Durban is a city found in the east coast of South Africa and is known to have excellent beaches, rich culture, and carefree environment. Nevertheless, at a very short distance of the city, there are some of the finest safari parks and game reserves in the country that would afford the wildlife fans a chance to enjoy the marvelous biodiversity in South Africa. Whether they are the Big Five or the not so popular species, the parks and reserves offer great diversity to visitors since they will get ready, one in game viewing and one in the beauty of the African landscape.
You are in luck in case you are planning to visit Durban and seek a real safari experience. This paper will discuss the Best Safari Parks and Game Reserves Near Durban and explain each park in a comprehensive manner in terms of wildlife, activities offered and their identifying characters. With or without a day trip, or a multi-day adventure, these parks can provide you with unforgettable experience when being able to connect with nature and watch the wildlife right at their natural homes.
1. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is one of the most popular and readily accessible game reserves in the area of Durban. This park is the oldest game reserve in South Africa and it is a place that any wildlife enthusiast must visit due to its proximity to the city which is approximately 3-hours. It is located in the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, which I am a part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wildlife and Activities
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is popular among the conservation of rhinos since it houses both, the black and the white rhinos. The park has a large population of these magnificent animals, and thus it is the best place to see the rhinos. Besides rhinos, the park contains the big five which includes lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino. The park is also home to birds watchers as it hosts numerous species of antelopes, giraffes, crocodiles and over 400 species of birds.
The park has various activities and it includes self-drive safaris, guided game drives, walking safaris and birding tours. The accommodation facilities also vary with some being luxurious lodges, and others being cheap camp sites. The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is among the best South African safari parks and game reserves around Durban due to the variety of wildlife and conservation efforts of the park.
2. iSimangaliso Wetland Park
iSimangaliso Wetland Park also makes a great place to visit when one is interested in a safari coupled with a visit to unique wetlands. This park is the third-largest secure system in South Africa, and it is just 3 hours north of Durban and provides an insane selection of ecosystems, hazy savannahs to dunes and wetlands. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site as it boasts of great biodiversity and conservation.
Wildlife and Activities
iSimangaliso boasts of an enormous diversity of wildlife including the Big Five. It also boasts of spectacular number of marine life along its coasts such as whales, dolphins and turtles. The wetlands and lakes of the park serve as an ideal place of watching birds not to mention that the park harbors a host of endless species of waterfowls such as flamingo, pelicans, and heron just to mention but a few. Tourists will have the opportunity to take boat tours in the lakes and rivers within the park, make hikes in the coasts or have an adventure in the dunes of the park.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park has one of the most distinctive features and that is in the fact that it gives out land and sea safaris. Game drives, snorkeling, diving or even boat tour can all be enjoyed by the visitors at the same place. It is this diversity that makes iSimangaliso the best place to visit when seeking an overall safari and is near Durban.
3. Phinda Private Game Reserve
Phinda Private Game Reserve is a luxury safari game reserve that is within the vicinity of Durban which is approximately 3 hours north of Durban and has an opportunity of observing a wide variety of wildlife in a pristine environment. Phinda is known as the Seven Worlds of Wonder and boasts of various ecosystems such as the savannahs, wetlands, and forests along the coastlines.
Wildlife and Activities
Phinda is known to have one of the best game viewing experiences and the animals of the big five have been seen regularly within the reserve. A huge number of cheetahs, wild dogs and species of antelopes are also found in the reserve making it an attractive place to wildlife photographers and even safari goers. This would also be a good place to visit by the birdwatchers as the reserve boasts more than 400 bird species.
Phinda has a reputation of a high-end, exclusive safari, luxury lodges where the service and accommodations are five-star. The reserve has various safari activities that include guided game drives, walking safari and boat trips along the Mzinene River. Visitors would also have an opportunity to experience cultures of the local Zulu people or go on a stargazing in the African clear skies. Phinda Private Game Reserve is one of the most suitable safari parks and game reserves that attract both luxury and adventure in the area of Durban and beyond.
4. Tembe Elephant Park
Tembe Elephant Park is a must-visit destination to those who specifically want to see elephants. Tembe is a village park owned by the community, being some 4 hours away Durban and it is aimed at conserving the elephants. The park is considered among the most suitable areas in South Africa where one can view the elephants in the wild.
