ITHALA GAME RESERVE
Provincial Wildlife Park Accommodation
in Eshowe, Zululand & Maputuland,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This magnificent reserve, tumbling from the heights of the Ngotshe Mountains a thousand meters down into a deep valley, carved over the eons by the Phongolo River revealing the world's oldest rock formations, is a game viewers paradise. Situated in the rugged, mountainous thornveld of northern KwaZulu-Natal, the reserve's multitude of habitats host a spectacular array of wildlife species. Its scenic beauty aside, Ithala's most characteristic feature is perhaps its astonishing geological diversity. Some of the oldest rock formations in the world are found here, dating back 3 000 million years. With a topographic profile varying from 400m above sea level in the north to 1 450m near Louwsberg in the south, Ithala's terrain extends over lowveld and densely vegetated riverine valleys to high-lying grassland plateaus, ridges and cliff faces. The area now proclaimed as Ithala has been occupied by man for thousands of years and there are many sites littered with stone age spear and axe heads dating back some 20,000 years. There has even been a middle stone age tool discovered by archaelogists which pushes the date back to anything up to 200,000 years. More recently, in the last few hundred years, with the advent of the Nguni people, iron smelting took place in Ithala and there are a number of smelting sites adjacent to deposits of banded ironstone which was crushed to provide the iron ore. Ithala has provided the setting for many historic events, from Shaka's reign and those of successive Zulu kings, to a number of gold mining enterprises in the early years of the 20th Century. Ithala has an excellent auto trail to facilitate visitor's game viewing, and a notated guide booklet is available in the shop at Ntshondwe, Ithala's superbly designed, multi-award winning camp.

Accommodation

Ntshondwe Camp
'Winner of three consecutive AA Travel Guides & SAA Resort of the Year awards'
Virtually invisible until the moment of arrival, Ntshondwe, Ithala's main camp, is ingeniously camouflaged against a plateau at the foot of the cliffs of the Ngotshe mountain. Towering above the camp, horizontal contours of pink and russet sandstone offset vertically jagged spires of dolerite rock. These provide the ideal haven for raptors,their calls echoing from rock face to crevice as they soar into the sky in territorial display. Ntshondwe's 39 thatched chalets blend into a lush setting of acacias, wild figs, cabbage trees and other indigenous flora. A variety of self-catering chalets, with two to six beds each, some of which have being designed for use by the handicapped, are available, while 28 other chalets without catering facilities are geared for tour groups and conference delegates.

These are situated around the visitors' centre which has a fully licensed restaurant, a bar and an open game viewing deck which overlooks a small pan. Other amenities include a swimming pool built around a giant rock , a fully- equipped conference centre, and an imaginatively stocked curio shop which also carries a range of basic provisions.

Ntshondwe: Lodge
This exclusive luxury lodge offers complete privacy in spectacular surroundings. It accommodates six guests in three bedrooms with bathrooms en-suite, and has a small swimming pool, a sun deck and barbecue area overlooking the valley below.

Mhlangeni Bushcamp
Set on a rocky outcrop overlooking a stream, the Mhlangeni bushcamp accommodates up to ten guests in five two-bed units. A central open-plan lounge and sun-deck offer excellent views, as do the showers! The services of an attendant are provided and a tour guide is available by prior arrangement to take guests on game walks.

Mbizo Bushcamp
Mbizo is ideally situated beside a series of rapids and pools near the spot where the Ngubhu and Mbizo rivers meet. A total of eight guests can be accommodated here, in two separate bush chalets constructed of wood , reed and thatch. Each has two bedrooms, it's own lounge, kitchen and viewing deck. The camp has two separate ablution facilities. The tariff includes the services of an attendant and tour guide to take guests on walks by prior arrangement.

