Spectacular Wildlife encounters, breathtaking scenery, and landscapes, crystal clear waters, and cultural Interactions are just some of the highlights of this safari to Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve which is the oldest nature reserve in Africa. This Game Reserve is situated north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is home to Africa’s Big Five as well as other games including the elusive Cheetah, Wild Dog, and Nyala. Prime game viewing takes place at hides overlooking pans and waterholes which enable visitors to see animals at close range. We will combine this game viewing with a visit to iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre to explore a wide range of pristine marine, coastal, wetland, estuarine, and terrestrial environments which are scenically beautiful and basically unmodified by people. In between, we will visit an authentic Zulu Village for cultural Interaction, an opportunity to get an insight into the diverse ethnic and cultural customs of the Zulu people, applied in the past and present; see a traditional healer known as a Sangoma.
(Enhance this trip with 4 Nights on Garden Route and 3 Nights in Cape Town )
You will be met by our representative on arrival at King Shaka International airport. Depending on your arrival time, we may drive to Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve for the afternoon Game Drive, alternatively, we will drive to St Lucia, Africa’s largest natural estuary –
a World Heritage Site known for its abundance of wildlife and natural beauty and where to this very day, Hippo can still be spotted wandering down the streets at night in search of grass. Here we will embark on a two-hour Sunset Boat Cruise on the St Lucia Estuary to see hippos, Nile Crocodiles, and a plethora of Estuarine Birds.
After the boat cruise, we will drive to our overnight Accommodation
There are 3 options:
– Ezulwini Game Lodge (3-star)
– Hluhluwe River Lodge (4-star)
– Thula Thula Private Game Reserve (4-star)
Enjoy Welcome Drinks on arrival at the lodge while completing check-in procedures. Settle in your room.
Later have dinner around a crackling fire (weather permitting)
Overnight at the lodge
Room Type: Chalet
Meal basis: All meals; safari activity
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is an amalgamation of two parks comprising 96,000 hectares. Hluhluwe, in the north, is cooler, more rugged, and mountainous with forests and grasslands, while Imfolozi in the south is dryer and more undulating with open savannah.
This Game Reserve is famous for its conservation efforts for saving the white rhino from extinction the park is the home of the rhino capture unit that to this day successfully runs an anti-poaching and relocation program.
The park now boasts the largest population of black and white rhinos in the world and also hosts the Big Five and endangered species like the wild dog. The park was proclaimed a game reserve in 1875 and guided game drives are offered since 1930.
You will enjoy full Day game drives with a stop for lunch at a specific spot in the Game Reserve.
During the game drives in addition to the big 5 (Elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino both black and white), expect to see the following wildlife species: giraffe, Burchell’s zebra, cheetah, spotted hyaena, hippo, crocodile, warthog, bushpig, black wildebeest, blue wildebeest, serval, large spotted genet, civet, caracal, African wildcat, wild dog, chacma baboon, samango monkey, vervet monkey, side-striped jackal, black-backed jackal, porcupine, striped polecat, antbear, aardwolf, Cape clawless otter, white-tailed mongoose, banded mongoose, water mongoose, dwarf mongoose, slender mongoose, thick-tailed bushbaby, pangolin, honey badger, springhare, scrub hare, and rock dassie.
A plethora of types of Antelope also called Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve home. They are
red & blue duiker, Nyala, eland, kudu, waterbuck, mountain reedbuck, bushbuck, impala
klipspringer, tsessebe, steenbok, and Africa’s smallest antelope the suni, weighing a mere 5,5 kg.
Bird lovers visiting the game reserve are also rewarded as more than 340 species have been recorded which reflects a habitat diversity that ranges from open grassland and acacia savannah to misty scarp forest and a variety of wetlands
Room Type: Chalet
Meal basis: All meals; safari activity
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge. Depending on your flight departure time, you will be driven back to King Shaka International Airport, alternatively, we will head up to Cape Vidal in search of marine life and the Samamgo Monkeys which are the main residents here. On your way there, you will be absolutely surprised by the incredible beauty and splendid wildlife.
The entire area of the World Heritage Site offers grasslands, mangroves, vegetated dunes, and pristine beaches. Snorkel in the protected bay, discovering stunning tropical fish species, hidden coves, and game fish (tide & weather dependent). Enjoy a picnic lunch surrendered by the endangered Samango Monkeys.
A transfer back to King Shaka in the middle of the afternoon signals the end of your
Big 5 Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve Safari Adventure.
Board onto your flight back home or to onward private arrangements.
