Tag Archives: Autumn Adventure 2022

Autumn Adventure – Imfolozi 30 March 2022

The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is one of the oldest protected areas in Africa, having been proclaimed 127 years ago in 1895 as two seperate reserves – Hluhluwe and Umfolozi. We’ll share more about this fascinating history soon, but for now suffice to say that these healthy and intact ecosystems support large populations of birds and animals, meaning any visit to this special park is sure to deliver some memorable encounters.

Early morning on the Black Umfolozi River

Young Giraffe

Dark-capped Bulbul (photo by Joubert)

Plains Zebra with muddy socks

Plains Zebra and White Rhino sharing a waterhole

Natal Hinged Tortoise

White Rhinos crossing a river

Early morning on the White Umfolozi River

Buffalo bull (photo by Joubert)

Mphafa Waterhole

Thirsty Warthog family

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Warthog enjoying his turn in the mud

Impala

Bateleur

White Rhino

Elephants (photo by Joubert)

Spotted Eagle Owl

Autumn Adventure – Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 29 March 2023

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We’re still in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, though we’ve moved camp from Hilltop Camp in the Hluhluwe section to Mpila Camp in the Imfolozi section. It was a very hot day today – the high of 36°C belying the season we find ourselves in – and animals were congregating along the rivers and besides the pans from very early on.

Playful lions along the Hluhluwe River

Sitezi bend in the Hluhluwe River

Buffalo family?

Loving Baboon interaction (photo by Joubert)

Nyala on the run (photo by Joubert)

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Corridor’s rolling hills

Female Chinspot Batis

White Umfolozi River

Chalet 16, Mpila, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, March 2022

White Rhinos

Warthog on the run towards Ubhejane waterhole (photo by Joubert)

Giraffe drinking

Giraffe

Thirsty Zebra foal

White Rhino (photo by Joubert)

Baboon

Munching Impala (photo by Joubert)

Blue Wildebeest

White Rhino

Autumn Adventure – Hluhluwe 28 March 2022

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Who could ever tire of spending time in such scenic surroundings, and with such interesting characters, as can be found here around Hilltop in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?

Spotted Hyena

Buffalo roadblock

Newborn Buffalo and mom (photo by Joubert)

Buffalo cow

Elephant

Plains Zebra (photo by Joubert)

Warthog drinking from a puddle after a quick rainshower

Nyala calf

Hluhluwe scenery

Vervet Monkey

Buffalo bull

White Rhino

Hluhluwe scenery

Vervet Monkey (photo by Joubert)

Grey Heron

Hluhluwe scenery

Autumn Adventure – Hluhluwe 27 March 2022

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We’ve had another wonderful day exploring the beautiful surroundings of Hilltop Rest Camp here in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, marveling at creatures big and small along the way.

White Rhinoceros

Buffalo herd along the Hluhluwe River

Young Vervet Monkey (photo by Joubert)

Red-billed Oxpecker (photo by Joubert)

Beautifully adorned Kite Spider female

Male Samango Monkey

Nyala calf

Hluhluwe scenery

Mountain Wagtail

Blue Wildebeest

Buffalo cow

White Rhinos

Purple-crested Turaco

Autumn Adventure – Hluhluwe 26 March 2022

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We arrived at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park’s Hilltop Camp today and feel like we’re being treated like royalty. Not only have we been allocated a chalet with the most incredible view over the hills of the Hluhluwe-section of the Park, but we’ve already seen the “Big Five” – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo – on our first afternoon here!

African Buffalo (photo by Joubert)

Little Bee-eaters

Chacma Baboon

Nyala ewe (photo by Joubert)

Purple-crested Turaco

Hilltop Chalet 47, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, March 2022

View from Hilltop Chalet 47, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, March 2022

Samango Monkey (photo by Joubert)

Nyala Bull

Lion

European Bee-eater

White Rhino

Red-billed Oxpeckers and flies hanging around the back of a White Rhino

White Rhino calf

Grasshopper of the family Pamphagidae

Leopard seen in fast fading light

Autumn Adventure – Cape Vidal 25 March 2022

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Another wonderful day spent in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – our last full day here for this trip. Tomorrow our plans take us to Hilltop Rest Camp in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.

