#kwazulunatal

Hluhluwe – 5 Reasons It’s The Best Place For Your Family Holiday

Finding a great location for a family holiday can be a challenge, especially for families who have young children or varied interests. Do you often ask yourself – where will my family most enjoy a holiday? Here are 5 reasons Hluhluwe might just be the perfect answer for a family holiday:It’s the ultimate in outdoor activity: Do some members of your family crave outings in the bush while others would rather bury their toes in the sand or enjoy dips in the ocean? In Hluhluwe, you don’t have to choose. Visit the Hluhluwe / iMfolozi Game Reserve for a chance to spot the Big Five or enjoy beautiful beach time at Cape Vidal, Sodwana Bay, and Main Beach St. Lucia. Bush or sand, the glorious scenery and natural wildlife will ensure happy days for the whole family. Perfect for the sporty lot: If your family, young or old, enjoy sport activities, they will be spoilt for choice in Hluhluwe. The various lodges in the area offer a wide range of sporting activities, including hiking, walking, biking, horse riding, swimming, kayaking, and scuba diving. Getting outdoors and being physically active is sure to make everyone feel better, healthier, and happier. A thrill with some African beasts: Take a day trip to an educational facility like Crocodile Centre St Lucia and enjoy a hands-on snake and crocodile experience. You are sure to leave better educated about some of the world’s most feared creatures. And don’t forget the hippos… Home to the largest population of hippo in the area, the St Lucia Wetlands Park offers river boat excursions where you are guaranteed to see these fantastic “water horses” in their natural environment. The kids are sure to love these close encounters! Up close and personal with a big cat: our own Emdoneni Lodge boasts a world-class cheetah project. Caring for cats that have been injured or orphaned in the wild, the project gives guests a chance to learn about and interact with these amazing animals. This is the kind of experience family memories are made of. Family time: Modern life is busy and between TV and technology not many families spend regular quality time together. The beautiful scenery in and around Hluhluwe will encourage you to gather and share as a family. Imagine having dinner together under starlit skies, sipping sundowners on a group game drive, or teaching your children to snorkel… the possibilities for family fun are endless. And, these moments of natural beauty and togetherness are sure to create treasured memories for you and your loved ones. Source Credit: www.emdonenilodge.com

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Emdoneni News

iSimangaliso Guided Walking Safari

Instead of traveling around iSimangaliso Wetland Park by car, a walking safari allows you to slow down, and see things you’d likely miss otherwise—such as animal tracks on the ground. Along the way, a guide teaches you how to observe the natural world—including how recognize birds by their calls. Wildlife you might see along the way includes zebras, impalas, warthogs, and if you’re lucky—hyenas and leopards. What to expect? Join our knowledgeable guides on a 2,5hours Guided Walking Safari through the Eastern Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Our Walking Safaris are conducted in an area without Buffalo, Elephant, Lion and Rhino. Common mammal sightings are Zebra, Wildebeest, Impala, Warthog, Waterbuck etc. Departure and return. Crocodile Centre St Lucia, Mtubatuba, South Africa Our guides will be waiting for you in the parking area of the Crocodile center. Winter meeting times 07:00 /14:30 Summer Meeting times 06:00 / 15:30 Extra information. Confirmation will be received at time of booking Most travellers can participate This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers For more information and Source Credit: www.tripadvisor.co.za

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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

Ever wanted to witness the African Big 5 then this has to be one of the very best Parks in South Africa. With more than 14 years of experience within the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park we are sure to rather exceed than meet your expectations. Each Game Ranger has years of experience within the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and will undoubtedly get you to the very best areas within it. Sit back and enjoy this magnificent Half Day Big 5 Safari. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is without a doubt the most historical Park in Africa. Known primarily for saving the Rhinos from near extinction in the early ’60s, or when King Shaka used the lower Umfolozi for his personal hunting grounds. The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is also the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa. Explore and Experience 96000 hectares of pure bush and wildlife. Home to the African Big 5, Cheetah, Wild Dogs, Antelope and much more. Should you be visiting KwaZulu Natal, South Africa then you absolutely have to visit the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. Source credit: Tripadvisor.co.za

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Area Attractions, Emdoneni News

