Zululand

Lush, waist-high green- grassed hillsides dotted with acacia trees and shrubs drape the landscape of the Zululand Rhino Reserve and it is hard to believe that this area was heavily grazed cattle ranches in the not so distant past. In 2004, 17 visionary landowners dropped their internal fences to create the “Big Five” reserve that is home to 70 mammal species and a large diversity of birdlife. The reserve has obviously been extremely well managed since that time given the quality of the veld and the healthy glistening herds of Impala, Burchelles Zebra, Nyala, Blue Wildebeest and Giraffe.

Lying within the heart of Zululand and at the base of Ghost Mountain itself lies the Ghost Mountain Inn.This birder-friendly establishment is the perfect launch-point for a number of photographic activities that includes day trips to the Mkuze Game Reserve, boat cruises on Lake Jozini and cultural tours in the near-by villages. 

Lying close to the Big 5 game reserves of Zululand and the shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Sand Forest Lodge is the perfect stopover and a highlight on the Zululand Birding Route. With one of the few remaining patches of Sand Forest and a large variety of indigenous trees planted throughout the open grassland of the property, the site is excellent for birding and photography.

First proclaimed in 1894, Pongola Game Reserve is the oldest game reserve in South Africa. Today it hosts a wide variety of game species including African Elephant, Black and White Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Leopard and many species of antelope, Zebra and Giraffe.

Bordering the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Bonamanzi Private Game Reserve is one of the Zululand Birding Routes best locations that boasts an impressive species list of around 350 bird species, that includes Pink-Throated Twinspot, African Broadbill, Rudd’s Apalis and Southern Banded Snake-Eagle.