KwaZulu-Natal Zululand 5-Day Mammal Tour

5-Day Tour

King Shaka International Airport, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal – Zululand – Maputaland – Elephant Coast – King Shaka International Airport, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

Tour Information

Top mammals: African buffalo, African elephant, African wild dog, black rhino, blue duiker, Cape porcupine, caracal, cheetah, giraffe, hippo, honey badger, leopard, lion, pangolin, red duiker, Samango (blue) monkey, serval, side-striped jackal, spotted hyena, suni, thick-tailed bushbaby, white rhino.

Bird endemics and specials: African Broadbill, Crowned Eagle, Knysna Turaco, Lappet-faced Vulture, Livingstone’s Turaco, Martial Eagle, Narina Trogon, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Southern Bald Ibis, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Woodward’s Batis.

Private wildlife and birding guide
Accommodation (may change subject to availability, in which case similar will be found)
All breakfasts, dinners, tea and coffee
All ground transport in a luxury touring vehicle
Bottled water in vehicles
All entrance fees, conservation and community levies to parks and reserves
Trip guide and personalised checklist
Specialist guide fees – 1 x Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park Night Drive, 1 x Mkuze Game Reserve Night Drive

All airfares
Airport departure taxes or visa fees
Travel and medical insurance (incl. personal equipment and repatriation)
All lunches, snacks and drinks (except bottled water)
Optional excursions
Specialist guide fees and activities not specified
Items of a personal nature
Laundry and telephone charges
Tips and gratuities for guides and local restaurants
Anything else not mentioned in “Includes”

Distance:

Total driving distance (including around sites) = 950km.

Scheduled Dates:

Or alternate dates on request

Duration:

5 days, 4 nights.

No. of Pax:

Maximum 6 guests per vehicle and per guide.

Tour Starts:

At King Shaka International Airport in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Tour Ends:

At King Shaka International Airport in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Price:

2024: ZAR 26,750 per person sharing, and ZAR 1,850 single supplement.

2025: ZAR 28,900 per person sharing, and ZAR 1,990 single supplement.

Terms and Conditions apply
Minimum of 3 participants per vehicle required to undertake the trip. Should the number of guests change, the cost of the tour and the per person cost will change accordingly
The species mentioned in the itinerary represent only some of those we may possibly view on the tour, however, none can be guaranteed
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions at the time and other factors beyond our control
Tour group is responsible for paying for all guide meals

Tour Insight

This wildlife tour primarily focuses on mammals, with birds and other species a secondary focus. We explore several abundant and premier game reserves in the Zululand and Maputaland (Elephant Coast) region of the KwaZulu-Natal province, and each is unique in its attributes, landscapes and the experiences it offers.

The region is a large mammal playground, and we can expect to see approximately 40 species, including the Big 5. Also, as a birding mecca, it’s possible to spot around 320 species of birds, including many specials and 5 endemic species.

Tour Overview

Comfortable private lodges and national park resorts. Luxury accommodation can be arranged at your request (additional cost).

The climate is subtropical, mostly hot during the day in the summer and cooler in the evenings, with a chance of mist. Rain is possible, usually in the form of summer convection thunderstorms, and cool, wet weather is also possible in the event of a cold front moving up from the south in the winter months, with frost and even snow possible at high altitudes. This is a summer rainfall region, averaging between 700mm and 1 100mm annually. The driest month is July; the most rainfall falls in January. Temperatures range from -5°C (23°F) in winter to 32°C (89.6°F) in summer, with an average maximum of 28°C (82.4°F) and an average minimum of 10°C (50°F). The warmest month is February. 

Habitat types vary greatly from savanna to woodlands, sand forests to coastal and riverine forests, wetlands and lakes to flooded grasslands, and estuaries to seashores, which host numerous regional endemics, threatened and endangered mammal and bird species, as well as great floral diversity. Each destination offers extraordinary scenery, providing you with unparalleled photographic opportunities.

Optional extensions:

Tembe Elephant Park – add 2 days to head further north to this unique Big 5 park on the Mozambique border – home to the largest tuskers in Africa.

Tour variation:

This set-departure tour is also available as a private or custom tour on request. Kindly submit an enquiry with your preferred dates and group size.

Exploring the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a World Heritage Site
Finding the Big 5 in the oldest game reserve in Africa, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and the Mkuze section of iSimangaliso, plus numerous rarer small mammals

Medium-paced with optional mid-day breaks (advisable on hot days). If you’re a keen photographer (and so are we), there will be many opportunities to capture moments to make you the envy of your friends!