KwaZulu Natal Road Trip

Planning your first KwaZulu-Natal road trip? Then you’ve just landed on the perfect page to help you with that! KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast of South Africa is highly undervalued as a tourist destination, and often overlooked in favor of destinations like the Kruger National Park and Cape Town. Having grown up in this amazing province we may be a little biased, but through exploring it ourselves have discovered that this sunny corner of South Africa offers it all – a vibrant and diverse culture, majestic mountains, untamed big five bush experiences and possibly the most unspoiled beaches in the country. Not to forget that KwaZulu-Natal’s winter weather (April-July) is the best in the country! KwaZulu-Natal highlights: Unspoiled sandy beaches and warm water. Malaria-free big five game reserves. Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park). A vibrant and diverse blend of cultures. World-class diving and surfing destinations. We would love you to come and explore this magical province for yourself, and have put together a list of our top picks in the province to get those travel juices flowing! Our dream KwaZulu-Natal road trip is a circular self-drive route covers 1600 km and takes in all of the highlights of KwaZulu-Natal including the berg, big five bush and spectacular beaches. KwaZulu-Natal quick facts: Summer (November-February) weather is generally hot and humid, with some rain. February is the hottest month with temperatures in the low 30’s (°C). Winter (April-July) is the best time of year to visit where the weather usually consists of mild, clear days and cool nights, with temperatures in the upper teens to mid-20’s (°C). International airport: King Shaka International Airport. Main city: Durban (eThekwini). Stop 1: Explore the city sights of Durban and Umhlanga. The Durban beachfront is one of the city’s main attractions and a perfectplace to start your KwaZulu-Natal road trip. The famous Umhlanga lighthouse is an iconic feature on the Umhlanga coastline. City life in KwaZulu-Natal is all about the beach. Explore Umhlanga and Durban, spending time on Umhlanga’s beach promenade or hit Durban’s Golden Mile by bicycle. Stop for coffee, an ice cream or highly recommended Afro’s Chicken lunch along the way. Visit some of the area’s attractions including uShaka Marine World, the KZN Sharks Board, Gateway Theatre of Shopping, the Victoria Street Market or if it is a weekend, some of the fantastic craft and foodie markets (e.g. I Heart Market or Wonder Market) in and around town. Recommended length of stay: two full days (three nights). Route suggestion: King Shaka International Airport is a thirty minute drive out of Umhlanga, or forty minutes from the Durban CBD. Pick up a rental car at the airport and head straight to your accommodation to unpack and refresh. We’d recommend basing yourself in Umhlanga as it provides easy access to Durban’s attractions with more of a nightlife and range of restaurants to choose from. Stop 2: Go on a watery safari on Lake St Lucia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lake St Lucia is home to the highest concentration of Hippos in South Africa. Evening walks on the unspoiled beaches of the Eastern Shores. iSimangaliso’s Lake St Lucia is a must-do on any KwaZulu-Natal road trip. If you are pressed for time, this is one stop not to miss! The expansive waterways of South Africa’s largest estuary are home to a wealth of fish, bird and plant life, not to mention the highest density of hippos and crocodiles in southern Africa. Take in a truly African sunset from the water, or spend time exploring the pristine coastline and big game wilderness areas that surround Lake St Lucia. St Lucia town is the ideal base from which to explore this area, and is well-equipped for tourists with a range of accommodation, restaurants and travel and tour operators (read more in our detailed guide to St Lucia). For guided experiences, we would highly recommend a late afternoon estuary boat cruise, joining a night drive on the Eastern or Western Shores, a snorkel safari at Cape Vidal or beach and bush horse riding from Bhangazi Gate. From mid-May to the end of September, a boat-based whale watching trip to view migrating humpback whales is also a must. Then take some time to explore the Eastern and Western Shores game sections at leisure, leaving plenty of time to enjoy any of the number of picnic and elevated view sites in the park to really get a feel for the enormous size of Lake St Lucia. There are plenty of attractions around St Lucia town too including excellent birding from the Estuary Boardwalk and bush trails through the iPhiva small game section. As if this wasn’t enough, Hluhluwe/Imfolozi Game Reserve is an easy day trip from town and there are plenty of operators who offer tours through the park from St Lucia town. Recommended length of stay: a minimum of two full days (three nights) will barely scratch the surface of everything this area has to offer, so we’d suggest spending closer to four or five. Route suggestion: From Umhlanga, St Lucia is a 2 hour 30 minutes drive via the N2 national freeway and R618 regional road (via Mtubatuba). A bit of a detour, the indigenous forests around Eshowe are well worth a stop if you have the time. Stop 3: Encounter Africa’s big five in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve. The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is the oldest game reserve in Africa. Elephants enjoy the soft grass near the banks of the river KwaZulu-Natal has a number of world-class big five game reserves that offer unparalleled game viewing opportunities without the crowds of the Kruger National Park. South Africa’s oldest established game reserve, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is particularly special for the role it has played in rhino conservation in the country. There is also the opportunity to join a multi day wilderness walk through the park – on foot, sleeping under the stars in a pristine wilderness area is a life-changing experience that we’d highly recommend. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife managed-park. There is both self-catering or catered accommodation available for guests and the

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Emdoneni News

5 Reasons to go on a walking safari

There’s nothing like your first encounter with a dangerous wild animal on foot: the excitement, fear and thrill of this primal experience is much more memorable than a hundred game drives where you’ve ticked off the big five. Escaping the confines of your 4×4 and exploring the bush on foot opens a whole new world of the wild. Here are 5 reasons to get out of the car and put your hiking boots on: 1. A new perspective on wildlife Being on foot changes how you view animals. You may have previously dismissed impalas as boring when you see herds of them on game drives, but when you encounter them on a walking safari, you can’t help but marvel at their beauty, speed and grace. You realise how much work it is just to stay alive in the bush, and you can feel how vulnerable prey animals are: at any given moment they could be eaten, which endows you with a new sense of respect. 2. You learn more about the bush You do find out about the behaviour of animals on game drives but you learn a whole lot more on foot, especially if you have a good guide. Delve into the stories behind a pile of old bones, learn about the place of animals, insects and plants in bewilderingly complex ecosystems, discover that trees are more interesting that you think and find out about seeds that are almost magical in their evolutionary adaptations. 3. Micro details You don’t see as much big game on foot as you do on game drives, but you do get the chance to be immersed in a fascinating world of plants, seeds, insects, reptiles and small animals: all the things you don’t see on drives. You also become much more sensorially aware when you’re walking as opposed to driving: you’re constantly alert to the sounds of alarm calls and the smells of the bush, which means that you take in a lot more detail than you would in the car. 4. Learning tracking On some walking safaris, you’ll have a tracker along with your guide, who will teach you some of the basics of this master skill. Learn to read tracks in the sand to follow animals through the bush, how to identify the smell of rhino wee or work out when ablution time was by poking through middens. Tracking is interesting and fun, and adds another dimension to your wildlife experience. 5. The chance to slow down You can’t take cell phone calls or answer emails on your smartphone while on a walking safari. If you’re a technology addict, then this is the holiday for you: you’re forced to unplug, switch off and be totally connected to nature. Source Credit: africageographic.com

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