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The magnificent Ithala Game Reserve is a place that wildlife lovers adore. It includes the peaks of the Ngotshe Mountains and the Phongolo River valley, with a height difference of about 1000 meters between them. The park is close to the town of Louwsburg in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. We offer privately guided safari tours to Ithala.
Need Advice?Ithala was established in 1973. The park is about 30 000 ha in extent and is situated in a rugged, mountainous area with jagged dolerite cliffs. Its name was derived from the Zulu word "ithala," which means "the shelf."
The Ithala Game Reserve is home to KwaZulu-Natal's only herds of tsessebe. Large concentrations of various animals, including the white rhino and black rhino, can be found in the park. Fish eagles, wahlberg's eagles, martial eagles, black eagles, southern banded snake eagles, and black-breasted snake eagles are the birds of prey you can view in Ithala Game Reserve. The threatened bald ibis is now also breeding in Ithala.
This private safari travels to some of South Africa's prime conservation areas, where an experienced African Sky guide conducts safaris.
The Kruger National Park and Zululand are the focus of this safari. Between these two famous areas, a night is spent in the Kingdom of Swaziland.
Imagine being hugged by a mountain. That is how it feels when you visit Ithala. Your thoughts get lost amongst the cracks and crevices of the cliffs. They are quietened by the rivers that jump off the mountainsides and run through the valleys. On top of that, it is also home to many game and bird species.
A drive through Ithala takes you past various natural and artificial geologically significant sites, like Iron Mountain, termite mounds, dongas, quartzite, hunting pits, and towering cliffs. Additionally, the park boasts some of the oldest rock formations in the world. Each is beautiful in its way, and it is a pleasure to view and become acquainted with how they were formed over time.
Ithala is one of the few places to perceive and appreciate the vast differences in the country and continent's landscapes. When you stand high on top of the mountains and look to the east, you'll observe a wondrous sub-tropical Eden, and when you turn to the west, you can see the semi-desert of the Great Karoo stretching toward the horizon.
Visitors to Ithala Game Reserve will savor its verdant greenery, sweeping views, and unique cultural flavors. The experiences on offer are distinct to this lesser-frequented reserve in KwaZulu-Natal and will undoubtedly augment your South African safari.
Your safari to Ithala will start at OR Tambo International in Johannesburg, where you will be assisted by an African Sky representative to either transfer to your next domestic flight or to begin your South African journey. A short flight from Johannesburg, Cape Town, or smaller cities like George can take you directly to Durban's King Shaka International Airport.
Ithala is located in the rugged Ngotshe Mountains, approximately 400km from Durban. The reserve is rarely a singular destination and is usually combined with other locations in the Zululand district or the Kruger National Park. Your guide will transport you in a private, air-conditioned vehicle from previous destinations on your trip or the airport, depending on your particular itinerary.
Much like the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, Ithala can be visited throughout the year. The dry winter months from May to September are the best for wildlife viewing, as the vegetation thins and grasslands are shorter than during the rainy summer. The daytime temperatures are also relatively comfortable, although it can get cool at night.
During the summer, rain and thunderstorms are common in the area, and it can be very humid and hot. The rainy season, however, brings newborn animals and an array of birds that visit for their annual migration from the northern hemisphere. The landscape is also transformed into a lush green tapestry, and the wildflowers bloom.
In the year 1884, the Zulu King Dinizulu gave more than 1.1 million hectares of land to 800 Boers, because 115 volunteers had helped the Zulu fight. These white settlers dramatically impacted the land by hunting the wild game and the Rinderpest epidemic of 1896 that they caused. After discovering gold in the early 20th century, two mines were opened. Wonder mine produced 147kg of gold from 1910 to 1933, and Vergelegen Mine (renamed Eureka Mine) produced 129 kilograms of gold by 1915.
Ithala Game Reserve hosts four Big Five animals, except for lions. There is a relatively good chance of spotting white rhinos and occasionally elephants and buffalo. With some luck, one might even come across a black rhino, but sightings of leopards are infrequent. Cheetahs do occur but are not seen frequently. Ithala is home to the very rare brown hyena. The elegant serval can be found hunting rodents in the early morning and late afternoon. Ithala is also home to the fastest-running antelope, the tsessebe, and the petite oribi that is often spotted in pairs.
Other grazers one might encounter are impala, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, reedbuck zebra, and eland. Browsers include duiker, bushbuck, nyala, kudu, and giraffe. Most of these species give birth in late spring or early summer. An abundance of birds may be observed; more than 300 species have been documented here. Common birds found in the park are species like the ostrich, Shelly's francolin, purple-crested Loerie, and the red-billed oxpecker. The red-billed oxpecker went extinct locally when war was waged on the tsetse fly and malaria mosquito; it was reintroduced. The reserve also hosts southern bald ibis, Cape vulture, and Verreaux'sVerreaux's eagle.
Ithala is diverse, with various landscapes, tree species, vegetation groups, and multiple rivers and streams that run through the area. There is something spectacular around every corner. The site is characterized by riverine valleys and forests that spill over into dense thickets and grasslands. It consists of no less than 13 different vegetation clusters. An impressive 320 tree species are documented in the area.
The area also boasts a diverse geological range, including the gorges carved by the Phongolo River in the north and the Ngotshe Mountains in the south. The granite outcrops and widespread cliffs are accentuated by the thornveld, woodlands, floodplains, and grasslands that can be seen in the Ngubhu basin below. The rugged terrain rises to 1450m above sea level and encompasses rock formations that are millions of years old.
Ithala is the perfect reserve for a tranquil breakaway. Nestled between the Ngotshe Mountains, one cannot help but imagine that this is what it feels like to be an eagle. You can enjoy the scenery for miles around from the comfort of your lodge, or one of the many picnic spots created specifically for this purpose. Game drives led by experienced game rangers are an excellent way of getting to know the wildlife that calls the area home. The availability of self-guided and guided walks ensures that guests can truly immerse themselves in the finer details of the habitat. Night drives are also available and are a great way to view predators that hunt when the sun sets.
Grabbing a bite to eat on the deck overlooking the Ntshondwe waterhole or barbecuing at one of the picnic spots is a great way to make an experience out of any meal. For the more active adventurer, trekking through the lush forests in search of waterfalls will ensure that you keep your blood flowing, and the reward at the end of the journey is worth it. Guests can also view various cultural sites, such as the smelting locations where iron was processed centuries ago.
