Welcome to Durban, a city brimming with things to do and places to see. I’m guessing you’re planning a trip, which is why you’ve come to this website. Here are some of the best game reserves around Durban to visit.
Durban is not only home to a few golden beaches, but it also has some of the best game reserves in the world! So, if you’re looking to replace your slops with hiking boots, check out what Durbs has to offer. In this article, Mrpocu.com has put together some of the best game reserves and nature reserves in Durban that suit your travel type. From some of the popular gave reserves to most visited reserves.
Game Reserves In Durban
Tala Collection Private Game Reserve
Tala Private Game Reserve is a malaria-free wildlife sanctuary located about an hour outside of the bustling city of Durban, on the hills of a calm farming village. This game reserve, which spans 3 000 hectares of plains and grasslands, is home to 380 bird species as well as large game such as rhino, kudu, hippo, giraffe, and antelope.
Get packing if you want to unwind in a picture-perfect environment surrounded by the sights and sounds of the authentic African wilderness. The reserve is also a great place to hold conferences and weddings, and guests may go on guided wildlife drives and bush walks to learn more about the area.
Tala’s accommodations are simple, hidden luxury. There’s also the option of self-catering in our Fisherman’s Cottage near the dam, as well as a wonderful mix of rooms spread over a selection of lodges and residences. While couples and solitary travellers are welcome, Tala is best suited to parties of ten or more. Our conference rooms make Tala suitable for day conferences, special celebrations, weddings, and tour groups visiting KwaZulu-Natal, and our dining options include La Tala Restaurant and traditional outdoor bomas.
Gwahumbe Game Lodge & Spa
The Gwahumbe Game Lodge & Spa, about an hour’s drive from Durban, is the ideal place to relax and enjoy the quiet and tranquilly of the bushveld. The Gwahumbe Game Lodge & Spa, about an hour’s drive from Durban, is the ideal place to relax and enjoy the quiet and tranquilly of the bushveld.
Every visitor’s heart is won by the gorgeous and unique Gwahumbe Reserve. This serene retreat stands out as a unique location for wildlife lovers. The fact that it is within a short distance from the province’s major cities adds to its allure – and makes it a bush haven for anyone wishing to get away from city life for a while. The stunning rock sides that surround the reserve stand guard over Gwahumbe, offset by plateau grassland and luxuriant riverine woods. Gwahumbe is named from the Umsunduze and Umgwahumbe Rivers that meet at their confluence.
Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Are you up for a road trip and some Big Five game viewing in stunning scenery? Then Hluhluwe Game Reserve is the place for you! This game reserve, located 253 kilometres north of Durban, is one of Africa’s oldest. The Hluhluwe Game Reserve is known across the world for its role in rhino conservation, and it serves as a model for animal capture and sustainable use in Africa.
The Big Five, as well as wild dog, giraffe, cheetah, and nyala, may be found in this KwaZulu-Natal Game Reserve, which covers over 96 000 hectares of rugged terrain. Take a game drive and guided walk, or go for a self-guided stroll along the auto trails.
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Near Durban, Phinda is the most well-known and prestigious private wildlife reserve. Staying in one of the six luxury lodges is an experience in and of itself, with the emphasis on subtle elegance and great food. The guiding at Phinda is of the highest calibre, and a safari here is not only fun but also educational. Expect close-up interactions with a variety of species, both large and small, as well as some action. The cheetah is Phinda’s most famous species, and this is one of the greatest sites to see this elegant big cat in action, whether grooming, nursing young, or hunting at breakneck speed.
uMkhuze Game Reserve
The uMkhuze Game Reserve is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is made up of a mosaic of protected areas. There is a network of roads to explore, although animal viewing is difficult due to the dense coastal vegetation. On the other side, spending time in the reserve’s photographic hides is extremely rewarding. When you sit in the stilted kuMasinga hide, you’re practically sitting in the centre of a waterhole. Spending a couple of hours here does not require patience. Zebras, wildebeest, warthogs, elephants, and rhinos are among the creatures that frequent the watering hole. With any luck, you’ll even see a pack of wild dogs or a pride of lions causing havoc.
Ithala Game Reserve
Ithala, a little-known wildlife reserve near Durban, is possibly the most scenic of them all. Although it is not a Big 5 location (lions are not there), the area is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including black and white rhino. Leopards thrive in the rugged landscape, which includes cliff sides and rough riverbeds. Cheetah and brown hyena are two other predators to watch out for. There are many different types of antelope, including some rare ones like eland, red hartebeest, and tsessebe, Africa’s quickest antelope. This game reserve is one of the top game reserves in Durban.
Nature Reserves Near Durban
One of the finest ways to get outdoors is to spend a day strolling around the coastal bush and grasslands, surrounded by wildlife. Take a peek at the various gems hidden in Durbs’ back garden, ready for you to discover.
Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve
The Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve is found near Durban North, at the mouth of the Umgeni River. In 1977, the reserve was established to safeguard 76 hectares of natural estuarine systems, including mangrove swamp forest and estuarine habitat. An activity centre and a thatched gazebo are located in the reserve’s southern section, near the Umgeni estuary, and are available to educational and other organisations.
There is a boardwalk that meanders through the mangrove forest, providing the ideal opportunity to see animals and explore the adjacent estuary; you might even see some of the numerous crabs that are supposed to live in the region.
Paradise Valley Nature Reserve
The observation platform for the waterfall is just beyond the Duiker trail turnoff. It’s worth climbing the stone steps to the bottom of the falls, where there’s a wide pool, but don’t swim there; the water quality of the Umbilo River isn’t great. Return to the same track and follow the yellow markings to where the Duiker trail enters. A small pond and the old waterworks slipway are located along the trail. The trail curves right when it reaches the massive yellowwood tree, returning you to the wooden bridge where you began.
The Paradise Valley Nature Reserve, 100 hectares of coastal and remnant grassland, boasts one of the two national monuments to be found in Pinetown – The Umbilo Waterworks, which were built in 1887. All four of the trails in the reserve start at the Interpretive Centre and head down through the picnic area.
Durban Botanical Gardens
The Durban Botanic Gardens (founded in 1849) is Africa’s oldest surviving botanic garden, and it continues to be a national and local city asset dedicated to plant conservation and education. In 1993, the Durban Botanic Gardens Trust was founded to assist the Gardens’ major strategic areas of biodiversity, culture, education, heritage, horticulture, people and plants, and research. The Durban Botanic Gardens is situated in the heart of the Berea, on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal and it’s 15 hectare botanic garden
The Durban Botanical Gardens work alongside the University of Technology’s Horticulture department to provide a solid curriculum-based, hands-on educational experience. It is a sub-tropical paradise.
Umhlanga Nature Reserve
The trail starts in the parking lot and leads you on an interesting journey through varied terrain. The wooden boardwalk brings you across the Ohlange River, through a dense forest, and out onto the sand, with the gorgeous lagoon on one side and the ocean on the other.
A clandestine naked splash can be had on a quiet, less-frequented beach. Umhlanga will not let you down, whether you’re going to the beach or just for a wonderful walk.
The reserve also includes the Drakensberg Mountains (commonly known as the “Dragon Mountains”), Limpopo’s tallest mountain range. If you want to tackle one of the more challenging mountain hiking trails, make sure you hire a guide.