NTSHONDWE/MANTUMA/MPILA-SELF CATERING

DAY ONE
NTSHONDWE CAMP
ITHALA GAME RESERVE
Arrive at Ithala Game Reserve at 14H00 and make your way from the gate to Ntshondwe Camp. Your big game safari starts now as game viewing here is excellent and you will certainly see various antelope, giraffe and probably white rhino on your way to the camp.
The friendly staff will book you in and show you to your comfortable self catering chalet.
Unpack and relax after your journey. At 16H30 take some light refreshments and do one of the shorter game viewing roads such as the Ngulubeni Loop. It boasts two magnificent view sites which allow you to leave your vehicle and do a short walk to look out over the steep, wooded Mhulumbela River valley and further on to stand at the top of rocky cliffs and look out over the spectacular Phongola River valley. An ideal spot for sundowners.

DAY TWO
NTSHONDWE CAMP
ITHALA GAME RESERVE
Waking early and taking your supplies for a bush breakfast, set off down the Dakaneni loop road. This drops from the camp just below the Ngotshe escarpment at 1400m down to the Phongola River at 400m through wooded gorges and rocky cliffs. Here you can see the shy narina trogon, magnificent waterbuck and often black rhino. At the Phongola picnic site cross the swing bridge and have your breakfast under the shady fig trees and explore the river banks keeping a watchful eye open for game. Lunch back at the camp watching the birds and rock hyraxes in the natural bush around your chalet. In the afternoon drive the Ngubhu Loop in an anti clockwise direction so the late afternoon sun is at your back as you drive along the road that circles the deep Ngubhu basin. Rhino, elephant, buffalo as well as a large variety of antelope can be seen on this drive.

DAY THREE
MANTUMA CAMP
MKHUZE GAME RESERVE   
Rising with the sun, walk through the camp past the swimming pool and along the Plum Coloured Starling path which takes you to a high spot overlooking the camp just below Ntshondwe Peak. Birds and small mammals are very active at this time of the day.
Return to your chalet for breakfast and to pack leaving before 10H00. Make your way via Louwsburg and Magudu to Mkhuze Game Reserve. One possible route is via the Rooirand, a gravel road through thick unspoiled thornbush which is very scenic. Arriving at Mkhuze Game Reserve make your way to Mantuma Camp with its welcoming staff and comfortable chalets. As this is the heat of the day make your way to the swimming pool for a refreshing dip before setting off again for a drive to Nsumo Pan. From the observation tower you will see hippos, crocs and a large variety of water birds including rafts of white pelicans.

DAY FOUR
MANTUMA CAMP
MKHUZE GAME RESERVE
 
Mkhuze has an extraordinary array of birds and vegetation types and an early morning drive out towards the east of the reserve between the Lebombo mountains and the Mkuzi River flood plain will take you through some of these with interesting birds and animals at every turn.
After brunch, drive to one of Mkhuze`s special hides, each with its own unique character and watch the inhabitants of this beautiful reserve go about their daily business. For photographers this is a particularly rewarding experience. In the afternoon, drive out to see KwaJobe village and experience the life of the KwaJobe people and the things they make and use in their everyday life.

DAY FIVE
MPILA CAMP
IMFOLOZI GAME RESERVE
Leave Mkhuze early in the morning and make your way down the N2 through Hluhluwe village and in to Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park via Memorial Gate. As you drive through this the oldest game reserve in Africa you are in big five country and likely to see most of these legends of the African plains. You could stop for lunch at Hilltop Camp or call in at the Centenary Capture Centre for a light meal at the well stocked fast food kiosk. Cross the Mfolozi River and drive up to Mpila Camp to be shown to your self catering chalet with views out over the Imfolozi Wilderness. In the afternoon a drive along the Sontuli Loop which follows the Black Mfolozi River is usually very rewarding with elephants, lion and white rhino resident in the area.

DAY SIX
MPILA CAMP
IMFOLOZI GAME RESERVE
Though you must be out of your chalet by 10H00, the whole day is yours to explore this wonderful park and depending on where you are heading, ther are three gates out of the park to Ulundi, Mtubatuba and Hluhluwe.