Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

pedro maia
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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

Post by pedro maia »

After considering a few other options for our (very short) trip to South Africa the decisions was taken, we would go KwaZulu-Natal to visit Hluhluw-Imfolozi Park and St Lucia and iSimangaliso Wetland Park, staying to nights at each of those places.

We flew to Durban and spent the first night at Ballito, from where it would take us about 3 hours to the entrance of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi by the Nyalazi Gate.

I must say that my expectations were on the low side but it turned out to be a real surprise, the park is very beautiful, not crowded at all and although it´s not as prolific as Kruger in predator sightings we had lots of great sightings, especially of rhino, the park is rhino heaven, in 2 days we saw about 40 different ones, although we didn´t get to see any black rhino it was really a treat.

The park is split in two, the western part is Imfolozi and eastern is Hluhluwe, where we would stay at the Rhino Ridge Lodge.

After entering the park we headed to the Imfolozi sector by the main road up to the Sontuli loop and back again to Hluhluwe sector and to the lodge, it was a 4 hour drive and it was a really good one, with plenty of game, much more than we expected at the middle of the day.

The first animal we saw was this warthog

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And it didn´t take us much time to see the first rhino, although a very sleepy one

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And the second one, resting in the shade

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Then a few buffalos

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And a nyala, there are plenty of nyala in the park, more than impala I would say.

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Warning sign at the picnic spot in the Sontuli loop

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And our Toyota Fortuner, great car to self-drive in the park

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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

Post by pedro maia »

Rhino sightings got better

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And the first elephants of the trip, we also had great elephant sightings

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Another rhino

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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

Post by pedro maia »

More ellies

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We stayed for a while watching this youngster scratching himself against a tree branch

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And one of the best sightings of the whole trip

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Another heard of ellies before entering the gravel road that would lead us to the lodge.

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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

Post by Flutterby »

Great start Pedro!! \O Lucky you saw so many ellies...we only saw one during 3 days there! :O^

Lovely rhino pics...the perfect place for them! :yes:


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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

Post by Mel »

Oh :shock: Plenty of parchyderms around there O/\ And even though I haven't seen the rest of your photos,
I'd agree that the little rhino is a super sighting! Very cute that one :yes:


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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

Post by nan »

Yes ! a new travel tale O/\

and what a start, lot of Ellies O/\
very dangerous picnic site O-/
the Rhino scratching is hilarious lol

^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^


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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

Post by Alf »

Rhinos scratching all over the place ^Q^ ^Q^

Can't wait to see the lodge 0()


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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

Post by pedro maia »

Flutterby wrote:Great start Pedro!! \O Lucky you saw so many ellies...we only saw one during 3 days there! :O^

Lovely rhino pics...the perfect place for them! :yes:

We saw a few herds of elephants, with may youngsters and also with calfs.


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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

Post by pedro maia »

Mel wrote:Oh :shock: Plenty of parchyderms around there O/\ And even though I haven't seen the rest of your photos,
I'd agree that the little rhino is a super sighting! Very cute that one :yes:
It seems that rhinos are well protected in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi.


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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven

Post by pedro maia »

nan wrote:Yes ! a new travel tale O/\

and what a start, lot of Ellies O/\
very dangerous picnic site O-/
the Rhino scratching is hilarious lol

^Q^ ^Q^ ^Q^
That rhino was definitely a funny one.


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