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The
Kruger National Park Where the
greatest diversity of wildlife in Africa can be experienced by travelling two
and a half hours from Mvubu Falls, for the day; or for a few days, we can help
you book to stay in a range of accommodation in the main restcamps which have
chalets, cottages, bungalows tents and caravan and camp sites or bushveld camps,
bush lodges and private safari lodges. These vary in price and style; from rustic
to luxurious.   
Southern
Kruger The south is home to some of the most popular restcamps as the
wildlife is prolific. The geology is staggering with huge boulders strewn across
a densely vegetated landscape. |
Central Kruger The central region
consists of extensive grassy plains that are interrupted by lush riverine vegetation
along the Olifants and Letaba rivers. |
Northern Kruger This region is sheltered
from all but the most intrepid traveller due to its remoteness. The area north
of the Levuvhu River provides some of the best birding in Southern Africa. |
Sabi
Sand The Sabi Sand Game Reserve lies to the south-west of the Kruger
National Park. It is home to some of the continent's most elegant lodges. The
game rangers ensure close encounters with the game. |
Timbavati Timbavati Private Game
Reserve lies on the western boundary of the Kruger Park, forming part of the Kruger's
lowveld ecosystem. Wildlife viewing is great, and the lodges here provide an alternative
those in the Sabi Sand. |
Kruger Surrounds The Kruger surrounds
comprise game reserves, for example - Royal Malewane, Thornybush and Makalali
Game Reserve, that lie in the savannah regions bordering the Kruger National Park
to the west. | Kruger
National Park travel info 
Ecosystems within the Kruger Park are highly varied.
Six rivers feed the park - an area that encompasses an astonishing 16 vegetation
zones including 1980 plant species and 300 tree species Seasons The
best time to see game is during the winter months (April - September), as water
is restricted to rivers and waterholes, where the wildlife congregates. Visibility
is also good as the vegetation is less dense. Summer (October to March) is lovely
due to the rains - everything is lush and green, and the birding is excellent.
November and December are the calving months. Wildlife You should
see: elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, warthog, lion, spotted hyaena, baboon,
hippo, impala, kudu, vervet monkey, waterbuck, tsessebe, wildbeest, bushbaby,
mongoose, duiker, steenbok, klipspringer, genet, bats. You may see: leopard,
wild dog, cheetah, roan antelope, sable antelope, bat-eared fox, rhino, honey
badger, porcupine, rhebok, aardvark, aardwolf, civet, caracal, serval, suni.
Birds You should see: vultures, owls, bee-eaters, rollers, eagles, bustards,
hornbills, starlings, shrikes. |
Mkhaya
Private Game Reserve
Swaziland's Refuge for Endangered Species
In the southeast
of Swaziland, the heart of the lowveld lies an unspoilt wilderness, haven to endangered
species who roam the magnificent African bush.
For the
animals that once roamed wild and free, uninhibited by fences and boundaries,
they faced and still face an uncertain future with man’s compulsion toward maximum
yield, poaching and ignorance toward nature conservation and protection of our
natural heritage. These once abundant animals that could be seen for miles around
were, and some still are, close to extinction. It became clear to the Reilly Family,
Swaziland’s foremost nature conservationists, that these animals needed a place
of refuge, and tranquility and the absence of menacing man and his gun, and Mkhaya
was the perfect place.
Mkhaya is a model of sustainable land use with a unique conservation model. It
is Swaziland's refuge for endangered species which includes pure bred indigenous
Nguni cattle - which were close to extinction. The successful breeding of this
rare bovine is mirrored in the other endangered species here including black and
white rhino. Mkhaya's
terrain comprises of broadleaf sandveld and mixed acacia woodland with sections
of pristine riverine vegetation along the shallow drainage lines.
Mkhaya lacks the commercialisation of some other game reserves and is the
more sophisticated of the Kingdom’s safari destinations.
All game
activities are guided and include drives in open land rovers and game walks with
rangers. There is a special day tour for local residents and day visitors.
Mlilwane Game
Reserve
An Outdoor Lover’s Paradise Mlilwane, Swaziland’s pioneer conservation
area, is a beautiful, secluded sanctuary situated in Swaziland’s “Valley of Heaven”,
the Ezulwini Valley, in between Mbabane and Manzini. With 24-hour access to the
Sanctuary, guests are free to enjoy the neighbouring tourist hubs of Ezulwini
and Malkerns, with their many unique attractions and craft shops. From the western
boundary, the huge Usutu Forest provides a dramatic backdrop stretching into the
distant hills.
The Sanctuary covers 4,560 hectares and comprises of a southern and northern section.
The southern section is predominately open grassland plains with middleveld vegetation,
stretching up onto the striking Nyonyane Mountain with its exposed granite peak
known as the "Rock of Execution". Nyonyane is where ancient San once
lived and where Swazi Royal graves are situated giving historical significance.
Behind these mountains, the stunning Mantenga waterfall and beautiful Usushwana
Valley form the divide, before stretching up to northern section, which includes
one of the highest surrounding points at Luphohlo. Tourist activities are concentrated
in the southern section, with only guided trails entering the pristine mountains
of the north.
Mlilwane means Little Fire, being derived from the numerous fires started by lightning
strikes on the Mlilwane Hill. Many a colourful tale can be told about the Reilly
family with special relevance to the early pioneer Mickey Reilly, whose family
still manages and lives on the Sanctuary.
