Rhino vs. buffalo, sometimes you get both
Hluhluwe reserve in South Africa is world famous for its rhinos but still skates under the radar because it's a state, not national, park.
Rhino vs. buffalo. No need to choose. You can see them both at KwaZulu Natal’s Hluhluwe Nature Preserve in South Africa.
But once in awhile you may get lucky and see them together, as in this video.
The rhino has more brute strengh, but it’s hard to beat the herding instinct of buffalo as they move in to surround the rhino in the video taken at Kariega Private Reserve east of Addo Elephant National Park in South Africa.
All inclusive rates begin around $1,000 USD per night for two at Kerriega. Not as expensive as some South Africa preserves, but when it’s a small part of a two-week trip from the States you could end up spending enough for a house down payment on a vacation.
On the other hand, if you use airline miles for a flight and stay inside South African national and state parks, you could pay less for a South Africa trip than a two-week vacation at Yellowstone.
The expensive private reserves get attention in glossy travel magazines and on Twitter, while the far cheaper parks skate under the radar.
Hluluwue is a state park (kznparks.com), so it’s not in the same booking system as more famous Kruger National Park (sanparks.com). Lodging begins around $100 per night in a rondavel for two. Camping is not an option in this park, located about 100 miles northeast of Durban in the brushy hill country 25 miles inland from the Indian Ocean.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Preserve down on the coast makes a good two parks package. Between the two parks I saw rhinos three consecutive days, which I imagine to be not common anywhere in Africa for someone in a rental car not being driven around by a safari guide who knew where the rhinos were.
Hluhluwe used to be a private hunting preserve for Zulu kings, so it maintained its wildlife when it transitioned to a park. It has the big five and is know for having enough rhinos to send around Africa to re-establish populations.
Despite their reputation, rhinos and buffalos tend to be mild-mannered grazers. I’ve driven right up to both, but wouldn’t say a rental car or two has never been returned with a hole from a rhino or buffalo horn in the door.