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wildlife · Durban

iSimangaliso Wetland Park: Big 5 & Whale Coast Safari

Explore South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site — iSimangaliso Wetland Park — on a private guided safari blending big game, hippo-filled lakes, leatherback turtle shores, and the Indian Ocean in one spectacular landscape.

What to expect

Head north from Durban through sugar-cane country to the park entrance at St Lucia, where the world's largest estuarine system unfolds. Open-vehicle game drives reveal elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhino, crocodile, and hundreds of bird species in a mosaic of wetland, forest, and savanna. An optional boat cruise on Lake St Lucia brings you nose-to-nose with hippos and Nile crocodiles. The return journey skirts the KwaZulu-Natal coast with views of the warm Indian Ocean all the way back to port.

Book it with
Endless Summer Tours
ZAR 2,800–3,500 per person (private guided day trip from Durban port)
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Good to know

Allow 10–12 hours for the full experience; confirm your all-aboard time before booking. The park entry fee (ZAR 232 per person) is typically included — confirm with the operator. Book the private vehicle option for maximum flexibility and quality guiding.

Sail there

Luxury cruises that call at Durban — book through us, the fare is identical and your concierge stays on your side.

Azamara · Azamara Onward
12 nights · calls at Durban
from $4,973
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Regent · Seven Seas Voyager
15 nights · calls at Durban
from $12,399
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Viking Ocean · Viking Neptune
36 nights · calls at Durban
from $12,999
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Regent · Seven Seas Mariner
31 nights · calls at Durban
from $22,999
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See all cruises to Durban →
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