Ndumo Game Reserve

Ndumo Game Reserve is a small, green dot on the map between the uSuthu and Pongola rivers that is home to some incredible surprises.

At only 10,117 ha, the Ndumo Game Reserve is one of the smallest of the game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal, and South Africa. However, this is by no means an indication of significance.

While it may not encompass large tracts of land, what can be found within it’s fenced limits is truly incredible.

A huge diversity of plant, animal and bird life flourish within the reserve and visitors are treated to some truly unique sightings.

Ndumo Game Reserve Highlights

• Guided bush walks.
• 430 bird species (the highest count in South Africa).
• Beautiful pans.
• Lovely hides and picnic sites.
• Viewing towers overlooking the reserve.
• Close to the Tembe Elephant Park.

What to expect from Ndumo Game Reserve

Ndumo Game Reserve is tucked away in the farthest region of northern KwaZulu-Natal. As such it tends to be very a lot more quiet than the bigger, more famous reserves in Zululand as well as the ever-popular Kruger National Park.

For such a tiny reserve, Ndumo Game Reserve boasts a surprisingly large variety of natural habitats including extensive wetlands, acacia savannah and sand forest.

As with almost all of the public game reserves in South Africa, visitors can explore the park in their own vehicles. While the roads aren’t tarred, they are still suitable for most road cars, although you might want to stay away from the wetland areas in the rain.

As Ndumo Game Reserve is so small, you could easily cover its entirety in a day, which means you can afford to take things slowly and stop a lot without feeling like you’re missing out on something.

There are also several hides dotted throughout the reserve which are great viewing platforms for watching birds and animals at the water’s edge. If things are a bit slow on the game viewing side, be sure to check out the area around the hide for funnel-web spiders and other little critters that poke their heads out every now and then.

In addition to the hides, there are also several excellently-located picnic sites to take a rest from driving and stretch those legs. While visitors are allowed to exit their vehicles in these areas, it’s still strongly advised to be vigilant, and not leave food lying around to attract monkeys and other animals into the picnic site.

Driving through the reserve you’ll come across the iconic Yellow Fever and Sycamore fig trees. The reed beds and swampy flood plains around the pans and on the banks of the river are also worth checking out to find some buffalo.

While Ndumo Game Reserve is not a Big 5 park, visitors can still expect to see large mammals such as giraffe, hippos, buffalo, rhino, as well as some smaller animals like impala, nyala, suni, duiker and bushbuck. There is a large population of crocodiles in the reserve, and there’s always the chance of an elusive leopard making an appearance.

There is a small rest stop with a decently stocked trading store at the park reception area, however, it’s probably best to come prepared with all the amenities you need for your stay. If you do run short of supplies, then the nearby town of Ndumo has a number of grocery and trading stores.

Birding in Ndumo Game Reserve

One of the biggest draw-cards for the Ndumo Game Reserve is the abundance of bird life. Birding enthusiasts from around the world come to this park for a chance to spot rare sightings such as the Pel’s Fishing Owl, Narina Trogon, Southern Banded Snake Eagle and African Broadbill.

One of the best ways to do some birding is on a guided bush walk. The Ezemvelo guides who lead the walks are excellent birders with keen eyes and a wealth of knowledge. These walks are not exclusive to birders though. Most of the trails meander around pans filled with hippos and other animals coming to drink from the edge of the water.

These walks can only be done with a guide, so if you want to take part in a birding walk, be sure to make arrangements at the park office the day before to avoid disappointment.

If walking isn’t your thing, then you’ll be pleased to know that the campsite is an excellent place to view birds as well. You can spot a wide array of feathered visitors from the comfort of your camp chair.

The reception area is also a great place to find swallows’ nests, in season. These birds build their mud homes in the rafters of the reception building, and we’ve even sighted an African Eagle Owl hatchling in one of the large trees outside the main door.

Our visit to Ndumo Game Reserve

It took a long time of exploring KwaZulu-Natal before we finally made our way to Ndumo Game Reserve. I think this has a lot to do with its location on the South Africa-Mozambique border; if we were that far north in KwaZulu-Natal, it would usually be because we were en route to Mozambique’s beaches. But once we finally made the journey into the park, we were completely blown away.

Our experiences at Ndumo Game Reserve were definitely unlike those we’ve had in the larger KwaZulu-Natal parks like Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Here, we found that we spent way less time in the car than we would have at the bigger reserves, and as such, we felt a lot more connected to the environment around us.

We made a lot of use of the Red Cliffs Picnic Site where we would stop to make our lunches and gaze over the uSuthu River to watch various birds and animals cruise along the river banks below.

We also relished the opportunity to get out on a guided birding walk. Being out in the bush on foot is always a lovely experience that more than makes up for the early start! Aside from the plethora of birds and animals to see, just the sounds and the smells of the bush were enough to make the 3 hour round trip fly by.

One of our personal highlights from our time in Ndumo Game Reserve was our daily nyala camp visitors. We’re firm believers that wild animals should not be allowed to become habituated to humans – somehow the animals ultimately always come out on the losing end of that relationship. That aside though, there is something so wonderful about the trust that a wary animal places in you when they decide to take those few tentative steps closer, despite their natural instincts. This interaction had nothing to do with our animal whispering abilities, though. Every day flowers dropped from the tree that we were camping under and these proved to be delectable to the antelope! Every day a small herd of nyala would visit our camp to feed on these flowers, passing close by us as we sat quietly observing.

Map of Ndumo Game Reserve

Places to stay at Ndumo Game Reserve

Ndumo Game Reserve has a small resort at the main rest stop area with a quaint little campsite as well as several self-catering units for overnight accommodation. The units are equipped with hand basins, hot and cold water, as well as a refrigerator. Bedding and cutlery are also provided. Guests can make use of a communal kitchen and ablution block with hot and cold water.

The campsite is basic, with an electrical power point and braai (barbecue) stand. The site accommodates both caravans and tents and is situated close to the main reception area which houses a small supply store.

There is also a swimming pool for visitors to use which is especially handy in the hotter summer months.

The resort is very neat and tidy, however, it is a rustic setting, so don’t expect luxury.

Bookings can be made via the Ezemvelo website, or by contacting their booking office.