High time we went back to Ithala!

31 Replies

This past Women’s Day long weekend afforded us the opportunity to make a long overdue return visit to one of our favourite South African wild places – the Ithala Game Reserve in northern Kwazulu-Natal. We’ve been singing the praises of this little known yet exceptionally scenic reserve for as long as this blog’s been running and if you’d like to see all our posts about Ithala and learn more about it please follow this link.

While the weekend’s weather ranged from cold, wet and blustery to glorious sunshine, that didn’t curtail our explorations in the least. How could it, when the majestic scenery is so rewarding!?

Mountain stream at Ithala
Pongola River
Low hanging clouds over Ngotshe Mountain
Low hanging clouds over Ngotshe Mountain
A viewpoint in the mountains
The Pongola River flowing far below
Inclement weather over Ithala
Sunset glowing on Ngotshe
Ngubhu stream
Ngubhu stream
Ngotshe in morning light

And, when the sun came out, so did the butterflies and various kinds of reptiles!

Common Dwarf Gecko
Rainforest Brown
Variable Skink
Barberton Girdled Lizard

Ithala has a rich variety of bird species and many of them are easily seen and photographed in Ntshondwe, the reserve’s main camp.

African Dusky Flycatcher
Amethyst Sunbird
African Firefinch (male)
Southern Bald Ibis
Blue Waxbill
Cape Batis (male)
Cape Glossy Starling
Cape Rock-Thrush (male)
Cape White-eye
Chinspot Batis (female)
Chinspot Batis (female)
Common Waxbill
Eastern Nicator
Familiar Chat
Fork-tailed Drongo
Mocking Cliff Chat (male)
Olive Woodpecker
African Pied Wagtail
Purple-crested Turaco
Red-billed Oxpeckers
Red-capped Robin Chat
Scarlet-chested Sunbird
Male Southern Double-collared Sunbird
Tawny-flanked Prinia
White-bellied Bustards
White-crested Helmetshrike
Yellow-billed Kite
Yellow-breasted Apalis
Yellow-throated Longclaw
Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

And of course, what would a “game reserve” be without a rich assortment of large animals? Ithala never disappoints in its variety of mammals, and especially the giraffes (Ithala’s emblem) were out in force!

Blue Wildebeest
Rock Hyrax (Dassie)
Acrobatic Rock Hyrax (Dassie)
Rock Hyrax (Dassie)
Rock Hyrax (Dassie)
Eland bull
A warning well worth heeding!
Elephant cresting a hill
Elephant bull
Iconic Ithala: Giraffe and Ngotshe Mountain
Giraffe calf nibbling on tender shoots
Giraffe at a gallop
Giraffe bull
Newly born Giraffe calf
Common Duiker lamb
Impala Ram with Red-billed Oxpeckers
Kudu calf
Young Kudu bull
Mountain Reedbuck pair
Mountain Reedbuck ewe hiding from the cold morning air
Nyala ewe
Nyala bull
Red Hartebeest
Southern Reedbuck
Steenbok
Thoughtful Vervet Monkey
Grooming Vervet Monkeys
Grooming Vervet Monkeys
Warthog on the run!
Waterbuck bull

We spent three nights at Ithala, staying in comfort in Ntshondwe’s chalet #20. Ithala’s a relaxed 6 hour drive on good tarred roads from our home in Pretoria.

Ntshondwe Chalet #20, Ithala Game Reserve, August 2018

Pretoria to Ithala
(drawn with Google Maps)

31 thoughts on “High time we went back to Ithala!”

    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Julle sal defnitief nie spyt wees nie, Dina! Ithala is baie, baie besonders.
      Ntshondwe kamp wemel regtig van die voellewe, insluitend die Kaapse en Witlies Bosbontrokkies! Ons het selfs vir die eerste keer fotos van die geelvleknikator gekry – deel daardie fotos iewers in volgende week.

      Liked by 1 person

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  8. John

    What an incredibly beautiful place! It’s a lovely mix of animals you photographed.😊 South Africa has absolutely the most varied nature, and most species of animals in the world. A paradise for animals and nature lovers.

    Liked by 1 person

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  13. Esta

    your pictures are wonderful – I love your posts – make me home sick – we always loved the wild nature – so quiet and peaceful – no place like it

    Liked by 1 person

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