Nselweni Bush Camp – Jeremy Williamson

Deep in the Umfolozi Game Reserve, on the banks of the Black uMfolozi River, a 'community' Bush Lodge has been constructed, the Nselweni Bush Camp, part of the various accommodation options found in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park.

Nselweni Bush Camp is a 10 X 2 bed rather unique styled self-catering chalet option. The rooms have the kitchen and private bathrooms in brick, with the bedroom between these two solid structures.

This bedroom has a tented backdrop and roof, with  large folding multi glazed doors leading out onto the partially covered veranda.

All this covered in a large tent shade awning, which keeps the rooms pleasantly cool. This then leads to the braai area where guests may barbecue.

Ramp access, veranda and braai stand

Our view of the braai from the bathroom, love the large sliding windows

All the rooms at the Nselweni Bush Camp have ramps for easy wheelchair access, the bathrooms have extra grab-handles making this camp very suitable for the mobility impaired.

There are smooth concrete pathways leading from the car park, to the rooms and to the central lounge / dining / view deck area, accessed by all guests. With the camp trolley, this makes taking up ones accommodation and leaving with all ones goods and chattels easy.

The projecting spur affording best river views from the central area

Lounge area with limited channel DSTV, fireplace in the annexe

This center may be booked for conferences or group gatherings. Guests booking five or more chalets are entitled to utilise this facility with its central kitchen.

Central kitchen for groups and conferences

A chef could then be arranged to assit with meal preparation.

Nselweni Bush Camp is administered by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, with proceeds from guest occupancy going to the local communities outside the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park.

The Nselweni Bush Camp is electrified, 220V limited amperage power. This is from solar panels and an array of batteries, then through an inverter to your rooms. So no toasters, electric kettles, heaters or air-conditioners.

The solar panels providing the electricity No longer functional, replaced by a limited hours generator.

The battery banks with solar panels above, hidden in seating which leads onto the boma No longer operational

What the Nselweni Bush Lodge does have is 24 hour power for an electric fan and good lighting. To keep warm in winter there is ample warm bedding, there is also a boma for a fire, as well as a fireplace in the main central venue. Some rooms have gas heaters. Bring own firwood for the boma

Bedroom with door into the bathroom

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The kettles in the rooms are heated on the gas stoves with the shower and basin hot water also heated by gas. An unusual kitchen appliance and so welcome, there is a coffee percolator, much appreciated, my Bodum remained in the box.
Guests may plug in their own hair dryer, shaver, as well as charging devices for cameras and mobile phones etc. RSA three pin, so bring 2 prong etc adaptors as needed.

Some of the units have river views

The camp is protected from elephant egress with a well maintained high level electric fence. This however only stops elephant entering the camp environs. We had a rather persistent hyena gain access to our room through the open door whilst we were inside. Non aggressive it was, but take care.

Lana photographing the departure of the hyena

Baboon and monkeys can also be a problem and the windows and doors do not have screens / guards to prevent them entering, so keep all doors and windows closed on leaving the room. Take care at night when walking between buildings. The paths are lit, but I suggest taking a torch in order to check the surrounds. Not good walking up on buffalo! Children are allowed at Nselweni but this environment is not conducive for children playing in such an unprotected environment, take special care.

The screening of the elephant from the camp is a necessary precaution as these massive animals can and do wreak havoc with water pipes and the vegetation in such bushveld camps. Take particular care when approaching elephant when driving in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park, of late, there have been a number of incidences of bulls – completely unprovoked, charging vehicles with intent. Keep a good 50 meters from elephant and be aware, one could approach from a different direction to the ones you are observing.

The rooms are serviced daily, cleaned and beds made. Dish washing fluid and cleaning cloths are supplied as well as matches for lighting the gas oven.  Check in, is at Mpila Camp and guests are allowed to take up occupancy from 14h00 and must depart by 10h00 on their last day. One may enter the Park from early morning gate opening time. For guests wanting to go on a guided walk or game drive,

Mpila Camp game drive vehicle

these must be arranged at the Mpila camp office and departures will be from there. Special permission to return to Nselweni Bush camp after the evening game drive can be made.

The entrance gate closure times are strictly enforced. The camps in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park run at high occupancies, secure your accommodation reservations before arrival through farwild@africasafari.co.za  We welcome any queries with regards to a proposed visit.

All photographs by Jeremy, Tony and Lana Williamson

Mpila Camp accommodation – Jeremy Williamson

Some content updated 2023. Services, times and facilities change without warning, please check all necessary information. This is merely a guideline.

Mpila Camp is a self-catering accommodation venue in the Umfolozi (southern) sector of the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park. Accessed off the N2 north from Durban, by taking the exit at Mtubatuba onto the R618 (traveling west) to the game reserve, approximately 2,5 hours to the gate from Durban and then about 45 minutes to Mpila Camp, at game viewing speed, well it really depends on the game sightings en route.

The condition of the road network in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park is being addressed, with  substantial  refurbishment of the tarred sections already completed in this southern sector. There is still much to be done to repair the tarred roads in the northern Hluhluwe Game Reserve sector, which are badly pot-holed. Repairs are estimated to be completed by the first quarter of 2016. On a recent visit to the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park I traveled the dirt roads extensively and found them to be in fairly good repair with some being very good.

2 bed chalets at Mpila Camp

Mpila Camp has accommodation for 100 guests in chalet and tented units. The chalets have panoramic vistas eastwards over the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park.(With bush encroachment, this has all changed, with limited outlook 2023)  Mpila Camp is not fenced, although there is a ‘high’ elephant deterrent electric wire around the camp. This seems to keep these large pachyderms out of the camp, whilst allowing all other forms of wildlife access, take care at night, take a torch and stay close to your accommodation.

