Not many lodges give you views of South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, but Hluhluwe is one such location.
Built on flat land close to the banks of Lake St. Lucia in the western regions of the 332,000 hectare iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Hluhluwe Lodge also benefits from its close proximity to game reserves known for Big 5 sightings and a huge variety of bird and plant life.
Unsurprisingly, it’s a destination that’s popular with self-drive safari enthusiasts as well as those who want to go on organised game drives and benefit from the expertise of local rangers and trackers.
The dozen A-frame-style Standard, Luxury and Family thatched chalets are all air-conditioned and able to accommodate between 2 to 4 guests. The design ensures plenty of light gets in, while the surrounding trees help you enjoy your fair share of privacy.
Mkhulu’s House is the lone self-catering unit on the site and sleeps up to 4 people. It has a full kitchen, plus a private pool and BBQ area.
Wherever you stay, you can choose between sleeping in a queen size bed or twins. Your ensuite bathroom will have either a shower or bath tub (which will be Victorian style if you book a luxury chalet).
All of the accommodation units are located in an attractive garden that’s within easy reach of the main lodge.
The main building houses the dining room where you’ll enjoy your breakfast and dinner. Before or after dinner, why not whet your palate in the Paddle Bar where beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks are served? You may also find a need to visit the library that’s well-stocked with wildlife reference books, to help you easily identify the birds and animals you see. Outside, as well as the swimming pool, there’s a terrace with seating where you can sip a drink or two as you relax.
Guests report seeing the Big 5 on the game drives that take you from the lodge into the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.
Boat tours to spot crocodile and hippo in the lake are also available, with other water-based activities offered including scuba diving and fishing. You can also see the sea after a short journey, with the beach only an hour’s drive away – Cape Vidal and Sodwana Bay being the most popular coastal destinations.
The 2km long Red Duiker Trail will give you a good chance of seeing impala, suni and nyala, as well as the antelope that gives the trail its name. If you want to up the pace, you can quad bike or mountain bike around the lake and along other trails – activities that are particularly popular with families.
Hluhluwe itself is market town with stalls brimming with locally made crafts, and you can sample a day in the life of the locals at DuMaZulu Cultural Village.
"A dream come true"
We had the most amazing family holiday, everything worked so perfectly, the arrangements and accommodation was spectacular!
"Unforgettable trip to Namibia – Thank you Namibia Tours & Safaris!"
We are a group of four from Romania and spent 3 unforgettable weeks in Namibia. We can't recommend them enough, and for any future travels in Namibia or other parts of Africa, we will definitely use their services again.
"We had a great experience"
From the time we put the key in the ignition till we boarded the plane in Windhoek nothing went wrong.
"Unforgettable bird photography trip in Namibia"
It was a fantastic experience, everything was very well organised, went smooth and according to expectations. It was our first self drive in Africa and it was a great, unforgettable time.
