When Is the Best Time
If you want to spot rhinos in abundance this is the perfect reserve; it takes your breath away. Some people say you can drive through the entire park in half a day, but Imo you need days and patience. Each day is different; you never know what comes after the next turn. There are more cars and day visitors in the Hluhluwe section. The iMfolozi section is quieter, and you may spot more animals.
6 am until 5 pm
Either come early at 6 am before the crowds arrive or even better stay in the park.
The best time for wildlife sightings is in southern winter from May to September. The game concentration at waterholes is high, vegetation is low, and animals are easier to spot.
Southern winter, the drier season from May to September is the best time for wildlife spotting. Days are sunny with low humidity and nights are cold. Day temps are pleasant ranging from 24-22°C and nights drop to 17-14°C. Fewer mosquitos during this time of the year. Showers occur, but heavy rainfall is rare. It's also the low season with viewer crowds, except for school holiday: It’s less busy in camps and on the roads. Our favourite month is September: still dry, even more game to spot and temperatures rise.
The busiest months in the main camps are in the southern summer from November to March. The rain starts end of October. The scenery gets lush and green, but during summer it’s also hot and humid and heavy rainfalls occur. Day temps can reach 30°C and nights are on average around 20°C. Game viewing is not as good as in southern winter, but birding is excellent. The game and especially the big cats are hiding in the high grass. It's more difficult to spot them, especially out of the car. A jeep is a big advantage for safaris being in a higher position.
Best Months to Visit
Location and Tips
This National Park is the oldest game park in South Africa and home of the white and black rhino. It was established in 1895 to protect the last rhinos close to extinction. The park has abundant wildlife and intense conservation efforts. The reason that the largest population of white rhinos in the world can be found here. Unfortunately, poaching is the most significant threat to all game parks and increasing constantly.
I highly recommend staying for a couple of days in the Game Reserve. We spent three nights at Mpila Camp in iMfolozi Park, located on a hill with stunning views. We love the sound of the bush in the night. If you stay inside the reserve, you can experience the night-active game as well. In the evening a bush pig was searching for braai meat at each house. We traveled at the end of the dry season, and one day it was pouring heavily.
Guided walks through the park are offered early morning and afternoon and absolutely worth to do. It is thrilling walking through the bush with an armed guide in front and at the back. Rhinos have poor eyesight, but a strong sense of hearing and smelling, therefore, the guides consider the wind direction during the walk. Also, jeep safaris are offered. Usually, these guides know where to spot the game and the cats. These tours increase the chance for sightings.
It is a low-risk malaria zone, and in the dry season, we only used repellent at daytime and mosquito protecting clothes in the cold evenings like Craghoppers.
