Description of the attraction
Shushluvi Umfolozi Park is the oldest nature reserve in Africa, it is 96,000 hectares of hilly area 280 km north of Durban in the center of Zululand, KwaZulu Natal.
In the 1950s and 60s, the park became world famous for the White Rhino Conservation Operation, which helped save endangered white rhinos. In 1900, fewer than 20 rhinos remained in the entire world. Today it is home to over 1,600 white rhinos and hundreds of animals have been moved to reserves around the world. However, these rhino areas are under threat from plans to build open pit coal mines right on the edge of the park.
The park is also home to elephants, black rhinos, buffaloes, lions and leopards. 86 more species of large animals live here, including: Nile crocodile, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, blue wildebeest, jackal, giraffe, zebra, warthog, mongoose, baboons, various monkeys and turtles, snakes and lizards. This is one of the unique places in the world to see the Nyala antelope.
Shushluvi Umfolozi Park is also home to 340 bird species. The floodplain of the Mpumalanga River is one of the few areas in South Africa that is home to the night heron, Wahlberg's eagle, black bustard, bee-eater, Klaas cuckoo and red and yellow beard.
In 1981, park workers tried to preserve the African wild dog population. Twenty-three dogs were transported and released in the Shushluvi-Umfolozi park, most of which were born in zoos. Since then, their number has reached 30 individuals.
There are a large number of recreation centers and camps in the park. The first park visitor camp was built at Hilltop in 1934. Also, more than 300 km of roads have been laid through the reserve for its inspection from a car.
