This is my most comprehensive safari experience from Durban, combining the wildlife of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve with the St Lucia estuary, the Emdoneni cheetah project and an elephant experience at Bayete Zulu.
Over four days you’ll explore some of the most beautiful parts of northern KwaZulu-Natal, with time to look for the Big Five, cruise among hippos and crocodiles, learn about rescued wild cats and get close to elephants. I take care of the transport, accommodation, entry fees and activities, so you can concentrate on enjoying the trip.
- From only R19,980.00 per person sharing.
- About GBP £914 / USD $1,235 per person*
- Group discounts available.
- Includes accommodation and entry fees.
Why Book This 4-Day Safari Tour
🦁 Big Five safari in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
Spend time exploring one of Africa’s oldest proclaimed game reserves, looking for elephant, rhino, lion, leopard and buffalo as well as the many other animals that call the reserve home.
Because you are staying inside the reserve, you aren’t simply visiting Hluhluwe-Imfolozi for a few hours and then leaving. You’ll have several opportunities to explore the park, including early morning and afternoon game drives as well as a bush walk.
🦛 Cruise the St Lucia estuary
Your safari begins in St Lucia with a two-hour cruise on the estuary.
This is a very different wildlife experience to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi. The estuary is home to large numbers of hippos and crocodiles and is also an excellent area for birdlife. Also included is an afternoon game drive in iSimangaliso.
🐆 Meet the cats at Emdoneni
We’ll visit the Emdoneni Cheetah Project, where you’ll learn more about cheetahs, caracal and African wild cats and get to see these animals at close range.
🐘 Get close to elephants
On the final morning we’ll visit Bayete Zulu for an elephant experience before beginning the journey back to Durban.
It’s a very different experience from seeing an elephant in the game reserve and gives you an opportunity to learn more about these remarkable animals at close range.
Why spend four days?
You don’t need four days to see Hluhluwe-Imfolozi.
But if you have the time, four days allows you to experience much more than a conventional day safari.
Rather than spending four days doing the same thing, this itinerary takes you from the wetlands around St Lucia into the bush of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, with the Emdoneni and Bayete Zulu experiences adding something completely different.
You’ll also have the advantage of staying at Hilltop Camp inside the game reserve, giving you more time to enjoy the reserve and several opportunities for game drives.
It’s a trip for people who don’t simply want to tick “safari” off their list, but want to spend a few days exploring this part of KwaZulu-Natal.
What’s Included on this Tour?
- Accommodation at St Lucia and Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve.
- 2 Hour estuary cruise at St Lucia.
- Tour of Emdoneni Cheetah project.
- Elephant interaction at Bayete Zulu.
- 3 x Open safari vehicle game drives.
- 1 x Bush walk.
- All conservation and entry fees.
- Dinner (x3) and breakfast (x3).
- Complimentary bottled water.
This was truly the experience of a lifetime and one of our guides Shelldon had a lot to do with my sentiment. He is extremely knowledgeable about the area, the animals, the local customs and the people. The safari was far more than we expected as another guide (Bungee) took us on the night and very early open jeep tours where we encountered two male lions that had just made a fresh warthog kill.
GainesJ2018 – TripAdvisor
Shelldon was our guide for the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve two night tour and tour of the markets in Durban. We ended up calling and scheduling our tour last minute, but they worked with our odd schedule and promptly (within one hour) called us back and had all details worked out. Throughout the tour, all scheduling and paperwork (at game park, cat sanctuary, river cruise) was taken care of so we could just enjoy everything. Shelldon is the best guide I have ever had.
Michelle – TripAdvisor
Ready to Book this 4 Day Safari Tour from Durban to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve?
Ready to book this amazing 4 day / 3 night Big 5 safari tour from Durban? Get in touch using any of the convenient options below and join us for an amazing experience!
- Call or WhatsApp on +27 (0) 74 995 6669
- Email us: info@durbansafarisandtours.com
- Use the convenient contact from below:
What’s Extra
- Tips and curios for your account.
- Lunch is for your account.
- Soft drinks / alcohol beverages for your account.
- Open vehicle game drives for your account.
- From only R19,980.00 per person sharing.
- About GBP £914 / USD $1,235 per person*
- Group discounts available.
- Includes accommodation and entry fees.
Your 4 Day Adventure
Day 1 – Durban to St Lucia
I’ll collect you from your accommodation in Durban or the surrounding area, or from the airport or cruise ship terminal, and begin our journey north.
Your first major experience is a two-hour cruise on the St Lucia estuary, where you’ll look for hippos, crocodiles and the area’s abundant birdlife.
After lunch in St Lucia, you will check into your accommodation.
There is also the option of an evening game drive in the Eastern Shores Reserve.
Overnight: St Lucia
Included: Estuary cruise, accommodation, dinner and game drive.
Day 2 – Into Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
After breakfast we’ll head into Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve. Today is all about wildlife. We’ll spend the day exploring the reserve and looking for the Big Five, stopping for lunch along the way.
After checking into Hilltop Camp you will get to experience a sunset game drive also available. After your game drive you’ll enjoy dinner at the Boma restaurant at Hilltop Camp.
Overnight: Hilltop Camp, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
Included: Game drives, accommodation and dinner
Day 3 – Safari and Emdoneni
You’ll start early with a morning game drive before breakfast.
After breakfast you’ll leave the reserve for a visit to Emdoneni, where you’ll learn more about the cheetahs and other cats resident at the project. After the visit we’ll return to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi for lunch and some time to relax before heading out again for an afternoon bush walk.
Overnight: Hilltop Camp, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
Included: Game drives, Emdoneni visit, bush walk, accommodation, breakfast and dinner
Day 4 – Elephants and back to Durban
We’ll make the most of our final morning with an early morning game drive before breakfast. After checking out, you’ll head to Bayete Zulu for the elephant experience.
Once the visit is complete, you’ll begin the 3 hour journey back to Durban with a stop for lunch along the way
We normally arrive back in Durban at around 4pm.
Included: Morning game drive, elephant experience and breakfast
F.A.Q. *
We utilise a bed and breakfast in the town of St Lucia and we stay at Hilltop camp in the game reserve – both are rated at 3-stars. If we can’t a booking in the reserve, we will stay book at Bonamanzi which is 20 min away from the reserve and the itinerary will be adapted to account for the change.
We are happy to accommodate vegetarians and vegans, and will work with the kitchens to ensure or diets are accounted for.
I include 3 x dinners and 3 x breakfast. I don;t include lunches as some people simply aren’t too hungry around lunch time.
You will spend most of your time in our air-conditioned vehicle, either a 10-seater vehicle or a 7-seater vehicle depending on the size of the the group. The game viewers are 10 seater open vehicles that are managed by the park.
We handle all the transfers’ we’ll collect you from your accommodation in the Durban or surrounding area, from the airport or even the cruise ship terminal.
I am also happy to pickup from Club Med or even drop off at Club Med after your 4 day safari tour.
This tour is a good choice if you:
+ Have four days available from your Durban visit
+ Want more than a single-day Big Five safari
+ Want to combine Hluhluwe-Imfolozi with St Lucia
+ Would like several opportunities for game viewing
+ Want to visit Emdoneni and Bayete Zulu as part of the same trip
+ Prefer having your transport, accommodation, activities and entry fees organised for you
+ Want to explore more of northern KwaZulu-Natal rather than simply visiting a game reserve and returning to Durban the same day
+ If you’re short on time, we also offer shorter Hluhluwe-Imfolozi safari options.