Mkuze is a small farming community surrounded by isolated forest plantations and sugar cane crops. See a variety of African animals in the nearby game reserves and wetland parks. Learn about the history of the region with a guided tour and explore its untouched natural beauty.
The small city of about 50,000 inhabitants is found in the greater KwaZulu-Natal province. Take a guided night drive or game walk through one of the nearby reserves and discover the wonderful African wildlife. Explore the wilderness with safari tours, game drives and boat cruises. With over 250 species of birds, Mkuze is one of South Africa’s best bird-watching locations.
Plan a trip to the uMkhuze Game Reserve, a 100,000-acre (40,000-hectare) protected area in northern Zululand. The reserve is home to a variety of wild African animals including giraffes, African bush elephants, leopards, Nile crocodiles, lions, impalas, cheetahs and many more. Explore the natural habitats including sand forests, rocky ridges, rivers and mixed woodlands. The uMkhuze Game Reserve now forms part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
Find the iSimangaliso Wetland Park about 37 miles (60 kilometers) from the center of Mkuze. The wetland park is one of the most spectacular natural areas in South Africa and contains eight interlinking ecosystems and three major lake systems. Appreciate South Africa’s first UNESCO Heritage Site, with endless beaches stretching from Maphelane in the south to Kosi Bay. Take a guided tour or a kayak safari to fully experience the stunning natural areas.
Visit this farming community for an authentic South African rural experience. Find suitable accommodations in the available lodges and inns. The drive to Mkuze from Durban will take just over 3 hours. If you are visiting Mkuze from Johannesburg, the drive is around 300 miles (480 kilometers).
Admire Mkuze’s backdrop Ghost Mountain, a site rich with battlefield history. Some local residents believe it is haunted.