Location: South Africa » Kwazulu Natal » Zululand » Elephant Coast » HluhluweHluhluweHluhluwe is situated in the North Eastern region (Zululand) of the Kwa-Zulu-Natal province. KwaZulu-Natal is one of the nine provinces or local regions that make up South Africa. Only a two hour drive from Durban and four hours from Johannesburg the entire area around the Hluhluwe Reserve, right down to the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, now a World Heritage Site, has been given over to animal conservation and game farms. Hluhluwe is central to many of the regions splendid Game Reserves and so is a hub for game and wildlife viewing. Hluhluwe is considered to be the hub of tourism in KwaZulu-Natal. This charming town on the banks of the Hluhluwe River has tourism as its principal industry, as it acts as a perfect base for visitors to the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve and St Lucia Wetlands area.
The town's name comes from the Zulu word (umHluhluwe) for the thorny rope climber (Dalbergia Armata) which is found among the forest vegetation types in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. Nearby TownsMtubatuba: 54km South Mkuze: 55km North Municipality: The Big Five False Bay Local Municipality District Municipality: Umkhanyakude District Municipality Hluhluwe/Imfolozi Game Reserve Formely separate, the combined size of the two reserve is now over 96 000ha, and it was here that the white rhino was saved from extinction by the Kwazulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service. The Hluhluwe - Imfolozi Game Park is acclaimed internationally for its conservation efforts. Besides the Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant, and Buffalo), there is an astonishing variety of wildlife to ensure an unforgettable african encounter for the visitor.
The park is also home to the largest population of the southern white rhino. Bird species also abound here, with more than 350 species to be found, including fish eagle, kingfisher's, heron's, ox-pecker and vulture's to name a few. iSimangaliso Wetland Park formerly Greater St Lucia Wetlands ParkA very special slice of Africa, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park St offers ecotourists some of the most diverse wildlife and outdoor experiences imaginable.
Besides Lake St Lucia - a unique, 38 000 ha expanse of lake, islands and estuary - the park incorporates an astonishing variety of habitats ranging from the Ubombo mountains to grasslands, forests, wetlands, mangroves and vegetated dunes, with magnificent beaches and coral reefs. |