Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve

Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve is an ancient and the most sought game reserve in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa. It is located about 280 km north of Durban city; in a distance of just about 2 hours drive away from the city center. The reserve compounds 960 sq km of a rugged landscape in central Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and is renowned for its rich wildlife and enterprising conservation efforts. Being the oldest proclaimed wildlife sanctuaries in Africa, the park is the only state-run park in KwaZulu-Natal where all the Big Five Game occurs.

Wildlife

Elephants

Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve is home to the African Big Five game including the Elephant, Lion, Rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, and Leopard. It is home to other 84 exceptional species such as the Nile crocodile, white and black rhino, hippo, cheetah, hyena, blue wildebeest, jackal, zebra, baboons, impala, duiker, monkeys, impala, kudu, springboks, warthogs, giraffe, waterbuck, eland, kudu, Nyala, reedbuck, warthogs  and mongoose. In abundance also is a diversity of snakes, terrapins, tortoises, and lizards.

Warthogs

These so many wild animals in the game reserve all living in their natural habitat. Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve is one of the world’s top spots for viewing the Nyala. Similarly the extensive conservation efforts have made Hluhluwe to become the prime habitat with the largest population of white rhino in the world.

Bird life
Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve is a great birding spot. Over 340 species of birds have been recorded in the reserve. The grand

Zebras

Hluhluwe River Flood Plain is another strategic spot and habitat in the whole of South Africa where Yellow throated, Pink throated and Orange throated Long claw species can be observed at one spot. Other Birds present in the reserve include night heron, wood stork, Wahlberg’s eagle, Shelley’s francolin, black-bellied korhaan, Temminck’s courser, Klaas’s cuckoo, little bee-eater and crested barbet.
Activities
Hluhluwe Reserve is also one of those few game habitats in the whole Southern Africa where if you want a truly authentic African safari moment combined with a relaxing beach you can find intact. Day time game drives are very common guided by expert guides on open 4×4 safari vehicles. Daily game drives are organized with ease since Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve is merely a short distance from Durban. Boat cruises on the lagoon to get up closer with hippos as they peek their heads out of the water are common.