Hluhluwe-Imfolozi park and st Lucia Shore Excursion
Experience an unforgettable Big 5 shore excursion from Durban or Richards Bay, combining a St Lucia hippo and crocodile cruise with an exciting safari in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.
Travel through the beautiful landscapes of KwaZulu-Natal and Zululand as we head north to St Lucia and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, before continuing to one of South Africa’s most renowned Big 5 safari destinations.
This full-day wildlife experience is ideal for cruise passengers and hotel guests looking for a Big 5 safari, hippo cruise and South African wildlife experience in one day.ts.
Big 5 Shore Excursion at a Glance
- Departure: Durban or Richards Bay cruise terminals and selected hotels
- Destination: St Lucia and Hluhluwe Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
- Experience: Hippo cruise + Big 5 safari
- Wildlife: Hippos, crocodiles, rhino, elephant, buffalo, leopard and abundant birdlife
- Location: iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Hluhluwe Game Reserve
- Lunch: Picnic lunch at a scenic game reserve picnic site
- Duration: Full-day shore excursion
- Ideal for: Cruise passengers, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and first-time safari visitors
Highlights
- Game drive in Big 5 Game reserve
- Cruise on st Lucia estuary seeing hippos and crocodiles
- Possibility to see Elephants , Rhinos and hippos up close.
- Visit 2 parks, Hluhluwe and Isimangaliso wetland park
Per person: R3480.00 (ZAR) Per person:
Min 2 persons
Group Discounts available
Please enquire for private solo travelers
Included
- Transfer from Durban or Richards Bay cruise terminals to game reserve and return
- Entrances to game reserves
- Comfortable air-conditioned vehicle for transfers and game drives
- Fuel and tolls
- light Picnic lunch
- Hippo and croc estuary cruise
- Open safari vehicle game drive
- Qualified safari guide
Excluded
- Drink
- Optional activities
Big 5 Shore Excursion Itinerary
Depart Durban or Richards Bay
Our adventure begins with a convenient departure from your Durban or Richards Bay cruise terminal or hotel. We travel north through the spectacular landscapes of Zululand and KwaZulu-Natal, heading towards St Lucia.
Our first destination is St Lucia, a beautiful coastal town surrounded by the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the Lake St Lucia estuarine system.
St Lucia is one of South Africa’s premier wildlife destinations and the perfect start for today’s adventure.
St Lucia Hippo Cruise and Crocodile Cruise
Our first wildlife experience is a boat cruise on the St Lucia Estuary, one of the most remarkable ecosystems in KwaZulu-Natal.
The estuary is home to an estimated 800 hippos, as well as numerous Nile crocodiles and a huge variety of waterbirds. As you cruise along the waterways, keep your camera ready for close-up encounters with pods of hippos, crocodiles basking along the banks and birds moving through the wetlands.
Your experienced captain will share fascinating information about the St Lucia Estuary, its wildlife, wetlands and the behaviour of the hippos you encounter during the cruise. This is one of the highlights of the day and provides an excellent opportunity to experience African wildlife from the water..
Explore iSimangaliso Wetland Park
The St Lucia Estuary forms part of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The surrounding wetlands support an incredible diversity of wildlife and birdlife. Depending on conditions and animal movements, you may have the opportunity to see elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard, although wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.
Birdwatchers can look out for species including fish eagles, stilts, lapwings, moorhens and many other wetland birds.
Big 5 Safari at Hluhluwe Game Reserve
After our St Lucia cruise, we continue to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park for the safari section of your shore excursion.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is one of Africa’s oldest protected wildlife areas and is renowned for its Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. The park also supports more than 80 mammal species and over 300 bird species.
Our game drive takes us through the park’s beautiful natural landscapes as we search for wildlife in their natural habitat.
Please note: Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. Animals roam freely in their natural environment, which makes every game drive unique.
Scenic Picnic Lunch
During the game drive, we stop at one of the reserve’s scenic picnic areas to enjoy a packed picnic lunch surrounded by the sights and sounds of the African bush.
It is a chance to relax, enjoy the scenery and recharge before continuing our search for wildlife.
Return to Durban or Richards Bay
As the afternoon draws to a close, we make our way out of the reserve before the gates close and begin the journey back to Durban or Richards Bay.
Sit back, relax and reflect on a day filled with hippos, crocodiles, African wildlife, spectacular landscapes and Big 5 safari encounters.
We return you to your cruise terminal or hotel, giving you plenty of time to look through your photographs and relive the highlights of your South African wildlife adventure.
Per person: R3480.00 (ZAR) Per person:
Min 2 persons
Group Discounts available
Please enquire for private solo travelers
Need more than one day?
If your ship docks in one KwaZulu-Natal port and sails from the other, ask about our overnight safari for cruise ship guests. It combines St Lucia, an overnight stay and Big Five game viewing, with transfers planned around your sailing schedule.
You May Also Like
- 2-Day Cruise Port-to-Port Overnight Safari – Leave the ship for an overnight wildlife experience between ports.
- Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Big Five Day Safari – A private Big Five day safari from Durban.
- St Lucia and iSimangaliso Day Tour – A private wetland and estuary day tour.