Experience the St Lucia Estuary, an included open-vehicle sunset safari and two full nights in Big Five country on this private three-day wildlife adventure from Durban.
- From R8,600 per person
- Minimum 2 guests
- Group discounts available
- Solo travellers welcome — please enquire
- Final price confirmed with your quotation
Three days and two nights give you time to experience Hluhluwe–iMfolozi at a more natural pace. Instead of fitting the reserve into a single hurried day, this safari includes the St Lucia Estuary, an evening safari, a full middle day devoted to wildlife viewing and another early-morning game drive before returning to Durban.
Your private road transfers, two nights of accommodation, reserve entrance arrangements and included activities are organised for you. Day 2 can be adapted to the guests: either enjoy separate morning and afternoon game drives with a relaxing break between them, or take a packed breakfast and spend approximately eight hours exploring farther through the reserve.
Tour Details
- Duration: 3 days and 2 nights
- Pickup: Durban, Umhlanga and surrounding areas
- Tour type: Private guided safari
- Highlights: St Lucia Estuary cruise • Big Five wildlife • included open-vehicle sunset safari • flexible full safari day • two nights in the reserve
- Accommodation: Two nights in or near Hluhluwe–iMfolozi, subject to availability
- Meals: Two dinners and two breakfasts included; lunches excluded
- Includes: Private transfers • reserve entrance fees • St Lucia cruise • sunset safari • accommodation • breakfasts and dinners • qualified guide • bottled water
- Not included: Lunches • additional drinks • optional activities • personal expenses • guide gratuities
Why Choose This 3-Day Safari?
- Two nights in Big Five country — More time in the reserve creates better opportunities to explore different habitats and respond to wildlife activity without constantly watching the clock.
- St Lucia and Hluhluwe–iMfolozi in one journey — Begin with hippos, crocodiles and wetland birdlife on the estuary before continuing into one of Africa’s oldest proclaimed reserves.
- An included sunset safari — Travel in an open safari vehicle as the heat of the day fades and nocturnal wildlife begins to emerge.
- A flexible second day — Choose between two approximately three-hour game drives with a midday break, or an extended full-day safari with a packed breakfast.
- Private guiding from Durban — The journey is arranged around your booking and guided by Paul, who has worked in tourism since 2000 and has approximately 16 years of guiding experience in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi.
3-Day Hluhluwe–iMfolozi and St Lucia Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Durban, St Lucia and Sunset Safari
Early pickup from Durban
We collect you from your Durban, Umhlanga or surrounding-area accommodation and travel north through KwaZulu-Natal. During the journey, your guide introduces the landscapes, history and cultures of the region.
St Lucia Estuary cruise
Our first major experience is an approximately two-hour boat cruise on the St Lucia Estuary, part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site.
The estuary supports one of South Africa’s best-known hippo populations, as well as Nile crocodiles and abundant waterbirds. These are wild animals and sightings can never be guaranteed, but the cruise regularly offers memorable viewing and photographic opportunities.
Lunch and transfer to Hluhluwe–iMfolozi
After the cruise, we stop for lunch before continuing to Hluhluwe–iMfolozi. Lunch is for your own account, giving you the freedom to choose what and how much you would like to eat.
The safari begins as we enter the reserve and make our way towards the accommodation. Depending on wildlife activity, there may already be opportunities to see rhino, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and antelope.
Included open-vehicle sunset safari
After checking in, we join an approximately three-hour sunset game drive in an open safari vehicle. The cooler evening air can bring increased wildlife activity, and the drive continues as darkness settles across the reserve.
The sunset safari is included, subject to availability and operating conditions.
Dinner
We return to the accommodation for dinner and the first night in the reserve.
Day 2: A Full Day in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi
The middle day is designed to make the most of the available wildlife-viewing time while allowing guests to choose the style of safari that suits them.
Option 1: Morning and afternoon game drives
Begin with an approximately three-hour early-morning game drive, returning for breakfast and a relaxed break during the warmer middle of the day. Later in the afternoon, head out again for approximately three hours as temperatures cool and the light changes.
