KwaZulu-Natal: 80% drop in rhino poaching in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park!

According to the World Wildlife Fund South Africa (WWF South Africa), the ongoing Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife mass dehorning of rhinos in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu-Natal has resulted in an 80% drop in poaching in the park since the operation began in April this year. To date, it has spared the lives of an estimated 120 rhinos and enabled the rescue of eight orphaned calves whose mothers had been killed. The calves were found in the early days of the operation when poaching levels were still high and are now being cared for at the Zululand Rhino Orphanage. In April 2024, when the dehorning operation first started,  around 30 animals a month were being killed. In June 2024 only four animals were lost, in July 2024 eight and four in August 2024.
KwaZulu-Natal lost a total of 325 rhinos in 2023 to poaching, with a significant 307 of those illegally killed within Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. This represents more than 10% of the park’s population and some 60% of the national poaching loss in South Africa.

KwaZulu-Natal: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife initiated a rhino dehorning programme in Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park!

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wildlife conservation areas and biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal, that is has, in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund South Africa (WWF South Africa), initiated a rhino dehorning programme in the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park (HiP) on 08 April 2024. KwaZulu-Natal lost a total of 325 rhinos in 2023 to poaching, with a significant 307 of those illegally killed within Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park.

“It is with a heavy heart that the organisation has decided to dehorn. Rhino dehorning goes against the grain of what we stand for, but the persistent threat posed by poachers has necessitated more drastic measures to protect our rhinos”, said Ezemvelo CEO Sihle Mkhize.

According to the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), a total of 499 rhinos were poached across South Africa in 2023. 406 of those were killed on state properties and 93 on privately owned parks/reserves/farms. This was an increase of 51 rhinos in comparison to 448 rhinos poached in 2022.

KwaZulu-Natal: Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park roads are flooded!

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wildlife conservation areas and biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal, has informed the public that the Black iMfolozi Bridge, Hluhluwe Bridge and the Amanzamnyama stream in Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park are flooded. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife therefore advises travellers intending to visit the Park to use the following alternative roads:

• Travellers inteding to stay at Hilltop Resort are advised to use the Memorial Gate. They must take the Maphumulo gravel road on the left before reaching Amanzamnyama stream (flooded) and then turn into Sitezi Road, which will take them back to tarred roads.
• Both Mpila Resort and Hiltop Resort are not accessible through the Nyalazi Gate. Travellers intending to stay at Mpila Resort are advised to use the Cengeni Gate to enter Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park, while travellers heading for Hiltop Resort are advised to use the Memorial Gate
• Travellers must drive via Hlabisa-Nongoma-Ulundi to access the Cengeni Gate from the Nyalazi Gate.

KwaZulu-Natal: Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park temporarily closed to the public!

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wildlife conservation areas and biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, has announced that Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park will be temporarily closed to the public from Wednesday, 22 July 2020, until Friday, 31 July 2020. The closure is a result of recent COVID-19 positive cases. The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park will re-open to the public on Saturday, 01 August 2020. We'll keep you posted!
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is the oldest proclaimed nature reserve in Africa (1895). It is located about 280 km north of Durban in northern KwaZulu-Natal and covers an area of 960km². Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is home to the Big Five (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino) and has the highest population of both white and black rhino in South Africa.

Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park: All roads in the Mbhuzane Section have been closed until further notice! [update]

update (15 November 2019): Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife just announced that all gravel roads (!) in the Mbhuzane Section of Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park remain closed until further notice for sedans with a low ground clearance. This is with the exception of the road from Mpila to Cengeni via point 28 (Mantiyane) and 24 (Msasaneni).

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wildlife conservation areas and biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, has announced that all roads in the Mbhuzane Section of Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park have been closed until further notice. The roads have been very badly damaged in places due to hevy rain received on 13 November 2019 This is with the exception of the road from Mpila to Cengeni via point 28 (Mantiyane) and 24 (Msasaneni). Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife advises drivers to take extreme caution when traveling this route and recommends not to use sedan vehicles with a low ground clearance.