Experience a Big Five safari, an open-vehicle sunset drive and a St Lucia hippo-and-crocodile cruise on this two-day wildlife adventure from Durban.
- From R7,380 per person
- Minimum 2 guests
- Group discounts available
- Solo travelers welcome — Please enquire
Looking for more than a single-day safari from Durban?
Our 2-Day Hluhluwe–iMfolozi and St Lucia Safari from Durban gives you more time to explore one of South Africa’s oldest game reserves while also experiencing the remarkable wildlife of the St Lucia Estuary.
We collect you directly from your accommodation in Durban and take care of the transport, accommodation and safari arrangements. You can relax and enjoy two days of wildlife viewing with an experienced local guide.
Tour Details
- Duration: 2 Days and 1 Night
- Pickup: Durban and surrounding areas
- Tour Type: Private Guided Safari
- Highlights: Big Five Safari • St Lucia Estuary Cruise • Sunset Open-Vehicle Safari
- Accommodation: One night inside the game reserve, subject to availability
- Meals: Dinner and breakfast included
- Includes: Transfers • Entrance Fees • St Lucia Cruise • Sunset Safari • Accommodation • Dinner and Breakfast • Guide • Bottled Water
Why Choose This 2-Day Safari?
- More time for wildlife viewing – Staying overnight gives us an afternoon, sunset and early-morning safari instead of trying to fit the entire experience into one day.
- Two outstanding wildlife destinations – Experience the wetlands of St Lucia and the Big Five wilderness of Hluhluwe–iMfolozi on one journey from Durban.
- Open-vehicle sunset safari – Explore the reserve with a specialist safari guide as the day cools and nocturnal wildlife begins to become active.
- Overnight inside the reserve – Experience the atmosphere of the African bush after most day visitors have left.
- Private and personal tour – Your Durban transfers and guided safari are arranged around your booking rather than a large scheduled coach group.
- Experienced local guide – You are travelling with a guide who has approximately 16 years of experience in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi and knows how to make the most of the conditions and wildlife activity on the day.
2-Day Hluhluwe–iMfolozi and St Lucia Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Durban, St Lucia and Sunset Safari
Early-Morning Pickup from Durban
We collect you from your hotel or accommodation in Durban and surrounding areas, aiming to depart at approximately 6:00 AM.
As we travel north through KwaZulu-Natal, your guide will introduce you to the history, landscapes and cultures of the region.
St Lucia Hippo and Crocodile Cruise
Our first major experience takes place in St Lucia, part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site.
Here, we board a boat for an approximately two-hour cruise on the St Lucia Estuary. The estuary is home to hippos, Nile crocodiles and a wonderful variety of waterbirds.
Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, but the cruise often provides excellent opportunities to observe hippos and crocodiles from the water.
Lunch Stop
After the cruise, we stop for lunch before continuing to Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park.
Lunch is for your own account, allowing you to select what you would like to eat.
Afternoon Big Five Safari
Our safari begins from the moment we enter Hluhluwe–iMfolozi.
We spend the afternoon exploring the reserve and searching for wildlife such as rhino, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and numerous antelope species. Lion and leopard are also present, although sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Your guide will explain the animals, their behaviour and the different habitats encountered during the safari.
Check In at the Safari Camp
As the afternoon draws to a close, we check into our accommodation inside the reserve.
The camp is situated in the northern section of Hluhluwe–iMfolozi and offers beautiful views across the surrounding landscape.
Open-Vehicle Sunset Safari
In the late afternoon, we join an approximately three-hour sunset safari in an open safari vehicle.
The cooler evening conditions can bring increased wildlife activity, while the changing light creates a completely different atmosphere in the reserve.
As darkness approaches, we may also have opportunities to search for some of the nocturnal animals that are difficult to see during the day.
Dinner and a Short Night Walk
After returning to camp, we enjoy a buffet dinner offering a selection of dishes.
Conditions permitting, we can take a short guided walk within the camp grounds to look for some of the reserve’s smaller nocturnal creatures, including insects and scorpions.
Day 2: Early-Morning Safari and Return to Durban
Sunrise Game Drive
We wake before sunrise and head into the reserve for an early-morning game drive.
The cooler morning hours are often an excellent time for wildlife viewing. We search for whatever the reserve presents, with the possibility of encountering lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and many other species.
Breakfast at the Camp
After the morning safari, we return to camp for breakfast.
There will also be time to enjoy the surroundings before checking out and continuing our journey through the reserve.
More Wildlife Viewing
We continue exploring another section of Hluhluwe–iMfolozi, using the remaining time to search for wildlife and enjoy the reserve’s changing landscapes.
Rather than following exactly the same route on every trip, your guide considers recent sightings, weather, road conditions and wildlife activity when deciding where to explore.
