Hluhluwe & Private Game Reserves, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Choose between Hluhluwe, Phinda, Thanda, AmaZulu and Pongola Game Reserves

Highlights of the Hluhluwe & the Private Game Reserves

• Big Five safaris in private reserves such as Phinda, Thanda & AmaZulu
• Good concentrations of White and Black rhino in Zululand
• Diverse eco-systems leading to varied wildlife and birding
• Hluhluwe is close to the Indian Ocean so you can enjoy a bush & beach holiday
• Romantic game lodges for honeymoon couples
• Several family-friendly & exclusive use game lodges

The game reserves of KwaZulu Natal are not as well known as the Greater Kruger Park but definitely worth considering, especially if you want to combine a safari with some time at the beach.

The original game reserve, Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve, is the best known of several parks in Zululand (as northern KwaZulu Natal is known). Hluhluwe is particularly famed for its concentrations of rare white rhino, as well as elephant, black rhino, buffalo and their ever-present predators. Game-viewing is either by open top game vehicle or under your own steam in a rental car, or even by foot on one of Hluhluwe’s famous walking safaris. You can stay in the simple restcamp accommodation within Hluhluwe but most of our clients stay at nearby private lodges such as Hluhluwe River Lodge.

Private Game Reserves in KwaZulu Natal

North of Hluhluwe lie four private game reserves. The original game reserve was Phinda Game Reserve. Rich both in game and stunning scenery, Phinda boasts the diversity of seven ecosystems.

Thanda game reserve and AmaZulu game reserve, to the north of Phinda, also offer the Big Five – elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo as well as 15 species of antelope. Here you can consider AmaKhosi Safari Lodge, or Mkuze Falls Lodge.

Further north, at the foot of the majestic Lebombo Mountains and overlooking the shimmering waters of Lake Jozini, lies Pongola game reserve. At White Elephant Lodge in Pongola you encounter a variety of antelope, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, hyena as well as elephants and plenty of activities - not just open top game drives but bush walks, sunset boat cruises, tiger fishing and the acclaimed 'Space for Elephants' elephant monitoring programme.

All these private game reserves in KwaZulu Natal are easily accessible by rental car or by private road transfer from either Richards Bay or Durban. There are also direct charter flights from Johannesburg into Phinda Game Reserve and from here you transfer onto Thanda Game Reserve or the beach lodges of Coastal Maputaland.