2-Day Cruise Port-to-Port Overnight Safari

Leave your cruise ship at one KwaZulu-Natal port and rejoin it at the next after a St Lucia estuary cruise, two open-vehicle Big Five safaris and an overnight stay near Hluhluwe–iMfolozi.

Would you like to experience more than a short shore excursion while your ship travels between Durban and Richards Bay?

Our 2-Day Cruise Port-to-Port Overnight Safari allows you to leave the ship at one port, spend a night ashore and rejoin the vessel at its next South African port. The safari combines the wildlife of the St Lucia Estuary with open-vehicle game drives in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park.

We plan the collection, activities and return margin around your ship’s confirmed docking, departure and all-aboard times. This tour is offered only when the cruise schedule provides enough time to operate the itinerary safely and comfortably.

Tour Details

• Duration: 2 Days and 1 Night
• Pickup: Durban or Richards Bay Cruise Terminal
• Drop-off: The ship’s next South African port
• Tour Type: Private port transfers with open-safari-vehicle game drives
• Highlights: St Lucia Estuary Cruise • Sunset Safari • Early-Morning Safari • Big Five Reserve
• Accommodation: One night near or inside Hluhluwe–iMfolozi, subject to availability
• Meals: Dinner and breakfast included

Why Choose This Cruise Safari?

• More time on safari – Staying ashore overnight allows you to experience the bush at sunset and again in the early morning.
• Two open-vehicle game drives – Both the sunset safari and early-morning safari take place in purpose-built open safari vehicles.
• Two exceptional wildlife destinations – Combine the hippos and crocodiles of St Lucia with the Big Five wilderness of Hluhluwe–iMfolozi.
• Designed around your ship – Collection, activity order and port return are planned using the vessel’s confirmed timetable.
• Personal service – Paul remains with your group for the road transfers and manages the arrangements throughout the land journey.

2-Day Cruise Port-to-Port Safari Itinerary

Day 1: Cruise Port, St Lucia and Sunset Safari

Collection from the Cruise Terminal

Paul meets you at the agreed collection point at Durban or Richards Bay Cruise Terminal. After confirming the ship’s arrangements, we begin the private road transfer in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.

When travelling from Durban, we head north through KwaZulu-Natal towards St Lucia. Your guide will introduce you to the region’s landscapes, history and wildlife along the way.

St Lucia Hippo and Crocodile Cruise

In St Lucia, we board a boat for an approximately two-hour cruise on the estuary. This remarkable wetland is home to hippos, Nile crocodiles and an excellent variety of waterbirds.

Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, but the cruise usually provides excellent opportunities to observe hippos and crocodiles from the water.

Lunch Stop

After the cruise, we stop for lunch before continuing towards Hluhluwe–iMfolozi. Lunch is for your own account, allowing you to choose what and when you would like to eat.

Check In and Open-Vehicle Sunset Safari

We check in at the selected safari accommodation before joining an open-vehicle sunset game drive. The cooler late-afternoon conditions can bring increased wildlife activity, while the changing light creates a completely different atmosphere in the reserve.

Your specialist safari guide searches for wildlife including rhino, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and antelope. Lion and leopard are also present, although no particular sighting can be guaranteed.

Dinner and Overnight Stay

After the sunset safari, we return to the accommodation for dinner and a well-earned night’s rest in the African bush.

Day 2: Early-Morning Safari and Return to the Ship

Open-Vehicle Early-Morning Safari

We wake before sunrise and join an early-morning open-vehicle game drive. This is one of the best times to explore the reserve, with cooler temperatures and the possibility of finding animals while they are still active.

Every safari is different. Your guide follows recent wildlife activity and uses local knowledge to make the most of the available time.

Breakfast and Port Transfer

After the morning safari, we return for breakfast, collect our luggage and begin the transfer to the ship’s next port. If time and the confirmed route allow, there may be additional wildlife viewing while leaving the reserve.

We plan to reach the cruise terminal with a sensible safety margin before the vessel’s all-aboard time.

Durban to Richards Bay or Richards Bay to Durban

The tour can operate in either direction. When the ship visits Richards Bay before Durban, we reverse the route and adjust the order of activities to suit the available hours.

The St Lucia cruise and two open-vehicle game drives remain the core experiences, but weather, activity operating times and changes to the ship’s schedule may require the itinerary order to be adjusted.

What’s Included?

• Collection from Durban or Richards Bay Cruise Terminal
• Drop-off at the ship’s next South African port
• Private road transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle
• St Lucia hippo-and-crocodile estuary cruise
• Open-vehicle sunset safari
• Open-vehicle early-morning safari
• One night’s accommodation
• Dinner and breakfast
• Entrance and conservation fees for the listed activities
• Experienced local guide and bottled water

What’s Excluded?

• Lunches and additional drinks
• Personal purchases and souvenirs
• Gratuities
• Activities not listed in the confirmed itinerary
• Any cruise-line fees or costs associated with changing the port at which you rejoin the ship

Important Cruise-Line Permission

Guests must obtain permission from their cruise line to disembark at one port and rejoin the vessel at the next. The cruise line may require advance notice, documentation or specific procedures. Durban Tours and Safaris arranges the land-based safari but cannot grant this permission on behalf of the ship.

Please provide the ship’s name, cruise date, port order, scheduled docking and departure times, all-aboard times, and the number of adults and children when enquiring.

Price and Booking

The final quotation depends on the ship’s timetable, travel direction, accommodation availability and group size. No payment should be made until the cruise-line arrangements and the complete land itinerary have been confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the game drives conducted in an open safari vehicle?

Yes. This itinerary includes an open-vehicle sunset safari and an open-vehicle early-morning safari. The longer road transfers between the ports, St Lucia and the reserve are conducted in an air-conditioned vehicle.

Can the safari operate in either direction?

Yes. It can operate from Durban to Richards Bay or from Richards Bay to Durban, depending on the ship’s port order and available time.

Are Big Five sightings guaranteed?

No. Hluhluwe–iMfolozi is a natural wilderness area, and its animals move freely. Your safari guides will make every effort to find a wide variety of wildlife, but no particular sighting can be guaranteed.

Why is the price listed as “from” R8,400?

Cruise timetables, accommodation rates and group sizes differ. R8,400 per person is the starting price, and you will receive a complete quotation once we have the ship and passenger details.

Please note that this itinerary may change because of local conditions, wildlife activity, accommodation availability, activity operating times and changes to the ship’s schedule.

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You May Also Like

• Big Five Shore Excursion from Durban or Richards Bay – A private wildlife experience planned around your ship’s schedule.
• 2-Day Hluhluwe and St Lucia Safari – Our regular two-day safari itinerary from Durban.
• St Lucia and iSimangaliso Day Tour – A full-day wetland and estuary tour.