Written by Nina van Zyl

Thanda Game Reserve

Thanda Game Reserve is a 14.000 ha private game reserve in the north of KwaZulu-Natal, near the border with Eswatini. Named after the Zulu word for "love", the reserve is managed with a deep commitment to Zulu culture and environmental conservation. There are 3 luxury properties on the reserve, including Thanda Safari Lodge, which has repeatedly been named the World's Leading Luxury Game Lodge. Visitors have the opportunity to experience the unique natural wilderness of the area, including unforgettable sightings of the Big 5. 

What to look out for:

One of the best things about a stay in Thanda is the opportunity to get involved in its conservation activities. Guests can join its specialist rhino monitors to locate and record the free-roaming rhinos in the reserve.

Manyoni Private Game Reserve 

Manyoni Private Game Reserve is a premier Big 5 safari destination in the heart of Zululand – an area that’s known for its exciting game viewing and rich cultural heritage. With its focus on conserving endangered animals and empowering local communities, Manyoni supports the animals and people of the reserve. The 23.000 ha reserve was initially formed as part of the World Wildlife Foundation’s black rhino range expansion project. Today, the reserve is a haven for both black and white rhinos, and other endangered and threatened animal species like cheetahs and pangolins. Manyoni has a wide range of luxury lodges for guests to choose from. Best of all, the reserve is only a 3-hour drive from Durban and 6 from Johannesburg. 

What to look out for:

Manyoni offers guests the opportunity to join the wildlife management team during the necessary – and completely harmless – dehorning of the reserve's rhinos. 

Phinda Private Game Reserve

The &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve is an impressive 29.886 ha area of protected KwaZulu-Natal wildland. A notable feature of Phinda is that it is made up of 7 distinct habitats, ranging from woodlands and wetlands to forests and mountain ranges. The name, Phinda, comes from the Zulu word for “return”, which is a term at the heart of the reserve's activities. Phinda is committed to reintroducing animal species that once roamed freely and plentifully in the area, and has returned the area’s previous farmland to its natural pristine state. The reserve is part of a groundbreaking initiative to re-establish Temminck's ground pangolin in the region. 

What to look out for:

Take part in the privately-guided pangolin research experience, tracking and monitoring the endangered pangolins that live on the reserve.

Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park

Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa and the only state-run park in KwaZulu-Natal where all members of the Big 5 can be found. The 96.000 ha park is known for its rich wildlife and successful conservation efforts. Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park is seen as the birthplace of southern white rhino preservation, after successfully breeding this species back from near extinction. Today, the park has one of the largest populations of white rhinos in the world. Guests to the reserve can choose to stay in any of the luxury lodges, tented camps, or even its self-catering accommodations. 

What to look out for:

The Centenary Capture Centre in the east of the park is a must-visit. Here, visitors can view rhinos up close in transit to their new homes. 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

Stretching along 280 km of the KZN coast, iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a massive protected area that includes 328.000 ha of stunning wilderness, from colourful coral reefs and pristine beaches to freshwater marshes and fauna-rich bush. The park was the first UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in South Africa and today is the third largest park in the country. It is also home to myriad animal species, like leatherback turtles, elephants, dolphins, whales, crocodiles, hippos, and a variety of unique bird life. With its eye-catching underwater ecosystems, the park is a must-visit destination for scuba divers (click here for our best scuba spots in South Africa). Large parts of the park are still truly wild and can only be traversed using a 4x4 vehicle. 

What to look out for:

Watch a baby leatherback turtle hatch and make its way down the beach to the sea for its first swim.

Explore the wet and wild KwaZulu-Natal

KZN has some truly exceptional game reserves that will prove to be the highlight of any traveller’s time in South Africa. Keen to explore the area for yourself? Head over to our website to book a trip and we’ll make it happen.