Description: Hluhluwe is one of the oldest and biggest rhino conservations and game reserves in the country. It covers 211,000 acres of land, so you won't have a problem spotting any wildlife. As soon as we drove in the park, we were greeted by a bunch of cheeky baboons who just sauntered past the car. Not far from the baboons were some hyenas; kudu, which is a sort of buck; and some rhino.
Driving around the park is lovely, and your ears and eyes senses are heightened. You cannot drive for just 1 day, as the park is so big and there is so much to see. You are not allowed to drive around the park at night.
There are many different options for lodging at this game reserve. We opted for the hilltop lodge, which is one of the oldest in the camp, and as its name describes, is on the summit of a hill that offers magnificent views of Hluhluwe. The lodging varies from luxury to self-catered. We opted for the self-catered chalet. At check-in, there is a bar-lounge that also offers the most amazing views, and wildlife is almost a hand reach away. There is also a curio shop where you can buy postcards, African art, and African crafts.
While staying at the hilltop, we opted to spend a few nights in the self-catered chalet. The chalet we stayed in had two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and beautiful views of the park. While sitting on the balcony, you can see the animals grazing, watch the different birds in the trees, and hear all the different animal sounds.
The next morning, we went on a guided hike through the park, which gives you a very up close and personal of all the animals. I was a little nervous as we walked up on three very large rhinos, but we were steered in the opposite direction and let them be. The rest of the walk, which is around 2 to 3 miles, was invigorating. We saw lots of buck, zebras, giraffe, and some more rhino. Once that was under our belt, we decided to jump in the car and drive at our own pace through the park. It was an awesome experience. We drove up on a herd of elephants on numerous occasions. Seeing them in their own environment was truly amazing.
The following night, we went on a night drive, which allowed to see all the nocturnal animals. We were lucky enough to see a cheetah and a lioness with her two cubs. We drove up on the elephants again, who decided to play with us and mock charge us; there’s nothing like an elephant charge to get your heart pumping a little quicker. On the way out of the camp the following day, we stopped at the little craft market, where the locals sell their arts and crafts, jewellery, and fruit. I would highly recommend doing a safari. It's not like the zoo.
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