Trails: Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
Trail Type: Day walk
Closest Town: Hluhluwe
Description: Established in 1895, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve is the oldest game park in Africa and is the only under formal conservation in KwaZulu Natal where the Big 5 occur.. Short day walks of approximately two hours are conducted from Mpila and Hilltop Camps under the supervision of an experienced field ranger. These walks may be booked at reception in both camps
Enquiries: Natal Parks Board
Tel: + 27 (0)35 562-0425
Fax: + 27 (0)35 562-0425

Imfolozi Game Reserve
Trail Type: Game walks
Closest Town: Hluhluwe
Location: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park
Description: 5 day or weekend; in wilderness area; guided; best April to December; offered by the Wilderness Leadership School; all equipment provided; 6-8 persons; no person under 16. Game viewing on foot.
Enquiries: Wilderness Leadership School
Tel: + 27 (0)31 462 8642
Fax: + 27 (0)31 462 8675
e-mail: wilderness.trails@eastcoast.co.za
Web: http://www.wls.org.za

Imfolozi Weekend
Trail Type: Game walks
Closest Town: Hluhluwe
Location: Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park
Description: 21km/2.5 day; moderate; guided; circular in game reserve; overnight bush camp; camp site; 8 persons max; no child under 14.
Comments: Weekend trails are run from the first weekend of March to Mid December. Report to te Mpila camp office to register, after which you will be directed to the trails officer. It is important to arrive before 13:00 on the date indicated on the reservation voucher. All food will be transported into the wilderness trails camp on donkeys, but trailists will be expected to carry their own clothing, toiletries, and drinks (an internal-frame backpack is provided for this purpose). Personal items will, however, be transported back from the wilderness on the donkeys at the end of the trail. Trailists walk into the trails camp in the Wilderness area on Friday afternoon from which a full day`s walk is undertaken on the Saturday. After breakfast on Sunday, trailists walk back to their vehicles and can spend the rest of the day in the reserve and leave before the gates close. The distance walked on the first day is approximately 7 km. The average distance covered on the second and third days can be up to 15 km, but is flexible depending on various factors. Trailists only carry all their personal equipment on the first day. On the second and third days they carry only a light pack containing their picnic lunches and water bottles. This trail is by no means an endurance test, but a fair level of fitness will ensure greater enjoyment.
Enquiries: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
Tel: + 27 (0)33 845 1067 or 845 1000
Fax: + 27 (0)33 845 1001
e-mail: trails@kznwildlife.com
Web: http://www.kznwildlife.com/umfolozi_trails.htm

Mpophomeni
Trail Type: Day walk
Closest Town: Hluhluwe
Description: 10km/4 hours; easy; circular; various options available; in nature reserve; huts and camp site at base;
Enquiries: Natal Parks Board
Tel: + 27 (0)35 562-0425
Fax: + 27 (0)35 562-0425

Thaba ye zulu
Trail Type: Hiking trail
Closest Town: Hluhluwe
Description: 29km/2day; circular; private conservancy; hut at base; 16 persons max
Enquiries: Jacana
Tel: 0861 522262
Fax: + 27 (0)12 734 0159
e-mail: bookings@jacanacollection.co.za

Kosi Bay Trail
Trail Type: Hiking trail
Closest Town: Kosi Bay [Back to Top]
Description: A really great hike and one that appears on our calendar on a regular basis. In fact it is more than a hike, it is a total nature experience. The hiking days are short, about 3 hours a day, so the hikers have time to really take in the beauty of the environment through which they are hiking. Be prepared to come back form Kosi Bay a revitalized person. osi Bay is situated in endemic malaria area and it is suggested that you consult your doctor before going into the area.
Enquiries: Umvuna Hiking Trails
Tel: +27 (0)35 592 9662
Cell: + 27 (0)72 187 1516

Qwibi Horse Trails
Trail Type: Horse trail
Closest Town: Melmoth
Description: 2 day/2 night horse trail; weekends; guided; all equipment supplied; own provisions; 4 to 6 persons
Comments: Camp comprises two three-bedded bedrooms with full kitchen and ablution facilities
Enquiries: Jacana
Tel: 0861 522262
Fax: + 27 (0)12 734 0159
e-mail: bookings@jacanacollection.co.za

Amanzimnyama - Kosi Bay
Trail Type: Hiking trail
Closest Town: Mkuze
Description: 44km/4 day/5 night; average; guided; circular; in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve; base camp; tented or hutted camps; 10 persons max;
Enquiries: Department of Nature Conservation
Tel: + 27 (0)33 845-1000
Fax: + 27 (0)33 845-1699

Mkuze Bushveld
Trail Type: Game walks
Closest Town: Mkuze
Description: 3 day; average; guided; in game reserve; same base camp; catered
Enquiries: KZN Nature Conservation
Tel: + 27 (0)33 845-1000
Fax: + 27 (0)33 845-1699

