Hluhluwe Umfalozi National ParK
As one of South Africa's most celebrated game parks, the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is renowned for its variety of animal and bird life, its wide-ranging topography, and an extremely rich diversity of tree and plant communities.
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is the oldest game park in Africa originally established in1895 and is the only reserve in KwaZulu Natal where the big five occur.
Set in the heart of Zululand, the game reserve offers visitors activities - from self guided walks, auto-trails, game drives as well as picnic sites. Viewing hides overlook pans and waterholes enabling visitors to see animals at close range.
The Park covers some 96 000 ha and contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora
It is perhaps best known for its outstanding contribution to rhino conservation which has been so successful that many other parks have been restocked with rhino from the stock in Hluhluwe.
Hluhluwe is characterised by hilly topography, and this northen section of the park is noted for its wide variety of both bird and animal life. Umfolozi, the southern component of the park is generally hot in summer, and mild to cool in winter, although cold spells do occur.
The varied and rich plant life of the park has led to an abundance of wildlife including, 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. Over three hundred birds have also been recorded in the park
The above can be enjoyed on self-drives, game drives on open 4x4's and boat cruises as well as self-guided walks. There are a number of picnic sites and self-guided walks providing magnificent views.
The best time to visit Hluhluwe Umfalozi is in the dry South African winter months between June and October as the park can be very hot and wet during the summer months with game more difficult to spot in the thick foliage and long grass.