Family Activities near Hlabisa
Family Outings Around Hlabisa
Hlabisa is a quiet rural village, so family days out mean a short drive to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) or a longer one to St Lucia. All prices are in rand (R). Plan the longer drives for daylight hours.
Self-Drive in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
A closed car is the easiest way to take young children into the park. From Hlabisa, the Nyalazi Gate is roughly 21 km away.
- Child fees: children under 12 pay about R150 to R160 a day if international, or about R75 to R80 if South African or SADC residents with ID. Adults pay about R300 to R320 (international) or about R150 to R160 (residents).
- Rules: everyone stays in the vehicle except at marked sites, and speed on gravel is about 40 km/h.
- Gate times: about 05:00 to 19:00 in summer and 06:00 to 18:00 in winter, strictly enforced.
- Tariff dates: these are 2025-26 figures, valid to 31 October 2026. A new tariff starts on 1 November.
Children under 3 are not allowed on Ezemvelo guided drives, so a self-drive is the option for babies and toddlers.
Picnic Sites
Mpila picnic site, inside Mpila Camp, has braai places and toilets. Maphumulo also has braai places and toilets. Sontuli looks over the Black Mfolozi in the iMfolozi sector. Fencing varies from site to site, so keep children close and stay alert for wildlife.
St Lucia Estuary Cruise
St Lucia is about 76 km from Hlabisa, or around 1 hour 40 minutes by road. Advantage Tours runs a two-hour cruise on a large vessel with a sundeck, shade and toilets, which suits families. Hippos and crocodiles are likely sights, but no operator can promise them. Keep children away from the rail.
A Short Walk at False Bay
The Mpophomeni trail in False Bay Park takes 1.5 to 2 hours on a self-guided route. It is not a walk for toddlers. Hippos and crocodiles live in the area, so keep to the marked path and hold small hands near the water. Water in rivers, lakes and dams is not safe for paddling, because of crocodiles, hippos and bilharzia.
Age Limits at a Glance
| Activity | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Ezemvelo guided drive | 3 |
| Ezemvelo guided walk | 12 or 13 |
| iMfolozi wilderness trail | 14 with a parent, 16 without |
| Rhino Ridge guided drive | 6 |
| Rhino Ridge guided walk | 14 |
Health and Safety
Northern KwaZulu-Natal is a seasonal malaria area, so see a travel clinic about prophylaxis before you travel with children, and use repellent at dusk. Avoid driving after dark, because carjacking is a risk and animals wander onto rural roads.
Read more: things to do around Hlabisa lists the park fees and guided options.
The park’s fees and rules are on the Ezemvelo rules page , cruise details are on the Advantage Tours page , and you can browse family-friendly safaris on GetYourGuide .