South Africa · Safari

Hluhluwe Imfolozi Safari and DumaZulu Cultural Village Day Tour

13 Hours Round trip from Durban Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Full-day safari and cultural tour from Durban
  • 02 Search for the Big 5 in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
  • 03 Travel through South Africa’s oldest park in a closed vehicle
  • 04 Learn about white rhino conservation in Zululand
  • 05 Stop for lunch at Hilltop Camp with scenic views
  • 06 Visit DumaZulu, South Africa’s largest Zulu cultural village
  • 07 See traditional crafts, beadwork, and spear and shield making
  • 08 Enjoy Zulu dancing and singing performances

Discover a full-day journey from Durban into the heart of Zululand, combining a classic wildlife safari with a rich cultural experience. Travel to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, South Africa’s oldest park, where your guide will take you through rolling savannah in search of the Big 5 and the reserve’s diverse birdlife and wildlife.

After time in the park and a lunch stop at Hilltop Camp at your own expense, continue to DumaZulu Cultural Village for an introduction to traditional Zulu life. Explore the village layout, learn about local customs and crafts, and enjoy cultural displays including basket-weaving, beadwork, spear and shield making, Sangoma bone throwing, and Zulu dancing and singing before returning to Durban.

Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve is in a heart of Zululand where Africa’s Big 5 (Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Buffalo and Rhinoceros) roam the flourishing savannah.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 13 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Easy
Accommodation Included
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Durban, Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park
Languages English, French, Greek, Polish, Portuguese

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Hluhluwe Imfolozi Safari & Dumazulu Cultural Village

 The tour departs from Durban heading north up the coast to northern KwaZulu-Natal. You will arrive at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi gate 2.5 hours after departing from Durban. You experienced guide will show you around the park in search of the diverse wildlife and Big 5.  

Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve is in a 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 98 000 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. 

 The Hluhluwe Imfolozi Reserve is noted for its White Rhino conservation. Their Centenary Capture Centre is celebrated for its exceptional research in animal capture, rehabilitation and release as well their approach to sustainable ecotourism in South Africa.  

Your guide will stop for lunch at Hilltop Camp (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 DumaZulu Cultural Village

 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.   

After the tour we start the two hours journey back to Durban for drop off .

 Tour Itinerary:

· Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve. 

  • DumaZulu Cultural Village. 

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Durban 2 cities · 13 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • National Park fees,Collection and drop off from Durban in an Air-conditioned vehicle,
  • Qualified Tour Guide,
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off within a 5km radius from Tropicana hotel

What's Not Included

Food and drinks: however opportunity is provided to buy something to eat, refuel and relax

Know before you go

  • WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • DEPARTURE TIME: 06:30 AM
  • RETURN TIME: 08:30 PM
  • For special pick-up arrangement contact
  • If the last minutes booking is before 5:00 pm, kindly contact by email:
  • We also do pick-up at the Durban Harbor / Richards Bay Passenger Terminal or any pick-up at a 5km radius from Tropicana hotel.
  • LOCATION: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
  • PHYSICALITY: 4 / 10
  • AGE: All ages welcome
  • DATES: All year round
  • TRAVELLER TYPE: Single or Per Person Sharing
  • Prices vary by group size and are priced per person, per your booking for your group

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Durban, ZA
Tour start
Durban, ZA
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 13 hours finish where they began, in Durban.

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