Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is one of the oldest Game Reserve in Africa being established in 1895. It is a very historic ground where the founders started the park, because it used to be the hunting ground of the famous Zulu kings Shaka and Dingiswayo. The BIG FIVE - lion, (back & white) rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard are all to be seen in the park, as well as a variety of other species, including cheetah, wild dog and giraffe. It is also one of the best places in the world to see nyala.

Gate Opening and Closing Times:
Summer (November to February ) 05h00 to 19h00
Winter ( March to October ) 06h00 to 18h00
Its abundance of wildlife include: Nile crocodile, hippo, white and black rhino, leopard, lion, cheetah, hyena, elephant, buffalo, blue wildebeest, jackal, giraffe, zebra, waterbuck, nyala, eland, kudu, impala, duiker, suni, reedbuck, warthog, bushpig, mongoose, baboons, monkeys, a variety of tortoises, terrapins, snakes and lizards.
Health & Climate
Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park is in a LOW RISK malaria area and visitors need to consult their doctors before visiting the area.

Since Hluhluwe (in the north) and Imfolozi (in the south) became one park, the National Park has a size of 96000 hectares. The park is home to the Big 5 and about a fifth of the world’s black and white rhino population. The park is located in central Zululand in South Africa's province KwaZulu Natal.

How to get there?

Well, there are - as always - different ways to explore Hluhluwe-Imfolozi. You can eg rent a car in Durban or St. Lucia and drive there on your own or you can join organised trips. Most of them are actually starting in Durban, but also from St. Lucia day trips are starting. Make use of google maps for a detailled and individual route description.

Where to sleep?

Finding accommodation in the area is no problem at all. You can find various accommodation establishments in the town of Hluhluwe, as well as in St. Lucia, Mtubamtuba and Cape Vidal.

The Zululand is the Zulu-dominated area of what is today northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It stretches from the Tugela River in the south to the Pongola River in the North. Today Zululand is home to South Africa’s most game parks, wilderness areas and protected wetlands.
The climate ranges from hot and humid along the coastline to cooler temperatures inland.
The Zululand gives you the opportunity to feel the “living culture” of the Zulus and to gain an insight look into their turbulent past. If you go there, visit the battlefields and all the other historic places of the Zulu past.

How to get there?

Easiest way to get around in the Zululand is by car. Rent yourself a car and explore the area - it is worth it. If you do not fancy renting a car on your own, you can also join organised tours which might even give you a better impression on the Zululand than travelling around on your own. Make use of google maps for a detailled and individual route description (Eshowe).

Where to sleep?

Finding accommodation in Zululand is no big deal, but the majority of accommodation establishments can be found in St. Lucia and Richards Bay on the coast, and Hluhluwe inland.

St. Lucia & the iSimangaliso Wetland Park

St. Lucia, the town, is the most southern entrance to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park), which is one if the South African UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The town is situated about 300km north of Durban and approximately the same south of the Kingdom of Swaziland. For some info about Lake St. Lucia click here. A pic of the whole Estuary can be found here.

Diving

Sodwana Bay is one of the top diving spots in Southern Africa with. Thecoral reef has one of the world's highest numbers of tropical fish species – second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia.