IMFOLOZI MPILA CAMP
Provincial Wildlife Park Accommodation
in Hluhluwe, Zululand & Maputuland,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Please note that there is a water shortage at Mpila Camp. Guests are requested to use water sparingly.

'Imfolozi' the heart of the Zulu Kingdom, the home of the White Rhino, where wilderness trails take you along mighty rivers wandering through thorn savannah inhabited by the big five of African legend. Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park is the oldest game reserve in Africa proclaimed in 1895.

It was the exclusive hunting preserve of the Zulu kings who protected the area by proclaiming conservation laws long before any formal protection.
The game pits in which animals were trapped can still be seen today. Game viewing is the prime attraction. Viewing hides overlook pans and 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 it is famed include its wilderness trails which originated in Imfolozi in the 1950s and its renowned Game Capture unit recently upgraded into the Centenary Capture Centre which is a bench mark for animal capture and sustainable utilization in Africa.

Hluhluwe Imfolozi covers some 96 000 ha and an immense diversity of fauna and flora occurs in this region. 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. There are a number of picnic sites providing magnificent views. Two daily walks in the company of a field ranger can be booked through the camp office.

Please take note that the water supply in the river at the Mpila and uMganu pump stations is critical. Please could you ensure that you use water sparingly during your stay at Mpila Camp.

Mpila Camp
Centrally situated in the Imfolozi section, Mpila Camp commands magnificent views of the Wilderness area.

Mpila also has two self-contained 3-bedroomed cottages, each accommodating seven people, with a cook on hand to prepare food supplied by guests. For smaller groups, there are also six self-catering chalets which accommodate five people each. These have two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, and a lounge/diningroom. The Safari Tented Camp at Mpila consists of thirteen 2 - bedded and two 4 - bedded units, all with kitchen and bathroom en-suite. An optional third bed is available in each tent on request. Each unit has a verandah and is electrified. A fully equipped kitchen and dining area is connected to each tent by a wooden boardwalk. Barbecue facilities are available. These units are self-catering and are serviced daily. Unleaded petrol, only, is available, and a curio shop, stocking a variety of things, such as cool drinks, curios, books and clothing can be purchased from the Mpila Camp Shop, but no provisions or restaurant facilities are provided. The curio shop also stocks a fair selection of basic groceries, but supply of fresh vegetables, meat and perishables (cheese and bread) can be quite erratic.

Mpila have recently been upgraded all the old rest huts to 2 - bed chalets with ensuite bathrooms, kitchenettes (equipped with a stove and fridge) and a lovely wooden deck on the front. All twelve 2 - bedded chalets are self-catering units, with crockery and utensils provided. Each unit has a veranda, is electrified and has braai facilities available. These self contained units have 2 beds, but an additional pull out beds, suitable only for children, can be requested. Guests are requested to note that Mpila is powered by a generator, which runs daily between 07h00 and 22h00 only.

Other accommodation available nearby is the Masinda Lodge, Gqoyeni Bush Lodge, Hlatikulu Bush Lodge and Nselweni.

Activities

With it's huge diversity of wildlife, landscapes and scenery, it's accommodation that ranges from the luxurious Hilltop camp through bush lodges like Gqoyeni to the african experience of the tented camp at Mpila, the reserve offers many options to its visitors.

Open vehicle night and day drives provide unique opportunities for viewing game.

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.

Day Walks:
Short day walks of approximately two hours are conducted from Mpila Camp under the supervision of an experienced field ranger. These walks may be booked at the Reception. A 3 hour guided walk in the mornings and afternoons are conducted, times of which are season dependent.

Picnic Sites:
Several sites with ablution and barbecue facilities are situated throughout the park.

Game Drives:
Open vehicle night drives provide unique opportunities for viewing game. A knowledgeable guide is at hand to answer questions . Booking is at Reception. Day drives are also available, dependent on the availabilty of guides, and should be requested about at the Reception.

Wilderness Trails:
Available from the 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 Imfolozi 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. Various trails (Base camp trails, short wilderness trails, extended short wilderness trails, 3/4 night primitive trails, and an explorer trail) are offered. These trails run from March to November. The summer bush veld trails are conducted between November and March.

Weekend Wilderness Trails:
Weekend wilderness trails begin at 13h30 on Friday afternoons and end on Sunday afternoons , with two nights spent at tented camp in the bush. 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

Trails are run throughout the year in various formats and wildlife parks, aimed to include people from all walks of life and enable them to enjoy the Wilderness experience, as well as the broad diversity of fauna and flora, ecological habitat and landforms that characterise KwaZulu Natal.As well as simply providing a pristine and wholesome environment for spiritual, mental and physical rejuvenation, the role of KZN Wildlife Wilderness Trails is also of inestimable value as a forum for informing people experientially of the importance of conserving wild area's, maintaining protected area's and treating with respect the world's dwindling natural resources in the face of an onslaught of advancing technology.

Imfolozi Wilderness Trails:
Imfolozi Game Reserve runs five types of trail in a designated wilderness area, each with it's own ethos and flavour. On all trails you are accompanied by trained, professional wilderness guides who lead you through the area, helping to ensure your safety and facilitate an holistic experience of Wilderness. The Imfolozi Wilderness is a so called 'Big Five' area, and there is always a chance of walking into a black rhino, buffalo or elephant, along with many other species. Trailists have seen wild dog on foot, leopard, cheetah and lions. Also there is a rich diversity of plants and trees which man can live on, and which are still used extensively in Zulu cultural practices for food and natural medicines. There are a host of insects and birds, amphibious creatures and reptiles which will fascinate you. Your wilderness guide will help you to understand some of the vast natural and cultural riches of the area and how they interact, and together you will endeavour to discover where we as mankind find our niche in the whole of life.

Specific Trails Formats:
Base Trails
Duration: 3 Nights
Camp: Mndindini- 2 beds per (3mx3m) tent; shower & toilet with piped water; fridge for drinks.
Staff: Trails Officer; Field Ranger; Cook
After booking in at Mpila camp the visitors are sent to Mndindini Trails Camp where they settle into their tents. The visitors may begin arriving at Mndindini at 15:00 where they are greeted by a Field Ranger and Cook. At approximately 17:00 the Trails Officer arrives to meet the guests and do a trails briefing.
On the following 2 days the visitors leave the camp in the morning after breakfast and spend the entire day in the wilderness area. Trailists carry only daypacks with their personal affects, water and lunch. On the final day the group goes on a morning walk and returns to Mndindini for lunch. The guests then pack and leave- departure time is 15:00.

Primitive Trails
Duration: 4 nights
Camp: No set camp- the Trails Officer chooses a site for the trail to camp for the night. The guests sleep under the stars. Light weight tents are provided for bad weather.
Staff: Trails Officer; Field Ranger
This trail is fully catered (all equipment; bedding; food), the guests are required to assist with food preparation, camp setup and take turns to keep watch at night.
NO SPECIAL DIETS ARE CATERED FOR!
After booking in at Mpila Camp by 10:30 the group is met by the trails staff and trailists pack their backpacks. Trailists then receive a light lunch and briefing before setting off.
The trail spends 4 nights and 3 full days in the wilderness area. On the last day the trail finishes by 10:30.

Short Trail
Departure Days: Friday; Sunday
Duration: 2 nights
Camp: Both nights are spent at a satellite camp within the iMfolozi wilderness area. The toilet consists of a spade; toilet paper and matches and there is a bucket shower in a tree with warm water. Bedding consists of 2 mattresses in a 3mX3m dome tent.
This trail is fully catered- bedding, food, backpack and water bottle are provided.
Staff: Trails Officer; Field Ranger; Cook.
Visitors book in at Mpila Camp by 12:00. (No Lunch is provided on the day of booking in)and are then met by the trails staff and receive a trails briefing. The group then packs their bags and carries them approximately 7km to the satellite camp. (Guests who overnight at Mpila before the trail can organize to have the bulk of their personal affects carried in to the satellite camp by donkey in donkey bags which will be made available on request. These bags must be packed and ready at Mpila camp by 16:00 the day before the trail.
The group walks out on the third day carrying only their personal affects and lunch. The trail finishes after lunch on the third day.

Eextended Short Trail
Departure Day: Tuesday
Duration: 3 nights
Camp: All three nights are spent at a satellite camp within the iMfolozi wilderness area. The toilet consists of a spade; toilet paper and matches and there is a bucket shower in a tree with warm water. Bedding consists of 2 mattresses per 3mX3m dome tent.
This trail is fully catered- bedding, food, backpack and water bottle are provided.
Staff: Trails Officer; Field Ranger; Cook.
Visitors book in at Mpila Camp by 12:00. (No Lunch is provided on the day of booking in). They are met by the trails staff and receive a trails briefing. The group then packs their bags and carries them approximately 7km to the satellite camp. (Guests who overnight at Mpila before the trail can organize to have the bulk of their personal affects carried in to the satellite camp by donkey in donkey bags which will be made available. These bags must be packed and ready at Mpila camp by 16:00 the day before the trail.
The group walks out on the fourth day carrying only their personal affects and lunch. The trail finishes after lunch on the fourth day.

WITH THE EXTENDED SHORT AND SHORT TRAILS, IF AN ENTIRE TRAIL IS BOOKED OUT BY ONE GROUP AND IF THE TRAIL BOOKINGS ALLOW FOR IT THE GROUP WOULD BE ABLE TO BOOK 2 CONSECUTIVE TRAILS TO ALLOW FOR A LONGER TRAIL OF EITHER 4 NIGHTS OR 5 NIGHTS DEPENDING ON THE COMBINATION.

Bushveld Trails
Duration: 2 nights
Camp: Mndindini- 2 beds per 3mx3m tents; shower & toilet with piped water; fridge for drinks.
Staff: Trails Officer; Field Ranger; Cook
After booking in at Mpila camp the visitors are sent Mndindini Trails Camp where they settle in to the tents. The visitors begin arriving at Mndindini at 12:00 where they are greeted by a Field Ranger and Cook. At +14:00 the Trails Officer arrives to meet the guests and do a trails briefing. The group then goes out for an afternoon walk.
On the following day the visitors leave the camp for a morning walk after a light breakfast.
They return to Mndindini for brunch. The group then has the ‘heat of the day' to themselves. Trailists carry only daypacks with their personal affects, water and snacks. After an afternoon snack the group goes on an afternoon walk. On the final day they go on a morning walk and return to Mndindini for brunch. The guests then pack and leave- departure time is 11:30 am.
The morning and day walk split are due to the intense heat of the summer months.
Trailists can arrange to join the Mpila night drive. (normal night drive fees apply).

Note: All trails require a minimum number of four participants to be booked on the trail in order that the trail go out as scheduled. If this minimum number of participants is not booked, the trail will be cancelled timeously and any payments made, refunded. However participants have the option of paying the minimum charge for four people to ensure the trail takes place.

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