Hlane Game Reserve
In the
vast bushveld expanse of eastern Swaziland where the hot African sun beats on
the dry but life-giving soils; as it has for thousands of years, where the rumbling
roars of the lions are heard in the cool dusky evenings, lies Swaziland’s largest
protected area, Hlane Royal National Park, home to the largest herds of game in
the Kingdom.
Hlane, named by King Sobhuza II, with its adjacent dispersal areas covers 30 000
hectares of Swazi bushveld, dominated by ancient hardwood vegetation. Hlane is
home to lion, elephant and white rhino, with an abundant and diverse bird life,
including the highest density of nesting white backed vultures in Africa.
A network
of self-drive game-viewing roads criss-cross the park’s flat terrain, weaving
between the 1000 year old hardwood vegetation and shallow pans which attract great
herds of animals during the dry winter months. Guided walking safaris, mountain
biking and game drives in Hlane's open Land Rover's are also available. Head for
the bush and experience the sights and sounds of Hlane against the roar of Hlane’s
magnificent lions – the symbol of royalty and the pride of Swaziland
Jozini Big 6
Game Reserve
The Lavumisa community trust, Lubombo
development and management Ltd and Flexi Club are proud to announce the development
of an R1.8 billion (€247m) resort
and game reserve in Lavumisa. The development is situated on an 11,000
hectare property granted on a 99 year lease by His Majesty, King Mswati III of
Swaziland. It incorporates the Swaziland portion of the Jozini Dam and is bordered
to the West by a railway line and to the East by the Lubombo Mountains.
On the scale of Sun City in South Africa, this 'must see' transfrontier tourism
development will offer regional and international visitors the unique combination
of world class tiger fishing, a championship golf course and a big 5 game reserve.
Jozini Big 6 is planned to feature a tiger fishing village and marina,
championship golf course, 900 individual golf and game lodges, a spa hotel and
timeshare complex, golf hotel and conference centre, shopping centre, medical
centre, boatyard, casino, landing strip and big five game reserve. To
be constructed in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the development is expected
to employ no less than 8,000 construction workers over the four year construction
period and thereafter directly provide more than 2,000 permanent jobs. It will
also create a wide range of SME opportunities. The Jozini Big 6 Game
Resort will be project managed by Lubombo Development and Management Ltd in association
with Flexi Club and the Club Leisure Group for the primary benefit of the Lavumisa
Community, with 100% of profit distributed in perpetuity to the Lavumisa Community
Trust, charities to be nominated by His Majesty, King Mswati III and other Swaziland
NGO'S to be nominated. The community of Lavumisa and its partners were
very grateful to His Majesty, King Mswati III, the Ministry of Enterprise
and Employment, the Ministry of Agriculture, SIPA and STA for their generous support
in making this wonderful project work.
Hluhluwe
& Imfolozi Game Reserves (South
Africa)
Two hours south of Mvubu Falls, set in the heart
of Zululand, the oldest game reserve in Africa where Zulu kings such as Dingiswayo
and Shaka hunted and put in place the first conservation laws, where today the
"big five" of African legend stalk the verdant savannah. The Park became
world renowned for its white rhino conservation. Established in 1895
game viewing is the prime attraction. Viewing hides overlook pans and waterholes
enabling visitors to see animals at close range. Previously managed
as two separate parks, the Hluhluwe (in the north) and Imfolozi (in the south)
were joined into one large game reserve. The Park covers some 96 000
hectares and contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora.
The wide range of plant life in the park gives rise to a diversity of mammals,
birdlife, reptiles and amphibians. The Big Five - lion, rhino (back & white)
elephant, buffalo and leopard are all to be seen in the park, as well as a variety
of other species, including cheetah, wild dog and giraffe. It is also one of the
best places in the world to see nyala. Hluhluwe is characterised by hilly
topography, and this northen section of the park is noted for its wide variety
of both bird and animal life. Imfolozi, the southern component of the
park lies west of the town of Mtubatuba. The region is generally hot in summer,
and mild to cool in winter, although cold spells do occur. Larger mammals
to be seen include buffalo, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, elephant and large
numbers of impala, waterbuck, common and mountain reedbuck, nyala, kudu, bushbuck,
steenbuck, duiker, warthog, black rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyaena and jackal.
In excess of 300 species of birds have been recorded.
Please Note Visitors pay a conservation fee of R70 per person
per day (children 50%) replacing entry fees. Activities
Auto trails: Auto trails in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park are designed for the
convenience of visitors who wish to discover the secrets of the bushveld from
seclusion of their own vehicle. Self-guided foot trails: The Imfolozi
section of the park has three self-guided foot trails. Guide books are available
to help visitors interpret the many points of interest along these trails.
Day walks: Short day walks of approximately two hours are conducted from
Mpila and Hilltop Camps under the supervision of an experienced field ranger.
These walks may be booked at reception in both camps. Picnic sites:
Several sites with ablution and barbecue facilities are situated throughout the
park. Game drivers: Open vehicle night and day drives provide unique
opportunities of viewing game. A knowledgeable guide is at hand to answer questions
. Booking is at reception on a first come first serve basis. Boat Tours
There is a 40 seater boat on Hluhluwe dam which takes visitors on guided trips
twice a day. (Please note the water level of the river is sometimes too low for
boat trips) Wilderness trails: The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
is also famous for it's wilderness trails which originated in the Imfolozi section
and its renowned Game Capture unit, a bench mark for animal capture and sustainable
utilisation throughout Africa.
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