Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban
Durban, South Africa

Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban

Outty Ranking 53 3.7 · 13 traveler reviews8 hoursFrom $207
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Outty Ranking

53/100

Worth a Look. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

3.7/5

Based on 13 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban worth booking?

Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban is a 8-hour experience in Durban, South Africa, from $207 per person. It scores 53 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.7/5 rating across 13 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
53 / 100
Rating
3.7/5 (13)
Duration
8 hours
From
$207 per person

Explore KwaZulu-Natal’s rich wildlife and vibrant culture in a single unforgettable day. Start with an exhilarating game safari at Tala Game Reserve, where you can spot giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and more. Next, visit the Natal Park to witness majestic and gentle elephants. The adventure continues at Phezulu Safari Park, nestled in the stunning Valley of a Thousand Hills, where you’ll enjoy a captivating Zulu dance performance and tour an authentic Zulu village. Don't miss the reptile park featuring crocodiles and enjoy lunch at the hilltop restaurant with breathtaking views. - Wildlife and cultural tour in KwaZulu-Natal - Exciting game safari in Tala Game Reserve - Spot diverse wildlife at Tala Game Reserve and Natal Park - Immerse in Zulu culture with dance performances and village tours - Optional lunch available at a hilltop restaurant with panoramic views

What you get

    About this experience

    Explore KwaZulu-Natal’s rich wildlife and vibrant culture in a single unforgettable day. Start with an exhilarating game safari at Tala Game Reserve, where you can spot giraffes, zebras, rhinos, and more. Next, visit the Natal Park to witness majestic and gentle elephants. The adventure continues at Phezulu Safari Park, nestled in the stunning Valley of a Thousand Hills, where you’ll enjoy a captivating Zulu dance performance and tour an authentic Zulu village. Don't miss the reptile park featuring crocodiles and enjoy lunch at the hilltop restaurant with breathtaking views. - Wildlife and cultural tour in KwaZulu-Natal - Exciting game safari in Tala Game Reserve - Spot diverse wildlife at Tala Game Reserve and Natal Park - Immerse in Zulu culture with dance performances and village tours - Optional lunch available at a hilltop restaurant with panoramic views

    What's included

    Included

    • Game safari at Tala Private Game Reserve
    • African village tour in Phezulu Safari Park
    • Elephants, zebra, giraffe, kudu, rhino, wilderbeest, and many more
    • See elephants at Natal Park
    • Experience Zulu dance performances in Phezulu

    Not included

    • Tips

    What you'll see and do

    1. Tala Private Game Reserve

      Tala Game Reserve which spans some 3,000 hectares, has a mix of acacia thornveld, open grassland and a sensitive wetland, which attracts more than 380 bird species, and plenty of big game, including rhinoceros, kudu, hippo, giraffe, wildebeest, eland and plenty more. Being Malaria-free, with no large predators makes Tala a top-notch choice for families, and holidaymakers seeking a no-frills authentic bush break with the freedom to explore on your terms. A game drive on a 4 x 4 vehicle is an experience to be remembered. Please note: In the event that Tala Game Reserve is un-available on the day of your tour, the game safari will instead take place at the nearby Gwahumbe Game Reserve, which offers a similar experience and quality of wildlife viewing.

      120 minutes here · Admission included

    2. KwaZulu-Natal

      Natal Park spans several hectares of virgin African bushveld. It is a haven for many different bird species and all sorts of trees. Here we encounter elephants at close range, a never to be forgotten experience.

      60 minutes here

    3. Phezulu Safari Park

      Whether you are after a hearty meal while overlooking the extraordinary Valley of a Thousand Hills. You can see the African village set up as well as the African dance at Phezulu Safari. Activities at Phezulu Safari Park are an optional extra to be paid by client.

      120 minutes here · Admission included

    Where it starts and ends

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en, fr
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 15 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Africa Sun Safaris

    Know before you go

    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

    Photos

    Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban, photo 2Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban, photo 3Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban, photo 4Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban, photo 5Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban, photo 6Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 13 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    6 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Photo opportunities

    3 mentions

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Food and drink

    3 mentions

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    2 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Small groups

    2 mentions

    The group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.

