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Narina Exelby
ZA
Visited:
January 2008
Reviewed: Dec 28, 2012
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
One of the best places to view wildlife in KwaZulu-Natal
Years ago, Hluhluwe and Imfolozi were two separate parks. Imfolozi became known as being ground zero for Operation Rhino, Dr Ian Player’s very successful initiative to bring the white rhino back from the brink of extinction. Today still, the park is a very good place to see white rhinos. Also in the Imfolozi section of the park are the famous wilderness trails, where you go out on multi-day walks through areas accessible only on foot. These walks are not for the faint-hearted, but should be on the top of every serious nature-lover’s bucket list.
Hilltop Camp, in the Hluhluwe section, is the park’s flagship camp. It feels something like a resort, with a busy restaurant (with incredible views out and down over the park) and shops, and there
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is a variety of accommodation available here. Throughout the park, there is a variety of accommodation that suitable to different size groups: rondavels, cottages and what once were warden’s houses.The last time I was at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi I came across five collared wild dogs that had recently been released. They’d just killed an impala, and the twilight battle between the dogs and three hungry hyenas will always stick in my mind as a true indication of survival in the wild.
JohnMacdonald
US
Visited:
August 2004
Reviewed: May 10, 2012
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
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.
Wanderer
DE
Visited:
April 2007
Reviewed: May 9, 2012
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
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.
lupegarrou (Mick Bassett)
DE
Visited:
March 2007
Reviewed: May 6, 2012
Email lupegarrou (Mick Bassett) | 50-65 years of age
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'.
Frank_Richards
Visited:
July 1998
Reviewed: Apr 30, 2012
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.
mbd
FR
Visited:
April 2007
Reviewed: Apr 29, 2012
50-65 years of age
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.
Ronel van Zyl
GB
Visited:
April 2010
Reviewed: Apr 11, 2012
Email Ronel van Zyl | 35-50 years of age
True wilderness african experience and Hilltop Camp our favourite. Great restaurant at Hilltop Camp.
clint
Visited:
June 2010
Reviewed: Mar 27, 2012
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.
Bugswamy
Visited:
August 2008
Reviewed: Jan 12, 2012
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.