Located on the border of Mozambique in the far north of KwaZulu-Natal, Ndumo Game Reserve is known for having the largest number of bird species in one area in South Africa.
Ndumo Game Reserve is located on the border between Mozambique and South Africa.
By Car: Travel north up the N2 from Durban for 6 hours. Take the sign-posted turn-off to Jozini on the Mozambican border and then travel over the dam wall, continuing northwards for 80 kilometres (50 miles). The last stretch of the road is gravel and visitors are advised to drive slowly and with caution.
The closest airports are King Shaka International Airport in Durban or Richard's Bay Domestic Airport.
Ndumo Game Reserve is deemed to be South Africa's best bird watching destination with 444 species of birds found within the 10 117 hectares of the reserve. The low visitor numbers result in the reserve feeling almost deserted and guests can enjoy the luxury of feeling as if they are alone in the safari park.
Guests to the safari park can spend time watching birds from one of the bird-viewing hides within the reserve. Guided game drives and walking safaris can be arranged from the reception within the park-run accommodation.
A park run camping site with 14 sites and 7 self-catering self-contained units are available as Ndumo Game Reserve accommodation options.
A rustic and very simple safari experience, Ndumo Game Reserve is quintessentially African with basic accommodation facilities and a limited internal road network with sand roads that can be fairly poor. There is nowhere to purchase fuel or supplies within the park and visitors will need to travel to the store 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) from the main gate. However; for nature lovers who enjoy 'roughing it' and don't mind a lack of luxury or finer details, Ndumo offers exceptional game viewing and phenomenal bird watching.
Ndumo is located in a summer rainfall area and has extremely dry winters. Summer temperatures are usually in the high 20°C's (87 - 90°F) however in February the mercury has been known to peak at 39°C (102°F). In July the average temperature is 19°C (66°F) droppingto 3°C (37°F) occasionally.
The approach road to the reserve can often be in poor condition. Visitors may want to consider taking 4X4 vehicles to this reserve although it is not always called for. Guests are advised to take precautions against Malaria as Ndumo is located in a high-risk area.
Dangerous game is found within the game reserve and visitors are advised to be careful and to not alight from their vehicles unless in designated areas such as hides and picnic sites. Always be weary when entering hides as animals many be sheltering there, and never enter the water as there are many Nile Crocodiles in the reserve and the water is infected with bilharzia.