Imfolozi Wilderness trails

Indemnity

KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Board nor Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife accepts responsibility for any death, injury or illness sustained or suffered by any person, or theft, or loss of or damage to any property, occurring within or arising from visitor visits to parks, reserves, or resorts under their management or control.

Clothing

Participants are requested to wear suitably coloured clothing that blends with the surroundings. The best colours are khaki and green. Inappropriate colours are white, red, yellow, orange and pink. In general, dark colours are preferable to light colours.

General

Trails Officers and Field Guides, who are all highly trained and experienced, guide each iMfolozi Wilderness trail. Both are trained and competent in the use of the rifles they carry, and your safety is their primary focus on the trail. It is essential that trailists obey any instruction from either one of them.

Remember that Zululand winters can be cold, with temperatures dropping significantly at night, whilst the summer temperatures can rise appreciably by midday, and sudden rain can be a factor.

As ticks can be a problem at certain times of the year, trailists are advised to purchase “Bayticol” a highly effective tick deterrent, from their pharmacy. It is also usually available from the Mpila shop. Trailists are advised to bring gaiters, which serve as an effective deterrent from ticks as well as thorns (available from any hiking shop). There are no mosquito nets available.

Transport

Trailists are required to provide their own transport arrangements to and from Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife cannot assist in this regard.

Malaria Warning

Wilderness trails take place in areas where there is a risk of contracting malaria. Participants are advised to take anti-malaria precautions as a matter of course. Please consult a medical practitioner in this regard.

Location

The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is located 270 km north of Durban, past Empangeni and Richards Bay and inland of Mtubatuba, the nearest town. The route is clearly signposted. From the north, follow the N2 past the town of Hluhluwe or south from Durban, and take the R618 offramp at the Mtubatuba/Hlabisa turnoff and head towards Hlabi s a and Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. The Nyalazi Gate of the

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is 25 km from this point. iMfolozi and Mpila.

Age Restriction

There is no maximum age restriction. Trailists do, however, need to be reasonably physically fit. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife reserves the right to turn anyone away from a wilderness trail should the Trails Officer feel that a person is not physically fit/able enough. The minimum age for a child unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian is sixteen (16) years. No child under the age of fourteen (14) years may participate. (Proof of age may be requested by the Trails Officer.) If this ruling is not adhered to, the underage persons will, unfortunately, have to be turned away on arrival

Tariffs

The tariff schedule is available on request from the above address. Tariffs are reviewed annually and increases are effective as of 1 November. Bookings made prior to November for trails after the effective date of the tariff increase are still subject to price increases. In the event of this, the excess can be settled on arrival at the designated trail.

Entry Fees

An entry fee/conservation levy is payable to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park at reception or check-in. A community levy is also payable.

Important Note

All trails (except the Primitive Trail) take a maximum of eight but require a minimum of four people in order to take place. The Primitive Trail, however, requires a minimum of six people. Should the minimum number of trailists not be confirmed, the trail will be cancelled and any payments refunded. Alternatively, depending on availability, arrangements can be made to accommodate trailists at Mpila or Hilltop Resorts and a programme of game drives and day walks arranged.

Electronic gadgets i.e cellular phones and laptops are not permitted on trails. Should a trailist have a special dietary need, please inform the Trails Consultant when making a booking. Regrettably, and for very practical reasons,thePrimitiveTrailcannot accommodate any special dietary needs. Weather remains an unpredictable element, and should it rain during a trail it is possible that the group will not go out for the day. This is due to the increased danger caused by wet conditions, or the added risk of sudden and dangerous encounters with wildlife. It may be possible to go for short walks. Vehicles can be parked at Mdindini Base Camp, which is 7km from Mpila Resort.

Various Imfolozi Trails

The iMfolozi Wilderness Trails operation currently runs five different trails: