Mkuze

Travel Guide

Mkuze featuring land animals
Mkuze featuring land animals
Mkuze showing land animals and tranquil scenes
Mkuze showing land animals and zoo animals
Mkuze which includes tranquil scenes and land animals

Located in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, this small city features a number of game reserves and an abundance of beautiful natural areas.

Mkuze is a small farming community surrounded by isolated forest plantations and sugar cane crops. See a variety of African animals in the nearby game reserves and wetland parks. Learn about the history of the region with a guided tour and explore its untouched natural beauty.

The small city of about 50,000 inhabitants is found in the greater KwaZulu-Natal province. Take a guided night drive or game walk through one of the nearby reserves and discover the wonderful African wildlife. Explore the wilderness with safari tours, game drives and boat cruises. With over 250 species of birds, Mkuze is one of South Africa’s best bird-watching locations.

Plan a trip to the uMkhuze Game Reserve, a 100,000-acre (40,000-hectare) protected area in northern Zululand. The reserve is home to a variety of wild African animals including giraffes, African bush elephants, leopards, Nile crocodiles, lions, impalas, cheetahs and many more. Explore the natural habitats including sand forests, rocky ridges, rivers and mixed woodlands. The uMkhuze Game Reserve now forms part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

Find the iSimangaliso Wetland Park about 37 miles (60 kilometers) from the center of Mkuze. The wetland park is one of the most spectacular natural areas in South Africa and contains eight interlinking ecosystems and three major lake systems. Appreciate South Africa’s first UNESCO Heritage Site, with endless beaches stretching from Maphelane in the south to Kosi Bay. Take a guided tour or a kayak safari to fully experience the stunning natural areas.

Visit this farming community for an authentic South African rural experience. Find suitable accommodations in the available lodges and inns. The drive to Mkuze from Durban will take just over 3 hours. If you are visiting Mkuze from Johannesburg, the drive is around 300 miles (480 kilometers).

Admire Mkuze’s backdrop Ghost Mountain, a site rich with battlefield history. Some local residents believe it is haunted.

The Annual Vacation Sale

Members save up to 40% on hotels and homes. Plan this year’s big trip and save.
Ghost Mountain Inn

Ghost Mountain Inn

4 out of 5
Fish Eagle Road Jozini KwaZulu-Natal
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Jozini. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking.
9.2/10 Wonderful! (74 reviews)
The staff were all attentive and friendly with great meals and selections of wines. Rooms were decent with good wifi connectivity. There was also a choice of two pools in the lovely grounds however both were very cloudy a temporary bulb I am sure

Reviewed on Feb 1, 2026

Ghost Mountain Inn
Jozini Tiger Lodge by Dream Resorts

Jozini Tiger Lodge by Dream Resorts

4 out of 5
Main Road Jozini KwaZulu-Natal
$148 nightly
The price is $170 total per night from Mar 15 to Mar 16
$170 total
Mar 15 - Mar 16
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this spa hotel in Jozini. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Popular attraction Jozini Dam is located nearby.
Jozini Tiger Lodge by Dream Resorts
Thanda Safari

Thanda Safari

4 out of 5
D242 Off The N2 Hluhluwe KwaZulu-Natal
$543 nightly
The price is $625 total per night from Mar 13 to Mar 14
$625 total
Mar 13 - Mar 14
Total with taxes and fees
Book a stay at this luxury lodge in Hluhluwe. Enjoy free parking, a full-service spa, and room service.
9.4/10 Exceptional! (37 reviews)
Our first time at Thanda and we loved it . The staff were all wonderful and could not do enough to help. Zeepo and Zee were the best guide and tracker we have ever had on safari . The spa treatments were great and the food , while not fine dining, was really tasty . Really lovely atmosphere and vibe ...

Reviewed on Dec 25, 2025

Thanda Safari
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Tandweni Villa

Tandweni Villa

3.5 out of 5
Pongola Game Reserve Pongola KwaZulu-Natal
Book a stay at this family-friendly villa in Pongola. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and onsite spa services. Popular attraction Pongola River Bridge is located ...
Tandweni Villa
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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