iSimangaliso Wetlands Park tour: Crocs, hippos & game drive

Hippos and crocodiles in the estuary, then elephants and giraffes on the reserve

This full-day tour from Durban combines two wildlife experiences in iSimangaliso Wetlands Park: a boat cruise through the St Lucia Estuary hunting hippos and crocodiles, followed by a game drive across the reserve where elephants, giraffes, zebras, kudus and antelopes roam. You depart at 6am and return around 6:30pm, with a live English or French-speaking guide included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day tour of iSimangaliso Park

• Depart from Durban at 6am
• Boat cruise on St Lucia Estuary
• See crocodiles and hippos
• Game drive in the reserve
• View elephants, giraffes, and more
• Return to Durban by 6:30pm

The experience

The day starts early: pickup from Durban at 6am takes you north to St Lucia, where you board a boat for the Croc and Hippo Boat Cruise through the estuary. Lake St Lucia holds large populations of hippos and crocodiles, and the boat puts you close enough to watch them move through the water. Pelicans and flamingos work the shallows too. This is the part of the tour where sightings are most reliable: hippos especially gather in numbers that make the hour on the water feel like a wildlife concentration.

After the boat returns, you move to the game drive portion at the reserve. The African bush opens up here, and the vehicle covers ground where you're likely to encounter elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras, kudus and antelopes. The reserve spans a huge protected area along KwaZulu-Natal's coast, so there's real distance between sightings and real variety in what shows up. A guide drives and narrates, pointing out animals and the landscape itself. The game drive takes up the middle of the day, when light is strong and animals are still moving.

You head back to Durban by late afternoon, arriving around 6:30pm. The full loop (estuary boat, game drive, return) runs 12 hours door to door, so it's a committed day. Children from age 5 are welcome, and the tour suits all fitness levels, though the early start and the length of time in a vehicle matter if you're traveling with young kids or anyone who tires easily.

What’s included

• Croc and Hippo Boat Cruise through the St Lucia Estuary.
• game drive across iSimangaliso Wetlands Park.
• live guide in English or French.
• hotel or accommodation pickup from Durban.
• wildlife viewing including hippos, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, zebras, kudus, buffalo and antelopes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Africa Top Tours & Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both the boat cruise and game drive in one day rather than splitting them across two separate tours.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What animals am I most likely to see on the boat cruise in St Lucia?

Hippos gather in large numbers in the estuary, and crocodiles are common sightings. Pelicans and flamingos also work the shallows, so you'll see a mix of large and wading birds alongside the reptiles.

How long do I spend on the water versus in the vehicle?

The boat cruise takes roughly an hour, and the game drive fills the middle portion of the day. The rest of the 12 hours covers the drive from Durban to St Lucia, the return journey, and transitions between activities.

What time does the tour depart and return to Durban?

Departure is 6am from Durban, and you return around 6:30pm. The full day is 12 hours including travel time to and from the park.