Thalu Bushcamp
Thalu Bush Camp is tucked away at the foot of a steep slope on the banks of the Thalu river. A picturesque barbecue area overlooks a large pool in the river where swimming is permitted. Thalu accommodates four people in two bedrooms linked by a kitchen, lounge and viewing deck. An attendant is provided and a tour guide is available by prior arrangement to take visitors on game walks.

Activities
Ithala has an astonishing range of landscapes and habitats from the highland sourveld grasslands at the top of the Ngotshe Mountains to the Bushveld and Forest along the Phongola River a thousand metres below. Characterized by deep bush filled valleys and gorges with clear streams cascading over numerous waterfalls into deep pools, and expansive grassy plateaus with large herds of plains game such as blue wildebeest tssessebe and red hartebeest, Ithala offers a wealth of activities for visitors.

Self-Guided Walking Trails:
A number of self-guided trails traverse the wooded mountainside above Ntshondwe camp, inviting guests to enjoy glimpses of the indigenous wildlife while stretching their legs. The sight of black rhino and elephant droppings along a path adds a rush of adrenaline to the experience.Rhino occasionally enter the camp at night,therefore visitors are advised to exercise caution when walking around the camp at night.

Day and Night Drives:
Day and night drives are conducted in open viewing vehicles and are a popular tourist attraction in the reserve. These can be booked at Ntshondwe camp office.

Self-Guided Auto Trails:
Ithala has a number of well laid out auto trails with markers at points of interest.These enable visitors to discover and appreciate aspects of the reserve’s fascinating wildlife and geology in the comfort of their own vehicles. Driving along these routes one is constantly struck by the wide range of habitats which support a large biodiversity of plant, bird and animal life in the reserve.

Picnic Sites:
Picnic sites are situated in several scenic spots which offer spectacular views and are ideal for game watching. These all have barbecue facilities and ablutions.

Guided Walks:
Visitors to Ntshondwe may book a guided walk at Reception.
Summer Times:
06h00-08h00
15h00-18h00
Winter Times:
07h00-09h00
14h00-15h00
Visitors to the busccamps may book their first walk with Reception on arrival, thereafter they book directly with the guide.

Conference Venue
Two state of the art conference centres in wonderful surroundings.

Ntshondwe Conference Centre in Ithala Game Reserve. Here in the heart of Africa are twenty-first century conference facilities superbly incorporated within an authentic African game reserve. Under a magnificent thatched building, you’ll enjoy modern comforts in an environment that is so beautiful and peaceful, that business becomes a pleasure!

Vital Information

Gate Opening and Closing Times:
Summer (1 November to 28/29 February ) 05h00 to 19h00
Winter (1 March to 31 October ) 06h00 to 18h00

Office Hours: The office is open from 07h00 to 19h30

Distance and Time from Gate to Camp: 8 kms and 15 minutes

Check Out Time: 10h00
Check In Time: 14h00

Facilities:
Restaurant, bar, coffee shop, information centre, petrol and diesel, conferences, day and night game drives, walking trails.

Shop:
A fully equipped shop selling curios and a range of supplies.

The nearest town which has a full range of services is Vryheid which is 69 kms away.

How to get there:
Ithala Game Reserve is situated near Louwsburg in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
From Durban it is best reached via Eshowe and Melmoth to Vryheid.
From the Gauteng area the best approach is via Standerton, Volksrust and Utrecht to Vryheid.
From the north coast go via Pongola and Magudu.
From Pietermaritzburg travel via Ladysmith, Dundee and Vryheid.

Pets are not permitted into the reserve.

"No entry fees will be charged for visits by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Primary and Secondary School groups, from KZN Schools to KZN Protected Areas and St Lucia Crocodile Centre provided that such visits:
1. are authorised by the Head of the school
2. are booked in advance with the Officer in Charge of the Protected Area or Crocodile Centre
3. do not take place over weekends, during KZN Provincial school holidays or Public Holidays".

Facilities for people with disabilities:
Provisions have been made for people with disabilities in the accommodation and other facilities in Ntshondwe Camp.

 

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