Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park: Our most recommended tours and activities

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: Big 5 Full or Half-Day Safari

1. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: Big 5 Full or Half-Day Safari

Experience the rolling hills of the Savannah grasslands and a magical African sunrise. Sit back and relax while your ranger takes you to the best areas within the park. With trained eyes and years of experience, your ranger will undoubtedly deliver some magnificent sightings. Learn more about this fascinating park and the incredible history of when King Shaka used the lower Umfolozi as his personal hunting grounds or how the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park single-handedly saved the rhinos from near extinction. The park is home not only to the African Big 5 (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo) but also includes cheetahs, wild dogs, and many more. Enjoy breakfast and lunch at one of the numerous scenic picnic areas within the park. The tour concludes with a drop off at the Nyalazi Gate or alternatively, drop off back at your accommodation in St. Lucia.

From Richards Bay: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve Day Trip

2. From Richards Bay: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve Day Trip

Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve set in the heart of Zululand where Africa’s Big 5 (Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo and Rhinoceros) roam the flourishing savannah. Established in 1895 this is the oldest park in South Africa and encompasses over 98000 hectares of beautiful African landscape. This tour is in a closed vehicle. The Park contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is characterised by hilly topography. The list of animals at the park is long and varied. Hluhluwe Game Reserve makes up the northern top half of the reserve which is renowned for its diverse variety of bird and animal life. South of Hluhluwe is the Imfolozi Game Reserve which makes up half of the park. These two reserves were joined together to create the largest reserve in KwaZulu Natal.

From Durban: Full-Day Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park Tour

3. From Durban: Full-Day Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park Tour

This full-day tour from Durban takes you on safari in the wonderful Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa. The park is famous for its highly successful white rhino conservation program and is now home to the largest population of white rhino in the world. On your full-day safari tour you will have many opportunities to encounter the amazing wildlife in their natural environment. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park is home to 84 species of games, including the ‘Big Five’, and 425 different types of birds. See how many you can spot on your safari! The hilly terrain affords some of the most incredible views over the reserve. Enjoy lunch at the Hilltop Camp (or similar) and simply enjoy the beautiful scenery.

From Durban: Exclusive Big 5 Safari with Transfer

4. From Durban: Exclusive Big 5 Safari with Transfer

Immerse yourself in nature as you traverse a premium Big 5 private game reserve in an open safari vehicle 4x4. Bring on the big cats! Our Big 5 Bucketlist Safari is designed to give you the best chance of seeing Africa’s iconic Big 5 on a day tour within KwaZulu Natal. Enter into a premier reserve and meet your armed ranger who knows the reserve like the back of his hand. Kick it off with a 3 hour morning safari. Your ranger will track predators and big game while keeping tabs on sightings throughout the reserve to ensure that you are in the right place at the right time. This reserve only permits travellers staying at their luxury lodges to traverse the park, unless you’re with us of course. Time to stop to enjoy your packed lunch (excluded) at a scenic spot on the reserve. Discuss conservation and get a deeper understanding of Africa’s wildlife and ecology. After lunch you’ll jump back into the game drive vehicle and explore more of the reserve. Embark on another 3 hour game drive in a different part of the reserve. At approximately 15h30 we will depart the reserve and head back to Durban.

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi & Emdoneni Wild Cat Project Tour

5. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi & Emdoneni Wild Cat Project Tour

