# uMkhuze Game Reserve · Northern KwaZulu-Natal

> uMkhuze Game Reserve is a 40,000-hectare Big-5 and Super Seven reserve in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park UNESCO World Heritage region. Three self-catering ways to stay: Mantuma Camp (the main rest camp), the exclusive Nhlonhlela Bush Lodge, and Emshopi Campsite. The reserve is managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife; accommodation is operated by Dream Hospitality Operators (Pty) Ltd, with Dream Hotels & Resorts (Pty) Ltd as its appointed management company, whose reservations function trades as Central Reservations. Website: www.umkhuzegamereserve.co.za.

Last updated: 27 August 2026. Rates and gate hours are set by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and change from time to time — always confirm at the time of booking.

## Key facts

- **Location:** Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. ~35 km north of Hluhluwe town. ~3.5 hours from Durban, ~6 hours from Johannesburg.
- **Reserve size:** 40,000 hectares (400 km²).
- **Wildlife:** Super Seven — the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, white and black rhino, buffalo) plus cheetah and African wild dog. One of only two original black rhino populations in KZN. 420+ bird species. 50+ mammal species including giraffe, nyala, kudu, zebra, blue wildebeest, impala, hippo, hyaena (spotted and brown), caracal, serval, and the rare suni antelope (~300 in the sand forest).
- **Notable for:** Among the finest birding reserves in Africa. Pel's Fishing Owl, African Broadbill, Pink-throated Twinspot, Narina Trogon, Nicator. Two large pans (Nsumo, Nhlonhlela) with hippo, crocodile and waterfowl. The Sand Forest is a globally rare habitat.
- **Climate:** Low-risk malaria area in summer (Nov–Apr). Subtropical: hot humid summers, mild dry winters.

## Gates

- **eMshopi Gate:** Western entrance, 15 km from Mkuze town. Accessed from the N2 highway. Most common entry point.
- **Ophansi Gate:** Eastern entrance (opened 2006), accessed from the R22 road towards Sodwana Bay.
- **Hours:** November–March (summer) 05h00–19h00. April–October (winter) 06h00–18h00.

## Park fees (set by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, subject to change)

Park fees are charged **over and above** your accommodation rate and are **not included** in the room rate. They can be added at checkout when booking, otherwise they are payable at the gate on entry.

**Gate entry fee, per person per day** — rates differ for South African citizens and international visitors:

- South African citizens: Adults **R64** · Children **R46**
- International visitors: Adults **R134** · Children **R98**

**Vehicle entry fee, per day:**

- 1–5 passenger vehicle: **R76**
- 6–12 passenger vehicle: **R112**
- 13–20 passenger vehicle: **R152**
- 20+ passenger vehicle: **R259**

**Levies:** Accommodation levy **R15 per person** · Conservation levy **R10 per person**.

The Wild Card and Rhino Card schemes are **NOT** accepted at uMkhuze.

## Accommodation at Mantuma Camp

Mantuma Camp has 30 self-catering units sleeping up to 84 guests:

- 2 × 6-Sleeper Cottages (3 bedrooms, main bathroom + separate shower + extra toilet, full kitchen, A/C in lounge & dining, DSTV)
- 5 × 4-Sleeper Chalets (2 bedrooms, bath with shower, full kitchen, A/C in lounge & dining, DSTV)
- 4 × 2-Sleeper Chalets (1 bedroom en-suite, in-unit kitchenette, room fans, no A/C)
- 6 × 2-Sleeper Rest Huts (twin-bed thatched rondavels with communal kitchen and bathroom; no fans, no A/C)
- 10 × 2-Sleeper Safari Tents (walk-in tents with private en-suite and nearby kitchenette, in shaded woodland)
- 3 × 4-Sleeper Safari Tents (two adjoining tents each with own bathroom, sharing a kitchen and dining facility)

All units self-catering, serviced daily. Accommodation rates range from approximately R450 to R2,400 per night depending on unit type and season.

**Important — the camp is not fenced.** uMkhuze Game Reserve itself is fenced, but Mantuma Camp is open to the reserve. Dangerous wild animals, including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino, hippo and snakes, move freely through the camp at any hour. Guests enter and remain at their own risk, must supervise children at all times, and should not walk in camp after dark without an escort. Comprehensive travel and medical insurance including emergency evacuation cover is strongly recommended.

## Beyond Mantuma

- **Nhlonhlela Bush Lodge** — exclusive 8-bed lodge above the river, booked as a single unit.
- **Emshopi Campsite** — 35 stands with hot showers, ablution blocks, a small swimming pool and a children's jungle gym, set 1 km inside the western eMshopi Gate. No power on site.

## Camp facilities

- Swimming pool, take-away counter at reception (limited hours)
- DSTV in chalets and cottages only (limited channels); no DSTV in rest huts or tents
- A/C only in the lounge–dining areas of 4-sleeper and 6-sleeper chalets/cottages
- Room fans in chalets, tents and cottages; rest huts have no fans
- No WiFi, no laundry facility, no hairdryer or electric razor power points
- 220V Eskom power, no backup
- Mobile signal is patchy
- Camp shop is very limited; stock up in Mkuze town or Hluhluwe before entering
- No firewood may be brought into the park (Polyphagous shot hole borer beetle)
- No pets permitted anywhere in the reserve

## Activities

Self-drive game viewing is the core experience — a 100 km road network, mostly tarred. Guided activities are arranged through the camp and availability varies by season.

