By Vicky · Published Sep. 25th, 2025
Lake Eland Game Reserve is a great place to stay by the dramatic Oribi Gorge, with plenty of animals, camping, chalets, hiking and more.
Page Contents:
Location
Lake Eland Game Reserve is about 40 minutes drive from Port Shepstone on the coast of Kwa-Zulu-Natal. It’s also about 2 hours drive southwest of Durban. There’s no public transport to the reserve, so you have to drive. Find cheap rental cars here*!
Lake Eland Game Reserve Map
Tips for Lake Eland Game Reserve
- Gate times: 7am-5pm.
- Zipline and scooter tours take place 8:45am-3pm.
- There’s a good restaurant in the reserve, opening hours are 7:30am – 4pm.
- Day visitor entrance fees: R80/50 per adult/child. These are waived for those who stay overnight.
- Bring binoculars* and a wildlife guide*.
- Make reservations on the official website, though for the campsites and some other accommodation, you have to contact the park directly: email [email protected] or call +27-39-6870395.
- For more fun guides and hikes, check our South Africa page.
Things to do in Lake Eland Game Reserve
What can you do in Lake Eland Game Reserve?
- Go on a Game Drive
- Walk across the Suspension Bridge
- Go on a Zipline Tour
- Have Fun on a Scooter Tour
- Get Active: Mountain Biking, Hiking, Horse Riding
1. Go on a Game Drive
Lake Eland Game Reserve doesn’t really have any dangerous animals, but has many antelopes, giraffe, zebra, warthogs and other smaller animals. To help identify all the different types of antelopes and other mammals, it’s a great idea to have a wildlife guide*.
Birdwatching is another highlight in Lake Eland. Make sure to bring binoculars* if you’re keen on birdwatching! Additionally, this small guide* is a great companion for those who want to identify the most common birds, but aren’t expert birdwatchers.
Self-Drive Safari
There’s at least 30 km of road within Lake Eland which you can drive to spot the animals and birds. The animals are quite used to cars, so it’s possible to get fairly close. A popular route is to drive up and along the edge of the gorge, so you can see both the animals and the gorge viewpoints.
To extend your game drive, you can head down to the Lake at the far end of the reserve. Note that after heavy rain, there may be some river crossings to get to the lake – check at reception.
Do I need a 4×4 for Game Drives in Lake Eland Game Reserve?
You do not need a 4×4 for game drives in Lake Eland. However, there are some 4×4 loops and tracks available if you do have a 4×4. Some of these require slightly advanced offroad driving skills.
Guided Game Drive
Two-hour guided game drives are available at R250 per person (as long as there are at least 4 people). It’s best to pre-book these at reception.
2. Walk across the Suspension Bridge
Walking across the 80-metre-long Suspension Bridge is a highlight of Lake Eland Game Reserve. It’s quite scary to walk across, but the views of Oribi Gorge are great. Additionally, there are a few more viewpoints of Oribi Gorge a short drive further along the clifftop road. There’s no extra fee after entering the park.
3. Go on a Zipline Tour
There are two Zipline Tours: Standard Zipline and X-treme (not for kids). These cost R490/350 for the Standard/X-treme tours. Most people chose the Standard Zipline option. With this choice, there are 14 slides, making up 4.5 km. One of the longest slides whizzes across the Oribi Gorge itself. You also go over a river, through a tunnel, and more. At the bottom, you’ll be transported back. It takes 1 to 2.5 hours to complete the tour, depending on how long you wait at the stops. You don’t need to book in advance, just turn up on the day.
The X-treme tour is actually shorter, as there are fewer slides. However, the first zipline is very long and you can reach very high speeds!
4. Have fun on a Scooter Tour
Cruise around the reserve on a guided scooter tour! The scooters are actually more like electric bikes that you stand on, rather than like small motorbikes. The tour is 5 km, you get views of the gorge and can see the animals. It’s R350/175 for adults/children.
5. Get Active: Mountain Biking, Hiking, Horse Riding
Within the reserve, there are three mountain bike routes, of 4, 24 and 45 km. You have to bring your own bikes, but there’s no extra fee. There are also many hiking trails within the reserve, with some of the best ones heading along the edge of Oribi Gorge.
Horse riding is another great way to explore the reserve and get close to the wildlife. Rates are R250 per person for a 1-hour ride and should be booked in advance.
Accommodation in Lake Eland Game Reserve
Make reservations on the official website, though for the campsites and some other accommodation, you have to contact the park directly: email [email protected] or call +27-39-6870395.
Main Accommodation Area
The main accommodation area is situated near the reception, restaurant, outdoor swimming pool and children’s playground. Most of the accommodation here has nice views over one of the two dams.
Here, you’ll find 2-, 5-, and 6-sleeper chalets. The chalets are all self-catering with a decent kitchen, a deck and a braai. Prices vary depending on the time of year, and it’s always more expensive to book just one night. The cheapest prices are mid-week in winter, when you can book a 2-sleeper chalet from R610. This price increases over the Christmas period to R1785.
Also in the same area are the Family Home (up to 6 people) and Park Home (up to 8 people), which are fairly similar to the chalets.
There’s also a Kraal area nearby, with 8 units that can accommodate up to 22 people. The small chalets are en-suite but share a communal kitchen (which has everything you need, including cutlery and crockery, etc.). Although often booked by groups, you can also book individually.
Finally, you can stay in an old ‘Pipe‘, which is the cheapest option apart from camping. These are called ‘Pipe Dream’ and ‘Pipe Dream Deluxe’, the latter having a fridge and a kettle. Both are for two people, with a double bed and table/chairs inside. You share the communal kitchen (bring your own crockery/cutlery) and ablutions with the nearby campsite.
Camping in Lake Eland Game Reserve
There are two campsites within the reserve. The first site is in the Main Accommodation Area and allows both tents and caravans. There are great views over the reserve, wooden screens between each site for privacy, plus braais and electricity.
The second campsite is by the lake, almost at the farthest point from the park entrance. No caravans are allowed here, as the road to reach this point can be tricky, though bush lapas are allowed. All the sites are on the water’s edge – perfect for swimming or fishing. There’s no electricity.
Fisherman Cottages
There are also a few Fisherman Cottages by the lake at the far end. These are quite rustic, with no electricity. You have to bring your own linen, cutlery, and wood to heat water for a shower.
Accommodation outside the Reserve
If you want to stay nearby but not in the reserve itself, there are many great places by the beach in Port Shepstone or Margate. From the coast, it’s about 45 minutes drive to Lake Eland Game Reserve.
Recommended Guidebook
I hope you enjoyed our guide to Lake Eland Game Reserve in South Africa. When in the area, check out the Drakensberg Mountains, for example, Injisuthi Camp or Royal Natal National Park. For more hikes and activities, check out our Guide to South Africa.
FAQS: Lake Eland Game Reserve
Lake Eland is a Nature Reserve, while Oribi Gorge is a natural gorge that is almost 30 km long. Lake Eland Nature Reserve is on the edge of Oribi Gorge, but the gorge itself extends much further and you can visit it in other places.
Lake Eland Game Reserve has many antelopes, giraffe, zebra, warthogs and more smaller creatures. It doesn’t have any large, dangerous animals, so it does not have the Big 5. A bonus is that you can walk around safely!
The suspension bridge at Lake Eland is 80 metres long.
The Standard Zipline Tour is R490 + day visitor’s fee (R80/50 per adult/child). The X-Treme Zipline Tour is R350 + day visitor’s fee (R80/50 per adult/child).
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