfortable clothing, a hat, sunscreen, water and a camera are obvious ones. I would also suggest bringing binoculars if you have them.
And don’t forget that you are going to spend several hours in a vehicle, so comfortable clothing is much more important than dressing up for the occasion.
5. Don’t spend the whole time looking for the Big Five
Of course, everybody wants to see a lion. I get it!
But one of the things I enjoy about taking people on safari is showing them that there is much more to the experience than ticking animals off a list.
There are birds, smaller animals, interesting plants, landscapes and all sorts of things happening around us. Sometimes the most memorable sightings are the ones you weren’t expecting.
For me, that is what makes a good safari. It isn’t just about how many animals you see. It is about spending a few hours in a wild environment and seeing what happens.
Ready to Go on Safari?
If you are staying in Durban and would like to experience a South African safari, you don’t necessarily need to travel hundreds of kilometres to do it.
I offer safari trips to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, as well as other wildlife experiences in KwaZulu-Natal. If you are not sure which safari is right for you, get in touch and I can help you work out what makes the most sense for your trip.