Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve is the main game reserve in Kwa Zulu Natal, and it is also the oldest game reserve in Africa. Located just north of Durban, Hluhluwe is home to the Big Five: lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant. There are many other wildlife in the game reserve, all living in their natural habitat and a great way to see them in person, going about their daily business! Among others, you can see zebras, gazelles, impalas, kudus, wild boars, giraffes and much more.
Durban is the largest tourist center about 2 hours from Hluhluwe, so it is possible to do it on a day trip from Durban. There are many different tour operators offering day trips to Hhuluwe Umfolozi, and you can even spend a few days there, trying out the St. Lucia Wetlands World Heritage Site, where you can take a boat cruise across the lagoon and get up close and personal. and personal with a hippo as it pokes its head out of the water!
There are also a variety of accommodation options in the Hluhluwe area, ranging from camping to super 5-star luxury. The area continues to grow with options as interest in Durban as a whole grows and the city’s profile rises around the world.
Durban is a perfect tourist destination for South Africa as the city sits right on the fabulous Dolphin Coast and has fantastic beaches for surfing and just sunbathing. There are plenty of beachfront cocktail bars and restaurants catering for your every need as you relax on your vacation, and first-class hotels you can base yourself on.
The majestic Drakensberg mountains are only a couple of hours away, as are the battlefields of the Boer and Anglo Zulu wars. You can fly direct to Durban’s King Shaka Airport on Emirates from Dubai, as well as connecting flights on SAA and British Airways via Johannesburg. As King Shaka International Airport becomes more popular, there are sure to be many more direct international flights. Emirates currently flies daily, Qatar and Turkish Airlines are now also set to operate direct flights to the city.
Hluhluwe Umfolozi benefits from good weather all year round, and it is never that cold, even in the dead of winter. But when it’s cold out, what better feeling than snuggling up with a hot drink under the stars on an African night!
