The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is the best known of several game parks in Zululand. Proclaimed in 1895, it is also the oldest game reserve in Africa. Initially two separate reserves, they were joined to create a single 94 000 hectare reserve, home to one fifth of the world's black and white rhino population. In fact Hluhluwe-Umfolozi is best known for its successful fight to save the white, or square-lipped rhino from extinction. In 1929 only 150 white rhino could be found, and extinction seemed certain. It was here that the internationally acclaimed Operation Rhino started in the 1960s, successfully capturing and relocating white rhino to havens within South Africa and abroad. Today Hluhluwe-Umfolozi is focusing its efforts on saving the endangered black rhino, whose number in Africa dwindled from 14 000 to a pitiful few hundred.

But the forest and grass covered hills and river plains also support a wide variety of game. The white rhino shares the park with buffalo, elephant, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, warthog, lion, hyena, leopard, cheetah and jackal.

Game viewing is either by self-guided rental car, by open top game vehicle with the park rangers or on foot. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve was the first reserve to introduce walking safaris and its Wilderness Trails are internationally renowned.