Durban Safari Tour: Lions & Elephants in Three Reserves

Three reserves in one day means you see lions, elephants and rhino without splitting your trip across multiple bookings.

A full-day tour from Durban visiting Tala Game Reserve, Natal Lion Park and Phezulu Safari, with a live English-speaking guide and hotel pickup included. You drive through three separate game reserves to see lions, elephants, rhino, giraffe, zebra, kudu and hippo, watch traditional African dances at Phezulu, and explore an African village. The tour runs 10 hours and suits all fitness levels. Children are welcome from age 6.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit three game reserves in Durban

• Explore Tala Game Reserve wildlife
• See lions and elephants at Natal Lion Park
• Enjoy Phezulu Safari activities and dances

The experience

The day starts with a drive to Tala Game Reserve, a 3,000-hectare expanse of acacia thornveld, grassland and wetland that draws over 380 bird species and plenty of big game. Because Tala is malaria-free and has no large predators, the reserve works for families and anyone wanting an authentic bush experience without the intensity of a big five reserve. You move through the landscape on your own terms, spotting rhino, kudu, hippo, giraffe, wildebeest and eland as they appear.

From there you head to Natal Lion Park, where the reserve spans virgin African bushveld thick with bird species and trees. The main draw here is the close-range viewing of lions (the operator calls it hair-raising and never to be forgotten), and you also encounter elephants. After that comes Phezulu Safari Park, which overlooks the Valley of a Thousand Hills. A guided 4×4 drive takes you through the Phezulu Conservation Area, where you can watch crocodiles on the banks of their ponds and see the Reptile Park's venomous and non-venomous snakes. The park also hosts traditional African dances and a village you can walk through. Activities at Phezulu beyond the drive are optional extras you can add at checkout.

Your guide speaks English throughout the 10-hour day and handles all logistics: hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange transport to the first reserve. The tour suits all fitness levels and welcomes children from age 6 onward.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Durban.
• game drives through Tala Game Reserve, Natal Lion Park and Phezulu Conservation Area.
• close-range lion and elephant viewing.
• access to the African village and traditional dances at Phezulu.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full 10 hours.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (19 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 90

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Operated by African Saf Safaris

Is this one for you?The 10-hour commitment means you see three reserves and their wildlife in a single day, leaving your other days in Durban free for the city or the coast. If you have only one day for game viewing and want to pack in lions, elephants and rhino without splitting across multiple trips, this tour stacks them all into one outing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (6 to 12 years). Under 6: they can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I actually see on this tour?

Lions and elephants are the main draws at Natal Lion Park, where the lion viewing happens at close range. Tala Game Reserve holds rhino, giraffe, kudu, hippo, wildebeest and eland, plus over 380 bird species. Phezulu's Reptile Park features venomous and non-venomous snakes, and crocodiles sun themselves on the pond banks.

How long does the whole tour take and when does it end?

The tour runs 10 hours from start to finish. Hotel pickup is included, so the day begins at your accommodation and ends when you return there.

What happens at Phezulu Safari Park beyond the 4×4 drive?

Phezulu offers traditional African dances and an African village you can walk through, plus a Reptile Park with snakes and crocodiles. A meal overlooking the Valley of a Thousand Hills is also available. These activities are optional extras you can add when you book.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to the reserves?

No. Hotel pickup in Durban is included, and your English-speaking guide handles all transport between the three reserves throughout the day.