Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve

This is one of my favorite parks. Like Mkuze it has great hides. We saw a pack of wild dogs nearly take out an Impala.

Mpila Camp Rest Huts: Rustic feel with a great view

I have been going to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve Mpila Camp Rest Huts every few years since I was a child. I love the relaxed and rustic feel of the camp.
The camp is unfenced so all sorts of wildlife visit the camp at night. I've never had to face a lion on the way to the ablution block after dark but Elephants, Giraffe and Rhino are common visitors.

In the reserve in general have seen Elephant, White Rhino, Giraffe and Buffalo on every visit and Black Rhino, Cheetah, Crocodile, Hippo and Lion on occasion.
The bird life is excellent as it is in all of South Africa's reserves.
I have taken part in the guided walks and night tours and I can strongly recommend them.

Better than Kruger

I will start with the Guide, excellent, he took real trouble to make us comfortable and explain the surroundings and the animals and a great deal of patience with people who were 'first time' and as excited as small children.
transport in the Landrover was as comfortable as needed, the pause for a 'picnic' in a central location with good views all around was ideal, no tables or chairs, no luxury that I found just great! it added to the atmosphere, during the Picnic pause the Guide took time to engage in conversation and to point out features and even handed me his binoculars too view Rhino on a distant hill, first class.
The weather was good except for one heavy shower but the weather was irrelevent to the enjoyment.
The Wildlife was in general more observable than in Krüger and the Guide took great care to careful position the vehical in a good observation point without undualy stressing the animals, an excellent guide.
Krüger was good but for me felt far too 'Tourist',
Umfolozi had that 'Personal touch'.

Glorious, wild experience - very much on our own!

We spent a couple of nights in lovely accomodations. We went on an early morning bush-walk, accompanied by a ranger - heard more than we saw (the animals seems to be more aware of humans away frojm the car than when were were in it!), although we HEARD A LOT - very exciting, and we did get a great view of some White Rhino's from a safe (above) viewing point. We had been advised that a park employee had been thrown from a horse and unfortunately killed (by a lion), so we were pleased to have a guide.

Rhinos and peace

After numerous visits to Kruger, Hluhluwe-Umfolozi gives a sensation of peace and authentic bushlife. Accommodation (a safari tent at Mpila) was superb, even if it meant keeping an eye on vervets and warthogs (my husband had to negotiate with an old male warthog who was determined to take the rubbish bag away - and so was my husband!). We also went for a game walk and were lucky to come across some rhinos. I also managed to spot a few more birds to add to my list, as well as one or two spiders (but I didn't spend to long with those!). One of the other advantages over Kruger is the fact that it is much less crowded and people seem to behave more sensibly.

True wilderness african experience and Hilltop Camp our favourite. Great restaurant at Hilltop Camp.

Self-guided tour through this park getting very close to Elephants and other wildlife.

This reserve has all the wild animals that Kruger has and being in KwaZulu Natal has a different and interesting bird life.

Primal Experience

This was my very first Safari experience in Africa, and the trip to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve lived up to my expectations.

Although we did not get to see any large cats, it was still awesome to see all manner of mammals and birds. The particularly spectacular experience was seeing herds of elephants from just a few feet away, along with giraffe, zebra, all manner of deer, springbok, etc. I particularly remember seeing a beautiful zebra -- he/she looked gorgeous, even as we got close, and then we passed on the other side, we saw a huge gash on her face; the guide said she likely was attacked by a cat, and would be dead by nightfall.

A magical, almost primordial, place apart.

My wife and I have visited Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve (the oldest in Africa, established in 1895) on four occasions – usually either before, or after, staying in St Lucia (on the coast to the east) so that I can experience the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park (renamed iSimangaliso Wetland Park, November 2007) and Cape Vidal.

Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is about 280 km (174 miles) north of Durban or if you are travelling from Swaziland (e.g., Lavumisa/Golela Border Post) it’s a 3½ hour (approx.) drive due south. The park occupies around 960 km² or 96,000 hectares (371 sq. miles or 237,221 acres) in the middle of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal – and affords the lucky visitor some breathtaking vistas. If you are possessed of a vivid imagination, you might almost think that you are in “Jurassic Park”, half expecting to stumble across an apatosaurus or a herd of hadrosaurs. Rather than dinosaurs, however, you will, almost certainly, experience many close encounters with ‘white’ rhinos, giraffes, zebras, nyalas, chacma baboons, vervet monkeys, elephants, woolly-necked storks, wart hogs and cape buffalos. You might also be exceptionally lucky to see, hovering in the skies, a huge African Crowned Eagle which has an appetite for vervet monkeys and even small antelope.

If you are overnighting for a few days at Hilltop Camp and take the Forest Trail you may encounter the small, secretive Red Duiker antelope (another meal time favourite of the African Crowned Eagle) in the company of iridescently-feathered Crested Guinea Fowl and, usually nearby, the ubiquitous vervet monkeys.

Joining a morning game drive in the company of expert rangers is a ‘must’ and, as well as having a fair chance of seeing other members of the ‘big five’, you may have the joy of meeting an extraordinary bird – the ground hornbill strolling down a track.

The accommodation around Hilltop Camp is well-equipped and more than adequate for any traveler. Remember to book in advance. If you are travelling independently, allow adequate time to reach your accommodation before the rapid nightfall. (Pack a torch/flashlight for ambling around camp at night.)

The food (buffet style) is quite good and can include (very tasty) game (e.g., Kudu); reasonable selection of wines. (As a general rule, the food in South Africa is of very high quality and naturally produced - not 'adulterated' or factory farmed as in the U.S. or much of the U.K.) Well-stocked ‘Curio Shop’. Generally friendly, helpful staff. The rangers are truly excellent and a mine of information and expert knowledge.

Essential to hire a car when visiting South Africa (if you want to experience as much as possible) – preferably a ‘high-sided’ vehicle with a bit of ‘poke’.

Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is one of the planet’s enchanted places – which draws my wife and I irresistibly to it on every occasion when visiting the hugely varied and stunningly beautiful South Africa. Go visit!