South Africa · ZULULAND TOURS

Zululand Tours: 15 Compared on Price and Time

29 tours  ·  from $23

A South African itinerary runs out of days long before it runs out of options. Below, 15 zululand tours that hold up: the price, the traveller verdict, and the detail that decides it.

St Lucia: Hippo and Crocodile Cruise on a 15-Seat Vessel - The first stretch: learning the estuary before the animals
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Zululand Tours

St Lucia: Hippo and Crocodile Cruise on a 15-Seat Vessel

1.Hippo and Crocodile Cruise on a 15-Seat Vessel

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 807 reviews · 2 hours · from $23Our pick

Board a roofed 15-seat boat at Siyabonga Jetty for a two-hour cruise on the St Lucia Estuary. Guides such as Thobile, Brandon, and Mr Brown have led guests past hippo families, Nile crocodiles, fish eagles, and other wildlife. Bring binoculars, a jacket, and snacks. Crocodiles are possible, but hippos are the dependable sighting.

“It was brilliant. We saw loads of hippo. The guide had very interesting facts about the hippo , birds their nesting habits. The area. Most interesting fact was that the hippo wonder around the town. Naturally we thought he was telling a tall story. Naturally we drove sound every nite hunting them down. On our last nite, a HUGE hippo strolled up the side street past the Reef & Dune. Made our holiday!”

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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park Full Day Big 5 Safari Tour - Looking for the Big Five and beyond
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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park Full Day Big 5 Safari Tour

2.Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park Full Day Big 5 Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 310 reviews · from $96Top rated

Start at 5:00 am in St Lucia and ride into Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park in an open safari vehicle with a ranger. The small group, early start, breakfast, South African braai lunch, water, blankets, and included conservation fees make this a practical full-day wildlife outing. Guides such as Arnaud are known for sharp spotting and clear answers.

“It was a fantastic day! Without going into the animals we saw, as that depends on luck, let me share the good and bad points of this tour. Arnaud, our guide, always had a smile on his face, answered every question, and provided a lot of inforRead more”

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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: Big 5 Full or Half-Day Safari - The 5:00 AM departure from St Lucia
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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: Big 5 Full or Half-Day Safari

3.Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: Big 5 Full or Half-Day Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 280 reviews · 390 - 510 minutes · from $87

Start early from St Lucia or meet at Nyalazi Gate for a small-group safari in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. Your English-speaking ranger searches for lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs, while explaining Zulu history and wildlife. Full-day trips include breakfast and a South African braai lunch.

“Kyle was a perfekt Guide- it was a wonderful Trip!”

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Shoreline Hippo and Crocodile Boat Cruises, iSimangaliso Wetland Park - Hippos are the dependable highlight
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Shoreline Hippo and Crocodile Boat Cruises, iSimangaliso Wetland Park

4.Shoreline Hippo and Crocodile Boat Cruises, iSimangaliso Wetland Park

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 187 reviews · from $23

Spend about two hours cruising the St Lucia Estuary in a boat carrying up to 15 people. Guides such as Mdu and Mdudusi share facts about hippos, crocodiles, birds, and iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Expect strong hippo sightings, possible crocodiles, and wide water views, with the cruise returning to Siyabonga Tourism Centre.

“Overall it has been a fantastic experience. A warm welcome from the gentleman at the „check in“. The tour itself was amazing, a lot of hippos as close as 2-3 meters. We saw birds and crocodiles, thanks to a very sharp eyed other tourist. And that is also the only complainRead more”

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Hippo and Croc Boat Cruise in Saint Lucia with collection - Guides who turn sightings into stories
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Hippo and Croc Boat Cruise in Saint Lucia with collection

5.Hippo and Croc Boat Cruise in Saint Lucia with collection

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 123 reviews · from $25

Spend about two hours on the Saint Lucia Estuary with a small group of no more than 15 people. Guides such as Jabu, Kian, and Siabonga point out hippos, crocodiles, birds, and other wildlife while you enjoy hot drinks, rusks, fruit, and water. Morning and afternoon departures are available, with hotel pickup and drop-off.

“Super gids die goede uitleg gaf en ons veel mooie dingen heeft laten zien. Dankbaar voor hoe hij het deed”

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iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Full Day Tour - Cape Vidal changes the rhythm of the day
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iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Full Day Tour

6.iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · from $63

Spend 6 to 7 hours exploring iSimangaliso Wetland Park from St Lucia with a ranger such as Terry or Yamkela. Look for wildlife along loop roads, visit hides, enjoy a picnic at Cape Vidal, and snorkel in the protected bay if weather and tide permit. Lunch, water, conservation fees, and equipment are included.

“Everything especially our wonderful guide as pictured ! Very nice and informative a little windy on the day we went but all the stops and our wonderful lunch at the beach with wine!”

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From St Lucia: iSimangaliso Wetland Park Night Drive Safari - Searching for bush babies and aardvarks
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From St Lucia: iSimangaliso Wetland Park Night Drive Safari

7.iSimangaliso Wetland Park Night Drive Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 84 reviews · 3 hours · from $46

You leave your St Lucia accommodation at 7:00 PM or 8:00 PM for a three-hour drive through iSimangaliso Wetland Park. An English-speaking guide, such as Sakile, uses a spotlight to find nocturnal animals, from tiny creatures to hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, and possibly leopard. Small groups are limited to 10 people.

“Sakile heeft ons alles goed uitgelegd en deed de moeite om veel dieren te vinden. het was echter aan het regenen en heel koud. Je moet echt de moeite doen om veel te zien. We waren die middag al op dezelfde weg door het park gereden omdat we het strand wilden zien en hebben toen meer dieren gezien als in de avond. Wij zouden deze tour niet meer boeken.”

