A day at the uMkhuze Game Reserve

We are at the uMkhuze Game Reserve that is part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa.

Today we spent a wonderful day at this reserve that few, unjustly, visit.

Early this morning we took a walking safari with a reserve guide, the Fig Forest Walk; it was really an exciting experience, we walked in the forest looking for animals, we saw wonderful birds and spectacular trees and our guide told us many interesting things.

Along the way there are also suspended wooden bridges, indispensable to overcome the rivers, and a sighting tower to be able to see the forest and its inhabitants from a different perspective.

When we returned to Mantuma we choose a picnic table and we prepare breakfast, I would say that after a 3 km walking we really deserve it.

After breakfast we start to explore the reserve, the main roads are paved and therefore can be traveled with any type of car, the secondary roads instead are unpaved, but are beaten so even here you can move without problems.

There is a lot of vegetation, especially bushes, so not everywhere you have a good view, but we can still see several animals, especially along the dirt roads, perhaps here fewer cars pass and they are less disturbed.

At one point we see a large herd of impalas, there will be more than fifty, they are all in the middle of the road; we approach slowly so as not to frighten them, but they do not seem to care about us, the fact is that if they do not move we cannot pass.

We were there in the middle of the impalas for a while, they are beautiful, we often go on safari in search of animals such as lions, elephants or other animals and the impalas are ignored because they are present a bit everywhere, but if you stop there to observe them you can appreciate their beauty.

When lunch time comes, we stop at the kuMazunga picnic area and immediately after we go to the nearby bird hide with the same name.

The structure is new and very beautiful, nothing to share with the huts at the Kruger National Park; this in particular is very large, goes outwards, above a lagoon and is open on three sides, in this way it is possible to have a wide view over the whole body of water.

The bottom of the shed is open and you can see the water below.

In the corridor leading to the hut they have impressed some mammals' imprints in the cement of the walkway and have put the identification tags of the plants, it is very interesting for those who want to deepen their knowledge about the surrounding environment.

We stay in the shed some time, changing position from time to time, we observe the birds that are nearby, we enjoy identifying them and we enjoy the show and the silence of this place; it's really a magical place.

After a while we take our car, Dr. Livingstone, and we continue to explore the park; in theory here there are also rhinos and leopards, but they are not easy to spot; we see several zebras, impalas again, the nyalas, including two males who were challenging each other on a duel for control over some females and the greater kudus.

We drive South East, we are heading to the Nsumo Pan; here there are three hides; all three overlooking the Pan that is full of water.

There is nobody we are alone to admire this wonder of nature; this is one of the best places to watch the sunset in the reserve, and we stay here and wait for the sun to fall and paint the sky in warm colors, as we watch the birds and the noisy hippos fighting in the river.

What a spectacular place surrounded by nature!

As the sun goes down the sky becomes more and more orange and, consequently, also the water; it is perhaps one of the most beautiful sunsets we have seen in 20 years that we visit the African continent.

We enjoy this show in absolute silence, broken only by some cries or movements of animals: what a peace!

From the sunset we have about half an hour to get to our campsite before the night-time traffic ban; so we cannot waste time, we have to leave!

As we head to the eMshopi's camp the sky turns red first and then purple, wow, incredible!

Even if we are driving we do not miss this show and stop to take some pictures

We arrive at the campsite at 6:00pm o'clock, we are just in time!

During the journey, while the light began to wane, we realized that, when we were driving by some points, we saw some flashes, we realized that they have placed several trap cameras along the roads, probably to capture night images of the animals that transit there.

Today it has been an exciting day, the beauty of the nature of the uMkhuze Game Reserve is incredible, I hope that more and more visitors discover this hidden gem.