Mkuze, Elephant Coast

The little village of Mkuze lies in the shadow of the Ubombo Mountains just 18 km west from the entrance gate of the Mkuze Game Reserve on the N2 north of Lake St Lucia. In this remote north eastern wilderness of Southern Africa, human presence is felt less and vast plantations of scrubland, freshwater pans and lakes form sanctuaries for rare plants, hippos, turtles and crocodiles.

Summer temperatures soar and winters are mild and, although the Mkuze Game Reserve tends to be overshadowed by the Hluhluwe and Umfolozi reserves, this area is worth a visit for the amazing variety of bird and animal life and the incredible range of plant species - over 700 - as well as the different reptile and amphibian species sheltered in the park.

Mkuze Game Reserve now forms part of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park with over 360 km² of land. It was proclaimed a protected area in 1912 and is a birdlife mecca with around 450 identified species of bird in the area. Mkuze’s landscape is one of contrasts - primarily flat, dry sandy dunes, some of which are over 2 million years old. There are also water pans, a river gorge embedded with marine fossils and a thick acacia forest. A rare giant fig tree forest lies on the banks of the Mkuze River, which curves along the northern and eastern borders of the reserve.

There are five pans throughout the park. Three of these - the Kubube, Kamasinga and Kwamalibala - are set up with viewing hides to provide some of the best game viewing in South Africa, especially during the drier months when these waterholes attract large numbers of game. The Hhlonhlela and Nsumo pans further north in the park are home to communities of hippo, crocodile and white and pink backed pelicans. Just outside the reserve is the legendary Ghost Mountain, which towers over the Mkuze River, said to be haunted as a cave near its summit was a burial place for chiefs of the Ndwandwe family, who were often in conflict with Shaka.

Please note, this is a malaria risk area and precautions do need to be taken when travelling to the region.