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Mkuze Game Reserve
Mkhuze (also spelt Mkuze), is a place of great beauty and makes up the
northwestern spur of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park - a recently
declared World Heritage Site.
It is a land of great contrasts with an interesting range of habitats.
There are low lying hollows adjacent to ancient red sand dunes ridges and
broad stretches of gently rolling acacia savannah. The slopes of the
Lebombo mountains to the west, contrast with low-lying swamps, riverine
forests including attractive stretches of fig trees, and a variety of
woodlands. In the heart of the reserve is a rare sand forest, noted for
its spreading, dark-leafed sherbert trees and red heart trees, which
release pink-winged seeds in the autumn. Two shallow water pans,
Inhlonhlela and Insumo lie in the north and east, and are lined with water
lilies in summer attract hippos, crocodiles and considerable bird life.
The reserve is open to the public for self drive safaris, and the trail
through one of Africa's last remaining unspoiled fig tree forests is very
popular. There are three observation platforms in the reserve overlooking
pans and waterholes where animals come to drink A sacred burial site of
chiefs of the Kwajobe clan is located in this reserve and only clan
members may go there and commune with their ancestors. For a glimpse into
the traditional northern Zulu lifestyle and the crafts of the KwaJobe
community, a cultural village has been opened nearby.
ANIMALS & BIRDS
Animals to be found in the reserve include giraffe, elephant, black
and white rhinoceros, leopard, nyala, warthog, blue wildebeest, impala,
kudu, eland and smaller antelope. Other rarely seen species occurring here
are cheetah, hyena and little suni dwarf-antelope.. More than 420 bird
species are on record, including many migrants and waterbirds including
two species of pelicans.
SEASONS
Rainy Season: The temperate climate is very pleasant but a hot and
humid summer commences in October with thunderstorms, which come to an end
around March. The summer rains bring the park to life although the thick
foliage makes animals harder to view.
Dry Season: The dry winter months from April to September are very
pleasant with warm days and cool nights. The best game viewing is normally
considered to be in winter as the vegetation becomes sparse and water is
restricted to rivers and waterholes.
MKHUZE GAME RESERVE SPECIALITIES
Exceptional birdlife · Scenic beauty · Good animal watching · Zulu
village · Hippos and crocodiles
FACTS
Mkhuze is a 99,000 acres (40,000 hectare) reserve in northern
Zululand.
It was proclaimed as a protected area in 1912.
This is a malarial area.
This is a public reserve containing several lodges.
Off road driving is not permitted.
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