Where I’ve Been this Week
On Safari in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Stay/Eat/See: Zulu-Nyala Heritage Safari
As with many “resorts” throughout Africa, Zulu Nyala offers accommodation and safari activities organized in one inclusive trip. There are many resorts like this throughout this region and other parts of Africa, some offering game viewing, others offering hunting and other unique experiences tailored for their local resources. About 3.5 hours from Durban, Zulu Nyala offers airport transport for an additional fee. This service was well organized and well worth the cost.
Zulu Nyala is a beautiful resort, with colorful flora and fauna and expansive, manicured grounds. The landscaping is absolutely stunning and mixes well with backdrop of the African landscape. The food is included and is comprised of buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner served at organized times. This may not sound like much but it is undeniably outstanding. Several mains, veg, salads, starches and desserts are offered at each sitting, and all of the meals were impeccable. The food was tasteful, creative and well-balanced. The only downside here, for me, was the set times. I would suggest bringing snacks if you prefer to nibble or eat between mealtimes. There is no other access to food on the resort.
The bungalows scattered across the vast property are varied in type, size and age. Our was a huge potential four bed built six months ago. It was clean and included all of the amenities that you would expect including super plush beds, GIGANTIC dining/living room, double sinks, soaking tub, ridiculously large shower, hairdryer, kettle, fridge, and tea/coffee service. There was also a four person sitting area outside on the front patio which offered unaltered views of the African sunrise and sunset.
Guests must remember that they are in rural Africa, so bugs and wildlife do exist. The only negative that I can note is an odd odor that came from the plumbing. Unsure if this was an actual sewage problem or due to the salt content in the water, it was so bad our first night we moved rooms. In our second room, the smell was faint, hardly noticeable really, and was greatly reduced by keeping the bathroom fan on and windows open. None of these slight negatives should discourage any guest from a visit.
The main attraction at Zulu is wildlife game viewing. Organized drives occur each day in the morning and afternoon, and each group is assigned a guide who they are with the entirety of their stay. The drive times differ each day and are arranged between your group and your guide depending on the wildlife activities of the day. As you can imagine, the animals on the nature reserve are wild and do not “show up” on set schedules. Your guide is also in charge of organizing any outside excursions for your group, and they offer recommendations and guidance on these. All of these outside activities are charged to your room, so settlement on these is done at the end your stay.
Zulu Nyala’s reserve is rather small, but our group found that it offered everything that we were looking for with respect to our trip. On our first day alone we saw elephants, nyala, kudu, warthogs, wildebeest, giraffes, crocodile, hippos and zebra. On our afternoon drive we even saw a rare encounter between the elephants and the other animals with the elephants inquisitively observing the other species’ actions. On day two, we saw a juvenile and its mom performing an elaborate scratching maneuver on a rock. Fighting for space, the two made quite the scene. Day three yielded sightings of both a cheetah and an elusive leopard family. On our fourth day, we say a zebra battle royale for dominance of the herd as well as many other picturesque scenes.
Despite the reserve’s size, the variety and character of the wildlife made for a unique experience each time we went out. The reserve’s rhino conservation effort is to be commended and has made a positive and profound impact on the population. The knowledge and charismatic demeanor of our guide (Vorshi) was the figurative icing on the cake. It was an overall great experience.