7 bed cottage at Mpila Camp - lounge dining room

The two 7 bed cottages are brick under thatch with 3 bedrooms, two with twin beds and the third bedroom having three single beds. No double bed options at Mpila Camp.

Twin bedroom

There is a large lounge / dining room leading out onto a covered veranda.

Note the fireplace

The kitchen is ample in size with a gas stove, electric fridge, a chest freezer and all necessary basic utensils along with a range of cutlery and crockery. Cleaning materials are provided.

There is a bathroom, a separate toilet and also a separate shower.

7 bed chalet veranda

The view from Mpila Camp chalets

Off the veranda and away from the rather vulnerable (to fire) thatched roof is a braai stand . Hyena’s patrol the camp in the evenings, hoping to purloin some tasty morsel, so be vigilant, they have been known to remove meat from the hot grid.

The services of a caretaker / cook is included in the tariff for the 7 bed cottages, this is subject to change and is not guaranteed. The unit is serviced daily and if there is a cook will be able to assist with food preparation during office hours. There is no air-conditioning at Mpila Camp as the electricity is by generator, (limited hours), there are ceiling fans in the rooms which go off when the generator is shut down..

5 bed chalet - Mpila Camp

The six 5 bed chalets have two bedrooms, a twin and a triple,

with a bathroom with shower and a separate toilet.

There is a lounge dining room leading out onto a covered veranda with a garden braai unit for guests to barbecue.

The kitchen has a stove and fridge along with necessary basic utensils, cutlery and crockery. These units have ceiling fans and are serviced daily.

The 2 bed chalets are located in two groups of 6 units.

These rooms have the kitchenette within the main bedroom which includes a dining table as well.

2 bed chalet - Mpila Camp - mosquito nets above the beds

 The en suite bathroom has a shower, hand-basin and toilet.

A covered deck leads out to the braai unit and has a gate to prevent the hyena entering the deck / chalet.

2 bed chalet with screen door and gate onto veranda

All chalets except for No 1, have steps up to the veranda. No 1 has a ramp suitable for wheel chair access. The tents also have steps up to the deck.

The safari tents, of which there are two 4 bed and twelve 2 bed units, are set on the western side of the camp, in a grove of Black Monkey Thorn, Acacia Burkei which provide some shade.

One of the 4 bed Safari tent units

twin beds, fan, door to private shower, toilet and basin en suite

Each of the zipper doored tents have their own private shower, hand-basin and toilet en suite, this accessed through a wooden door.

The tents are on raised decks with the kitchen units separate. These now have secure doors to prevent the filching by the local wildlife.

April 2023 image above

Note electric fridges, best to keep closed when the electricity is off

Along with the hyena and bushpigs, the vervet monkeys and baboon can be a nuisance. I have seen monkeys entering a car to see what food they can filch whilst guest were busy unpacking. They are pretty quick and  daring.

Off the deck, each of the tented units has a braai stand.

There is a shop at Mpila Camp where very basic supplies can be had, I suggest that you do bring all you deem you will need, as supplies can be erratic. Ice, can be bought at the shop. The water is safe for bathing and cooking but it is suggested that you supply your own drinking water.

Unleaded petrol is available at Mpila Camp. Check that they have stock of petrol before allowing your tank to get too empty. Mpila Camp has been known to run out of this fuel supply. Diesel is available at Hilltop Camp some 47 kms away. Most credit card payments accepted.

The Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park is a low risk Malaria area in summer. Mosquito nets are provided over the beds.

Guided game drives are available early mornings and late afternoons into the evenings. These last approximately 3 hours, cannot be prebooked and may only be booked on arrival at the camp. Guided walks too, subject to availability of Field Rangers, very limited.

Guided walks are available, although these are limited to the availability of a ranger.

Maps of the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Park are normally available at the entrance gates and Mpila and Hilltop Camps. There are three gates to the Park, Nyalazi off the R618 from Mtubatuba / Nongoma, the Memorial Gate accessed from Hluhluwe village interchange off the N2, and the Cengeni Gate in the west which gives access to Ulundi.

On arrival at the gate you will needs provide your booking reference number, you will be given a form with all your pertinent info on it. On checking in at Mpila Camp this will be cross checked and an exit permit issued, keep it safe you will need it on departure.

Mpila Camp reception

Should you arrive at the camp after 18h00 when the office closes, your name will be on a board outside the office with your room number. Take up occupancy and check in at reception the following morning.

The norm is for guests to drive themselves within the Park, you may only use the public road network and may not get out of ones vehicle other than at designated points such as this pic-nic site on the Sontuli Loop.

Braai stands, tables and flush toilets

Refurbished by the Umfolozi Honorary Rangers

Guests may drive through to Hilltop Camp where there is a restaurant, this would only be available for breakfasts and lunches, as guests are not permitted to drive after the ‘gate closing’ at 18h00 in winter and 19h00 in summer. Its an approximate 1,5 to 2 hour drive from Hilltop Camp back to Mpila Camp, too late for dinner and then to get back timeously to Mpila Camp.

There are two hides in the southern sector of Umfolozi which are worth visiting, especially in winter when there is little surface water about.

Lana at the entrance to the screened walkway to Bhejane Hide

This was taken after a recent rainfall and the wildlife had moved to areas where the vegetation had been less impacted upon.

The accommodation in the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park is generally well booked, it is important to prebook prior to your intended visit, contact our reservations on farwild@africasafari.co.za for bookings and information.

All photographs by Jeremy and Lana Williamson