Situated south of Vryheid, in the north western regions of Zululand, is the twelve thousand five hundred hectare Thakazulu Game Reserve, consisting of rolling grasslands, bushveld and picturesque hills. The reserve lies at the bottom of a flourishing valley of dense thornveld and pathes of forest, carved out by the Thaka and Black Umfolozi Rivers. The vegetation displayed in the reserve is home to an abundance of more than two hundred and fifty various bird species, which make the area an ideal birdwatching destination for keen enthusiasts.

In the thornveld and open woodland areas of the reserve, species such as Southern Ground-Hornbill, Grey Go-away-bird, Green-winged Pytilia, Arrow-marked Babbler, Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah, Lesser Masked-Weaver, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Grey Penduline-Tit, Bearded Woodpecker and Levaillant's Cuckoo, almost a host of thers, are regulary sighted. Thickets and forest patches provide residence for a variety of species which include African Green-Pigeon, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Gorgeous Bush-Shrike, Terrestrial Brownbul, Purple-crested Turaco also known as Purple-crested Lourie, both Crowned and Trumpeter Hornbill, African Pygmy-Kingfisher, and Black-bellied Starling. Also popular amongst avid birders are the Thakazulu Game Reserve's raptors which include Martial Eagle, Verreaux's Eagle, Tawny Eagle, African Hawk-Eagle and African Crowned Eagle, White-backed Vulture and Lappet-faced Vulture, Lizard Buzzard, Little Sparrowhawk and Black Sparrowhawk, African Goshawk and Secretarybird. Aside from the abundant birdlife of the region, a wide variety of game such as zebra, giraffe, kudu, impala, nyala and the occasional leopard can also be seen.

Situated within the reserve, visitors will also find the Tangami Safari Spa which offers camping, bush camps and bungalows, as well as one of only five natural mineral mud baths in the world, and a natural hot spring that supplies jacuzzis and swimming pools. Thakazulu Game Reserve also offers visitors a number of exciting 4x4 trails, which take them over the mountainous and rocky terrain of the reserve for a distances of between about ten and thirty kilometers. For more information regarding the Tangami Safari Spa and Thaka Zulu Game Reserve 4x4 Trails, contact Gert Uys at (034) 942 8006, or E-Mail info@thangami.co.za