Ever thought of ports, beaches, game reserves, mountains, and wildlife together in one city? If not, Durban is going to be your dreamland! Durban is located in KwaZulu-Natal province the chief seaport of South Africa. The land is blessed with its ocean presence. Vasco da Gama discovered the city of Durban in 1497; the city is waiting for you to discover more. Besides its water base, the city hides its wilderness within 40 minutes of drive. It has many game reserves that offer a wide range of flora and fauna. Durban has one of the busiest ports in the southern hemisphere and can take superships. Nearly seven million people travel through the Durban international airport, making it essential and accessible for us. Durban gives a visual treat through the sardine run – one of the world’s largest animal migrations with tiny silverfish passing through Durban. Following are 10 handpicked game reserves near Durban. The city of diversity, Durban welcomes you to explore its waters and wildness.
Top 10 Game reserves near Durban in 2023
Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve
While thinking of game reserves near Durban, the Hluhluwe game reserve comes to mind first. The reserve has been enormously successful, and it is now one of the best places in Africa to see these endangered members of the Big 5. Other possible sightings include elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and various antelopes, including the graceful nyala. Hluhluwe Game Reserve is well-known for its role in rhino conservation, and the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Centenary Capture Centre is a model for animal capture and sustainable utilization in Africa.
Distance from Durban – 243 km or two and half hours
Best time to visit – May to September
Cost per person – A daily Conservation Levy of R240 per adult and R120 per child under 12 years will be charged.
Accommodation – Within the reserve, Hilltop and Mpila Camps offer self-catering chalets, family cottages, safari tents, and budget rondavels with communal ablutions. Outside the reserve, there are several private lodges and hotels.
Activities – Game drives, bush walks, hiking
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Quality and informative safaris are provided by Phinda private game reserve. Phinda offers one of the best game viewing experiences on the continent, with the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino) and 436 bird species. Phinda is described as seven worlds of wonder with its presence of woodland, wetland, and forest marshes interspersed with mountain ranges, rivers, grassland, and pans. The cheetah is Phinda’s signature animal, and this is one of the best places to observe this gracious big cat’s behavior, whether it’s grooming, nursing cubs, or running at breakneck speed to hunt.
Distance from Durban – 307 km or three and half hours
Best time to visit – May to September
Cost per person – ZAR 8,265 per person per night
Accommodation – Phinda has six luxury lodges named Mountain Lodge, Rock Lodge, Forest Lodge, Vlei Lodge, Zuka Lodge, and Phinda Homestead
Activities include several activities such as safari guide drives, bushwalking, bird watching, rhino, elephant, or pangolin research experience, and an optional beach excursion.
Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve
Zulu Nyala Private Game Reserve offers one-of-a-kind bush experience in South Africa’s most diverse conservation areas. Zulu Nyala will disclose its natural and cultural beauty to you. This region is between Mkuze, Hluhluwe, St. Lucia, and Sodwana Bay reserves. Zulu Nyala is home to a diverse range of game, including the majestic elephant, rhino, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, secretive leopard, the Nyala antelope, and cheetah that are endemic to the region. The privately owned reserve is home to over 40 animal species and spectacular bird life.
Distance from Durban – 300 km or three and half hours
Best time to visit – May to September
Cost per person – R 2099
Accommodation – Zulu Nyala Game Lodge is the only reserve
Activities include Game drives, Boat tours, game walking, cultural experience, and optional day trips to iSimangaliso Wetland Park and nearby resources.
Thula Thula Private Game Reserve
Thula Thula private game reserve is the oldest in the KwaZulu-Natal province, which arranges Eco-friendly safaris giving more significant consideration to the conservation of the environment. The reserve provides plenty of games to see, delicious food, and high ethical standards. We can see a unique diversity of landscapes, including riverine bush, savannah, and forest; there is a wide variety of indigenous wildlife and four of the Big Five. With centuries of cultural and wildlife heritage, this malaria-free KwaZulu-Natal game reserve in South Africa takes pride in tracing its origins back to King Shaka’s private hunting grounds, the founder of the Zulu Empire.
Distance from Durban – 200 km or two and half hours
Best time to visit – Anytime in the year is fine
Cost per person – R 1,550 per for two people
Accommodation – Luxury tented camp and a safari lodge
Activities – Game drives and bush walks, massage
Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park
Ukhahlamba Drakensberg game reserve is a world heritage site with exceptional natural beauty and steep-sided river valleys. The main attraction of this region includes leopard, black-backed jackal, caracal, serval, clawless and spotted necked otter, various species of mongoose, and genet. It also contains excellent bird resources like Verreaux’s eagle, Jackal buzzard, Cape vulture, and lammergeyer, as well as 20 species found only in South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. Ancient cave paintings can also be seen here. Huge mountains and countless hiking evoke interest in you, then this is your place.
Distance from Durban – 177 km or two and fifteen minutes
Best time to visit – The autumn season of April and May
Cost per person – R 50 is the entrance fee to the park
Accommodation – Self-catering chalets, bungalows, cabins, and safari lodges are available
Activities – Hiking, swimming, fishing, rock climbing, boating, bird watching, mountain biking, and horse riding
Tala Collection Private Game Reserve
Tala Private Game Reserve is in the hills of a peaceful farming community near Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This is the nearest game reserve to Durban. It is 300 hectares of plains and grassland with 380 bird species and big game like rhino, kudu, hippo, giraffe, and antelope. It is a photo-friendly site with African bushes around you. Many plant species are also here, including Fiery Aloe, the imposing Euphorbia, fragrant Wild Sage, etc.
Distance from Durban – 70 km or one hour
Best time to visit – October to march
Cost per person – 80 R
Accommodation – Luxury safari lodge, standard safari lodges
Activities – Game drives, bush walks, fishing, mountain biking.
Mkhuze Game Reserve
Mkuze Game Reserve is located in Northern Zululand, it provides some incredible game viewing while within the reserve, but the birding distinguishes this game reserve. From the eastern side of the Lebombo Mountains to the acacia savannah stretches, Mkhuze has an astonishing diversity of habitats. Mkuze is a part of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, which comprises a mosaic of protected areas. There are black and white rhinos, elephants, giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, buffalos, and various plains games. Mkuze Game Reserve also allows visitors to enjoy one of three hides within the reserve, which are ideal for viewing animal species and birdlife. You will get the best safari near Durban from Mkuze.
Distance from Durban – 374 km or four and half hours
Best time to visit – May to September
Cost per person – 1-5 people R 61
Accommodation – Various options, including safari tents and self-catering chalets.
Activities – Horse ride, scuba diving, mziki trail, game driving, bird watching
Ithala Game Reserve
Ithala game reserve is the most scenic game reserve around Durban. Ithala is home to some of Africa’s most prestigious game species, including elephants, buffalo, leopards, and black and white rhinos. The abundant giraffe is the game reserve’s symbol. During the summer, masses of red “Pride of De Kaap” flowers add a tremendous splash of color to Ithala’s natural beauty. Ithala is a place of geographical diversity; the area is formed, blooming with rock formations. Leopards thrive in mountainous terrain, which includes cliff faces and rocky river beds.
Distance to Durban – 385 km or 5 hours
Best time to visit – May to September
Cost per person – R 140
Accommodation – Ntshondwe Camp offers self-catering and non-self-catering chalets alongside the reserve. No other private accommodations.
Activities – Include picnic Sites, Self Guided Walks, Guided Bush Walks, Game Drives, Horace Rall View site.
Tembe Elephant Park
Tembe Elephant Park, located in an area once the ancient ‘Ivory Route’ connecting Mozambique and Zululand, is famous for having giant elephants in Africa. It is situated between Zululand and Mozambique. You can also see the rest of the “Big Five”: lions, leopards, black and white rhinos, and buffalo, in addition to these gentle giants. Tembe was established in 1983 to protect South Africa’s last free-roaming elephant population. Many Zululand specials, including the shy suni antelope and the cheeky samango monkey, live in various habitats, including the unique sand forest.
Distance from Durban – 400 km or 5 hours
Best time to visit – May to September
Cost per person – R 2180
Accommodation – Only accommodation in the park is the community-run Tembe Tented Camp
Activities – Photography from an elevated wildlife hide, cultural experiences, game walks, game drives
Giants castle reserve
The Giant’s Castle Game Reserve is situated in the central Drakensberg, part of the world-renowned uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. Eland antelope and chacma baboons are commonly seen here. Giant’s Castle Nature Reserve is well-known for its magnificent San rock art, fantastic hiking trails, and energizing climate. The world-renowned Vulture Hide provides bird enthusiasts and photographers with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to view and photograph raptors and vultures native to the region, including the endangered bearded vulture, Cape vulture, and Verreaux’s eagle.
Distance from Durban – 179 km or two and half hours
Best time to visit – September and November
Cost per person – R 2000 onward
Accommodation – Giants Castle Nature Reserve’s chalets are well-appointed and fully self-contained, making them ideal for luxury Drakensberg accommodation.
Activities – Includes hiking, trout fishing, climbing, picnicking, camping, and swimming.
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