Ithala Game Reserve

Description

Since its inception in 1972, Itala Game Reserve (also spelt Itala Game Reserve) has grown into one of South Africa’s premier game reserves, located in the rugged mountainous region of northern KwaZulu-Natal. Looking down from the 1.4 Kilometer high Ngoje ridge, the deep, wooded valleys of the Itala Game Reserve make a striking scene as the 7 tributaries of the Phongolo River cut across the landscape.

The Ithala Game Reserve is carved with a network of dirt roads which provide easy access to the bush. Visitors can drive themselves around the park trying to spot some of the parks favourite inhabitants: animals like zebra, giraffe, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and various kinds of antelope. The 31km Ngburu loop is one of the many drives that provides fantastic game-viewing opportunities.

The current dimensions of the park now stand at 296km², nearly a third of the size of the mammoth Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal, with the Ngoje marking the one edge of the park, and the breath-taking Phongolo River running for 37km along the northern boundary. Interestingly, there are two abandoned gold mines found here, and the reserve is also home to some of the world’s oldest rock formations are found at Ithala Game Reserve, dating back 3,000 million years!

Facilities

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Coffee shop
• Information centre
• Petrol and diesel
• Conferences
• Day and night game drives
• Walking trails