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Provincial Parks
Mkuze game Reserve
Province: Kwazulu Natal
Region: Zululand
Main Attractions: Game Viewing, Birding
A place of great beauty and high contrasts, Mkhuze is renowned as a mecca for bird lovers , with more than 420 bird species on record. The reserve has an astonishing diversity of natural habitats, from the eastern slopes of the Lebombo mountains along its eastern boundary, to broad stretches of acacia savannah, swamps and a variety of woodlands and riverine forest. A rare type of sand forest also occurs in the reserve.
Two beautiful pans, Nhlonhlela and Nsumo , lie in the north and east respectively, home to communities of hippo, crocodile, pinkbacked and white pelicans, as well as a diversity of ducks and geese which gather in spring.Situated in northern Zululand, this 40 000 hectare reserve was proclaimed a protected area in 1912.
Mkhuze Game Reserve constitutes the north western spur of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park a recently declared World Heritage Site.The Mkhuze River curves along the reserve's northern and eastern borders with a fine stretch of fig forest along its banks. Fish eagles swoop over the pans, snatching prey spotted from their perches in the fever trees. Other animals to be found in the reserve include black and white rhinoceros, elephant, giraffe, leopard, nyala, blue wildebeest, warthog, eland, impala, kudu and other smaller antelope. Rare species occurring are cheetah, hyaena and suni.
Visitors enjoy excellent animal and bird sightings from the three hides in the reserve.
A Zulu cultural village in the reserve offers a glimpse of the traditional lifestyle and crafts of the KwaJobe community.
ACTIVITIES
Birding, game viewing and sitting quietly in the three game viewing hides are the most popular activities in Mkhuze.Night drives, guided walks, the auto trail, camping, caravanning and swimming are also available.The reserve has 100 kilometers of tourist roads for game viewing.
Guided night drives are undertaken weather permitting. Guided game walks can be booked at the camp office and these take place twice daily starting at 06h00 in summer, and 15h00 in winter. Birding in Mkhuze offers some of the best birding opportunities in South Africa and with a bird list of 420 species is excellent all year round. Guided birding walks may be booked at the camp office, and these take place twice daily starting at 06h00 in summer, and 15h00 in winter.Checklists are available from the curio shop.
ACCOMMODATION
Nature lovers visiting Mkhuze have a range of accommodation facilities available to them. Not least among these is the self-catering Tented Safari Camp. This has ten 2 bed and three 4 bed tented units. Each has en-suite ablution facilities (including hot and cold showers) and its own open plan kitchen. With refrigeration and electricity available, this camp is ingeniously designed to blend into its natural setting.
It offers close by amenities such as a swimming pool with the new HOG N' GROG Pub (both an essential comfort during the hottest months of summer) and a curio shop. The shop combines with the camp office, stocking curios, clothing, basic food supplies and liquid refreshments.
The camp has two 7 bed cottages, four 3 bed chalets, five 5 bed chalets and six 3 bed rest huts. The rest huts are served by a central kitchen and communal ablutions
Visitors must provide their own food and beverage. A torch is recommended. Units are serviced daily, but visitors are required to do their own cooking and washing up.No plug points for electric razors are available. Emshopi Camping and Caravanning area is situated 1 km from the main gate, and 9 km from Mantuma Camp. It can accommodate sixty visitors, and is situated at the entrance gate. Ablution blocks with hot and cold water serve the campsites.
Nhlonhlela Bush Lodge is an eight-bed lodge overlooking Nhlonhlela Pan. All units are en suite and are connected by boardwalks branching out from the communal lounge and kitchen. A cook/caretaker is in attendance, as well as a field ranger to take visitors on game walks. The lodge is served by solar powered lighting. Good torches and a gas light are recommended.
Umkhumbi Tented Bush Lodge in the Controlled Hunting Area , is used as a normal bush lodge only from November to March. The units are four large safari tents, each containing two beds and an en-suite shower, washbasin and toilet. A cook/caretaker is in attendance, as well as a field ranger to lead visitors on game walks.
There is an educational camp which consists of 4 dormatories that sleep 8 each,a kitchen and an ablution block.The reserve has 100 km of tourist roads for game drives.Picnic sites are situated at Nsumo Pan, Nxwala game viewing hide and next to the reception area in the main camp.Short day walks and night drives conducted by a field ranger can be arranged with the Camp Manager the previous day.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Gate Opening and Closing Times:
Summer ( October to March ) 05h00 to 19h00
Winter (April to September ) 06h00 to 18h00
Office Hours:
The office is open from 08h00 to 12h30 and from 14h00 to 16h30
Distance and Time from Gate to Camp: 9 kms and 20 minutes
Camp Telephone Number: (035) 5739004 or 5739001 or cell 082 799 1491
Camp Fax: (035) 5730031
Check Out Time: 10h00
Check In Time: 14h00
Facilities:
Tented Safari Camp, night game drives, swimming pool and hunting in the Control Hunting Area (CHA).
Shop:
The shop sells curios and a limited range of supplies.
Special Precautions:
Mkhuze is in a malaria area and special precautions are necessary.
The nearest town which has a full range of services is Mkuze which is 27 kms away.
How to get there:
For visitors from the south, the turn off to Mkhuze is signposted 35 kms north of Hluhluwe. From this point, the road is gravel. Approxametly 15 kms further is another signposted road through the Lebombo mountains. The entrance to the reserve is 10 kms along this road which is clearly signposted.Visitors from the north must travel to
Mkuze village which is 18 kms from the entrance gate and 28 kms from Mantuma camp.
Pets are not permitted into the reserve.
Concessions:
Education groups from KwaZulu-Natal are admitted free to the reserve.
Facilities for people with disabilities: Nil
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