Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is the flagship park of the Kwazulu-Natal province. It is also one of the oldest parks in Africa, originally created in the 1890s as a sanctuary for one last tiny population of southern white rhino. This is where the species was saved from extinction. Rhino are now very common in the park. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi offers great wildlife viewing and is home to all of the Big Five. Both rhino species are present and white rhino is particularly common. The thick vegetation makes it difficult to spot any of the big cats. Wild dogs have been reintroduced and are most likely to be observed when active early or late in the day.

The park has beautiful scenery with rolling hills, valleys, forests and grassy plains. Three rivers flow in the valleys, the most notable being the Hluhluwe river with its string of pools. Most of the vegetation is very thick, making wildlife viewing a bit more of a challenge.

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is a scenic reserve and offers good wildlife viewing. All of the Big Five are present, but while white rhino, elephant and buffalo are regularly seen, big cats sightings are hit-and-miss. Giraffe and Burchell’s zebra are some of the more common species found throughout the park.

The park is famous for its white rhino conservation success and has one of the largest populations in the world. Black rhino is also present in significant numbers but rarely seen. The gracious nyala is a Kwazulu-Natal special as it is very common in the province, but rare elsewhere. Lucky visitors might stumble on a pack of wild dog, and the elusive leopard is sometimes spotted on night drives.

With more than 340 species recorded, along with excellent facilities for independent travel, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is a great birding destination. There are several birding shelters in the park, and the viewpoint from Hilltop Camp is a great place to observe birds of prey, such as bateleur and martial eagle, soaring over the bush. Several pairs of southern bald ibis are known to breed within the park. Migratory birds are present from November to April.