    Traveler reviews

    13 verified traveler reviews for Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    6
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    Peter-D-B · May 2025

    Great day out

    Overall, a great day out. Didn't start too well, we had to hunt for the tour guide and although the trip was advertised as small group, we were ushered onto a 22 seat old bus. We arrived at Tala Game reserve and were allocated to a 4×4 with 12 other people. The game drive was excellent, great guide and loads of photo opportunities. We saw rhino's, giraffes, wildebeest, hippos, birds and antelope. The trip to Natal lion park was a waste of time. 30 minutes drive on poor quality roads. We arrived at Natal and the lion enclosure was very small. With 22 people cramped into the bus, only the people on the left of the bus could see the lions on the very short (approximately 500m) drive through. We couldn't go to see the elephants as the bus could not drive down the track. Then a 30 minute drive back to the freeway. An hour wasted for 5 minutes viewing the lions which we could not see as we were on the right hand side of the bus. We then went to Phezulu in the thousand hills region. Upon arrival, we had the chance to have lunch or do one of the optional activities. You could take in a tribal Zulu show, visit the reptile park or take the safari all of which you pay for which it is made clear in the tour description. We opted for the safari (£12 each) and credited cards, Rand or US$ were accepted. The safari was excellent, an hours drive through the hills. On route, there were giraffes 🦒, kudus, warthog and zebras. All in all, a great day just a shame about the lions and elephants at Netal.

    via Tripadvisor

    GaryJamesC · April 2025

    Benson the Magnificent

    Has a great day being taken by our fantastic guide Benson around the Reserve and Lion Park who could not have been more informative or eager to make our day the best day out possible .. which it was!!

    via Tripadvisor

    Tamara_A · March 2025

    Great safari parks, unfortunately very poor organization!

    First of all: The three parks are worth a visit, but otherwise, it was the worst trip we've ever had. We were picked up from the ship and put in an old, very worn bus. We sat there for an hour (!) without any further explanation. Then we were supposed to change to another bus, but there was no guide. The driver then went to get gas! The guests were confused because some had booked two parks, while others had booked three. After an hour, we arrived at the first park. There we met our assigned guide, who, however, offered virtually no explanation even when asked. A real shame!

    Response from the operator: This is absolutely not true. Firstly, the ship was 2 hours to arrive, purely not our fault. Of-boarding from the ship took long due to delayed ship arrival. Transportation to the parks was done in a very good condition bus. If the parks are great, how does this person only give a 1 star rating. Clearly this person had his own personal problems and was not out to enjoy the tour.

    via Viator

    Joanmestres · December 2024

    Good basic safari experience and depressing zoo

    Tala is ok if you gave not taken a proper safari in one if the big national parks. It gives you an idea of what it is but without the big 5. You can see giraffes, zebras, ostriches, hippos, wildebeasts, rinos in quite a reduced space and close to Durban. No need for long drives. The Lion Park is a clear no-go place. A zoo with sad animals in cages. I got very despressed to see them in such condition. So 4-star for the Tala and zero for Lion Park. Average: 2 star However if you have been to Kruger, Hluhlue or the like, no need to invest time on Tala.

    Response from the operator: This is probably the only person who has not enjoyed their experience in Tala Game Reserve, certainly the most popular destination from Durban. Also, the animals in Natal Lion Park are living naturally.

    via Tripadvisor

    Rosie_V · November 2024

    Great experience

    Great experience! Joseph was amazing. Picked us up from a location chosen by us. We had enough time for a breakfast, lunch and browsing the shops between the safari tours.

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    8 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $207 to $5,499
    Hotel pickup
    Included for all travelers
    Booked in 30 days
    5
    Verdict
    Worth a Look

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by Africa Sun Safaris, who run 20 experiences we rank across 2 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 54.9.

    See everything Africa Sun Safaris runs

    Why this scores 53

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)48
    Review evidence (18% weight)50
    Booking momentum (14% weight)42
    Value for money (12% weight)54
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)3
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Durban.

    How much does Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban cost?

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    Prices start at $207 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Durban usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban take?

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    Plan for about 8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Durban is not rushed.

    Is Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban worth it?

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    It holds an Outty Ranking of 53 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.7/5 across 13 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Durban, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban?

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    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban suitable for kids and families?

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    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban?

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    Around 5 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Durban can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

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    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Durban and add a light layer if any part of the 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Durban within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Durban?

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    On Outty we rank every Durban experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Culture Walking Tour of Durban, Sani Pass & Lesotho 4x4 Experience Day Tour from Durban, Luxury Canal Boat Cruise - Fun Things Durban Ushaka. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Durban?

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    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Durban?

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    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban?

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    Included: Game safari at Tala Private Game Reserve; African village tour in Phezulu Safari Park; Elephants, zebra, giraffe, kudu, rhino, wilderbeest, and many more; See elephants at Natal Park; and Experience Zulu dance performances in Phezulu. Not included: Tips. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Does Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban include hotel pickup?

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    Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 176 listed pickup locations in and around Durban. Be ready about 30 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.

    What languages is Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban offered in?

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    It is offered in English and French. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban?

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    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    What happens to Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban if the weather is bad?

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    It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Durban. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

    What do travelers say about Tala Game Reserve, Phezulu Safari & Natal Park From Durban?

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    Across 13 reviews averaging 3.7 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, photo opportunities, food and drink. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

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