Rhino River Lodge:

South Africa / KwaZulu-Natal / Hluhluwe

Our intimate and exclusive safari game lodge is set in the very heart of Zululand against the backdrop of the lovely Lebombo Mountains. Come and join us for a unique bush experience on our private game reserve near Hluhluwe. Feel the weight being lifted from your shoulders from the moment you arrive. Breathe in the fresh aromatic air of the bushveld and feel the outside world draining from your being. Heal your soul with starlit nights around the campfire and walk where only animals have trodden for years.

Our private game reserve is just 27 km north of Hluhluwe in KZN is home to a wealth of wildlife including: leopard, cheetah, elephant, black and white rhino, buffalo, zebra, giraffe, blue wildebeest, warthog, bush pig and ostrich. Amongst our great variety of antelope we are fortunate to have the red duiker; this shy creature is relatively rare and is only found in a small part of Zululand. Many fascinating smaller mammals such as jackal, porcupine, vervet monkey, tortoise, caracal, serval, and mongoose and genet can also be seen.

We are very proud to be part of the greater Zululand Rhino Reserve which has recently been proclaimed a "protected area" making us the biggest private game reserve in the province. Furthermore, we are privileged to be one of the few areas selected for the re-introduction of the rare and endangered black rhino. This project was a combined initiative of the World Wild Life Fund and KZN Ezemvelo. Twenty-one of these magnificent creatures were released into our reserve and can once again be seen ranging their historical habitat. Most rewarding has been the birth of six youngsters, since introduction, which has added enormously to our game viewing experience.

Accommodation

The Lodge itself is situated on the banks of the Umsunduze River in spacious grounds. The comfortable lounge, dining and bar area has a raised deck looking out through majestic Fever trees to the river below which is lined with ancient Fig trees. The boma area attached to the lodge is a popular gathering place in the evening where guests can indulge themselves in fire gazing whilst sampling our selection of South African wines, and regale each other with tales of the African bushveld.

Our well-equipped facilities are ideal for small conferences and workshops, or just for that secluded holiday away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The sparkling swimming pool offers cool respite at the end of a hot and busy day in Zululand, whether it is game viewing or conferencing. In the early morning and late afternoon, our resident family of warthog can often be seen grazing on the lawn, and if you sit quietly you might also catch sight of the shy red duiker that frequents the lodge.

Rhino River Lodge hosts attractive catered & fully equipped self-catering log cabins under thatch. Each cabin accommodates 5 people and is constructed from locally sourced materials. The combination of thatch and ironstone-tiled flooring offers comfortable respite from the heat of the day and a home-from-home base at the hub of the region’s tourist attractions.

We also have 4 en suite double/twin Units. Each Unit has tea and coffee making facilities as well as a mini bar. The Units have a private entrance and secluded verandah overlooking the Umsunduze River where guests can enjoy an early morning coffee or an evening sundowner whilst contemplating their day before joining us around the boma fire for pre-dinner drinks

Activities

Game Drives

Driving at different times of the day maximizes the variety of animals one may encounter. With this in mind we offer both morning and afternoon drives. We leave for the morning drive at a time agreed with our guests, stopping at a strategic point, either a waterhole or view site to enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee and a rusk. On the afternoon drive we usually try to find a suitable spot to view the sunset whilst sipping a cool sundowner, before wending our way back to the lodge and the welcoming boma fire.

We also offer night drives which give our guests the opportunity of spotting some of the more elusive nocturnal creatures of the bush, such as leopard, serval, genet, bush baby and aardwark.

Bush Trails

Our guided walks offer the more adventurous an opportunity to experience the wilds of Africa in the best possible way, on foot! A walking trail entails an interpretative guided walk with an experienced game ranger and a small group of guests. In the interests of safety, the group is limited to six persons. Walks are undertaken in the early morning or late afternoon and run for 2 - 3 hours. These walks afford the unique opportunity of exploring paths that have been traversed by wild animals for centuries and bring back the realization of human vulnerability in the face of the wilds of Africa.

Birding

There is a great diversity of bird life in our "birder friendly" reserve and patience will be richly rewarded with interesting sightings. Birds indigenous to the region and frequently sighted include, the Bateleur, Martial Eagle, Pinkthroated Twinspot, Paradise Wydah, Yellow Spotted Nicatar, Rudd's Apalis and the Crested Guineafowl.

Day Tours include:

• Tiger Fishing trips
• Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserve Tours
• Game Drive into Mkhuze Game Reserve
• Hippo & croc tours in St Lucia
• Whale watching
• Elephant interaction

Sightseeing Tours include:

• Ghost and Lebombo Mountain Range which overlooks the Greater St Lucia World Heritage Sight.
• Mkhuze River Bird Walk
• Ghost Mountain Walk

Places of Interest: