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16 things to do at Ithala Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal

26/3/2015

14 Comments

 
Viewpoint, Ithala Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
By Roxanne Reid
It’s easy to fall in love with Ithala Game Reserve near Louwsberg in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. We certainly did. You’ll find a scenic fusion of ancient rocks and cliffs, rivers, rolling hills and wildlife. Take a high-clearance vehicle or 4x4 to navigate the rugged thornveld, and you're set to discover 16 things to do at Ithala Game Reserve.

1. Stay at the beautiful Ntshondwe resort for at least three nights in a thatched chalet - a perfect choice for your Ithala Game Reserve accommodation. It's built into the natural landscape on a plateau at the foot of Ngotshe mountain. There’s a restaurant, info centre, shop, swimming pool and nature walks.
Ithala Game Reserve accommodation: Ntshondwe
Ithala Game Reserve accommodation: Ntshondwe camp is carved into the natural landscape at the foot of a mountain; walk around to fully appreciate its beauty
2. Go on an early morning drive with a guide who can interpret the rocks, birds, trees and mammals that you see. A sundowner drive is a great way to experience the romance of an African sunset as well as to see nocturnal animals with the help of a spotlight.

3. Take a walk around Ntshondwe camp to enjoy the scenery, including the large boulders that fell from the cliffs above the camp hundreds of years ago. It’s a good chance to identify some of the trees of the area too, like euphorbias, acacias, wild figs and cabbage trees. 

4. Go on a self-guided nature walk at Ntshondwe resort. The Plum-coloured Starling and the Porcupine trails will each take about an hour, the Klipspringer trail about 90 minutes and the longer Bushpig trail about four hours. Try to be quiet and you may see buck, dassies and birds like chestnut-vented titbabbler, Cape bunting, bearded scrub robin and grey penduline tit, even a trumpeter hornbill or Verreaux’s eagle soaring overhead.
Plants and flowers at Ithala Game Reserve, KZN
See how many trees and plants you can identify
5. Collect the gate key from reception and travel up the mountain to the Horace Rall viewing deck overlooking the western side of the park. From there you’ll have spectacular views. You can walk freely and enjoy 400 hectares of rare semi-alpine fynbos vegetation. You might even see Verreaux’s or crowned eagle.

​6. 
Spend some time in Ntshondwe’s hide in front of the reception building. The hide overlooks a waterhole where you could see animals, including elephants, come to drink.​

7. Duck into the info centre at Ntshondwe to learn about the Wonder Mine, one of two gold mines from the early 1900s that operated inside what’s now the reserve. There are also displays about the history of the park, some of its geological features, rhinos, dung beetles, Ithala’s common frogs (there are 29 species in the reserve) and a leopard monitoring project.
Info centre at Ithala Game Reserve
Don't miss the info centre near reception for info about animals and the old mines
8. Go on a guided bush walk with a field ranger for a chance to see and learn about small things like birds, tracks and other signs of the bush. There’s always a chance of finding dangerous big game like elephant, rhino or buffalo, so keep quiet and listen to what your ranger tells you to do.

9. Listen to and absorb the sounds of the bush, from the chittering of small birds or the call of the painted reed frog to the braying of zebra and rumbling of elephants.
Zebra at Ithala Game Reserve, KZN
Zebra, giraffe, kudu, impala, wildebeest, eland, hartebeest, white rhino and elephant live in the reserve
10. Go self-driving along the Nghubu Loop, a two- to three-hour circular drive with some 20 points of interest marked with letters of the alphabet and cross-referenced on an info sheet. The route winds through the bush, looking down on rolling hills and up towards towering cliffs. Points of interest include marula, red ivory and scented thorn trees, an old Zulu kraal at the foot of ‘Iron mountain’, quartzite in the Ngubhu valley, a termite colony, cliffs where you might see Verreaux’s eagles, and a viewing platform. There’s a picnic site so take your breakfast or lunch with you. 

