This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge, Landscape, seems the perfect excuse to post this panoramic view of Ntshondwe, the main accommodation facility in Ithala Game Reserve, the subject of our weekly feature.
(You may have to click on the image and then enlarge it further to fully appreciate the resort’s magnificent setting)
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…
… and they share the reserve with a multitude of other wildlife
Not all of them are always peaceful…
…And some are downright scary!
While out walking on one of the trails…
…be sure to keep a look out for the smaller fry…
… if you don’t find the grand scenery too distracting!
The comfortable accommodation almost goes to waste as you spend so much time enjoying the wonders of Ithala outdoors!
Pretoria to Ithala
(drawn with Google Maps)
Our Easter holidays have come to an end, and we find ourselves back home in Pretoria. But we couldn’t leave Umlalazi this morning without first savoring the perfect sunrise over the Indian Ocean!
Early morning on Good Friday, spent serenely next to the Mlalazi River.
Happy Easter!
The little vervet monkeys here at Umlalazi are as naughty as they are cute – leave open a chalet door or car window and they are sure to help themselves to a treat!
We spent today exploring and enjoying some of the amazingly diverse ecosystems here at Umlalazi Nature Reserve, and planning to do more of the same tomorrow – there’s no way you can fit it all into a single day!
Today we moved to Umlalazi Nature Reserve, situated on the North Coast of Kwazulu Natal Province, for the next part of our Easter holidays. Umlalazi is well known as the home of the Palm-Nut Vulture, one of the rarest birds in South Africa, and we had a brilliant sighting of one of them along the lagoon just minutes after arriving!
The honeysuckles are in full bloom here in Ntshondwe, Ithala’s main camp, attracting swarms of busy honeybees.
The giraffe is the emblem of Ithala Game Reserve, and this afternoon we were treated to one providing such a spectacular pose that it just begged to be posted as our “photo of the day”!
It’s the start of the Easter Holidays in South Africa, and we kick it off at Ithala Game Reserve, one of our favourites!
DeWetsWild 