Hluhluwe and iMfolozi Game Reserves

Hluhluwe [shlu shlu wee] and iMfolozi are game reserves quite near Mtubatuba. IMfolozi is often compared to Kruger, sometimes it is considered to be even more scenic, meaning our visit is a rehearsal before Kruger. We are also curious about the rules and their strictness. At the gate we paid and didn't get much advice. We learnt in some brochures about the park rules including staying in cars apart from camps and designated areas. It is totally strange to stay all day in a car (especially for us - a carless couple), luckily we were able to make some leg stretching and picnic stops. We spend way too much time in a car this holiday and we are very happy when some hiking and cache searching is avalilable. 

Fortunately we were rewarded quite generously for staying all day inside and driving many kilometers across both parts of the park. We saw many girrafes and rhinos (I think white ones), kudus, impalas, monkeys, elephants, colourful birds, and zebras. We also gave a long lift to a big grasshopper driving with us on our windscreen enjoying the view. 

It was a very demanding but unforgettable day. 

Zebra

Our black passenger 

Zebras crossing

Warthog

No more poaching please

There were 40 rhinos killed in the period of two weeks in June, when leaving the park we saw an operation underway involving a helicopter, armed guards, and police. They might have been searching for a poacher. Our car was also checked for guns and Petr was asked to show his drivers licence. All these precautions are necessary and good. I don't get why zoos need to exist and poaching and killing for entertainment is totally beyond my apprehension. Luckily we have e.g. Geocaching for those who like collecting points and some adrenaline.