Hluhluwe-iMfolozi self-catering camp — Big 5 on your doorstep in KZN
Back from 4 nights in the bush — here is the full report from Lydenburg.
The spot: First-come-first-served on weekends so we arrived Thursday to secure a site.
Facilities: Fully equipped with power points, hot water, and a communal kitchen area.
Wildlife: Elephant at the waterhole every morning at 06:30 without fail.
What worked: The Engel fridge ran the full trip on 182Ah LiFePO4 topped up by 170W solar. Didn't need the generator once.
What to bring: Your own firewood (collecting prohibited in most reserves), minimum 20L water per person for 3 days, and a headlamp — the bush is seriously dark.
Would I go back: Immediately. This is exactly why we overland.
3 Replies
What is the booking lead time for this spot? I have been looking at it for a trip in October and starting to wonder if I have left it too late.
— werner_dp
Did you see any large wildlife in camp? We had an elephant push over a tree about 24m from our rooftop tent at just before midnight. Incredible to experience — absolutely terrifying in the moment.
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 109Ah battery with 108W solar keeps a Dometic CFX3 45 fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 14 months.