Shushluvi-Umfolozi Park is the oldest game reserve in Africa, it is a 96 000 hectare hilly area 280 km north of Durban in the centre of Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal.
In the 1950s and 60s, the park became world-famous for its white rhino conservation operation, which was able to save endangered white rhinos on the brink of extinction. In 1900, there were less than 20 rhinos left in the entire world. Today, there are over 1,600 white rhinos living here and hundreds of animals have been relocated to sanctuaries around the world. However, these rhino areas are threatened by plans to build open pit coal mines right on the park's boundary.
The park is also home to elephants, black rhinos, buffalo, lions and leopards. It is home to a further 86 species of large animals including: the Nile crocodile, hippo, cheetah, spotted hyena, blue gnu, jackal, giraffe, zebra, warthog, mongoose, baboons, a variety of monkeys and turtles, snakes and lizards. It is one of the unique places in the world to see Nyala antelope.
Shushluvi-Umfolozi Park is also home to 340 species of birds. The Mpumalanga River floodplain is one of the few areas in South Africa that is home to the night heron, Walberg's eagle, black bustard, bee-eater, Klaas cuckoo and red-and-yellow warthog.
In 1981, park staff attempted to conserve the African wild dog population. Twenty-three dogs were translocated and released within Shushluwi-Umfolozi Park, most of which were born in zoos. Their numbers have since reached 30 individuals.
There are a large number of holiday bases and camps within the park. The first camp for park visitors was built at Hilltop in 1934. There are also over 300 kilometres of roads through the reserve for viewing it from a vehicle.
