Ithala Game Reserve – Overview

Underrated Ithala Game Reserve seldom features on organized tours of South Africa, but it is a worthwhile addition to a self-drive itinerary. The flat-topped hills and rugged cliffs of Ithala create a dramatic backdrop for a variety of wildlife including four of the Big Five (no lion). Bush walks are a specialty and often provide good rhino viewing.

Best Time To Go

May to September (Dry season)

High Season

December (Only busy during school holidays)

Size More info

290km² / 112mi²

Altitude More info

389-1,346m / 1,276-4,416ft

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Pros & Cons

• Beautiful mountainous scenery
• Good sightings of both rhino species and lots of antelope
• Great birding
• Little visited and never very busy
• Ideal for self-drivers but guided walks and night drives are also available
• Reasonably priced rest camp
• Limited choice of accommodations other than the rest camp
• Guided walks and drives not the same standard as in private reserves
• Lions are absent and other large carnivores seldom seen

Wildlife

Of the Big Five, the white rhino is very common and can often be approached on walking safaris. The more dangerous black rhino is occasionally seen too. Elephant and buffalo are relatively common, along with giraffe and zebra. A wide variety of antelope, including wildebeest, tsessebe and oribi, thrive on the grassy slopes. Lions are absent, and while the reserve does support leopard and possibly cheetah, sightings are uncommon.

Scenery

Ithala is a ruggedly beautiful reserve dominated by rock formations that date back 300 million years. Rolling hills covered in mountain grassland seemingly go on forever, and strategically placed viewpoints are dotted around the road circuit. Ntshondwe Resort, the only rest camp, stands at the foot of the cliffs of Ngotshe Mountain. Towering above Ntshondwe, horizontal contours of pink and russet sandstone offset jagged vertical spires of grey-black dolerite.

Activities

For self-drivers, Ithala’s extensive network of wildlife-viewing roads is well-suited to game drives in any car. In addition, twice daily guided game drives leave from the rest camp in the early morning and late afternoon. If you feel like stretching your legs, a short self-guided walking trail runs out of the rest camp. Bush walks are also offered twice daily and often result in close-up sightings of white rhino.

Weather & Climate

In winter (May to September), afternoon conditions are generally warm and comfortable, but the early mornings can get bitingly cold. The wind can also blow hard at this time, adding to the chill. It stays warm in summer (October to April), though this is accompanied by humidity and storms late in the day.

Best Time To Visit

Ithala is beautifully green in the wet summer months (October to April) due to regular rain. This precipitation also washes the dust of the Dry season (May to September) out of the air, allowing clear views of the landscape. But the thick vegetation hampers wildlife viewing, so if seeing animals is your priority, it’s best to visit Ithala in the drier winter months, when the undergrowth thins out.

Want To Visit Ithala GR?

• Tour Operators for Ithala