Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Drive: Big 5 Safari Full Day
You'll see the terrain change as much as the animals do.
A full-day game drive through Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, departing Richards Bay at 5am and returning mid-afternoon, with breakfast and lunch served in the field and a live guide pointing out the Big 5, giraffes, zebras, wild dogs, cheetah and birdlife. The reserve's different landscapes, from woodland to open savanna, are as much part of the experience as the wildlife itself.
Step-by-step itinerary
Full day game drive in reserve
- 05h00 depart Richards Bay
- 06h00 arrive at Nyalazi Gate
- 08h00 breakfast in nature
- 13h00 lunch in nature
- 14h30 start return journey
What’s included
- Breakfast and lunch served in the field.
- snacks.
- air-conditioned vehicle.
- live guide in English.
- hotel pickup from Richards Bay.
Times
- Every day No fixed time
Before you book
Operated by Under African Skies
Prices and times updated 6 days ago
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The experience
You leave Richards Bay before dawn and arrive at Nyalazi Gate as light breaks. The drive into the reserve takes you through changing terrain: dense bush gives way to grassland, and the animals you spot shift with the landscape. Breakfast happens at 8am in nature, not at a lodge, so you're already deep in the reserve when you eat. The guide navigates the roads and knows where animals are moving, which means your sightings are not random. They're the result of someone reading the reserve.
The Big 5 are possible here: lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant. You'll also see giraffes, zebras, warthogs, antelope species, cheetah, hyena, wild dogs and an abundance of birdlife. The vehicle is air-conditioned, which matters during the midday heat. Lunch comes at 1pm, again in the field. By 2:30pm you start the return journey, arriving back in Richards Bay in the late afternoon.
This is a shared vehicle tour with a live guide who speaks English. Children from age 1 are welcome, and the reserve suits all fitness levels. You're watching from the vehicle, not hiking. The early departure is fixed, which is what makes a full day of driving and two meals in nature possible within a single departure.
Is this one for you?Book this if you can commit to a 5am start: the full day and two meals let you cover varied terrain and maximize wildlife sightings across the reserve.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (6 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What animals am I most likely to see on a full-day game drive at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi?
The Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant) are possible, along with giraffes, zebras, wild dogs, cheetah, hyena, warthogs and various antelope species. The reserve also has abundant birdlife. Sightings depend on animal movement and where the guide takes you on the day.
What time does the game drive depart and when do I get back?
Departure is 5am from Richards Bay, with arrival at Nyalazi Gate at 6am. Breakfast is at 8am, lunch at 1pm, and the return journey begins at 2:30pm, getting you back to Richards Bay in the late afternoon.
What meals are included and where do we eat?
Breakfast and lunch are both included and served in the field, not at a lodge or restaurant, so you stay in the reserve throughout the day. Snacks are also provided.
Is this a private vehicle or shared with other travelers?
This is a shared vehicle tour with a live English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup from Richards Bay is included.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Drive: Big 5 Safari Full Day
6h–8h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 286 per person
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