The tour departs from Durban heading up the coast to northern KwaZulu-Natal. You will arrive at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi gate 2.5 hours after departing from Durban. Your experienced guide will show you around the park in search of the diverse wildlife and Big 5. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve is set in the heart of Zululand where Africa’s Big 5 (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros) roam the flourishing savannah. Established in 1895 this is the oldest park in South Africa and is 98 000 hectares. This tour is in a closed vehicle. The Park contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is characterized by hilly topography. The list of animals at the park is long and diverse. Hluhluwe, the northern section of the park, is noted for its wide variety of both bird and animal life. Imfolozi Game Reserve is situated in the southern section of the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park. Today, the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park is world renowned for its White Rhino conservation and its Centenary Capture Centre is setting exceptional standards for animal capture and sustainable utilization in Africa. Your guide will stop for lunch at Hilltop Camp (at own expense) giving you time to refuel and relax. The restaurant is situated at the top of the hill and gives visitors the chance to enjoy the scenery of the camp and surrounding areas. After lunch you will continue with your safari before leaving the park on route to Emdoneni Wild Cat Sanctuary. Emdoneni Cat Project offers a guided tour about South Africa’s endangered wild cat species. The aim of the Emdoneni Cat Project is to care for cheetahs, serval cats, African wildcats and caracal (lynx), that have been orphaned or injured in the wild and need care and rehabilitation. During the guided tour to the cat project, visitors can see some of these South Africa’s endangered cat species. After the tour, start the two hours journey back to Durban for drop-off.

From Durban: Wildlife Lovers Big 5 Safari at 2 Game Reserves

6. From Durban: Wildlife Lovers Big 5 Safari at 2 Game Reserves

Go on the only tour from Durban that takes you into an authentic private game reserve where the number of vehicles at sightings is limited. Take 2 stunning game drives at 2 reserves and encounter Africa's magnificent wildlife up-close. Benefit from included hotel pickup and drop-off, as well as complimentary use of Zeiss binoculars and multilingual wildlife/nature guide books during the tour. Hit the road early with pickup from your hotel at around 5 AM as wildlife, especially predators, are most active around dawn and dusk. Enter the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve at Nyalazi Gate and enjoy a 2.5-hour morning game drive in a Hyundai H1 vehicle. Please note, this is not an open safari 4x4, though you will get that experience later in the day. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is renowned for its White Rhino densities — after all, it saved the Southern White Rhino from extinction. Keep your Carl Zeiss Terra ED 8x42 binoculars on hand, as you never know what's around the corner. After your drive, stop for lunch at Hilltop Camp for a hearty meal with a stunning view. Lunch is at your own expense. Next, it's time to head into one of KwaZulu Natal’s premier private game reserves: Manyoni Private Game Reserve. This reserve only permits travelers staying at one of their luxury lodges to traverse the park, unless you’re with the local partner of course. Meet Manyoni’s most experienced ranger and jump into an authentic open safari 4x4. Then, embark on a 4-hour game drive through this pristine wilderness as you track down Africa’s iconic Big 5 and everything in between. Your ranger is passionate about the African bush and will help you understand the eco-system and the flora and fauna. As Manyoni is a private game reserve, rather than a national park, your expert ranger can go off-road and bring you more intimate sightings of big game. Depart the reserve at 4 PM for return to Durban.

Durban: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Safari & iSimangaliso Tour

7. Durban: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Safari & iSimangaliso Tour

Previously known as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, iSimangaliso Wetlands Park was declared South Africa's first Natural World Heritage Site (UNESCO), and is considered South Africa's third-largest park with 280 kilometers of near-pristine coastline and 328,000 hectares of magnificent scenery. The protected area is home to one of the largest populations of hippopotami in SA, an estimated 1,000 crocodiles and a wealth of plant, bird and animal life. Animals in the park include lions, African elephants, leopards, black and southern white rhino, and buffalo. In the ocean, there are whales, dolphins, and marine turtles, including the leatherback and loggerhead turtle. After the boat tour, travel to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve. Your experienced guide will show you around the park in a closed vehicle in search of the diverse wildlife and Africa's Big 5, which include the lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, and rhinoceros. The reserve is set in the heart of Zululand, where these amazing animals roam the flourishing savannah. Established in 1895, this is the oldest park in South Africa and is 98,000 hectares in size. The Park contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is characterized by hilly topography. The list of animals at the park is long and varied. Hluhluwe, the northern section of the park, is noted for its wide variety of both bird and animal life. Imfolozi Game Reserve is situated in the southern section of the park. Today, the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park is world-renowned for its white rhino conservation efforts and its Centenary Capture Center which is setting improved standards for game capture and sustainable utilization in Africa. Your guide will stop at Hilltop Camp restaurant giving you time to refuel and relax. The restaurant is situated at the top of the hill and gives visitors the chance to enjoy the scenery of the camp and surrounding areas. Afterwards, you will continue with your safari before leaving the park for Durban.

