Richards Bay: Manyoni safari with Big 5 & lunch

Summary

Big 5 Day Trip from Richards Bay with Local Ranger

Start your day early from Richards Bay for a real Big 5 safari in Manyoni Private Game Reserve with an expert local ranger. Spot lions, elephants, buffalo and more during two guided drives, enjoy lunch outdoors in the reserve, and return by late afternoon — it’s an experience you’ll feel long after you’ve left the bush behind.

What’s the experience like?

We were already bouncing along the dirt track when Sipho, our ranger, slowed the jeep and pointed out a cluster of zebra half-hidden by morning mist. I’d barely finished my coffee (too sweet, but somehow perfect at 7am) when he whispered, “Listen.” Somewhere close, a low grunt — buffalo maybe? The air was cool and smelled faintly of dust and wild sage. I kept fumbling with the Zeiss binoculars they gave us, trying to spot movement between acacia trees. It’s funny how quiet everyone got when we thought we saw lion tracks — even the birds seemed to hush for a second.

Sipho knew every twist in the road and every call on the radio. He’d stop mid-sentence to scan the horizon or explain how the reserve only lets in guests from their fancy lodges — unless you’re with this tour, which felt like a bit of a secret handshake. Around midday we stopped for lunch under a thorn tree. Nothing fancy, just sandwiches and bottled water, but after three hours of scanning for elephants (finally spotted one’s ear flapping behind some bushwillow), it tasted like a feast. There was this moment where I just sat back and watched sunlight flicker through leaves while someone nearby tried to pronounce “Manyoni” right — Li laughed at my attempt too.

The afternoon drive felt different — warmer light, longer shadows, and somehow more relaxed. We saw giraffes moving slow-motion across an open patch; Sipho told us about their family groups while I tried (and failed) to get a photo that wasn’t just giraffe legs. By then my brain was full of animal names in Zulu and random facts about dung beetles (don’t ask). Heading back toward Richards Bay around 3:30pm, I realized I hadn’t checked my phone all day. There’s something about being out there — not wild exactly, but real enough that I still think about those silent moments between sightings.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Big 5 Safari at Manyoni Reserve

• Morning safari game drive with ranger

Top questions

How long is the safari from Richards Bay to Manyoni?

The drive from Richards Bay to Manyoni Private Game Reserve takes under two hours each way.

Is lunch included on this Big 5 safari?

Yes, lunch is included during your day trip inside Manyoni Private Game Reserve.

Are there guides on the safari?

You’ll have a knowledgeable local ranger guiding both morning and afternoon game drives.

Can anyone visit Manyoni Private Game Reserve?

Normally only luxury lodge guests can enter, but this tour gives access for day visitors.

What animals can I see on this safari?

You have good chances to see Africa’s Big 5: lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard.

Is hotel pickup included from Richards Bay?

The tour includes pickup in Richards Bay before heading to Manyoni Private Game Reserve.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from Richards Bay, entry into Manyoni Private Game Reserve with an expert local guide, use of Zeiss binoculars and multilingual guidebooks during both morning and afternoon game drives focused on tracking Africa’s Big 5 wildlife, plus bottled water and lunch before returning in the late afternoon.