A Durban Safari Experience at Thanda Safari

Our Brand Manager, Marike Cronjé, recently traveled to Thanda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal for a luxury Durban safari experience. As one of South Africa’s malaria-free safari destinations, KwaZulu-Natal is becoming increasingly appealing and offers travelers a unique wildlife safari in the heart of Zululand.

Our tips on staying at Thanda Tented Camp:

• Thanda Tented Camp is our recommended property for adventurous honeymooners or couples who would like to feel closer to nature, while simultaneously staying in the utmost luxury.
• The semi-permanent tented suites offer an authentic ‘Out of Africa’ ambiance created by the sounds of the bush around you, the flapping of the tent in the wind, hearing lions roar in the distance at night and sometimes, the sound of Vervet monkeys running on the roof of your tent!
• Staying at Thanda Tented Camp is your eco-friendly option on the reserve. Expect the property to be lit by flickering firelight and lanterns at night and your air-conditioning to be swapped out with an overhead fan.
• We highly recommend booking the romantic Jabula Honeymoon Tent when staying at the Tented Camp. The spacious tent features a king-sized bed, separate lounge, en-suite bathroom, a large outdoor deck with a plunge pool and daybeds, an outdoor shower and spectacular views of the reserve.
• The tented camp features an infinity pool at the main lodge area.

Our tips on staying at Villa iZulu:

• Villa iZulu is the perfect accommodation option for families or friends visiting Thanda for a Durban safari experience.
• The villa sleeps 10 people in 5 safari suites and offers complete privacy.
• The property features a heated swimming pool, wine cellar, library, games room and a deck overlooking a water hole.
• Additional accommodation is available for childminders and VIP security officers.
• The villa has a private helicopter pad for exclusive fly-ins.

What to expect from your wildlife experience at Thanda Private Game Reserve:

During our 2 night stay at Thanda, we enjoyed 4 game drives – each of which proved to be very successful. We were lucky enough to have cheetah, lion, buffalo, elephant and rhino sightings during our visit and this was best explained by our guide Ephraim – “Right time, right place, right guide . . . right guest!”. Other sightings included giraffe, vultures, warthogs and a variety of impala. Ephraim was our dedicated safari guide for the duration of our stay and was supported by our tracker, Sibo, who could spot lion tracks from the safari vehicle when moving at 40km per hour! What we appreciated most about our guiding team was their dedication to delivering the best possible safari experience for their guests, while being respectful of nature and the personal space of the wildlife. As a keen birder, Ephraim also pointed out bird species which we had never seen before and patiently waited until everyone had captured their shots before moving along. The advantage of a Durban safari experience is also without a doubt the weather – it was a first to set out for a game drive without getting cold.

Last but not least, our safari experience would not have been what it was without the people we met along the way – Stanley, who welcomed us at the main entrance to Thanda Private Game Reserve and treated us to ice-cold water, Lungelo who showed us to our tented suite and made sure that we had everything we needed, Siboniso who manned the bar and served us refreshing drinks throughout, Siboniso with his eagle eyes who is to thank for our incredible sightings and Ephraim, who educated us on the reserve, its animals and people.