Safari tour from Durban: Tala, lions and Zulu culture

Three reserves in one day means you see giraffes, rhinos and lions without choosing between them.

A full-day safari tour from Durban visits Tala Game Reserve, Natal Lion Park and Phezulu Safari Park, with hotel pickup, a live guide in English or French, and game drives through three separate wildlife areas. Tala spans 3,000 hectares of acacia thornveld and grassland; Natal Lion Park offers close views of elephants and lions; Phezulu adds Zulu dance performances and a reptile park. Activities at Phezulu are optional and at own cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wildlife and cultural tour in KwaZulu-Natal

• Depart hotel at 7:30am
• Travel to Tala Private Game Reserve
• Take 4x4 game drive at Tala Reserve
• View animals and bird species at Tala
• Travel through sugar cane plantations to Natal Park
• See elephants and indigenous trees at Natal Park
• Head to Phezulu Safari Park
• Optional activities at Phezulu Safari Park

The experience

How do you fit three game reserves into one day without rushing? You start at 7:30am from your hotel and head straight to Tala Private Game Reserve, a 3,000-hectare property of acacia thornveld, open grassland and wetland that draws more than 380 bird species. A 4x4 vehicle takes you through to spot kudu, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest and eland in their natural habitats. Tala is malaria-free and has no large predators, which is why families often choose it for an authentic bush experience without the highest-risk wildlife.

From Tala you travel through sugar cane plantations to Natal Lion Park, where the focus shifts to Africa's most powerful animals. You get close to elephants and lions here, moving through bush dotted with African indigenous trees and bird species. The third stop is Phezulu Safari Park, overlooking the Valley of a Thousand Hills. You can take an optional 4x4 game drive through the conservation area, watch crocodiles, visit the reptile park with venomous and non-venomous snakes, or sit down for a meal with the view. Zulu dance performances and visits to the African village happen here too, though these cultural activities cost extra.

The whole day runs about ten hours. Your guide speaks English or French, and the tour includes pickup and drop-off at your hotel or cruise ship, so you don't need to arrange transport yourself. Children from age six are welcome.

What’s included

• Hotel, cruise ship or airport pickup and drop-off.
• a live guide in English or French.
• a 4x4 game drive at Tala Game Reserve.
• entry to Natal Lion Park.
• entry to Phezulu Safari Park with access to the African village and reptile park.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (19 to 90 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (6 to 12 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 45

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.

Paid on siteUS$ 4.96

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by African Saf Tours

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup at 7:30am means you don't need a car or a way to reach the reserves on your own. The tour collects you and returns you at the end of the day, so it works whether you're staying in the city or arriving by plane.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (6 to 12 years). Under 6: they can't be included in the booking.

What animals will I actually see at Tala Game Reserve?

Tala Game Reserve holds kudu, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, eland and more than 380 bird species across its 3,000 hectares. The reserve is malaria-free and has no large predators, so sightings are frequent without the highest safety risks of other reserves.

Do I have to pay extra for anything during the tour?

The game drives, hotel pickup and guide are included. Activities at Phezulu Safari Park (like the 4x4 drive through the conservation area, the reptile park, Zulu dance performances and meals) are optional and cost extra.

What time does the tour start and end?

Pickup from your hotel is at 7:30am. The full tour runs about ten hours, so you'll return in the late afternoon.