Hluhluwe Safari from Richards Bay: Big 5 game drive

Six hours in South Africa's oldest game reserve, searching for lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino

A private small-group game drive safari from Richards Bay port into Hluhluwe & Imfolozi Game Reserve, where you search for the Big 5 and other wildlife in an air-conditioned vehicle with a qualified guide. The tour is tailored to your ship's arrival and departure times, with transport from port, a light lunch at a reserve picnic spot, and return to the ship included. A minimum of two people per booking is required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hluhluwe Safari and Wildlife Viewing

• Travel from Richards Bay to Hluhluwe
• Enjoy game drives in open or closed vehicle
• Have light lunch at picnic spot
• Continue safari game drives
• Return to Richards Bay port

The Experience

The drive north from Richards Bay takes you into Zululand and the heart of Hluhluwe & Imfolozi Game Reserve, the oldest game reserve in South Africa. You'll spend the morning and afternoon on game drives in either an open or closed vehicle—your choice at checkout—with a qualified guide who knows where to find lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino and the many other species that move through the reserve. The vehicle is air-conditioned, and the guide handles the route and the timing so you can focus on the animals and the camera.

Around midday you stop at one of the picnic spots inside the reserve for a light lunch, then head back out for a few more hours of driving before the return to Richards Bay port. The whole day—transport, guide, lunch and the game drives themselves—is arranged around your ship's schedule: you provide the docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time when you book, and the departure time is tailored to get you back with time to spare.

You may be joined by other passengers from your cruise ship on the same tour. The minimum booking is two people. Open-vehicle safaris give you an unobstructed view and the chance to stand for photos; closed-vehicle safaris keep you sheltered from the sun and wind. Both options include the same guide, transport, lunch and access to the reserve.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle transport.
• return transfers from Richards Bay port.
• services of a qualified English-speaking guide.
• light lunch at a reserve picnic spot.
• game drive access to Hluhluwe & Imfolozi Game Reserve.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Cullinan Guided Journeys

Is this one for you?Step off your ship straight into Africa's oldest game reserve for a full day chasing the Big 5—your guide handles everything while you focus on the safari.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What is the Big 5 and will I actually see them on this safari?

The Big 5 are lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino—the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot in Africa, and the animals most visitors to Hluhluwe & Imfolozi Game Reserve hope to photograph. The reserve is home to all five species, though sightings depend on where the animals are on any given day; your guide will use knowledge of their habits and recent sightings to maximize your chances, but wildlife viewing is never guaranteed.

How does the timing work if my ship arrives late or leaves early?

Departure times are tailored to suit your ship's schedule. When you book, you provide your ship's name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time, and the tour operator plans the game drives and return to port around those windows. The ship must arrive the night before or early morning, with disembarkation by 07h30, and departure should not be before 20h00.

What's the difference between the open-vehicle and closed-vehicle options?

Open-vehicle safaris let you stand and shoot photos without glass or roof obstruction, and you feel closer to the landscape; closed-vehicle safaris keep you air-conditioned and protected from sun and wind during the long hours of driving. Both include the same qualified guide, the same game drive routes, lunch and transport from Richards Bay port.

Is this tour suitable if I have mobility issues or a medical condition?

The tour involves several hours of driving on reserve roads, which can be bumpy, and game drives require sitting for extended periods. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or pregnancy. If you have concerns about your fitness for the tour, contact the operator before booking.