From Richards Bay: DumaZulu Cultural Village Day Trip

8. From Richards Bay: DumaZulu Cultural Village Day Trip

DumaZulu Cultural Village is located near the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in the heart of Zululand. Translated as “Thundering Zulu” DumaZulu is South Africa’s largest Zulu cultural village boasting a large tradition sibaya and over 50 Zulu locals who live and work at DumaZulu. This village is depiction of what Zulu culture was like before modernization and is considered living museum. The village is laid out in the tradition Zulu design of Zulu beehive huts arranged in a circle around a cattle kraal. Visitors are welcomed by a local DumaZulu tour guide who explains and shares interesting traditions and customs of the Zulu people. The locals display traditional basket-weaving, spear and shield making skills and techniques. Guests enjoy buying decorative beadwork from the locals, viewing the village Sangoma perform tradition bone throwing as well as an impressive Zulu dancing and singing performance.

Durban: Hluhluwe Big 5 Safari with Pro Zeiss Binoculars

9. Durban: Hluhluwe Big 5 Safari with Pro Zeiss Binoculars

Get up close with Africa's famous Big 5 on a safari tour of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. Discover the different sides of the parks with one morning and one afternoon drive during which you will be provided with the high-end Zeiss Terra ED 8x42 binoculars and multi-language guidebooks.  Start early at 5 am to catch the wildlife, especially predators, at their most active times which is dawn and dusk. Enter the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve via Nyalazi Gate and explore the Imfolozi side of the reserve on a 3.5-hour morning game drive on our Hyundai H1 vehicle. The southern sector of the reserve is typified by its flat open plains and renowned for elephant and rhino sightings. Time for a spot of lunch at Hilltop Restaurant (at own cost). Enjoy your meal while taking in the panoramic views over the reserve and put those binoculars to test. After lunch, explore the northern sector of the reserve while keeping your eyes pealed for the highly endangered African Wild Dogs and Big Cats. Spend another 3.5-hours traversing the Hluhluwe side of the reserve. Around 4 pm we will start to make our way back to Durban. Your safari tour is in a Hyundai H1 Vehicle. This is not an open safari vehicle. It is a luxury van with large windows. The windows open wide enough for you to take pictures using amateur and professional cameras. All travelers will have access to our high-end Zeiss Terra ED 8x42 binoculars and multilingual safari guide book, available in English, German & French. 

From Durban: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve Day Trip

10. From Durban: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve Day Trip

Begin your private excursion with a 3-hour drive to Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve, located in the heart of Zululand. During your visit, be on the lookout for Africa's Big 5 – lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, and rhinoceros – roaming the flourishing savannah. Established in 1985, Hluhluwe Imfolozi is the oldest game park in South Africa. In addition to the drive in the game reserve, there are several optional extras available (at your own expense). Visit Emtoneni Wild Cat Sanctuary. Take a 2-hour boat cruise in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Drive to Dumazulu Cultural Park, where you relax and watch Zulu dancing, taste Zulu beer, and learn about Zulu culture.

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Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park

Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park
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What people are saying about Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 40 reviews

The tour was amazing! Our Tourguide was friendly, funny and really informative. he supplied a nice breakfast and later on a BBQ. he knew good spots to see lots of animals and even tried to get us to a spot with cheetahs as soon as he heard of it. we did a second tour with heritage in iSimangaliso and it was as good as this one. totally recommending it!

Great we followed the lions for 20 minutes thanks to the 4*4 going everywhere. The lions walked 1 meter from us. It was amazing. Presence of rhinos. The leopard was hard to find. We ate in the restaurant in the park which has a panoramic view.

I was really lucky to see so many animals thanks to my guide. Several families of elephants arriving in the park. It was Elephant Day! Morning in the savannah and end of the day in the estuary with hippos and crocodiles. Great ! Thanks f.

Extra half-day safari. We also did the kriger park but we saw fewer animals than in Hululuwe!

Great experience. Many animals and a top guide with lots of interesting anecdotes!