Hello everyone!
We (a couple) plan to visit Hluhluwe-Imfolozi (formerly Umfolozi) National Park between July 14 and July 17, 2007. During these days we hope to participate in a Wilderness Trail ("Base Trail"), which is one of the dream wilderness adventures of our lives...
My question is rather simple: is there any way to get to Mpila Camp at Imfolozi (and away) from Durban without using a self-driven vehicle (which, in our case, we would have to rent)? The people at KZN Wildlife (Imfolozi Wilderness Trails) point out that the closest public transport ends at Empangeni, approx. 100 km away from the park. The Lonely Planet Guide to South Africa also mentions that
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>"many of the remote locations [in KwaZulu-Natal] are a headache to get to on public transport [...] If you want to explore the region's true highlights, you are better off hiring a car" (p. 302)<hr></blockquote>
We have no doubt that it must be quite difficult to get to H-I Park without using a vehicle of one's own. But we find it rather disappointing to have to rent a car if we have to leave it parked at the Camp for four complete days. Are there any alternatives? I was thinking about safari-tour operators who could sell us only the transport tickets to the Park and returning to Durban, but I have no idea if this is possible. Maybe the timing would be difficult to coordinate? (We have to be there at 15:00 on the 14th and leave approx. at the same hour on the 17th).
It would also be most consistent with our wilderness ethics not to take a vehicle into a reserve such as Imfolozi... unless we must.
Do you have any ideas? Every kind of help would be sincerely appreciated...
shanti
Most operators or hosts will pick you up and drop off, for a price. In effect, they are a taxi to and from the airport.
Did something similar last year. rented a car at Richards Bay and drove to Phinda. The alternative was to get picked up by Phinda vehicle at airport, but we were going on from there so needed the car, even though it sat idle for 3 days at the reserve.
Why don't you fly to Richards Bay? Its much closer to Imfolozi.
peterscut,
thank you for your help, but it still is not quite clear for me --iMfolozi is operated by KZN Wildlife, but they do not seems to offer transportation services to and from the Park...
We do wish to visit iMfolozi, although Phinda seems quite beatiful (but a little more expensive).
Is it possible to hire a taxi from Durban airport all the way to iMfolozi park and then arrange for the taxi to pick one up? Do you have any info on how much would this cost?
We are not flying to Richards Bay because we have already arranged to visit Duran&area for some days before going to be park...
Thank you!
Shanti,
I am sure a taxi is feasible, if costly. I'm sorry I don't have details of what they charge, but i'm fairly sure someone at the airport or tourist places could tell you. (or a local on this forum)
Its about 3 hours drive from Durban to Imfolozi. So you are looking at payiong a driver fo rthe best part of a day. (He has to get back to Durban). When you add in the taxi cost, it may be that Phinda is similar. Certainly I can recommend the walking safaris and guides.
That's the trouble with wildernesses - they are not very convenient.........
Sorry I can't be more helpful.
By the way, there are worse places to be stuck than Empangeni. Thriving town.
I had the good fortune to experience some of South Africa's excellent medical services there. Not cheap, but easily available to those who had insurance. I can now see why athletes like cortisone :-)
http://www.greyhound.co.za/<BR>There appears to be a daily bus to Empangeni. You could b probably get a taxi from there.
peterscot & RudiK:
Thanks for the valuable info! However, is there any way I could be more certain about the probability of hiring a taxi to Imfolozi from Empangeni (and back)? It would not be graceful to arrive at Empangeni the day of our trail and find no way to get to the park... maybe there is a way to book a taxi, if not online, maybe calling? Any locals have experience on this?
trusted partner
