Durban & KwaZulu-Natal Tours: 15 of Them, Priced and Timed

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

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

Spend two hours on Lake St Lucia aboard a low, roofed 15-seat vessel. Your English-speaking skipper and guide will take you near hippo groups, search the reeds for Nile crocodiles, and point out birds and plants across the estuary. Guides including Thobile have impressed with their patient explanations. Bring a jacket, binoculars, and snacks.

“We absolutely loved it!!! Ended up adding 2 more family to join us & they were equally impressed. Thank you. Our guide was very knowledgeable in all things hippo & the surrounding fauna & flora. A++”

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2.30-Minute Harbor Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 665 reviews · 30 min · from $7Best value

Cruise from Wilson’s Wharf through Durban Harbor, with an English-speaking skipper explaining ships, cargo, docks, and port life. You may see container vessels, tugboats, yachts, birds, and the skyline from the water. The route can include Maydon Wharf Channel or the City and Container Terminal, depending on conditions.

“What an enjoyable experience! The music was a bit loud, but the skipper was funny, taught us so much and made the 30 minutes fantastic. I definitely recommend this ride if you want a quick adventure with the fam ❤️”

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3.1-Hour Boat Cruise from Wilson’s Wharf

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 496 reviews · 1 hour · from $11

Depart Wilson’s Wharf for a one-hour public cruise past Durban’s working harbor and golden beachfront. Expect music, a safety briefing, skyline views, and useful harbor commentary in English, Zulu, or Afrikaans. The boat may be a catamaran or another certified vessel, and the skipper may head into the ocean or remain inside the harbor when conditions turn rough.

“I really had fun. I will definitely come again and recommend you as well”

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

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

Leave St Lucia at 5:00 am for a full-day safari in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. Ride in an open-air vehicle with a ranger, search for the Big Five, cheetahs, and wild dogs, and enjoy breakfast, lunch, water, blankets, and hotel transport. Guide Arnaud is known for sharp spotting and thoughtful 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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5.Durban Point Waterfront: Luxury Canal Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 298 reviews · 30 min · from $9

You’ll circle Durban Point’s canals aboard a small pontoon boat with open decks, comfortable seating, a skipper, and an English-speaking guide. Expect views of uShaka Marine World, Ithala Trade Centre, the harbour, and the city skyline. Guides such as Troy, Thami, Siya, and Samuel add history, jokes, and help with family photos.

“The trip was amazing ,thanks to the driver.He made us to enjoy the ride.”

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6.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 through Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. Your English-speaking ranger, such as Sifiso, Kyle, Theo, or Jabu, searches for lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo, cheetahs, and wild dogs. Full-day trips include breakfast and a South African barbecue lunch.

“Our guide on this occasion was very knowledgeable very professional and had safety in mine throughout the day”

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

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

Spend about two hours cruising the Saint Lucia Estuary in a boat limited to 15 people. Your ranger guide, often including Mdu or Mdudusi, points out hippos, crocodiles, monitor lizards, pelicans, flamingos, and other birdlife. The cruise begins and ends at the Siyabonga Tourism Centre and includes a mobile ticket.

“Eine kurzweilige, informativer Trip. Wurden an die bekannten Orte mit den Hippos gebracht, kleine Gruppe und gute Sicht vom Sitzplatz aus. Guide hat uns interessante Erklärungen zum Park, Natur und der Tierwelt gegeben”

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8.Pontoon Boat Harbor Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 182 reviews · 1 hour

Cruise Durban Harbor for one hour on a comfortable pontoon boat with an English-speaking skipper and plenty of seating. You will pass yachts, container ships, working port areas, and Durban’s beachfront. Music, friendly crew, and occasional photos add a social touch. Check in at Wilson’s Wharf and bring your own drinks and snacks.

“it was a really nice experience Emmanuel was so helpful with everyone ths”

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9.Gondola Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 159 reviews · 30 min · from $12

Glide through Durban’s Point Waterfront Canal on an African gondola from uShaka Marine World. This private 30-minute ride passes bridges and waterfront views, with English or Zulu guides such as Talent, Bongani, and Rodney. Choose a daytime or nighttime departure for a calm outing suited to couples, friends, birthdays, and first dates.

“The view was amazing. The guide was very informative.”

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10.Half-Day Safari Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 141 reviews · 6 hours · from $193

Travel from Durban to Tala Game Reserve for a six-hour safari in a closed vehicle, then visit the African Raptor Centre. You may see rhino, giraffe, hippo, zebra, elephants, lions, and many birds. Guides such as Freddy, Fortune, Thami, and Zamani add wildlife facts, local history, and flexible pickup from central Durban or the harbor.

“we did the half day Safari very good very informative and can highly recommend this trip to anyone”

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11.Luxury Canal Boat Cruise – Fun Things Durban Ushaka

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 125 reviews · from $8

Join Fun Things Durban at uShaka Marine World for a 30-minute canal cruise aboard the 12-seat Selfie Ship. Skippers such as Troy and Samuel share Durban stories, point out landmarks, help with photos, and may spot more than 30 fish species in the protected canals.

“Exciting experience, friendly stuff and the safest space. They take beautiful pictures, would do it again”

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

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

Spend two hours on the Saint Lucia Estuary with a guide such as Kian, Jabu, or Siabonga, watching hippos, crocodiles, herons, and other wildlife from a small boat. Hotel pickup, hot drinks, rusks, snacks, and groups of no more than 15 make this a relaxed choice for families and first-time visitors.

“Kian has a lot of knowledge and experience and told a lot about the surroundings and the hippo’s. The boat was a small one which gave a personal touch. We recommend to go with sunset.”

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13.Half Day Safari Tour from Durban

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 121 reviews · from $171

Travel from Durban with a guide such as Thami, Fortune, Frederick, or Bafana to Natal Lion Park and Tala Private Game Reserve. You’ll see lions and elephants at close range, then search for rhino, giraffe, hippo, eland, zebra, and birds in a 3,000-hectare reserve. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

“The whole tour was seamless. Our tour guides were on time, friendly and so welcoming. We felt like we knew them. They were both so knowledgeable about the animals and Durban landscape. It was truly a magical experience, made even more amazing by our professional guides.”

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14.Sani Pass Day Tour from Underberg

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 101 reviews · 7h 30m · from $55

Join an English-speaking guide from Underberg for a 7.5-hour 4x4 trip up Sani Pass and across the Lesotho border. Stop at viewpoints, meet Basotho people at a village or Sani Top Church, taste homemade bread, and have lunch at the Highest Pub in Lesotho. Bring your passport and warm layers.

“This day trip up the Sani Pass was incredible. The beauty of the mountains and the views along the way were absolutely breathtaking. It was a full day but not once did we feel bored or exhausted. Loved how they break up the big group into smaller groups per vehicle, we do convoy but each guide/driver goes off his group and shows us what we want to see. Busani our guide and driver was the star of the day! He kept us entertained with all sorts of titbits about the area, the pass and the local people and made sure we were well informed and comfortable the entire day. Would…”

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15.City Sightseeing and Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 98 reviews · 4 hours · from $99

Explore Durban with a local guide such as Imani, Zamani, or Freddy, combining Victoria Street, Moses Mabhida Stadium, uShaka’s Village Walk, Kwa-Muhle Museum, the Botanical Garden, City Hall, the harbor, and a Hindu temple. Hotel pickup, transport, guiding, and entry fees are included. Lunch and the stadium Sky Car cost extra.

“Our tour was really good, showing us the good, the bad and the ugly! We saw everything e wanted to see and our tour guide Freddie was very knowledgeable and friendly answering all our questions, so pleased we did this tour!”

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