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Mkhuze
(also spelt Mkuze), is a place of great beauty
and makes up the northwestern spur of the Greater
St Lucia Wetland Park - a recently declared World
Heritage Site.
It is a land of great contrasts with an interesting
range of habitats. There are low lying hollows
adjacent to ancient red sand dunes ridges and
broad stretches of gently rolling acacia savannah.
The slopes of the Lebombo mountains to the west,
contrast with low-lying swamps, riverine forests
including attractive stretches of fig trees, and
a variety of woodlands. In the heart of the reserve
is a rare sand forest, noted for its spreading,
dark-leafed sherbert trees and red heart trees,
which release pink-winged seeds in the autumn. |
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shallow water pans, Inhlonhlela and Insumo lie
in the north and east, and are lined with water
lilies in summer attract hippos, crocodiles and
considerable bird life.
The reserve is open to the public for self drive
safaris, and the trail through one of Africa's
last remaining unspoiled fig tree forests is very
popular. There are three observation platforms
in the reserve overlooking pans and waterholes
where animals come to drink
A sacred burial site of chiefs of the Kwajobe
clan is located in this reserve and only clan
members may go there and commune with their ancestors.
For a glimpse into the traditional northern Zulu
lifestyle and the crafts of the KwaJobe community,
a cultural village has been opened nearby.
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| ANIMALS
& BIRDS
Animals
to be found in the reserve include giraffe, elephant,
black and white rhinoceros, leopard, nyala, warthog,
blue wildebeest, impala, kudu, eland and smaller
antelope. Other rarely seen species occurring
here are cheetah, hyena and little suni dwarf-antelope..
More than 420 bird species are on record, including
many migrants and waterbirds including two species
of pelicans. |
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| SEASONS
Rainy Season: The temperate climate is
very pleasant but a hot and humid summer commences
in October with thunderstorms, which come to an
end around March. The summer rains bring the park
to life although the thick foliage makes animals
harder to view.
Dry Season: The dry winter months
from April to September are very pleasant with
warm days and cool nights. The best game viewing
is normally considered to be in winter as the
vegetation becomes sparse and water is restricted
to rivers and waterholes.
MKHUZE
GAME RESERVE SPECIALITIES
· Exceptional birdlife
· Scenic beauty
· Good animal watching
· Zulu village
· Hippos and crocodiles
FACTS
Mkhuze is a 99,000 acres (40,000 hectare) reserve
in northern Zululand
It was proclaimed as a protected area in 1912.
This is a malarial area.
This is a public reserve containing several lodges.
Off road driving is not permitted.
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