SODWANA/NDUMO/MHLANGENI BUSHCAMP, ITHALA
(5 DAY BIRDING  4X4 SELF CATERING)
DAY ONE
SODWANA BAY
Arriving at Sodwana, take the time to wander through the extensive craft market outside the entrance gate. Book in and at the same time obtain your permit to drive through the Coastal Forest Reserve, then take up your accommodation in your comfortable log cabin. Start your sighting list with a walk through the camp and surrounding area as well as along the Ngobaseleni stream to the beach. This section of coast between Sodwana and Kosi Bay, is by far the best area to see birds of the coastal grasslands, marshes and dune forests.

DAY TWO
NDUMO GAME RESERVE
Today is going to be a long one which will test your 4X4 driving skills so leave as early as possible. From Mbazwana make your way to the gate into the Coastal Forest Reserve and drive through some magnificent country around the east side of Lake Sibaya to Amazengwena. Though you can no longer drive on the beaches there are a number of special places such as Mabibi, Lala Nek, Rocktail Bay and Black Rock where you can park at the picnic sites and access this most beautiful coastline. The coastal grasslands, forest patches and high canopy dune forest as well as the isolated beaches will provide excellent birding with over 350 species recorded. Exit the Coastal Forest Reserve at the Sihadla Gate and via KwaNgwanase make your way to Ndumo Game Reserve.
Relax in your comfortable old world rest hut in this the premier birding spot in KwaZulu-Natal.

DAY THREE
NDUMO GAME RESERVE
Catch the morning tour to Nyamithi Pan, a beautiful body of water set about with fever trees where family groups of nyala graze and browse along the waters edge, watching carefully for crocodiles. The evocative call of the fish eagle follows your course around the pan which is teeming with hippos, crocs and a wonderful variety of water birds. Recorded bird species here number over 450. The afternoon is spent on a guided walk through thorn savannah, past wetlands and reedbeds  and through the fig forest to the confluence of the Pongola and Usutu rivers. The narina trogan and Pell`s fishing owl are frequently sighted here.

DAY FOUR
MHLANGENI BUSHCAMP
ITHALA GAME RESERVE
Rising early, pack your vehicle and drive to Shokwe pan and the picnic site at Red Cliffs where you can enjoy your breakfast looking across the Usutu river into Mocambique and onto the Lebombo mountains in the distance. Once you leave the reserve head back to Jozini and as you climb over the Lebombo range you get wonderful views of the mighty Pongola Poort dam which pushes right back into Swaziland. Take the Rooirand road through to Magudu and on to Ithala Game Reserve. The drive from Ntshondwe Camp, where you book in, to Mhlangeni Bushcamp will present you with wonderful views and many animal species as you sweep around below the Ngotshe mountain crest and drop down through the kwasambane area. As you sit on the deck at Mhlangeni, set high in a granite boulder koppie, an african panarama unfolds below you and you feel at peace with the world.
 
DAY FIVE
MHLANGENI BUSHCAMP
ITHALA GAME RESERVE
Sip your coffee at first light and watch the awakening bushveld. Pack your 4X4 with food and drink for the day and swimming gear and towels are essential. Set off down the track that follows the Ncence stream towards the Pongola river. Your guide, if you elect to take one, will show you the Mtunzini swimming hole with its wonderful circular walk or take you up the Mhulumbela river to deep pools and waterfalls where you can relax over lunch. Follow the Pongola downstream through steep rugged terrain to a large stand of Tamboti trees where the track turns inland and climbs to the top of a long ridge. This is wonderful country for game like black and white rhino. Ithala has a large variety of raptors which soar over the deep valleys and flat ridge top plateaus from the crowned eagle to lappet faced vultures. Your day will be filled with memorable places, birds, animals and challenging steep rocky tracks that wind up and down through this beautiful reserve.

DAY SIX
DEPARTURE
Though you must vacate your accommodation by 10h00, depending on your next destination, you may spent as much of the day as you have available exploring the rest of Ithala.

Routes supplied by: Ron Physick