South Africa: Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park

September 8, 2023
South Africa (W)
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Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park, formerly Hluhluwe–Umfolozi Game Reserve, is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa. It consists of 960 km² of hilly topography 280 kilometres north of Durban in central KwaZulu-Natal, and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts.

We were collected from our accommodation at 4:30 am for our morning game drives. Sadly, it was a wet morning and we got very soggy sitting in the back of our game drive vehicle. It took about an hour and a half to reach the Hluhluwe & iMfolozi game reserves which are two adjacent game areas.

By the time we arrived, the weather had improved a little – or at least the rain had stopped. On entering the park we had not gone more than half a mile before we came across two elephants right next to the road. After another half mile, we met a couple of white rhinos.

Hluhluwe Game Reserve, a game reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, was established in 1897. It lies 140 miles (225 km) northeast of Durban and has an area of 89 square miles (231 square km). s right next to the road. Its name is a Zulu word for the local thorny rope plant. Hluhluwe, a subtropical region of undulating green hills and wooded valleys, is best known for the black rhinoceros and the rarer, larger white rhinoceros. Other wildlife includes buffalo, nyala and other antelope, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, warthog, and a wide variety of birds, including the bustard, vulture, and lilac-breasted roller.

For the next three hours, we drove among the hills of the park. Even the poor weather could not take away from the incredible scenery, it was truly stunning. As we drove, we came across a badly mashed-up car, it was owned by an NGO. Our driver told us that the day before this vehicle, which had obviously been speeding, had hit a rhino. He was not clear what had happened to the rhino, there were rangers out looking for it, but the car was worse for wear.

On our game drive through the park, we encountered many white rhinos (sadly no black rhino), buffalo, and zebra – including the cutest babies, wildebeest, giraffes, and many birds.

Sadly we did not get to see any large cats close up, but we did find a pride of lions hanging out on a sandbank on the river.

One of the best encounters was just as we were leaving the park when we met a large bull elephant right by the entrance sign. We spent many minutes just watching him feed on the surrounding bushes

About Hluhluwe- iMfolozi Game Reserves

The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is the only park under formal conservation in KwaZulu Natal where the Big Five occur. 280 kilometres north of Durban and established in 1895, this is the oldest game park in South Africa along with nearby St Lucia Reserve.

Set in the heart of Zululand this is the oldest game reserve in Africa, where Zulu kings such as Dingiswayo and Shaka hunted and put in place the first conservation laws.

Today, Africa’s ‘Big Five’ (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros) stalk the flourishing savannah. Game viewing is the principal attraction in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Viewing hides overlook pans and waterholes enabling one to observe the wildlife at close range.

As the home of Operation Rhino in the 1950s and 60s, the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park became world-renowned for its white rhino conservation. Other areas of focus for which Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is famous include wilderness trails which originated in Umfolozi in the 1950s and its renowned Game Capture unit upgraded into the Centenary Capture Centre, a benchmark for animal capture and sustainable utilisation throughout Africa.

The Park covers some 96 000 hectares and contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora.

Hluhluwe Umfolozi Reserve is characterised by hilly topography and the northern section of the game reserve is noted for its wide variety of both birdlife and wildlife.

Planning your visit to Hluhluwe- iMfolozi

Directions to Hluhluwe from Northern Gauteng
557 km, 7 hours

Travel from Pretoria to just south of Middelburg on the N2
Take the N11 intersection south to Hendrina and Ermelo.
From Ermelo take the N2 to Pongola and past Mkuze.
The next town after Mkuze is Hluhluwe
Turn left off the N2 into the town – about 3 kilometres from this intersection.

Directions to Hluhluwe from Southern Gauteng
536 km, 6 hours 50 mins

Take the N17 past Alberton, Springs and Bethal to Ermelo
From Ermelo take the N2 to Pongola and past Mkuze.
The next town after Mkuze is Hluhluwe
Turn left off the N2 into the town – about 3 kilometres from this intersection.

Directions to Hluhluwe from Durban
268 km, 3 hours

Travel north on the N2, by-passing Stanger, Mtunzini, Richards Bay, Empangeni and KwaMsane/Mtubatuba
The next town after this (about 50 kilometres) is Hluhluwe
Turn right off the N2 into the town – about 3 kilometres from this intersection.

Hours:

6:00 am Open Close at 5:00 pm

Fees:

S.A Adults R120.00 pp

S.A Children 4 to 12 R60.00 pp

International Adults R240.00 pp

International Children age 4 to 12 R120.00 pc

Things to bring:

Car Equipment

Two spare tires	Seed net/grill	Puncture repair kit	Sand tracks
Spade/shovel	High-lift jack	Kinetic strap/rope	Compressor
Tire pressure gauge	Car tools and spares

General:

Water and food	Fuel	Braai Wood	Flashlight
Headlamp	First Aid Kit	Camera	Binoculars
Wide-brimmed hat	Sunscreen	Mosquito spray

Best time to visit Hluhluwe- iMfolozi

The best time to visit Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is in the drier winter months from May to September. At this time the vegetation thins out, and animals congregate around water sources. The shelters located at the waterholes are particularly busy with animal activity at this time. The colder winter months are also considered the low season and the park tends to be less busy with the exception of school holidays.

Where to stay

HILL TOP CAMP

Accommodation in the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal’s largest Big 5 Game Reserve, is available at two large camps (Hilltop and Mpila Camps) and at a number of smaller venues. Hilltop Camp is the only one in the Hluhluwe uMfolozi Park that has a restaurant, the camp is located in the northern Hluhluwe sector of the park. All the other camps are strictly self-catering. Hilltop Camp has both self-catering and non self-catering Chalets. All accommodation booked at Hilltop Camp is now on a Bed and Breakfast or Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis, with the option to take a package that includes dinner and or a guided game drive in Hilltop’s open game drive vehicles. Alternatively one drives oneself on the public road network.

Hilltop Camp was indeed built on a Hilltop with panoramic views over the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Game Reserve, the distant rolling hills of Zululand, all the way to Lake St Lucia and the Indian Ocean in the far distance. The camp is cooler than the low lying bushveld due to its altitude, air-conditioning has been installed in all chalets.

HLUHLUWE BUSH CAMP

Set in Hluhluwe, 5.7 km from Falaza Game Park and Spa and 21 km from Ubizane Wildlife Reserve, Hluhluwe Bush Camp offers accommodation with free WiFi, a garden with a terrace, and access to an indoor swimming pool.

There is also a kitchen in some of the units equipped with an oven, a microwave, and a stovetop.

An à la carte breakfast is available every morning at the luxury tent.

There is a children’s playground and a barbecue at this property and guests can go cycling nearby.

RHINO RIDGE SAFARI LODGE

Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge is situated on the western boundary of the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park. The lodge boasts a spa, outdoor swimming pool and restaurant.

The accommodation features air-conditioned standard rooms with private decks, luxury bush suites with open fireplaces and honeymoon villas with private plunge pools. Guests can enjoy views of the reserve.

At Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge meals are served in the dining room or weather permitting on a clear day under a starry African sky around the open-air boma and campfire.

Early morning and late afternoon game drives are included and guided game walks may be arranged on request.