Close to the Black Imfolozi river, within the Imfolozi section of the world famous Imfolozi-Hluhluwe Game Reserve, you will find Nselweni Bush Camp. Access to the camp is by its own ‘private’ dirt road where on arriving and leaving you could encounter its permanent wild residents. I passed white rhino, giraffe and warthogs as I entered and left the camp.
The park itself is under the control Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. However Nselweni is operated and managed by members of the parks neighbouring community who live bordering the park. All the staff therefore are provided from the local area providing much needed employment and income.
Checking in to the camp is still done at Mpila and activities such as game drives, night drives and bush walks are also booked at Mpila. However Nselweni has just taken delivery of a new game viewing vehicle so hopefully in the not too distant future game drives will be offered direct from the camp.
The accommodation has a very modern feel and is clean and comfortable. Each chalet has a well equipped kitchen and large en-suit bathroom. The central bedroom looks over the veranda and straight out into the surrounding bush.
A central communal boma area with open fire makes an ideal place to sit with friends and share stories of the day’s adventures. Above the boma you will see the solar panels that supply the camps power. Another feature which impressed me was the wheelchair access around the camp and to each chalet.
For me there is a real draw to return time and time again to Imfolozi-Hluhluwe Park. From my new base camp at Nselweni I had some stunning encounters. Too close an encounter seems to be always provided by local hyenas looking for a free meal from cooks who leave their meat cooking unattended. Beyond the camp I drove passed masses game, including hundreds of buffalo and dozens of elephants. I also came across four cheetahs, relaxing under the shade of a thorn tree, occasionally standing to watch passing zebra and wildebeests. At lunchtime on my second day came a most unexpected sighting, a leopard crossing the road 100 meters in front of my car.
