WITH St Valentine’s Day celebrated this week and all the accompanying romance still making itself felt, let’s enjoy a short, virtual, romantic getaway to one of the most beautiful spots in KwaZulu-Natal.
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With its striking modern architecture, lofty setting, beautiful gardens and its stunning views of the surrounding hills, valleys and silvery rivers, it would be hard to beat Hluhluwe -iMfolozi Game Reserve’s Hilltop camp when it comes to romantic destinations.
I love the untamed atmosphere of the some-how wilder iMfolozi section of this KwaZulu-Natal flagship park and both sections offer excellent game viewing and birding, but the Hluhluwe side, where Hilltop is situated, is perhaps more aesthetically pleasing.
As for Hilltop, the main Hluhluwe rest camp, there is nothing rugged or rustic about it. Hilltop is far removed from the basic, old fashioned idea of what rest camps should be.
It is more like a luxury lodge or resort, offering classy self-catering accommodation, a good restaurant and an attractive bar, lounge and terrace area with the most magic of views.
Whenever you leave the comfort of Hilltop to explore the Hluhluwe section of the park you are awed by the incredible scenery. The road from the camp to Memorial Gate runs along a ridge and offers the most incredible views.
It a good introduction to what the Hluhluwe side of the park is all about park but it is worth leaving the tar and exploring the network of gravel roads on either side of this main artery, towards the gate.
The gravel section south of the tarred road offers stunning views of the Hluhluwe River and being such a watery route, plenty of good game sightings are likely. There is a fabulous picnic site overlooking the river that is a wonderful place to relax under a tree and do some armchair birding.
One of our favourite little loops in the park is the Nzimane River Loop, which is close enough to Hilltops to do as a short evening drive. It is a lovely route, meandering over sandy little waterways, through lush, green vegetation and there is almost always plenty to see along the route.
At one point, a drift over a river can be a bit of a problem for those without a 4×4 during the rainy season but it is right at the end of the route, giving access to a track that is a short cut back to camp. Those with 2×4 vehicles can always avoid the drift, backtrack and go home the longer way.
The main tarred road to the iMfolozi side of the park always seems to produce the goods and we have had some exciting game viewing along this road.
If you leave Hilltop camp at first light, you will be more than ready for a good breakfast stop at the popular and pleasant Siwasamikhosikazi picnic site. You can carry on along the tarred route or venture off onto the very interesting gravel road network in the vicinity of that picnic site.
Of course, if you aren’t feeling too energetic, the tranquil and pretty camp is the perfect spot to while away a pleasant hour or two. Sit on the terrace with something cool to drink and admire the view or take your binocs and your flora field books and stroll around the lush, well-treed indigenous gardens that really make Hilltop Camp a special place.
For a little out-of-Africa romance, you can’t beat Hilltops.
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