There’s something deeply special about the animals of Mkuze Game Reserve. The reserve feels quieter and more intimate than many larger parks, and that gives encounters with wildlife an almost personal quality. One of the most unforgettable moments was a rhino walking right past the car — close enough to hear its breathing and feel the sheer presence of such an ancient, powerful animal. Around it, nyala slipped silently through the bush, hippos grunted across the pans at dusk, and birds filled the air with movement and sound. Mkuze has a way of slowing you down and drawing you into the living atmosphere of the wild.
Highlights
- Antony's amazing spotting skills. He also did a lot of the driving, allowing Jo and I to focus on taking photos.
- The amazing hides with awesome views of water holes and the Insumo Pan, allowing you to get really close to the wildlife. Watching them come up to drink was a real thrill.
- An incredible hippo sighting at the picnic spot by the Insumo Pan. It was very close and we climbed onto a braai structure to get a really good view.
- Our first sighting of giraffe. They are Jo's favourite and her enthusiasm was so infectious.
- Our first rhino - an amazing sight as it walked right past our car, causing much excitement.
- The final morning at the Kumasinga Hide (described below).
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| Impala |
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| Nyala |
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| Burchell's zebra |
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| Vervet monkey |
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| Cape Skink |
Final morning at Kumasinga hide
The final morning at the Kumasinga Hide was probably the greatest highlight of the entire trip. The early morning light was sublime. Wildebeest, nyala, zebra and warthog came to drink, creating incredible reflections. Then the doves by the waterhole started to become very skittish. And that's when we spotted them: 3 stunning lion! One came towards the zebra with curious intent but they charged away. Baboons who were in a nearby tree went beserk, barking loudly. Then suddenly a boomslang emerged from the bank of the waterhole and with astonishing speed, tried to catch a frog. The whole experience was extraordinary! One of the best wildlife experiences of my whole life.
Reptiles
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| Boomslang |
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| Serrated Hinged Terrapin |