- **Sunset Game Drive** — depart camp 4pm for a 3–4 hour drive, back in camp 7–8pm. Sundowners included (bring your own drinks, cooler box provided), spotlights out after dark for nocturnal sightings. Minimum 4, maximum 10 guests, not suited for children under 12. **R350 per person.**
- **Fig Tree Forest Walk** — a **±2 hour** guided Big 5 walk on foot through the ancient fig forest with an armed field guide, crossing two short swing bridges over the Mkuze River. 2–8 guests, not suited for children under 12, weather dependent. Two ways to join: guided game-viewer transfer from Mantuma (**R550 per person**) or self-drive to meet the guide at the Fig Forest departure point (**R450 per person**). Meeting times change seasonally — summer (1 Nov–31 Mar): transfer departs 05:30, self-drive meet 06:30; winter (1 Apr–31 Oct): transfer departs 06:30, self-drive meet 07:30. Book the day before at Mantuma Reception, subject to availability.
- **Birding & hides** — bird hides at Kumasinga, Kumahlala, KwaMalibala and Kubhubhe; Insumo Observation Platform at Nsumo Pan. Specialist birding outings and photographic hide sessions are being added.
- **Imxwala Vista Point.**

Activity prices are correct at time of publishing and may change without notice.

## Booking, payment and cancellation

- An enquiry is a **request, not a confirmed booking**. A booking is confirmed only once written confirmation with a reservation number has been issued **and** the deposit has cleared.
- **Deposit:** 50% of the total booking value at the time of booking. **Balance:** due no later than 14 days before arrival. Bookings made within 14 days of arrival are payable in full on confirmation.
- **Advance Purchase (ADV 7):** book 7 or more days ahead for a 10% discount. Payable in full at booking and **non-refundable and non-changeable**.
- **Cancellation charges:** 14 or more days' notice — 50% of booking value (deposit forfeited). Less than 14 days or no-show — 100% of booking value.
- **No cancellation charge applies** — including on the Advance Purchase rate — where the booking is cancelled due to the **death or hospitalisation** of the person for whom the booking was made (Consumer Protection Act s.17(5)).
- **Payment:** EFT only. Cash deposits are not accepted.
- **Check-in** from 14:00. **Check-out** by 10:00. Late arrivals outside reserve gate hours cannot be accommodated.
- **House rules:** no pets; no off-road driving; 40 km/h speed limit (lower where signed); quiet hours 22:00–06:00; open fires only in designated braai areas.

## Legal & privacy

- **Operating company:** Dream Hospitality Operators (Pty) Ltd, registration 2026/269499/07, VAT 4500324761, trading as uMkhuze Game Reserve. Registered address: 1 Chapman Drive, Old Main Road, Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, 4420.
- **Dream Hotels & Resorts (Pty) Ltd** (registration 2014/259730/07) is the management company appointed to operate the lodge on behalf of Dream Hospitality Operators (Pty) Ltd. Its reservations function trades as **Central Reservations**. Under POPIA it is an Operator acting on documented instruction, not an independent controller of guest data. The guest's accommodation contract remains with Dream Hospitality Operators (Pty) Ltd.
- **Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife** is a separate entity and the authority responsible for the reserve, gate access and permits.
- Personal information is processed under POPIA. Analytics cookies load only after the visitor accepts them in the cookie banner.
- Full documents: Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Terms of Use, Booking Terms & Conditions and PAIA Manual at /legal/.

## Best time to visit

- **May–September (dry winter):** peak game viewing, animals concentrate at the pans and waterholes. Cool nights, warm sunny days. Peak season.
- **November–March (lush summer):** the reserve is green, migrant birds arrive — best time for birding. Hot days, occasional thunderstorms, denser bush makes predators harder to spot.

## Contact

- **Reservations & enquiries (Central Reservations):** 0861 010 347 · umkhuze@dreamresorts.co.za
- **Lodge / general:** hello@mkuzegamereserve.co.za · on-site assistance 071 320 0566
- **Privacy, POPIA and PAIA matters:** hello@mkuzegamereserve.co.za (Information Officer)
- **Reserve office (Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife):** +27 35 573 9001 / +27 35 573 9004

## Key pages

- Home: https://www.umkhuzegamereserve.co.za/
- Mantuma Camp: https://www.umkhuzegamereserve.co.za/stays/mantuma
- Nhlonhlela Bush Lodge: https://www.umkhuzegamereserve.co.za/stays/nhlonhlela
- Emshopi Campsite: https://www.umkhuzegamereserve.co.za/stays/emshopi
- Legal & compliance: https://www.umkhuzegamereserve.co.za/legal
- Privacy Policy: https://www.umkhuzegamereserve.co.za/legal/privacy-policy
- Booking Terms & Conditions: https://www.umkhuzegamereserve.co.za/legal/booking-terms