Ithala Game Reserve

Situated in the rugged, mountainous thornveld of northern KwaZulu-Natal, Ithala Game Reserve is home to a multitude of habitats that host a spectacular array of wildlife species. This magnificent reserve tumbles from the heights of the Ngotshe Mountains a thousand metres into a deep valley that has been carved over the eons by the Phongolo River revealing the world's oldest rock formations. Its scenic beauty aside, Ithala's most characteristic feature is perhaps its astonishing geological diversity - some of the oldest rock formations in the world are found here, dating back 3 000 million years. Ithala's terrain extends over lowveld and densely vegetated riverine valleys to high-lying grassland plateaus, ridges, and cliff faces, making it the perfect location for hiking and nature photography.