Optional Wildlife Experiences
Depending on availability and your interests, an elephant or cheetah interaction may be arranged at an additional cost.
These activities are optional. Guests who prefer not to participate can spend more time enjoying the safari and surrounding area.
Lunch and Return to Durban
We stop for lunch before beginning the journey back to Durban. Lunch is for your own account.
Arrival at your accommodation is normally at approximately 5:00 PM, depending on traffic, wildlife activity and the optional activities selected during the day.
Two Remarkable Wildlife Destinations
This two-day tour combines two very different environments.
St Lucia is known for its estuary, wetlands, hippos, crocodiles and abundant birdlife. Hluhluwe–iMfolozi offers a traditional African safari through hills, valleys, grasslands and bushveld.
Combining the two destinations creates a varied wildlife experience without requiring visitors to travel as far as Kruger National Park.
Search for Africa’s Big Five
Hluhluwe–iMfolozi is home to Africa’s Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.
The reserve is particularly famous for its rhino conservation history, and both white and black rhino occur within the park.
Wild animals move freely through a large natural environment, so no individual species or sighting can ever be guaranteed. Your guide uses experience, animal behaviour and information available on the day to decide where best to spend our time.
Every safari is different—and that unpredictability is an important part of the experience.
Experience the Reserve After Dark
Staying overnight allows you to experience a side of the reserve that day visitors often miss.
The sunset safari begins in daylight and continues as darkness settles over the bush. Temperatures become cooler, daytime animals may become more active and nocturnal species begin to emerge.
After dinner, even a short walk within the camp can reveal some of the smaller creatures that are easily overlooked during a daytime game drive.
More Than a Longer Game Drive
A two-day safari is not simply a day tour with accommodation added.
It gives us more time to explore different sections of the reserve, revisit promising areas and adapt the safari according to wildlife activity.
There is more time for photography, observing animal behaviour and learning about the reserve without spending the entire day watching the clock for the return journey to Durban.
Who Is This 2-Day Safari Suitable For?
This safari is particularly suitable for international visitors who want a more complete wildlife experience but do not have enough time to travel to Kruger National Park.
It is also a good choice for couples, families, first-time safari travellers and small private groups.
With collection and return to your Durban accommodation, there is no need to organise rental vehicles, reserve accommodation, entrance arrangements or separate activities yourself.
Your Experienced Private Guide
Our tours are designed to be personal and flexible rather than large scheduled coach tours.
I have worked in tourism and guiding since 2000 and have approximately 16 years of guiding experience in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi.
That experience helps me decide where to go, when to move on and when it may be worthwhile waiting at a sighting. The safari can be adapted according to wildlife activity, conditions and the interests of the guests.
- From R7,380 per person
- Minimum 2 guests
- Group discounts available
- Solo travellers welcome — please enquire
- Optional activities are charged separately
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2-Day Safari
Is this a Big Five safari?
Yes. Hluhluwe–iMfolozi is home to lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo. These are wild animals moving freely through a large reserve, so sightings of all five cannot be guaranteed.
Is the St Lucia boat cruise included?
Yes. The price includes an approximately two-hour cruise on the St Lucia Estuary in search of hippos, crocodiles and wetland birdlife.
Where do we stay overnight?
The tour normally includes one night’s accommodation inside Hluhluwe–iMfolozi, subject to availability. We will confirm the accommodation arrangements when responding to your enquiry.
Which meals are included?
Dinner on Day 1 and breakfast on Day 2 are included. Lunches, additional drinks and snacks are for your own account.
Is the open-vehicle sunset safari included?
Yes. One sunset safari in an open safari vehicle is included, subject to availability and operating conditions.
Are the elephant and cheetah interactions included?
No. These are optional activities and are charged separately. Availability should be confirmed before the safari.
What should I bring?
We recommend comfortable clothing, closed walking shoes, sunscreen, a hat, binoculars and a camera. Please bring a warm jacket for the sunset and early-morning drives, particularly during winter.
Do you collect guests from Durban hotels?
Yes. We offer pickup and drop-off from hotels and accommodation in Durban and surrounding areas. If you are staying outside our normal pickup area, send us the name of your accommodation and we will advise you about collection.
Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?
No. Hluhluwe–iMfolozi is a natural wilderness area, and its animals move freely. Your experienced guide will make every effort to find a wide variety of wildlife, but no particular sighting can be guaranteed.
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
- Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Big Five Day Safari – A private day safari from Durban.
- St Lucia and iSimangaliso Day Tour – Wetlands, coastal scenery and an estuary cruise.
- 3-Day iSimangaliso and St Lucia Safari – More time to explore the region’s wildlife and landscapes.