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Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Reserve day Safari from Durban - Entering Hluhluwe Imfolozi
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Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Reserve day Safari from Durban

8.Hluhluwe Imfolozi Big 5 Reserve day Safari from Durban

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $210

Spend about 11 to 12 hours traveling from Durban to Hluhluwe Imfolozi, South Africa’s oldest protected area. A guide such as Sibo or Nikolas leads the game drive, with chances to see lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos, leopards, giraffes, zebras, and more. Transport, entry, guiding, and limited bottled water are included.

“There are not much wild animals to be seen. I really would not recommend this safari to anyone who is expecting to see the big 5.”

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St Lucia: iSimangaliso Wetland Park: Full-Day/Half-Day Tour - Following Loop Roads, Lookouts, and Park Tracks
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St Lucia: iSimangaliso Wetland Park: Full-Day/Half-Day Tour

9.iSimangaliso Wetland Park: Full-Day/Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 54 reviews · 7h 30m · from $53

Leave St Lucia at 8:00am with an English-speaking ranger and a group of up to nine. Search for elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard, giraffe, zebra, and hippo-free wetland wildlife along park roads, then stop at Cape Vidal for beach time, swimming, and weather-dependent snorkeling. Full-day trips include a picnic lunch.

“The guide was not what we were used of in Krugerpark. Stayed only on the paved road. On the website was mentioned that we would have a braai for lunch. By we had cold chicken. We could have done this safari on our own”

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From St Lucia: iSimangaliso Sunset Safari - What the three-hour Jeep drive is like
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From St Lucia: iSimangaliso Sunset Safari

10.iSimangaliso Sunset Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 39 reviews · 3 hours · from $39

Join an English-speaking guide for a three-hour sunset Jeep drive through iSimangaliso Wetland Park’s Eastern Shores. From St Lucia, look for elephant, rhino, buffalo, hippo, hyena, leopard, zebra, and antelope while the light fades. The small group holds up to nine people, and coffee, tea, and biscuits may be provided on cooler days.

“iSimangaliso Park is truly magnificent, and the guide is very professional and knowledgeable. We did the park as a self-drive, but the guided visit is a real added value and not to be missed. I absolutely recommend it!!”

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Hluhluwe Imfolozi Safari & St Lucia Boat Safari Day Tour from Durban - The 6am pickup and the road north
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Hluhluwe Imfolozi Safari & St Lucia Boat Safari Day Tour from Durban

11.Hluhluwe Imfolozi Safari & St Lucia Boat Safari Day Tour from Durban

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 37 reviews · from $259

Leave Durban at 6am for a two-hour boat safari on the St Lucia estuary, then continue inland for a three-hour Hluhluwe-Imfolozi game drive. Expect hippos, birds, rhinos, zebras, and impalas, with a chance of seeing more of the Big Five. Guides such as Freddy, Thami, Vusi, Vuzi, and Zamani have been praised for their friendly service.

“Thami was an amazing guide!! Beautiful animals in an amazing park!! We were able to see an incredible amount of wildlife.”

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iSimangaliso Sunset Game Drive - Entering iSimangaliso’s Eastern Shores
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iSimangaliso Sunset Game Drive

12.iSimangaliso Sunset Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 35 reviews · from $36

Join a small group of up to six people for a three-hour sunset game drive into iSimangaliso Wetland Park’s Eastern Shores. Hotel pickup from St Lucia is included. Guides such as Bheki and Theo may point out elephants, rhinos, hippos, birds, beetles, and nocturnal animals as daylight fades.

“Seeing the rhino up close. The view from the lookout point Friendly guide Bheki. Smell of the trees.”

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Hluhluwe/iMfolozi Game Reserve Full Day Game Drive - Breakfast at 8:00 AM keeps the morning practical
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Hluhluwe/iMfolozi Game Reserve Full Day Game Drive

13.Hluhluwe/iMfolozi Game Reserve Full Day Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · from $265

Leave Richards Bay at 5:00 AM for Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, Africa’s first dedicated game reserve. Your private group travels with a local guide, with breakfast, lunch, and snacks included. Guides such as Teshni and Tony have helped guests spot wildlife while sharing details about plants, animals, and the park.

“This tour was nothing but amazing! We were traveling with a toddler and booking this tour made our port stop seamless. From the start, Teshana picked us up at the port and introduced us to our tour guide, Shaquila (pretty sure I spelled both Read more”

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Durban: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Safari & iSimangaliso Tour - Starting with iSimangaliso Wetlands Park
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Durban: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Safari & iSimangaliso Tour

14.Hluhluwe Imfolozi Safari & iSimangaliso Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 12 hours · from $280

Travel from Durban to iSimangaliso Wetlands Park for a boat trip among hippos and crocodiles, then continue to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi for a closed-vehicle safari. Guides such as Zamani, Frédérick, and Bule are praised for animal knowledge and local insight. The day includes park entry, transport, and hotel pickup, but not meals.

“My brother and I had a great time with this safari. Communication with the organizers was smooth and fast, transportation was perfect, the tour guide was excellent. We were satisfied with everything. Thank you!”

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St. Lucia: Cape Vidal Snorkeling Adventure - The beach briefing and equipment fitting
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St. Lucia: Cape Vidal Snorkeling Adventure

15.St. Lucia: Cape Vidal Snorkeling Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 17 reviews · 2 hours · from $28

Meet your English or Dutch-speaking instructor at Cape Vidal’s small marine office after a scenic drive through iSimangaliso Wetland Park. After a beach briefing and gear fitting, spend 1 to 1.5 hours snorkeling among roughly 50 fish species, stingrays, octopus and shipwreck remains. A hot drink and fish ID book finish the outing.

“Every moment was Exceptional. Beautiful Experience. Worth the Drive.”

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