We’ve been singing Ithala Game Reserve‘s praises on this blog for a long time and our recent Heritage Day long weekend visit to this South African treasure further cemented our belief that Ithala is one of our country’s prime conservation areas.
Colourful spring flower displays were in evidence all over the reserve, despite not receiving much rainfall yet. With over 900 plant species at Ithala, including some extreme rarities like the pepper-bark tree and Lebombo cycad, Ithala is a botanist’s delight. Unfortunately we don’t know the names of most, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t enjoy the show just the same!
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
Ithala in full bloom
The giraffe is Ithala’s emblem, and we were lucky to enjoy several encounters with these curious animals.
The giraffe is Ithala’s emblem
The giraffe is Ithala’s emblem
The giraffe is Ithala’s emblem
The giraffe is Ithala’s emblem
Most large game species were eradicated from the area before the reserve was proclaimed in 1972, and Ithala therefore had to be restocked. Today it is home to all the species that occurred here historically, with the exception of lion, and all-in-all provides sanctuary to 83 mammal species.
Impala sprint
Mountain reedbuck
Plains zebra
White rhinos dwarfed by Ithala’s grandeur
Impala ewes
Impala ram portrait
White rhinos in long grass
Kudu cow and calves
Well-hidden kudu bull
Curious Kudu
Plains zebra profile
Plains zebras are so photogenic!
Vervet monkey
Warthog
Dusty zebra
Blue wildebeest
Warthogs on the run
Nah nah nah nah nah!
“Lean on me”
Black rhino sunset
Ithala’s a bird-watcher’s paradise, with a list of 318 species recorded in the reserve. While we didn’t tick quite that many species during our visit – most of the summer migrants have not yet arrived – we were very thrilled with our close-up sighting of a pair of blue cranes shortly after arriving. Being South Africa’s national bird, it seemed a particularly special treat for Heritage Day!
Golden-breasted Bunting
Blue Cranes
African Pipit
Rufous-naped Lark
Black-shouldered Kite
Red-billed Oxpecker climbing into a zebra’s ear
Bar-throated Apalis
Southern Black Flycatcher
Martial Eagle
Cape Rock-Thrush (female)
Cape Batis (female)
Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Ant-eating Chat
Little Bee-eater
Secretary Bird
Ithala’s not only about the big and obvious birds and animals, and closer inspection will reveal a multitude of insects, arachnids, amphibians and reptiles. We even encountered three of the reserve’s 41 snake species while walking around Ntshondwe Camp; they pose no danger as long as you don’t threaten them and true to form all three moved away very quickly and quietly.
African Monarch – With so many flowers in bloom, the abundance of butterflies is no surprise
Barberton Girdled Lizard
Natal Flat Lizard female
Solifuge a.k.a. Sun Spider
Talking about Ntshondwe, we just have to mention again how beautifully the accommodation units are placed into the natural vegetation, offering privacy and a really intimate nature experience.

Ntshondwe Unit 15, Ithala Game Reserve, September 2015
Its faunal and floral diversity aside, Ithala is richly blessed with amazingly diverse scenery. The reserve extends over 30,000 hectares, its area ranging in altitude between the 1,450m peak of Ngotshe Mountain to 400m above sea level along the Pongola River. The reserve’s vegetation ranges from grasslands to woodlands to dense riverine forest.
Ithala sunrise
Impala sunrise
Ntshondwe mountains
View over Ntshondwe
Ngubhu Loop snaking its way through Ithala’s hills
Pongola River
Pongola River
Dense vegetation along the Dakaneni Loop
Ithala sunset
Ithala sunset
Suspension Bridge at the Pongolo Picnic Site
Stream crossing
Stream crossing
Stream crossing
Pongola River
Ithala scenery
Where else but Africa?
We’re already making plans for our next visit to Ithala in early 2016, and you can probably see why!
Ithala Game Reserve is managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, and lies a 500km drive to the South-East of Pretoria.

Pretoria to Ithala
(drawn with Google Maps)
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