HLUHLUWE HILLTOP CAMP
Provincial Wildlife Park Accommodation
in Hluhluwe, Zululand & Maputuland,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Hluhluwe Game Reserve
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.
Established in 1895, game viewing is the prime attraction. Viewing hides
overlook waterholes enabling visitors to see animals at close range.
As the home of Operation Rhino in the 1950s and 60s, the Park became world
renowned for its white rhino conservation. Other areas of focus for which
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is famed include wilderness trails which origionated in
Imfolozi in the 1950s and its renowned Game Capture unit recently upgraded into
the Centenary Capture Centre, a bench mark for animal capture and sustainable
utilization throughout Africa. The Park covers some 96 000 ha and contains an
immense diversity of fauna and flora. 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. Apart from game-viewing drives, there are two
self-guided auto trails which provide information on both the management and
natural history of the reserve. Guided walks are also available, particularly
rewarding in the early morning and late afternoon.
Accommodation
Hilltop Camp
The award-winning Hilltop Camp on the summit of a forested hill offers fine
views of the surrounding countryside. The camp, the oldest in KwaZulu-Natal, was
extensively rebuilt and enlarged in the early nineties, and today accommodation
at Hilltop ranges from a luxury lodge to a variety of superbly appointed
self-catering accommodation facilities. All units are serviced daily. From the
bottom of the price range up, facilities include: twenty 2-bedded rondavels with
communal ablutions and kitchens; seven 2-bedded and twenty-two 4-bedded
self-catering chalets. Twenty 2-bedded chalets, which are not self-catering, are
within close proximity to the main reception area. This area includes an a la
carte restaurant, an attractive pub and lounge decorated with photographs and
memorabilia of the history of Hluhluwe, as well as a gift shop and convenience
store.
A forest trail is available to guests at Hilltop. Hlaza Hide has been developed
at the site of the old summerhouse in Hilltop Camp and it will shortly
incorporate a waterhole with soft lighting at night to aid game viewing.
The Mpunyane Restaurant offers a full English buffet breakfast every day.
Lunches from Monday to Saturday are a la carte and on Sundays a hot and cold
buffet. Dinners are either a hot and cold buffet or a traditional braai(barbeque)
depending on the weather. Dinner arrangements do change according to guest
profiles and holidays.
The Mtwazi Lodge, Muntulu Lodge and Munywaneni Bush lodge accommodation is also
nearby.
Activities
With it's huge diversity of wildlife, landscapes and scenery, it's
accommodation from the luxurious Hilltop Camp and bush lodges like Muntulu and
Gqoyeni to more rustic bushcamps like Sontuli and the African experience of the
safari tented camp at Mpila, the reserve offers a wide range of activities to
the many people that visit it. Game viewing, birdwatching, the spiritual
upliftment of a wilderness trail or just a walk in the bush, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi
Park offers it all.
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, at
Emoyeni Mpila, Enkulu and Masinda Ncane. 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 Drives:
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.
Wilderness Trails:
Available from mid-March to mid-December , Wilderness Trails in Imfolozi
offer an unforgettable bush experience. The trail is a three-day hike into the
heart of the 30 000 ha Wilderness area. The first and last nights are spent at
Mndindini Trails Camp overlooking the White Mfolozi River, while the second and
third nights are spent in a tented camp in the heart of the Wilderness area.
Trailists are accompanied by an experienced game ranger through this utterly
unspoilt terrain. All food is included in the tariff.
Weekend Wilderness Trails:
Weekend wilderness trails begin at 13:30 on Friday afternoons and end on
Sunday afternoons , with two nights spent in the bush, at a tented camp.
Designed for those unable to find time for the full wilderness trail, these
value-for -money trails cost half the price of the traditional trail, and are
also run from mid-March to mid-December.
Vital Information
Gate Opening and Closing Times:
Summer(November to February ) 05h00 to 19h00
Winter ( March to October ) 06h00 to 18h00
Office Hours:
The office is open from 07h00 to 19h00
Distance and Time from Gate to Camp: 15 kms and 45 minutes
Check Out Time: 10h00
Check In Time: 14h00
Facilities:
Restaurant, bar, coin operated laundry, 95 octane unleaded petrol and diesel
(the nearest 97 octane petrol is available in Hluhluwe village), day and night
game drives, boat tours.
Shop:
A fully equipped shop selling a wide range of curios and supplies.
Special Precautions:
Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park is in a LOW RISK malaria area and visitors need to
consult their doctors before visiting the area.
The nearest town which has a full range of services is Hluhluwe which is 25 kms
away.
How to get there:
The recommended route from the north or south is to turn off the N2 at Hluhluwe
village and follow the tarred road to Memorial Gate.
An alternative route is to turn off the N2 at Mtubatuba on to the R618 and
proceed towards Hlabisa and travel for 27 kms to Nyalazi Gate.
Pets are not permitted into the reserve.
"No entry fees will be charged for visits by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Primary and
Secondary School groups, from KZN Schools to KZN Protected Areas and St Lucia
Crocodile Centre provided that such visits:
1. are authorised by the Head of the school
2. are booked in advance with the Officer in Charge of the Protected Area or
Crocodile Centre
3. do not take place over weekends, during KZN Provincial school holidays or
Public Holidays".
Facilities for people with disabilities:
Provisions for people with disabilities have been made in Hilltop Camp
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