St Lucia Game Park
Trail Type: Day walk
Closest Town: Mtubatuba
Description: 12km/1 day; easy; various options; camp site
Enquiries: Natal Parks Board
Tel: + 27 (0)35 590-1340
Fax: + 27 (0)35 590-1343

Umkhiwane
Trail Type: Day walk
Closest Town: Mtubatuba
Description: 7km/1 day; easy; overnight facilities; camp site
Enquiries: Fanie's Island
Tel: + 27 (0)35 550-1631
Fax: + 27 (0)35 550-1457

Ntendeka Wilderness
Trail Type: Hiking trail
Closest Town: Nongoma [Back to Top]
Description: Various options in the Ntendeka Wilderness area; camping and picnic facilities available
Tel: + 27 (0)386 7-1883

Mkhaya
Trail Type: Hiking trail
Closest Town: Pongola
Description: 31km/2 day; (shorter option also available) 41km/3 day; average; huts at base; overnight huts; 20 persons max;
Enquiries: ME de Swart
Tel: + 27 (0)3841 41076

Emoyeni
Trail Type: Hiking trail
Closest Town: St Lucia
Description: 65km/5 day; average; circular; for the serious backpacker; carry own tent, provisions and gas cooker; no fires permitted; 8 persons max;
Comments: On the eastern shores of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park; starts and ends at Mission Rocks Office; self-guided through big-three country, watch for leopard, buffalo, black rhino, crocodile and hippo.
Enquiries: Mission Rocks Office
Tel: + 27 (0)35 590-9002
Fax: + 27 (0)35 590-9090

Emoyeni Trail
Trail Type: Hiking trail
Closest Town: St Lucia
Description: The Emoyeni Trail is a five day, four night backpack trail accompanied by an armed ranger. The trail is approximately 52Km long and is situated in the Mfabeni Section of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. The hiker has to carry all his own equipment including a tent. The heat and humidity of the area can make the trail quite strenuous and therefore a certain degree of fitness is required. Hikers should report to Mission Rocks office by noon at the latest to enable them to complete the 7Km walk to the first camp before nightfall
Enquiries: Mission Rocks office
Tel: +27 (0)35 590 9002
Fax: +27(0)35 590 9090
Web: http://www.footprint.co.za

Mziki
Trail Type: Hiking trail
Closest Town: St Lucia
Description: 40km/3 day; average; 3 circular routes; in nature reserve; base camp; 8 persons max;
Enquiries: Mission Rocks Office
Tel: + 27 (0)35 590-9002
Fax: + 27 (0)35 590-9090

Mziki Hiking Trail
Trail Type: Hiking trail
Closest Town: St Lucia
Description: For those people that love coastal hiking, dunes, rock pools, dune forests and the possibility of seeing a wealth of wildlife, the Mziki trail is for you. The trail takes a maximum of eight people and is accompanied by an armed ranger as you could bump into Rhino, Elephant, Buffalo and Hippo among others. There are three separate day trails from Mount Tabor hut which is about a two Kilometre walk from Mission Rocks where cars a parked. The Mziki Trail one of the few coastal trails that is basically day hikes which makes it ideal for those who have problems with backpacking. The trails have a rich and varied flora and fauna and well worth the effort. It should be born in mind that the trails form part of a wilderness area and as such the facilities are kept to very basics.
Enquiries: Mission Rocks
Tel: +27 (0)35 590 9002
Fax: +27 (0)35 590 9090
Web: http://www.footprint.co.za

St Lucia Wilderness
Trail Type: Hiking trail
Closest Town: St Lucia [Back to Top]
Description: The St Lucia Wilderness Trail is a four night guided trail which starts from Bhangazi Base Camp which is situated approximately 44Km from St Lucia, not far from Cape Vidal. The first and last night of the trail are spent here while the other two nights are spent in tents in the wilderness area. The trails run Friday to Monday. Because of the high summer temperatures and high humidity levels these trails run from 1 April to the end of October each year. Catering is provided in the form of three meals a day, starting with supper on the day of arrival and concluding with breakfast on the day of departure. For those people who love guided wilderness trails this is a must, an unforgettable experience and well worth the traveling distance. The trail caters for eight people, so it is well worth making up a party of friends or otherwise book for yourself and share the experience with strangers that can become friends.
Enquiries: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
Tel: + 27 (0)33 845-1000
Fax: + 27 (0)33 845 1001
e-mail: www.kznwildlife.com
Web: http://www.footprint.co.za/

Umfolozi Wilderness (1)
Trail Type: Game walks
Closest Town: Umfolozi
Description: 50km/3 day; average; guided; catered; circular in game reserve; 8 persons max;
Enquiries: Natal Parks Board
Tel: + 27 (0)331 47-1981
Fax: + 27 (0)331 47-1980

Umfolozi Wilderness (2)
Trail Type: Game walks
Closest Town: Umfolozi
Description: 30km/4 day; average; guided; catered; circular in game reserve; camp site; 8 persons max; no child under 14;
Enquiries: Natal Parks Board
Tel: + 27 (0)331 47-1981
Fax: + 27 (0)331 47-1980