iMfolozi - Mpila Camp

iMfolozi Game Reserve is situated in northern Zululand, approximately 270 km from Durban. The reserve was established on 30 April 1895 and with Hluhluwe Game Reserve, is the oldest game reserve in Africa. This reserve, together with the Corridor Section and Hluhluwe Game Reserve is managed as one protected area of approximately 96 000 ha in extent, known as the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.

What to do on arrival
Please check in at reception on arrival. Office hours are from 07:00 -18:00 daily. Visitors may take up their accommodation at 14:00 and are required to vacate their units by 10:00 on the day of departure. An entrance fee to the reserve is levied per day to all visitors including overnight guests.

What to bring
Visitors are advised to bring food, beverages, torch, flask, mosquito repellent, reading material and games. A pair of binoculars and walking shoes is also recommended if participating on guided walks.

Accommodation - Mpila
Mpila consists of 2 seven-bed self-contained cottages, 6 five-bed self-contained chalets, 12 two bed chalets and 13 two and 2 four-bedded tented safari camps. The cottages consist of three bedrooms, bathroom and shower, lounge, dining room and kitchen. A cook is in attendance and the unit is serviced daily. The five bed chalets consist of two bedrooms, bathroom and shower, lounge, dining room and kitchen. The chalets are self-catering and an attendant will service the units daily. There is no cook in attendance. Each unit has its own barbeque area. The 2 bed chalets are equipped with a bathroom and kitchenette. There is no cook in attendance, but the units are serviced daily. The tented safari camp each have an en-suite bathroom and kitchen and dining area connected via a board walk . An optional third bed is available in each tent, for a child only. The units are serviced daily. Visitors are required to provide their own food and beverages.

Visitor Activites
Game viewing is the main attraction in iMfolozi, with a network of roads providing opportunities for game viewing. A hide overlooking a waterhole enables visitors to see animals at close range and several view sites make it possible to spend a leisurely day watching game. Night drives are offered and enquiries can be made at reception. There are a number of picnic sites situated throughout the reserve. Morning and afternoon walks in the company of a field guide are offered daily. Regrettably no children under 12 years are permitted on the guided walks. All picnic sites are provided with barbeque stands and toilets.

iMfolozi is famous for the white rhino of which there are about 1600 in number. In addition there are buffalo, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and elephant. Large numbers of impala and nyala can be seen, along with other species such as waterbuck, common and mountain reedbuck, kudu, bushbuck, steenbuck, duiker, warthog, black rhino, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, jackal and many smaller mammal species. Elephant were re-introduced into the reserve in 1985. The bird life is varied and typical of the bushveld, about 300 species have been recorded in the reserve.

General

• Due to the presence of dangerous game visitors are only permitted to leave their vehicles at designated points and no other area within the Park.
• Due to the fact that Mpila is fenced for elephant only, residents are requested to stay within the parameters of their accommodation units after sundown.
• No pets of any kind are permitted in the reserve.
• The speed limit is 40 km/h.
• Dependent on availability, unleaded petrol is sold at Mpila daily from 07:00 - 18:00.
• Bank credit and debit cards are accepted.
• Electricity is available by generator from 07:00 - 22:00 daily.
• Although iMfolozi Game Reserve does not fall within a high risk malaria zone, visitors are advised to consult their physician before visiting the reserve.
• Gate entry times:
  Summer (1 November - 28 February) 05:00 - 19:00
  Winter (1 March - 31 October) 06:00 - 18:00
• The Centenary Centre take-away restaurant is open from 08:00 - 16:00 daily and situated near Nyalazi Gate, +/- 12 km from Mpila and provides light meals.
• The nearest shops are in Mtubatuba, 50 km from Mpila. The curio shop does have basic food stuffs and amenities.