Amanzimtoti is a good base for the rest of KwaZulu-Natal: hills, game reserves and mountains from under an hour to a long day away.
The Valley of a Thousand Hills and Tala are under an hour away; Oribi Gorge is about an hour and a half south. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and the Drakensberg are long days, better as an overnight, but many guests do them in a day with an early start.
| Place | From the chalets | Plan for | Good for | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley of a Thousand Hills | 58 km · 50 min | Half a day | Views, culture, crafts, lunch | Details |
| Tala Private Game Reserve | 63 km · 58 min | Half or full day | Game drives, birding, families | Details |
| Hot-air ballooning at Tala | 63 km · 58 min | Early morning | Couples, bucket lists, celebrations | Details |
| Oribi Gorge | 118 km · 1 h 26 | Full day | Adrenaline, hiking, views | Details |
| Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park | 273 km · 3 h 22 | Long day or overnight | Big Five, rhino, photography | Details |
| The Drakensberg | 247 km · 3 h 30 | Overnight recommended | Hiking, rock art, mountain views | Details |
58 km · 50 min drive
Valley of a Thousand Hills
Rolling green hills, Zulu culture and crafts, an hour inland.
63 km · 58 min drive
Tala Private Game Reserve
Rhino, hippo and giraffe under an hour away; malaria-free.
63 km · 58 min drive
Hot-air ballooning at Tala
Dawn balloon flights over the Tala valley, from about R3,000 per person.
118 km · 1 h 26 drive
Oribi Gorge
A forested gorge with the Wild Swing, the Wild Slide and big views.
273 km · 3 h 22 drive
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Africa's oldest proclaimed reserve: the Big Five, famous for rhino.
247 km · 3 h 30 drive
The Drakensberg
UNESCO World Heritage mountains: high peaks, San rock art and hikes.
Photos: Valley of a Thousand Hills: Djreddy1985 (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Hot-air ballooning at Tala: South African Tourism (CC BY 2.0) · Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Bernard Gagnon (CC BY-SA 4.0) · The Drakensberg: Ryanj93 (CC BY-SA 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
Questions
Can I see the Big Five on a day trip from Durban?
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park has the Big Five and is about three and a half hours north of Cabana Mio. It is a long day; many visitors stay a night near the park. Tala, under an hour away, has rhino, hippo and giraffe but no big predators.