Lana and I felt like visiting the Mkhuze Game Reserve in
northern KwaZulu-Natal, Zululand and its hides for a week-end. The Game Reserve is some 40,000 ha in extent. We had booked into Mantuma Camp, the principal accommodation venue
in the Mkuze Game Reserve.
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| 4 bed chalet |
On the way to Mkhuze we decided to access the Game
Reserve via the slightly longer route through the Village of Mkuze, primarily
to fuel up. This took approximately 4 hours to Mantuma Camp from Durban, with
the return trip via the really excellent, more direct dirt road section, taking
us 3,5 hours.
The roads to Mkuze Game Reserve are in pretty good condition
except for a horrendously potholed short tarred section where the road
traverses over a steep ridge, part of the Lebombo Mountain. Within the Mkuze Game Reserve the roads from
the two gates and a ring road are tar, mostly in good condition. Some sections
near Nsumo Pan, the tar is almost non existent or potholed. The network of gravel
roads vary from good to fairly stony and rough, but still accessible to a sedan car.
Check in at Mantuma camp is from 14h00. Should guests arrive after the office has
closed at 16h30, names adjacent to the relevant chalet are posted on a board
outside the reception. The Mantuma Camp reception at Mkuze has a curio shop as
well as a grocery section, where basic food requirement could be met. I would
be inclined to take all own supplies, as a full spectrum of ones requirements
might not be available at the camp shop. There are frozen meats, some venison
too on offer, some basic necessities along with an assortment of drinks
including some wines and beers.
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| Gardens of the 2 bed resthuts |
If all fails there is the Mantuma Camp Rhino-dine-O which
provides a range of the typically South African take-away type meals. The diner
is open around breakfast, then again at lunch as well as late afternoon,
closing at 18h00.
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| The Rhino-dine-O |
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| Rhino-dine-O alfresco dining area, there is a covered area for when the weather is inclement. |
Mantuma Camp is not fenced at this stage – except for the
swimming pool – this results in a number of antelope seeking haven ? within the
camp grounds.
There is the very real danger that predators such as lion could
enter the area with the intention of preying on this concentration of
animals.
Vervet monkeys and the Chacma
Baboons have also learned that easy pickings are often available. Keep the
windows and doors closed when you are not there!
The grounds have a variety of trees, shrubs and plants which
in turn attract a wide diversity of birds, there is even a hide near reception
with water, which attracts the camp resident wildlife. The uMkhuze Game Reserve
has a rich diversity of plant species.
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| Impala lily |
Lana and I unpacked our vehicle – the kitchen had all basic
utensils and appliances. A large fridge with a small ice tray, more ice
available at the Mantuma Camp shop. There is a microwave, toaster and kettle
along with a 3 plate electric stove and oven in the 2 bed chalets and a 4 plate
in the larger units. Drinking water is provided in a large plastic container.
The tap water is suitable for bathing and cooking. On the patio at each unit
there is a barbecue stand where guests need to supply their own charcoal for
their braais. Charcoal available at the shop as well.
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| Braai for one of the adjoining 2 bed chalets |
The Mkuze Game Reserve can be rather warm in summer, we
visited recently at the end of August , (winter), and the day temps peaked at
31 deg. The 4 and 6 bed chalets have recently had air-conditioners installed in
the lounge / dining rooms.
The Mkuze Game Reserve is generally quite densely wooded,
making general game viewing a tad more difficult when driving on the road
network. Taking ones time and driving slowly should produce some excellent
sightings.
Mkuze Game Reserve offers a guided walk in its Fig Tree
Forest. Accessed over a swing bridge where
dense forest birdlife proliferates, certainly worthwhile. Lana and I
were not able to include this on our recent brief visit, so will needs report
back when we do. Open vehicle guided game drives are also on offer. These last
approximately 2 hours and depart early mornings and late afternoons into the
evening.
Lana and I were here to see what we could photograph at the
relatively recently upgraded kuMasinga hide. So after off-loading all our
katunda, we checked our camera gear and headed for the hide.
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| kuMasinga Hide |
Down the long reed lined exclusion corridor to the silence
of Kumasinga hide. This hide can probably accommodate 30 visitors at a pinch.
We found a slot and readied ourselves.
As the light faded we returned to our chalet, started a fire
for the braai, and dinner it was. That night I was awakened by the resonating
call of lion vocalising, they were quite close to Mantuma camp, such a special
sound and experience, especially when in contrast, one is used to the stressed
screaming of a poor motor vehicle driven by some driver venting on the city
streets.
Up before dawn and ready to depart at 06h00, the time guests
are allowed to leave camp. Lana and I arrived at kuMasinga hide to find a
photographic course was in progress, with most slots in the hide taken. Seems
that the authorities are not aware of this early start transgression ?
We managed to squeeze into a gap and our morning hide
session commenced. These hides offer incredible photographic opportunities of
all the animal species found in the Game Reserve and is particularly productive
during the drier winter months.
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| Nyala ewes |
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| Nyala bull |
We were fortunate to have a good selection of animals and
birds arriving to slake their thirst.
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| Blue Wildebeest |
Back for breakfast and to explore more of the Mkhuze Game
Reserve. We drove to another hide which has yet to be completed, the roof
presently needs to be added. Then on to Nsumo Pan to see the potential there.
Loads of water fowl, hippo and a few crocodile adorning the banks and shallows.
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| Nsumo Pan pic-nic site |
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| Nsumo Pan hide view |
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| Goliath Heron |
The bush is in the main, fairly dense in the Mkhuze Game
Reserve, but we were fortunate to see a variety of
antelope including Red duiker, zebra, giraffe
and buffalo. A delightful reserve where sightings of lion, cheetah and wild dog
is fairly common. One guest, who had been staying in the uMkhuze Game Reserve
for a week, had had amazing viewing at the hides, of all the high profile
animals and birds.
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| Purple-crested Turaco |
For the serious photographer, one needs to spend a fair amount of time
at the hides to secure a diverse array of animal sightings.Booking for accommodation at Mkuze Game Reserve as well as for all KZN Wildlife Game Reserves and resorts contact farwild@africasafari.co.za
All photographs by Jeremy and Lana Williamson
