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
And it didn´t take us much time to see the first rhino, although a very sleepy one
And the second one, resting in the shade
Then a few buffalos
And a nyala, there are plenty of nyala in the park, more than impala I would say.
Warning sign at the picnic spot in the Sontuli loop
And our Toyota Fortuner, great car to self-drive in the park
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven
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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven
Rhino sightings got better
And the first elephants of the trip, we also had great elephant sightings
Another rhino
And the first elephants of the trip, we also had great elephant sightings
Another rhino
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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven
More ellies
We stayed for a while watching this youngster scratching himself against a tree branch
And one of the best sightings of the whole trip
Another heard of ellies before entering the gravel road that would lead us to the lodge.
We stayed for a while watching this youngster scratching himself against a tree branch
And one of the best sightings of the whole trip
Another heard of ellies before entering the gravel road that would lead us to the lodge.
- Flutterby
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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven
Great start Pedro!! Lucky you saw so many ellies...we only saw one during 3 days there!
Lovely rhino pics...the perfect place for them!
Lovely rhino pics...the perfect place for them!
- Mel
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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven
Oh Plenty of parchyderms around there 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
I'd agree that the little rhino is a super sighting! Very cute that one
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- nan
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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven
Yes ! a new travel tale
and what a start, lot of Ellies
very dangerous picnic site
the Rhino scratching is hilarious
and what a start, lot of Ellies
very dangerous picnic site
the Rhino scratching is hilarious
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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven
Rhinos scratching all over the place
Can't wait to see the lodge
Can't wait to see the lodge
Next trip to the bush??
Let me think......................
Let me think......................
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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven
Flutterby wrote:Great start Pedro!! Lucky you saw so many ellies...we only saw one during 3 days there!
Lovely rhino pics...the perfect place for them!
We saw a few herds of elephants, with may youngsters and also with calfs.
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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven
It seems that rhinos are well protected in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi.Mel wrote:Oh Plenty of parchyderms around there 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
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Re: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, Rhino Heaven
That rhino was definitely a funny one.nan wrote:Yes ! a new travel tale
and what a start, lot of Ellies
very dangerous picnic site
the Rhino scratching is hilarious