South African Safari Pictures

The South African safari pictures featured here were taken in a variety of the country's game reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, the majority in KwaZulu-Natal province. Below is brief information about the reserves:

Mkuzi (Mkhuze) Game Reserve, situated in northern KwaZulu-Natal, was proclaimed a protected area in 1912. The 40,000-hectare reserve is recognised as a mecca for bird watchers, with a bird list in excess of 400.

The diversity of habitat that characterises Mkuzi is able to accommodate a wide variety of wildlife, including black and white rhinoceros, elephant, giraffe, nyala, blue wildebeest, warthog, eland, hippo, impala, kudu and other smaller antelope. Rare species occurring in the reserve are cheetah, hyaena, suni and leopard, all of which combine to offer unique opportunities for those keen to add South African safari pictures to their wildlife photography collections.

Ndumo Game Reserve is situated in the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal, close to the border between South Africa and Mozambique. The reserve, covering about 9,000 hectares, is renowned for its magnificent bird life and boasts the highest bird count in South Africa with some 430 species.

Visitors to Ndumo can enjoy a number of attractive pans fringed with yellow fever trees and reedbeds, while the surrounding acacia savannah, thick bush and sand forests provide ample opportunities to view the extensive wildlife.

Weenen Game Reserve is a smallish (5,000 ha) nature reserve situated in KwaZulu-Natal. The acacia grassland with occasional thickets found in the reserve are characteristic of the area's vegetation. Good sightings of white rhino, giraffe, zebra, and a variety of antelope including kudu, impala, eland and blesbok are common, while more than 230 species of birds have been recorded.

The scenic landscape, bushveld vegetation, and plentiful wildlife all contribute to Weenen's reputation as a small but well appointed wildlife destination accessible for both day and overnight visitors.

Tala Private Game Reserve is a small nature reserve situated near Durban on South Africa's east coast. The reserve's mix of thorn trees and open grassland supports a diversity of wildlife and offers good opportunities for taking pictures of giraffe, rhino, zebra and a variety of antelope.

Tala is unique in that it is surrounded by farms and other peri-urban development, yet much of this is hidden once you are in the game reserve. The animals have grown accustomed to vehicles which makes it relatively easy to view and take typical South African safari pictures.

Spioenkop Game Reserve, also in KwaZulu-Natal, encompasses thorn savannah broken by the contrasting expanse of water of Spioenkop dam. Visitors to the reserve can enjoy panoramic views that stretch from hot valley bushveld across cool water to the Drakensberg Mountains.

Steeped in Anglo Boer War history, the reserve boasts a rich selection of wildlife including white rhinoceros, giraffe and a variety of plains and bushveld antelope.

Ithala Game Reserve covers an area of 30 000 hectares in northern KwaZulu-Natal, about a quarter of which is open bushveld that allows good game viewing. Much of the remainder is made up of spectacular valleys with rivers and streams running through them, steep cliff-faces, and granite boulder outcrops. This mixed terrain allows a wide variety of plants and animals to flourish, including about 80 mammal species and 320 bird species.

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