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, South Africa and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts.
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Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park is a truly incredible place and a must-visit for anyone interested in experiencing African wildlife in all its glory. Located in KwaZulu-Natal, this park offers a stunning mix of rugged landscapes, rolling hills, and diverse habitats that make it perfect for spotting animals. The variety of wildlife here is truly astounding, from the Big Five—elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo, and rhinos—to cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and so many more. Every moment on a game drive feels like stepping into a nature documentary.
Birdwatchers will also be thrilled. The park is home to over 340 bird species, making it an absolute paradise for birding enthusiasts. You can spot everything from the striking African fish eagle and the majestic southern ground hornbill to vultures soaring overhead. The mix of savannah, forests, and wetlands means that you never know what you’ll see next, and it keeps every birdwatching trip exciting.
One of the most impressive things about Hluhluwe–iMfolozi is its conservation efforts, especially for the rhino population. The park has been a leader in protecting and preserving rhinos, and knowing that your visit supports these initiatives makes it even more special. Seeing rhinos up close is a powerful reminder of the importance of conservation.
Exploring the park is easy, whether you’re on a guided game drive or navigating the well-maintained roads yourself. The Hilltop Camp is a great place to stay, offering incredible views and the chance to relax after a day of exploring. The best time to visit is during the dry winter months from May to September when animals gather around water sources, making them easier to spot—but honestly, every season has its own charm.
Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park offers an authentic African safari experience filled with unforgettable wildlife encounters. Whether you’re a serious birdwatcher, a big-game enthusiast, or just someone looking to connect with nature, this park delivers on all fronts. It’s a beautiful and truly special place that I can’t...
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The Park is an absolute Gem in KZN. the road from Mtubatuba town to get to Nyalazi gate is essentially brand new and a pleasure to drive on. If you are based in st lucia for your vacay it is merely under an hours drive to get there which was so convenient. Upon getting to Nyalazi gate the reception was decent and way better than cape vidal. The staff were friendly and warm but there was a trainee who was being shown the ropes. Luckily there was no queue and the ticket purchase was concluded in under 10 minutes. What was disappointing was that no maps were given to visitors as in other parks. We started the morning by going right up to the Hluhluwe section of the park. We were greeted with a lot of buck and Zebra and then a family of about 5 elephant. The loop roads were really well maintained and in way better condition than Kruger. the tar roads were also excellent. There are big numbers of buck, zebra and buffalo. We were expecting to see more elephants but this was not the case. the animals are all healthy and in way better health than Kruger. We got up to hilltop camp. The camp was spotless and clean. We then drove back down towards the umfolozi side of the back. During the drive we were fortunate to spot eagles and vultures and kingfishers as well. the highlight though were 2 male rhinos. What majestic beasts within a few meters from the road. As we made our way to Mpila Camp we had giraffe sightings and another 2 elephants digging for water on a dry riverbed. this was really a sight to behold as they eventually hit water whilst digging. It was a magical experience. the drastic decrease in the rhino population is really concerning. A few years back rhinos were abundant in the park.
Also take note that from Mpila camp you can make your way to Cengeni gate which has an abundance of animals as well. The road is alongside the fuel hut. Not clearly marked though
NOTE TO PARK MANAGEMENT - PLEASE IMPROVE SINGAGE IN PARK. Especially on loop roads. Signage is faded or completely...
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The wilderness is good - saw plenty elephant, rhino, Buffalo and we were lucky enough to see lion. That being said, the accommodation has gone to the dogs.
Mpila turns off the electricity at 10pm and the same happened where we stayed at the private Hlatikulu and Nselweni Bush camps. The power would go off at 1am and the room became a sauna in minutes. The room wasn't built for natural airflow and the walls were warm from daytime sun. As a group of 6, we had no more than 3 hours of bad sleep a day. On the morning drive, we were all struggling to stay awake.
You can't sleep in the daytime either. The big fan provided pushes warm air through the room. As someone who has stayed over in that game reserve many times, I'll never go back there in the summer or spring again.
The freezer couldn't produce cold enough temperatures to keep our food fresh. Half of the things we kept went off. We had to cook all the food that didn't go off on the 2nd day so we didn't lose our food.
The Mpila camp store only bad basic supplies and no longer stock beers. Don't assume that they will have charcoal etc or you'll be disappointed
So, if you can afford it, stay at the other reserves around Ezemvelo like Rhino Ridge etc. Or only visit during cool seasons. Otherwise you're in for one of the most uncomfortable sleeps you've ever had.
Either way, come prepared. Bring your own generator and portable air-conditioning or battery to run fans. Bring your own gas freezers...
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