Mkhuze Game
Reserve
Founded
on the 15th of February 1912, the Mkhuze (often also
spelled Mkuze) Game Reserve's main claim to fame is the
richness of its birdlife, with over 400 recorded species being found in
the approximately 40 000 ha that the reserve covers.
It’s
located in Northern Zululand South Africa, about 335km (208 miles) from Durban
along the N2 which is the main north coast road. The hides which
overlook the pans and waterholes here are some of the best that you
will find in any game area in Southern Africa particularly if your
interests are wildlife and bird photography.
Even
though the area is rightly famous for its bird watching opportunities,
the diversity of habitats ensures a wide variety of animal life too.
The
reserve management has been actively re-introducing species that
previously occurred in this area like elephant, cheetah and wild dog.
Mkhuze
Game Reserve Map
A satellite
map is a wonderful thing because you can magnify any part of it in high
resolution to see exactly what's going on at ground level. Use the
controls in the left hand corner or double click to get a closer look.
You can
clearly see the crescent shaped waterhole located close to the
Nhlonhlela Lodge. Click on the icons to get the relevant descriptions...
View Larger
Map
Mkhuze
Distance Calculator
Based on an average speed of 30km/h (19mph)
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Being small, Mkhuze travel distances are
short. This calculator works out the distances and times from Mantuma
rest camp to various points in the reserve.
There is an interior road network of about
100km (62 miles) and the portions that
link Mantuma rest camp with the
Mshopi entrance gate in the west and the Ophansi gate in the east are
tarred. The road south from Mantuma rest camp is also tarred for 7.5 km
(4.6 miles).
The rest of the roads are gravel and can be
driven using a normal sedan vehicle during the dry winter
months, but once the rainy season comes around it would be better to
use a 4x4 vehicle to avoid getting stuck in the mud.
These mud holes, created by vehicles in the
wet season that dry and set to create very uneven terrain at other
times of the year, but if you drive slowly there will be no problem
getting around.
Best
Time to Go
Because the bird sighting opportunities are
so phenomenal in Mkhuze it's better to go when the migratory species
arrive back in Africa from mid October onwards to take full advantage
of the birding bonanza.
This unfortunately doesn't coincide with the
best time for wildlife viewing which is in the cooler, dry winter
months of July to September. There is then less water occurring freely
in the bush which means your chances of seeing wildlife at the
waterholes is very good. Vegetation also thins out during the dry
months
which makes for easier wildlife watching.
Mkuze
Game Reserve History
Over the 90 plus years of the reserves
existence it hasn't all been plain sailing. There have been threats
from both poachers and the farming community who have encroached on the
land for their own interests.
In the 1960s, Mkhuze Game Reserve played an
instrumental part in helping save the white rhino when populations of
these magnificent animals were relocated here from the
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve for protection.
They did very well in the reserve until a recent
severe drought affected them and a management decision was made to move
the rhinos to the eastern shores of Lake St Lucia to ensure their
survival. The drought has since broken and the population is recovering
well.
Future plans for the reserve include dropping the fences with the direct neighbouring Phinda conservancy in an
attempt to increase the area available for conservation.
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