Savage Splendour

Zululand is big game country - birthplace of African Game Conservation. Some of the continent's longest established wildlife reserves are situated among the rolling hills and river valleys, the wetlands and sand forests of Zululand - an area that can justifiably be proud of its efforts in conserving our natural heritage. Lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, leopard and hippo are among the many great beasts that attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to Zululand game reserves.

Spend at least one or two nights in the wild heart of Zululand. There are luxury lodges - comparable to the best in Africa - bush camps and log cabins, thatched huts and tented campsites. For even more innovative overnight stays, there are floating lodges, rock chalets and traditional Zulu huts.

Zululand contains the most diverse concentration of wildlife sanctuaries in South Africa.

Discover the Ithala Game Reserve, set among the northern hills and valleys of Zululand. Ithala's rolling grasslands rise from 400m to 1400m above sea level, and include ancient rock formations.

Some 80 species of mammals have been identified, among which are elephant, rhino, leopard, cheetah, giraffe and hyena. Ithala is also the habitat of animals not found in other Zululand game reserves, including eland, tsessebe, and red hartebeest.

There is a breathtaking diversity among the animal, bird and plant life in Zululand. So for the nature-lover who seeks a less dramatic but equally enchanting outdoor experience, its possible to walk and hike in complete safety in some of the smaller reserves. This is the time to capture those small moments of beauty; a delicate wild orchid in full bloom, a dung beetle busily at work, a flock of trumpeter hornbills chorusing from the forest canopy.

All the game and nature reserves of Zululand, big and small, offer soul-stirring and unforgettable experiences of the wild. So whatever your choice of destination there is something for everyone in this African paradise.