Half-day wildlife safari Durban: Tala and Natal Park

Six hours watching rhinos, giraffes and elephants from an open vehicle

A half-day guided safari from Durban that takes you through Tala Game Reserve on a game drive and then to Natal Park to see elephants in their natural habitat. Hotel, airport and port pickups are included. The tour runs six hours total. A live English-speaking guide leads the route, and all areas are wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife safari at Tala and Natal Park

• Pickup from hotel, airport, or port
• Game drive at Tala Game Reserve
• Visit Natal Park to see elephants

The experience

The game drive through Tala Game Reserve is where the morning unfolds. You'll travel in an open vehicle through the reserve watching for rhinos, giraffes, zebras, kudus, impalas, antelopes and hippos as they move through the landscape. Tala holds over 380 bird species, so the sightings shift constantly depending on the season and the time of day. If Tala is unavailable on your date, the operator runs the same game drive at nearby Gwahumbe Game Reserve instead, which offers comparable wildlife viewing.

After the game drive, you move to Natal Park near Pietermaritzburg to see elephants in their natural habitat. This second stop gives you a different vantage on the region's wildlife and rounds out the morning with one of Africa's most recognizable animals. The whole experience is built around what you observe from the vehicle rather than on foot, which shapes both the pace and what stays visible.

Pickup happens from your hotel, the airport or the port depending on where you're staying or arriving, and the guide speaks English throughout. The tour runs six hours from start to finish. All surfaces and areas are wheelchair accessible, and the operator notes the experience suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• A live English-speaking guide leading the route.
• game drive through Tala Game Reserve (or Gwahumbe if Tala is unavailable).
• visit to Natal Park to see elephants.
• hotel, airport or port pickup and drop-off.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (2 to 10 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 95

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 26 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transport

Operated by Cape Touring

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English throughout, so you'll follow the commentary and the wildlife sightings without a language barrier. This works for families, couples and solo travelers of any fitness level, since you're observing from the vehicle rather than hiking or walking long distances.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 10 years); Infant (under 2).

What animals will I actually see on the game drive at Tala?

Tala Game Reserve holds rhinos, giraffes, zebras, kudus, impalas, antelopes, hippos and over 380 bird species, though which ones appear depends on the time of year and where they're grazing on the day you visit. The game drive lets you watch them from an open vehicle as the guide navigates the reserve.

What happens if Tala Game Reserve is closed on the day of my tour?

If Tala is unavailable, the operator moves the game drive to Gwahumbe Game Reserve nearby, which offers similar wildlife viewing and the same quality of experience. You'll still see the same range of animals from the open vehicle.

How does pickup work if I'm flying into Durban?

Airport pickup is included in the tour price. The guide will collect you from the airport and bring you to Tala Game Reserve to start the game drive, then continue to Natal Park before returning you to your hotel or back to the airport.

Is this tour accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on the tour are wheelchair accessible, and the transportation is also wheelchair accessible. The operator notes the experience suits all physical fitness levels.

How long is the whole tour from pickup to drop-off?

The tour runs six hours total, including the game drive at Tala, the stop at Natal Park to see elephants, and travel time between the two reserves plus your pickup and drop-off.