Ithala (Ntshondwe)
Ithala Game Reserve
Savanna biome · Water mongoose · Cape clawless otter
From R 130 a night
Inside park
Where to stay in and near Ithala Game Reserve
Scenic valley wildlife sanctuary
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
About Ithala Game Reserve
Ithala is an Ezemvelo reserve in the hills of northern KwaZulu-Natal, between Vryheid and Pongola, on the slopes above the Phongolo River. It is not a Big Five park (there are no lions) but it has elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo, giraffe and a fine leopard population, and the terrain is what people remember: rocky ridges, grassland and thornveld dropping 1,000 metres to the river. Ntshondwe camp sits below a cliff with a pool, and there are bush camps for groups. Because there are no lions, guided walks are relaxed and common.
Things to do: 4x4 trails · Game drives · Guided walk · Hiking
Where you can stay: Camping · Chalets · Nearby B&Bs
Wildlife near Ithala Game Reserve
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 Ithala Game Reserve
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
When to visit Ithala Game Reserve
Most of the rain at Ithala Game Reserve falls from October to March, peaking in December at about 120 mm. The dry season runs from June to July, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 28°C, and July the coolest, with average lows of about 7°C.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 109 | 28 | 18 |
| February | 103 | 28 | 18 |
| March | 80 | 27 | 17 |
| April | 53 | 25 | 14 |
| May | 20 | 24 | 11 |
| June | 11 | 22 | 8 |
| July | 9 | 22 | 7 |
| August | 22 | 24 | 10 |
| September | 39 | 25 | 12 |
| October | 81 | 25 | 14 |
| November | 97 | 26 | 16 |
| December | 120 | 27 | 17 |
Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 807 m above sea level. Weather data from Open-Meteo.com (opens in a new tab) (ERA5), CC BY 4.0.
Getting there
One stay we sell in Ithala Game Reserve. Tap the pin for the listing.
27.5126° S, 31.2844° E800 km from Cape TownOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Why book here
Your stay helps keep Ithala Game Reserve 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
Ithala Game Reserve: your questions
Where is Ithala Game Reserve?
Ithala Game Reserve is in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
What wildlife can you see near Ithala Game Reserve?
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 Ithala Game Reserve?
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 Ithala Game Reserve?
Most of the rain at Ithala Game Reserve falls from October to March, peaking in December at about 120 mm. The dry season runs from June to July, with little or no rain. January is the hottest month, with average highs of about 28°C, and July the coolest, with average lows of about 7°C. Averages for 2005 to 2024 at the park's centre point, about 807 m above sea level.
When is the best time to visit Ithala Game Reserve?
The best time to visit Ithala Game Reserve is Year-round (dry season May-Sep).
What is there to do at Ithala Game Reserve?
Popular activities at Ithala Game Reserve include 4x4 trails, game drives, guided walk, hiking.
Where can you stay in Ithala Game Reserve?
Places to stay inside Ithala Game Reserve include Ithala (Ntshondwe). Request them on Spekboom and pay once your dates are confirmed. Every booking funds conservation.
Parks near Ithala Game Reserve
The closest parks and reserves. Distances run centre to centre, as the crow flies.
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi ParkGame Reserve · 101 km
White rhino conservation success
Big Five
Phinda Private Game Reserve
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Phinda Private Game ReservePrivate Game Reserve · 107 km
Diverse private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal with seven distinct ecosystems.
Big Five
Ndumo Game Reserve
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Ndumo Game ReserveGame Reserve · 119 km
Wetland bird paradise
Part of
Other parks and reserves that share something with Ithala Game Reserve.
National parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in KwaZulu-NatalAll protected areas