Spotted Hyena cub near Cape Vidal

Saddle-billed Stork in silhouette at sunrise

Vervet Monkey

Bushbuck ram

Elephant herd blocking the road…again!

Hadeda in flight – photo by Joubert

Hippo going walkabout in broad daylight

Kudu calf nursing

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Natal Acraea butterfly

Samango Monkey

Interesting caterpillar

Wary Buffalo bull

Black-crowned Night Herons

Buffaloes at sunset

Autumn Adventure – Cape Vidal 24 March 2022

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The Isimangaliso Wetland Park, and especially when using Cape Vidal as a base, really offers the best combination of both bush and beach you could hope for.

Angry Buffalo bull

Sunrise at Mission Rocks

Natal Rock Crab (photo by Joubert)

Sleepy Warthog

Elephant roadblock between Cape Vidal and St. Lucia

Elephant roadblock between Cape Vidal and St. Luciack (photo by Joubert)

Elephant cow keeping the youngsters safe

Dancing elephant (photo by Joubert)

Elephant cow emerging from the forest to find us in her way (don’t worry, we moved away quickly!)(photo by Joubert)

Elephant procession passing the turnoff to Mission Rocks (photo by Marilize)

Crested Guineafowl

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Prancing Kudu cow (photo by Joubert)

Tonga Red Bush Squirrel

Natal Acraea

Small fish in a rock pool at Cape Vidal

Convict Surgeonfish in a rock pool at Cape Vidal

White-fronted Plover

Grey-headed Gull

Plains Zebra

African Marsh Harrier

Thick-tailed Bushbaby

Autumn Adventure – Cape Vidal 23 March 2022

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Today we moved camps to Cape Vidal, another of the overnight options in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Cape Vidal is located on the Indian Ocean coast, on a stretch of land wedged between Lake St.Lucia and the sea and surrounded by forests, wetlands and grasslands.

Elephant bull emerging from the forest (photo by Joubert)

Young elephant showing off (photo by Joubert)

Young elephant having a good scratch

Elephant herd on a stroll (photo by Joubert)

Elephant drinking from a seasonal pan

White-eared Barbet

Kudu bull

Crowned Hornbill

Samango Monkey (photo by Marilize)

Log Cabin 25, Cape Vidal, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, March 2022

Cape Vidal beach

Cheeky Bushbuck (photo by Joubert)

Hippos in the Mfazana Swamps (photo by Joubert)

Chacma Baboon

Buffalo in the golden glow of sunset

Sunset over Lake St. Lucia

Spotted Hyena

Autumn Adventure – uMKhuze 22 March 2022

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Today was our last full day here, but we’re still loving every second in the uMkhuze Game Reserve! Tomorrow mid-day we will be moving on to Cape Vidal, an old favourite of ours located in an entirely different section of the iSImangaliso Wetland Park.

Scrub Hare

Rainbow over Nsumo Pan

Big Nyala bull

Elephant Bull accompanying the herd

Playful Elephant youngster (photo by Joubert)

Burchell’s Coucal

Giraffes

African Hoopoe

White-backed Vulture

Baboons

African Harrier-Hawk

Blue Wildebeest calf

Young Impala ram (photo by Joubert)

Young Kudu bull

Yellow-fronted Canary

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Blue Waxbill female

Chinspot Batis

Plains Zebra

Giraffe baby

Autumn Adventure – uMkhuze 21 March 2022

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Today we spent the whole day – from sunrise to sunset – at uMkhuze’s Kumasinga waterhole with its brilliantly placed photographic hide. We’ll share loads more photos from today once we’re back home, but here’s a little teaser of a gallery.