Wildlife and Activities
The largest numbers of elephant herds in the country are found in Tembe, and during their safari visitors will certainly see the great animals in close proximity. The park has a range of other wildlife besides elephants; the other animals found here include lions, rhinos, leopard and buffalo as well as a number of antelope species. The park is a landscape full of thick forest cover, wetlands and grasslands covering a wide habitat in which to view the game.
The primary activity in Tembe is game drives, and the professional rangers of the park provide informative tours which are aimed at studying the behavior and conservation of elephants. The park is less frequent than some of the other reserves, hence is not crowded hence has a closer experience on the safari. Tembe Elephant Park can be a great option as long as the person wishes to have a unique experience based on viewing elephants.
5. Karkloof Nature Reserve
Considering something more personal and smaller regarding the safari, the Karkloof nature reserve where I live, which is only outside of Pietermaritzburg, is a very beautiful and serene place. This reserve is a private one and it covers a space of about 3500 hectares, the reserve is characterized by its rich landscapes including forests, wetlands and grasslands.
Wildlife and Activities
Although Karkloof Nature Reserve does not have the Big Five, it is home to smaller wildlife fauna, such as giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and various types of antelope. The reserve also has a good birdlife with more than 200 species of birds having been registered here. To nature enthusiasts, Karkloof provides a less hectic and loud respite to the bigger game reserves, and would be attractive to the safari goer that would like a more tranquil vacation.
Tourists visiting the Karkloof Nature Reserve would have a chance to appreciate guided walks, birdwatching and drive throughs, in addition to an opportunity to view the scenic waterfalls in the reserve and the hiking tracks. Karkloof Nature Reserve is one of the best-value safari experiences close to Durban in case you out prefer a more intimate and serene nature contact with the wildlife.
6. Mkhuze Game Reserve
Mkhuze Game reserve is a game reserve within iSimangaliso wetland park and was approximately 3.5 hours south of Durban and it is also referred to as one of the most excellent birdwatching sites. The reserve also provides calmer and less commercialized safari travel in as compared to the other larger game reserves in the region.
Wildlife and Activities
There is a wide variety of animals present in Mkhuze including the Big Five, however Mkhuze is renowned to have many animals in the form of birds and more than 400 species of bird have been recorded here. Cheetahs, giraffes, rhinos, and elephants also have a huge population in the reserve. The park has been a favorite tourist destination particularly in game drives, birdwatching tours and walking safaris and this gives every visitor an opportunity to experience the diverse scenery present in the park and that varies between savannahs and wetlands.
There is also the beautiful Mkhuze River found in Mkhuze Game Reserve which gives a very beautiful scenery view of the safarising experience. The serene environment and beautiful natural sceneries in the reserve make it among the best safari parks and game reserves around Durban in case a low profile adventure is to be explored.
7. Addo Elephant Park
Addo Elephant National Park that is approximately 8 hours south of Durban but is still slightly further, is one of the most renowned reserves in South Africa. The park boasts a high number of the elephants and is also the park that has a wider range of wildlife compared to other parks in the area.
Wildlife and Activities
Besides containing elephants, Addo is also home to the Big Five among other diverse species, such as hyena, cheetah and diverse species of birds. The park has various safari activities that include: games drives, night drives as well as hiking tracks.
The fact that Addo prioritizes the conservation of the elephant species and its various ecosystems contributes to its status as a great wildlife destination. It is though a bit further down south than Durban, but it is considered to be one of the best parks where people can feel the beauty of nature and the rich wildlife of South Africa.
In Conclusion: Selecting the top Safari parks and game reserves around Durban.
The wide spectrum of safari experience available in the Best Safari Parks and Game Reserves (near) Durban includes the big five, exclusive wetlands and wilderness, each unique and interesting in its own right. The parks and reserves in and around Durban suit many different interests and budgets, whether you are seeking a close up with the elephants, the opportunity to see the Big Five in the wild or you would want the luxury safari.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Phinda Private Game Reserve, and Tembe Elephant Park have an excellent wildlife viewing opportunity to people who would like to enjoy the excitement of a safari without necessarily going too far to view the wildlife in the city. To get a more experience in the safari, a better alternative would be iSimangaliso Wetland Park or Mkhuze Game Reserve wherein you can explore wildlife stalking, act as a birdwatcher, have wetland safaris, and the life of the ocean.
Whichever reserve or park you would visit, they all provide an opportunity to appreciate the beauty and grandeur of the wildlife in South Africa.
