Private Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Big Five Safari from St Lucia

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park was proclaimed in 1895, making it the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa. It covers rolling hills, river valleys and savannah in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal and is home to the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, along with giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, cheetah, wild dogs and many antelope. The park is world famous for rhino conservation, as its protection programmes helped bring the southern white rhino back from the brink of extinction in the twentieth century.

A private Hluhluwe-iMfolozi safari lets you experience this history and wildlife at your own pace. With no other guests to consider, your guide can wait patiently at a waterhole, follow fresh tracks or stop for photographs whenever you wish. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the park's diversity of habitats gives excellent chances throughout the day.

The Hluhluwe section

The northern Hluhluwe section is hilly and green, with steep valleys, thick riverine forest and grassy ridges that catch the morning mist. It takes its name from the thorny monkey-rope creeper that grows along the Hluhluwe River. Elephant, buffalo, giraffe and both rhino species are often seen on the slopes, and the forest is home to nyala and red duiker.

From the higher roads there are sweeping views over the hills towards the coast, and our guide knows the lookout points where you can pause and scan the valleys with binoculars. The Memorial Gate on this side of the park is the closest entrance for guests staying near Hluhluwe town, and the cooler, more humid air makes the morning drives here especially pleasant.

The iMfolozi section

South of the main road lies iMfolozi, a wide landscape of open savannah and acacia woodland between the Black and White Mfolozi rivers. These were once the royal hunting grounds of the Zulu kingdom, where hunting was strictly controlled, and today the area includes one of the first designated wilderness zones in Africa, a roadless part of the park that is kept wild and quiet.

The open terrain makes iMfolozi excellent for spotting lion, white rhino, wildebeest, zebra and herds of buffalo, especially near the rivers in the dry season. Your guide picks the loops according to recent sightings and the conditions on the day. Nyalazi Gate, the main entrance on the iMfolozi side, is about 45 minutes' drive from St Lucia, making the park an easy Hluhluwe safari from St Lucia.

Picnic sites, meals and the rhythm of the day

A full-day safari follows the rhythm of the bush. You set off at around 06:00 with coffee and rusks, the traditional South African dunked biscuit, and spend the cool early hours searching for predators returning from the night. Mid-morning your guide stops at one of the park's fenced picnic sites for a picnic breakfast with a view.

Later, a barbecue lunch, known locally as a braai, is prepared in the park before the afternoon drive continues to new areas. Because this is your private vehicle, the day can be shaped around your interests, whether that is photographing rhino, birdwatching or spending longer with a pride of lions. You return to your accommodation in the afternoon, about nine hours after pickup.

When to go and how to get there

What is the best time to visit Hluhluwe-iMfolozi? Wildlife viewing is good all year. The dry winter months from May to September offer thinner bush and animals gathered near water, and cooler days for long drives. Summer from November to March is hot and green, with newborn animals and excellent birdlife, and occasional afternoon storms.

How do you get to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi? The park is about three hours by car north of Durban, and St Lucia, Monzi and Mtubatuba are the closest towns, all within easy reach of Nyalazi Gate. Park gates open early in the morning and close around sunset, with times changing slightly by season, and our guide plans your day to make the most of the opening hours.