The story of Msinene Nature Reserve
Six years ago Bruce Taylor and Shaun Waring-Jones owners and founders of Sunway Safaris saw the opportunity to restore and return an area in KwaZulu-Natal from cattle and pineapple farming to its former natural state.
The transformation from farm to reserve has been a massive undertaking. All the internal fences needed to be removed, management of invasive weeds is a never-ending challenge and an anti-poaching team had to be established and resourced. With this work done, the next step was reintroducing endemic species such as zebra, giraffe and impala.
Opening Zululand Lodge
Two years ago the reserve was ready to start welcoming its first visitors and Zululand Lodge was opened with guests staying in one of nine well-appointed permanent tents with ensuite bathrooms.
Within the Reserve activities include game walks in the riverine forest and along the banks of the Msinene River offer amazing birding, sightings of animals such as hippo, crocodile and nyala and if very lucky, one of the resident leopards.
Guests can also relax in the lodge lounge soaking up the atmosphere of the African bush as zebra and other wildlife come to drink at the waterhole.
Supporting Zululand’s Reserves & National Parks
Msinene and Zululand Lodge are also ideally located to visit and therefore support the conservation efforts of Hluhluwe National Park, Mkuzi Game Reserve and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
These parks and reserves in combination with Msinene offer travellers a well-rounded wildlife and nature experience in this incredibly scenic area of South Africa.
Travellers and their agents who choose to travel with Sunway Safaris have made this long-term conservation project possible and created additional employment opportunities for the people who live in this area.
Safaris that stay at Zululand Lodge on Msinene Nature Reserve:
- South Africa Rainbow Route Safari – 17 days
- Mozambique & Kruger Beach & Bush Safari – 14 days
- Walking South Africa – 14 days
- South Africa Wild Kingdoms – 8 days
In addition, all travellers departing on any Sunway Safari departing from Johannesburg can purchase a stainless steel bottle for ZAR100 (NZ$11) with the proceeds going towards the conservation efforts at Msinene. This allows clients to refill bottles from drinking water tanks on Sunway’s Safari Trucks or from safe water sources that the guiding team point out on tour.
