Durban Tala Reserve: Private Safari with Guide & Picnic

Summary

A day at Tala: giraffes, laughter & a riverside pause

Spend your day exploring Tala Game Reserve near Durban with a local guide—spotting giraffes, zebras, rhinos and hippos up close. Enjoy a relaxed riverside picnic surrounded by birdsong before heading back to the city. It’s an easygoing safari experience you’ll remember long after you leave South Africa.

What’s the experience like?

We’d barely left Durban when the city faded into green fields and the air started to smell like rain on dry grass. Our guide, Sipho, kept pointing out things I’d never have noticed — “that’s a hadeda ibis,” he said, laughing when I tried to repeat it. The drive to Tala Game Reserve was just under an hour but felt shorter because we were all craning our necks for the first glimpse of something wild. When we finally rolled through the gates, there was this hush — not silence exactly, more like everyone holding their breath.

The first animal we saw was a zebra, just standing by the road like it owned the place (maybe it does). Sipho slowed down so we could watch it flick its tail and chew. Then suddenly there were giraffes — taller than I imagined, moving slow and careful through the acacias. It’s strange how close you can get in a private safari like this; no crowds pushing for photos, just us and the animals doing their thing. At one point I caught the scent of wild sage when the wind shifted. There were hippos too, half-submerged in muddy water — honestly I didn’t expect them to look so peaceful.

Lunch was a picnic in these gardens overlooking a lazy river. The tablecloth kept blowing up in little gusts and someone’s sandwich nearly took flight (Sipho joked that even the food wanted to run wild). We watched birds darting around — sunbirds maybe? — while eating simple sandwiches and fruit. It wasn’t fancy but somehow tasted better out there with everything green and buzzing around us.

After lunch we set off again for more wildlife viewing. Saw some rhinos from a distance — they looked ancient, almost unreal against all that open space. The sun got hotter and I remember wishing I’d brought another bottle of water (they did give us some though). On the way back to Durban I felt kind of quiet; maybe it was just tiredness or maybe that feeling you get when you’ve seen something real up close for once.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Tala Mini Day Safari

• Mini safari at Tala reserve
• Picnic in tranquil gardens
• Wildlife viewing and return to Durban

Top questions

How far is Tala Game Reserve from Durban?

Tala is about 45 minutes’ drive from Durban by private transport.

Is this safari suitable for young children or infants?

Yes, infants and small children can join; prams or strollers are allowed and infant seats are available.

Are service animals permitted on this tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed at Tala Game Reserve.

What animals might I see during the safari?

You may see giraffe, rhino, hippo, zebra and many different birds during your visit.

Does this tour include lunch?

The tour includes a picnic lunch in gardens overlooking the river inside Tala Reserve.

Is pickup included from my hotel in Durban?

Yes, private transportation with pickup from Durban is included in your day trip.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation with pickup from Durban hotels, entry fees to Tala Game Reserve, bottled water for everyone on board, a relaxed picnic lunch overlooking the river inside the reserve, and guiding throughout by a knowledgeable local who knows where to spot wildlife before heading back in the afternoon.