Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Savanna biome · Buffalo thorn · Hippopotamus
From R 1,420 a night
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
White rhino conservation success
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Big Five
About Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa and the park where the southern white rhino was saved from extinction, from a few dozen animals in the early 1900s to the population that later restocked the continent. It is a Big Five park in the Zululand hills, greener and hillier than Kruger, with strong rhino numbers, wild dog, and the iMfolozi wilderness area where multi-day walking trails have run since the 1950s. The Ezemvelo camps at Hilltop and Mpila sit inside the park, and lodges surround it. It is roughly three hours from Durban and pairs naturally with iSimangaliso on the coast.
Things to do: Game drives · Hiking
Where you can stay: Camping · Chalets · Nearby B&Bs
Wildlife near Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
What people record most across KwaZulu-Natal. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across KwaZulu-Natal, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Stay in & near Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe
Savanna biome · Hippopotamus · Lion
Can support Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Inside park
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Savanna biome · Buffalo thorn · Hippopotamus
From R 900 a night
Inside park
When to visit Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Most of the rain at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park falls from October to March, peaking in January at about 96 mm. The dry season runs from July to August, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 30°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 12°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 96 | 30 | 21 |
| February | 85 | 30 | 21 |
| March | 82 | 29 | 20 |
| April | 47 | 27 | 17 |
| May | 28 | 26 | 15 |
| June | 20 | 24 | 12 |
| July | 11 | 24 | 12 |
| August | 18 | 25 | 14 |
| September | 36 | 26 | 16 |
| October | 63 | 26 | 17 |
| November | 72 | 27 | 18 |
| December | 81 | 29 | 20 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 284 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
3 stays we sell in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. Tap a pin for the listing.
28.2164° S, 31.9269° E800 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park wild
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
- Built into every booking
- A conservation share
- Where it goes
- Local causes & communities
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: your questions
Where is Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Does Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park have the Big Five?
Yes. Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is a Big Five area, home to lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.
What wildlife can you see near Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?
In KwaZulu-Natal, commonly recorded species include animals such as Suni, Red Duiker, Blue Duiker, Leatherback Turtle and birds including White-eared Barbet, Grey Waxbill, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
How do you book a stay at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?
Request Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife camps and cottages on Spekboom. We confirm with Ezemvelo, then you pay on Spekboom. Popular camps fill up well ahead of school holidays, so request early for peak dates.
When is the rainy season at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?
Most of the rain at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park falls from October to March, peaking in January at about 96 mm. The dry season runs from July to August, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 30°C, and June the coolest, with average lows of about 12°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 284 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?
The best time to visit Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is Year-round (dry season May-Sep).
What is there to do at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?
Popular activities at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park include game drives, hiking.
Where can you stay in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?
Places to stay inside Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park include Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Mpila Camp, Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park: Hilltop Camp. Request them on Spekboom and pay once your dates are confirmed. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
iSimangaliso Wetland ParkWorld Heritage Site · 50 km
Marine and coastal biodiversity
World Heritage
Phinda Private Game Reserve
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Phinda Private Game ReservePrivate Game Reserve · 55 km
Diverse private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal with seven distinct ecosystems.
Big Five
uMlalazi Nature Reserve
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
uMlalazi Nature ReserveProvincial Nature Reserve · 84 km
Mangroves, dune forest and a lagoon at Mtunzini
Malaria-free
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
Big Five parks and reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in KwaZulu-NatalAll protected areas
