Back to Ithala

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Our regular followers and friends here at de Wets Wild will know that Ithala Game Reserve, in the north of Kwazulu-Natal Province between the towns of Vryheid and Pongola, is one of our favourite wild destinations. This lesser known conservation area has an amazing diversity of fauna and flora, dramatic scenery, great accommodation facilities, lovely picnic sites and a most hospitable staff compliment. Our latest visit in March 2016 came just six months after our previous visit in September 2015, and by now we’ve probably told you all we know about Ithala in earlier posts.

In this post we’ll only be sharing a few photos from our latest visit and let the pictures do most of the talking.

The stately giraffe is Ithala’s emblem…

Icon of Ithala
Icon of Ithala
Icon of Ithala
Icon of Ithala
Icon of Ithala

… and they share the reserve with a multitude of other wildlife

Plains zebra
Plains zebra
Vervet monkey
White with black stripes, I suppose?
Rock hyrax, or dassie
Waterbuck
Male collared sunbird
Cisticola
Jumping impala
Impala lamb
Young kudu
Older kudu
Grey duiker
Waterbuck
Rock hyrax, or dassie
African Firefinch (female)

Not all of them are always peaceful…

Zebra altercation
Zebra altercation
Zebra altercation
Zebra altercation
Zebra altercation
Zebra altercation
Zebra altercation

…And some are downright scary!

Enormous earthworm
Rain Spider, the size of a cake plate!
Corn Cricket

While out walking on one of the trails…

View over Ntshondwe from one of the trails
Nature reigns even inside Ntshondwe
Sandstone cliffs along the Bushbuck Trail
Along one of Ntshondwe’s trails
This small cave, on the bushbuck trail, is often used by porcupines
No one home today though…
Sandstone cliffs along the Bushbuck Trail
Sandstone cliffs along the Bushbuck Trail

…be sure to keep a look out for the smaller fry…

Variable skink
CMR Blister Beetle and honeysuckle
Watch where you’re driving!
Barberton Girdled Lizard
Butterflies abound in Ntshondwe’s gardens. This is a Green-banded Swallowtail
Honeybee and honeysuckle

… if you don’t find the grand scenery too distracting!

Ithala scenery
Ithala scenery
Ithala scenery
Ithala scenery
Ithala scenery
Ithala scenery
Ithala scenery

The comfortable accommodation almost goes to waste as you spend so much time enjoying the wonders of Ithala outdoors!

Ntshondwe Chalet 34, Ithala Game Reserve, March 2016
Ntshondwe Chalet 15, Ithala Game Reserve, March 2016
Pretoria to Ithala (drawn with Google Maps)

Pretoria to Ithala
(drawn with Google Maps)

52 thoughts on “Back to Ithala”

    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      I think the giraffe-silhouette must be one of my all time favourites too, thanks Meg! Ithala’s a wonderful place and I’m glad to know that we could showcase a little of that.

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      You won’t be sorry if you include Ithala in your next visit to our shores, Michael – you’ll come away with amazing landscape images! No lions at Ithala, but the reserve has sizable populations of elephant and both black and white rhino, and although the self-guided walking trails are restricted to higher lying ground even there there’s ample signs of their presence. You can also take a guided walk with a ranger in other areas.

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  10. Pingback: Landscape | de Wets Wild

  14. sustainabilitea

    Have never been to Africa and don’t know if I ever will, in person. But through your photos and narratives, I’ve enjoyed its beauty and diversity more often than I could ever hope to visit. I do love that about your blog.

    janet

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  16. Pat

    Fantastic place! Thanks for including some of the smaller(?) fauna. That cricket looks like he’s ready to take on an army. 🙂 I think there’s some interesting geology there, too. Yellow cliffs?

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Ithala really is an amazing place, something for every nature lover no matter what your interests. The yellow cliffs are sandstone, just one of the geological layers exposed by the eons of weathering and erosion that created Ithala’s magnificent landscapes.

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  21. Pingback: Back to Ithala | virginiacarvalheira

  22. Sheila

    I saw this quote on facebook ” I only envy the man who has not yet been to Africa – for he has so much to look forward to “. How true that is, I can’t wait to come back again and your photos of your adventures are giving us a good list of new places to see, thankyou. Your pics are the best. Sheila

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      That’s one of my favourite quotes, Sheila – it really stirs something deep inside me about this continent we call home, and that others always long for once they’ve experienced it.

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