We began our Durban Day Safari Tour in just outside of Durban in Umhlanga the Zulu word for Reeds. After meeting my clients at Zimbali Lodge we traveled up to Hluhluwe Umfolozi game reserve for our day safari tour.
The Drive up I covered the History of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal and Durban as well as the different population groups and how they came to be here in the are of Durban and Hluhluwe Umfolozi. One of the other major things I cover is the Flora and agricultural crops like Sugar Cane and Eucalyptus Siligna tree we come across on route to the game reserve of Hluhluwe Umfolozi.
Today was to be a special day for us all!
White Rhino in the Mud of Hluhluwe Umfolozi game reserve – Durban Day Safari Tour 5/2/14
White Rhino resting in the mud on a hot sunny day in Hluhluwe umfolozi game reserve
After spending more than an hour having only seen Impala, Warthog and Wildebeest we found this big Fella a Male White Rhino in the mud. It was already 34 degrees Celsius so I don’t blame him. Mud wallowing is common among some species of animals for a few reasons: one of which is to remove external parasites off there bodies ie Ticks. – For more information you will have to take a Durban Day Safari Tour with Tim Brown Tours!
Giraffe in Hluhluwe Umfolozi on our Durban Day Safari Tour
Giraffe in Hluhluwe Umfolozi game reserve on our Durban Day Safari Tour
At the same mud wallow we found about 5 giraffe browsing on the acacia leaves as well as Zebra, Wildebeest, Warthog and Impala. All of sudden it was like a Zoo full of animals surrounding the one watering hole with very little water. Giraffe are independent of water and do not need to drink unless they feel perfectly safe to do so. To get more interesting fact again you will have to come on a Durban Day Safari Tour with Tim Brown Tours.
Young Lioness on the Rocks at Mphafa hide parking lot Hluhluwe umfolozi game reserve
Young Lioness on the Rocks at Mphafa hide parking lot Hluhluwe umfolozi game reserve
A bit further up the road this was a real treat on our Durban Day Safari Tour. To find Lions during the Day is hard enough considering the are nocturnal but this was special for a few reasons.
We went down to Mphafa hide in the Umfolozi section of the reserve and I had told the clients I was just going to get out in the parking lot to check it was safe before they joined me in the walk to the “hide” which over looks a watering hole.
I got out and took one step and heard a growl and the grass rustle, when I looked up there was a young male Lion staring at me about 15 meters away and he began to wander off away from us. – These are common warning signs not to come any closer! I obviously jumped back into the vehicle and showed the clients the Lion. All of a sudden another 4 or 5 Lionesses began showing themselves from there hiding spot in the rocks next to the hide. This was super amazing and we got some good photos of them getting comfortable again. – Only on a Hluhluwe umfolozi Durban Day Safari Tour with Tim Brown Tours.
Cheetah mother and cub on our Durban Day Safari Tour to Hluhluwe Umfolozi game reserve
Cheetah mother and cub on our Durban Day Safari Tour to Hluhluwe Umfolozi game reserveOur Durban Day Safari Tour only got better as we spotted a mother cheetah and her cub(left) resting under a tree. I told my clients I hadn’t seen a cheetah for 6 month which shows how rare this sighting was! To find two different Cat species on a Day Safari Tour is like liquid gold. We had hit the jackpot…
We headed off in high spirits to see if we could find Buffalo a bit closer as well as Elephants and of course to have some lunch.
After lunch this is what we came across.
Red Elephant in Hluhluwe Umfolozi game reserve on our Day Safari Tour
Red Elephant in Hluhluwe Umfolozi game reserve on our Day Safari Tour
This was a great sighting although we had spotted two other Bull Elephants this was was 10 meters from the road and had be rolling around in a red clay based soil to cool down so he looked so red! You can see how beautiful his long eyelashes are and that he is flapping his ears to cool his body temperature down. A fantastic sighting having now seen 4 of the Big 5 and cheetah which is so rare we were very happy and lucky.
It was time for the Buffalo and true to form I headed up to Keiths pan in the hope that we would find some there and we sure did, we must have seen about 50 individual African/Cape Buffalo in the mud just before we had to exit the reserve on our Durban Day Safari Tour.
Buffalo Bull in Hluhluwe Game reserve on our Day Safari Tour from Durban
Buffalo Bull in Hluhluwe Game reserve on our Day Safari Tour from Durban
To conclude a great Day Safari Tour from Durban this picture of a Buffalo Bull chewing the cud was great apart from the grass that blew in front of his face.
If you are reading this post and are not envious of these great Durban Safari Tours we have to offer I would be very surprised. Durban Day Safari Tour can be just a good as and overnight safari tour from Durban.