This option works particularly well for guests who enjoy the best wildlife-viewing periods but would also appreciate time to rest, enjoy the camp or sort through photographs between drives.
Option 2: Extended full-day safari
Take a packed breakfast and set out for an extended game drive of approximately eight hours. This option allows us to explore more of the reserve, travel through changing habitats and potentially reach another section of Hluhluwe–iMfolozi.
The precise route is not fixed in advance. Your guide considers recent sightings, weather, road conditions and wildlife activity when deciding where to spend the day.
Whichever option is selected, no particular species or sighting can be guaranteed. The animals move freely through a large natural environment, and every safari develops differently.
Lunch is for your own account. We return for dinner and the second overnight stay.
Day 3: Early Safari and Return to Durban
Early-morning game drive
We head out again in the cool morning hours for a final safari. Early morning is often rewarding for wildlife viewing, and we use the available time to search for animals and enjoy the reserve before breakfast.
Breakfast and leisurely departure
After breakfast, we check out and begin a leisurely journey through the reserve. There is still time to stop for wildlife and photography as we make our way towards the exit.
We stop for lunch at a suitable point on the return journey; lunch is for your own account. Arrival back in Durban is normally during the late afternoon, depending on traffic, road conditions and wildlife activity.
A More Complete Safari from Durban
A three-day safari provides a valuable extra day compared with the popular two-day option. The first and final days still include meaningful wildlife experiences, but the full middle day creates room to explore farther, revisit productive areas and spend longer observing animal behaviour.
For international visitors who want a substantial Big Five experience without travelling as far as Kruger National Park, this is one of the strongest safari choices available from Durban.
Private, Flexible and Personally Guided
This is not a large scheduled coach tour. Collection, transport and guiding are arranged around your private booking, subject to accommodation and activity availability.
Paul began guiding in 2000 and has spent approximately 16 years working in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi. That experience helps determine when to wait at a sighting, when to move on and which areas may be most worthwhile under the day’s conditions.
- From R8,600 per person
- Minimum 2 guests
- Group discounts available
- Solo travellers welcome — please enquire
- Final price confirmed with your quotation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a Big Five safari?
Yes. Hluhluwe–iMfolozi is home to lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. All animals are wild and move freely, so sightings of every species cannot be guaranteed.
Is the St Lucia estuary cruise included?
Yes. The approximately two-hour hippo-and-crocodile cruise on the St Lucia Estuary is included.
Is the sunset game drive included?
Yes. One approximately three-hour open-vehicle sunset safari is included, subject to availability and operating conditions.
What happens on Day 2?
Guests can choose between separate morning and afternoon game drives with a rest period between them, or an extended safari of approximately eight hours with a packed breakfast. The best choice can be discussed before or during the tour.
Where do we stay?
The safari includes two nights in or near Hluhluwe–iMfolozi, subject to availability. The exact accommodation will be confirmed with your quotation.
Which meals are included?
Breakfasts and dinners are included. Lunches, extra drinks and snacks are for your own account. A packed breakfast is provided when the extended Day 2 safari option is chosen.
Do you collect from Durban hotels?
Yes. Pickup and drop-off are available from hotels and accommodation in Durban, Umhlanga and surrounding areas. Please provide the accommodation name when enquiring.
What should I bring?
Bring comfortable neutral-coloured clothing, closed shoes, sunscreen, a hat, binoculars and a camera. A warm jacket is important for sunset and early-morning drives, especially during winter.
Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?
No. This is a natural wilderness area, and its animals move freely. Your guide will make every effort to find a wide variety of wildlife, but no individual sighting can be promised.
Please note that this itinerary may change because of local conditions, wildlife activity, accommodation availability and the operating times of included activities.
You May Also Like
- One-Day Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Big Five Safari — A private day safari from Durban.
- 2-Day Hluhluwe–iMfolozi and St Lucia Safari — One night in the reserve with an estuary cruise and sunset drive.
- 3-Day iSimangaliso and St Lucia Safari — More time exploring the wetlands, coast and wildlife of the iSimangaliso region.