11. Take a coolbox with you on your game drive and stop off at Onverwacht, Phongolo or Ngubhu for a picnic in the bush. Tables and benches, some shade and toilets are provided. Make sure you clean up after yourself and don’t leave food lying around for baboons or monkeys. 
Picnic site, Ithala Game Reserve, KZN
Take a game drive and stop off at one of the picnic sites for brunch
12. Enjoy a braai at your Ntshondwe chalet in the cool of the evening. Just be aware that Ithala has a fairly big population of vervet monkeys, so don’t leave the windows or doors of your chalet open or food where these clever and sneaky creatures can get to it.
13. Enjoy a meal on the deck overlooking the waterhole at Ntshondwe for a chance of seeing animals even while you’re in camp.
Ithala Game Reserve, KZN
Ntshondwe's restaurant overlooks a dam where elephant and antelope come to drink
14. Stop at the erosion site between the entrance gate and Ntshondwe. It’s thought that the erosion may have started from overgrazing back in the 1900s when the area was the donkey camp of a gold mine. An info board explains how and why erosion happens. Now gabions have been used to stabilise the area by arresting water flow, retaining soil and encouraging plant growth to prevent further erosion.
Things to do at Ithala: see the erosion site
Find out about erosion, how it happens and how to prevent it
15. If you enjoy basic rustic camping, book a site at Doornkraal. There’s a river along one side of the campsite where you can swim if water levels allow. You’ll also find flush loos, a hot bush shower, bush kitchen and communal dining area. Don’t expect luxury, but you’ll enjoy the feeling of being away from it all at this pristine unfenced site.
Ithala Game Reserve accommodation: Doornkraal rustic camping
Ithala Game Reserve camping: if you like your campsites quiet and basic, with a chance of animals drifting through, Doornkraal is the place for you
16. Take some friends or family and book a couple of nights at one of Ithala’s bush lodges – Thalu or Mbizo in the west and Mhlangeni in the east. We got permission to go on the residents-only track to the Mhlangeni Bush Camp because there were no guests there. The camp is built between the rocks overlooking a river, just five two-bed chalets, a central kitchen/dining/lounge area and three ablutions, some with great views over the surrounding landscape. The setting and the privacy were fabulous, but the structures looked thirsty for a little wood sealer.
Ithala Game Reserve accommodation: Mhlangeni Bush Camp
Mhlangeni Bush Camp sprawls in the spaces between rocks overlooking a river
Need to know
Note that, apart from the tarred road between the entrance gate and Ntshondwe resort, the roads at Ithala are rugged, so you need a high clearance or 4x4 vehicle for driving around the park.

​Ithala Game Reserve
Tel 034 983-2540
https://www.ithala.info/
https://www.ekznw.co.za/Resorts/Ithala/Ithala.htm

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Visiting Ithala Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and wondering what to do there? Here are 16 things to do in Ithala, from walks to game drives, Ithala accommodation, picnic sites and viewpoints.
Visiting Ithala Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and wondering what to do there? Here are 16 things to do in Ithala, from walks to game drives, Ithala accommodation, picnic sites and viewpoints.
Copyright © Roxanne Reid - No words or photographs on this site may be used without permission from roxannereid.co.za
14 Comments
Andre Willem Beukes link
21/4/2015 04:19:34 am

Well written Roxanne I love KZN and this piece just let me think back with fond memories. I love it, but I do not think I will go back there soon.

Reply
Roxanne link
21/4/2015 05:59:07 am

Thanks for the compliment, Andre. We've had two very enjoyable trips to KZN in the past 3 years and Ithala was definitely one of our highlights, probably because unexpected.

Reply
Sheila McFarlane
7/5/2015 02:02:45 am

lovely really can,t wait to visit Roxanne. I now have to add this to my bucket list. I have never even heard of it before but looks simply wonderful

Reply
Roxanne
13/5/2015 08:46:43 am

I hope one day you enjoy it as much as we did, Sheila.

Reply
Dave Ellinger
25/7/2017 11:48:17 am

Your love and appreciation for Ithala Game Reserve are evident, but you missed out the Horace Rall View site reached via Louwberg and the Pongola River can be reached on a 4X4 route for a day of isolation! And Many people have not been to either of the two gold mines! Over about 25 years I have made 15 different visits of varying durations. Keep up the good work!

Reply
Roxanne
25/7/2017 03:56:23 pm

Thanks for your comment, Dave. If you follow the link at the end of the article to another "6 things to do" at Ithala on This is KZN's website, you'll see that both the gold mines and the Horace Rall view site are mentioned there. I didn't want to duplicate the mentions and hoped people would click through for more :-)

Reply
Zandile Msibi link
23/10/2018 04:24:16 pm

I was born in this land but left when i was very young this information has inspired me to go back and see how beautiful and economic it has become.

Reply
Roxanne
23/10/2018 04:37:55 pm

Ah, you're lucky to have that place in your blood, Zandile. I hope you get back there one day soon.

Reply
Heather Greenway
25/1/2020 06:11:41 pm

Hi Roxanne, can't gain access to your link regarding the 6 other things to do at Ithala. What to find out more about visiting the gold mines and hoping information is included in this link. Thanks, Heather

Reply
Roxanne
26/1/2020 06:25:46 am

Thanks for pointing this out, Heather. It would seem that the other website no longer exists. I'm going to add the content that was here to this blog post later today. Again, thanks for the heads up.

Reply
Terry Allan
17/8/2022 08:33:49 am

Thanks Roxanne. Well done!

Reply
Roxanne Reid
17/8/2022 08:38:21 am

You're welcome, Terry. Hope you found it useful and that you have enjoyed a visit to this lovely park.

Reply
Hannes Erasmus
23/4/2023 07:08:03 am

Good day Roxanne, is it allowed to mountain bike and take day walks throughout the entire park?

Reply
Roxanne Reid
23/4/2023 08:20:30 am

There are self-guided trails, Hannes, as I mentioned in the post. But I'm not sure that mtb is allowed. I suggest you contact Ezemvelo directly to ask - bookings@kznwildlife.com

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