Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

🇿🇦 South Africa

🐕 Painted Hunting Dog Thrives in Hluhluwe

🌍 #50 Global · 4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #29 in Africa #30 in Savanna & Grassland

Southern Africa, South Africa 980 spp. recorded

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is a tropical savanna reserve tucked into the rolling hills of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province. This protected area features dense acacia thickets, open grasslands, and winding river valleys that visitors navigate along dirt tracks.

-28.311° S 31.880° E

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

50–60% · Likely

Lion

Panthera leo

30–40% · Possible

Painted Hunting Dog

Lycaon pictus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Bulbul

Pycnonotus barbatus

70–80% · Very likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

70–80% · Very likely

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely

White-backed Vulture

Gyps africanus

60–70% · Likely

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

60–70% · Likely

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

60–70% · Likely

Nyala

Tragelaphus angasii

60–70% · Likely

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythrorhynchus

60–70% · Likely

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

50–60% · Likely

Lion

Panthera leo

30–40% · Possible

Painted Hunting Dog

Lycaon pictus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

60–70% · Likely

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

60–70% · Likely

Nyala

Tragelaphus angasii

60–70% · Likely

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

50–60% · Likely

Southern Giraffe

Giraffa giraffa

50–60% · Likely

Chacma Baboon

Papio ursinus

40–50% · Likely

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

40–50% · Likely

Vervet Monkey

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

40–50% · Likely

Greater Kudu

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

30–40% · Possible

Cheetah

Acinonyx jubatus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Bulbul

Pycnonotus barbatus

70–80% · Very likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

70–80% · Very likely

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely

White-backed Vulture

Gyps africanus

60–70% · Likely

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythrorhynchus

60–70% · Likely

Cape Turtle Dove

Streptopelia capicola

50–60% · Likely

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

50–60% · Likely

Southern Fiscal

Lanius collaris

40–50% · Likely

Hadada

Bostrychia hagedash

40–50% · Likely

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

40–50% · Likely

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

30–40% · Possible

Cape Terrapin

Pelomedusa galeata

30–40% · Possible

Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

30–40% · Possible

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

20–30% · Possible

African Striped Skink

Trachylepis striata

20–30% · Possible

Tropical House Gecko

Hemidactylus mabouia

20–30% · Possible

Southern Tree Agama

Acanthocercus atricollis

20–30% · Possible

Eastern Hinged-Back Tortoise

Kinixys zombensis

20–30% · Possible

Cape Dwarf Gecko

Lygodactylus capensis

20–30% · Possible

Rock Monitor

Varanus albigularis

20–30% · Possible

Flap-necked Chameleon

Chamaeleo dilepis

10–20% · Possible

Rainbow Skink

Trachylepis margaritifera

10–20% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

Chiromantis xerampelina

30–40% · Possible

African Split-skin Toad

Schismaderma carens

10–20% · Possible

Red-Banded Rubber Frog

Phrynomantis bifasciatus

Insufficient data

Senegal Kassina

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data

Anchieta's Ridged Frog

Ptychadena anchietae

Insufficient data

Natal Puddle Frog

Phrynobatrachus natalensis

Insufficient data

Mozambique ridged frog

Ptychadena mossambica

Insufficient data

Shovel-nosed Frog

Hemisus marmoratus

Insufficient data

Painted Reed Frog

Hyperolius marmoratus

Insufficient data

African Clawed Frog

Xenopus laevis

Insufficient data

Mozambique Forest Tree Frog

Leptopelis mossambicus

Insufficient data

African Common Toad

Sclerophrys gutturalis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🐦

Migratory Arrival & Game Viewing

OctNov

As temperatures rise ahead of the rains, migratory birds flood the region while resident wildlife converges on dwindling waterholes. The White-backed Vulture actively nests and soars overhead, accompanied by the swift arrival of the Black Kite.

Black Kite

Milvus migrans

30–40% · Possible

White-backed Vulture

Gyps africanus

60–70% · Likely

🦎

Rains & Amphibian Chorus

JanFebDec

The arrival of summer transforms the park into a lush paradise, triggering dramatic breeding choruses where the Grey Foam-nest Treefrog fills the humid nights, while the Southern African Python becomes increasingly active near water sources.

Southern African Python

Python natalensis

0–10% · With luck

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

Chiromantis xerampelina

30–40% · Possible

🦌

Dry Wildlife Concentration

JunJulAugSep

The dry winter months cause vegetation to thin out significantly, offering supreme visibility. Herds of African Buffalo and other large mammals concentrate densely around the remaining perennial rivers and watering holes.

Southern Giraffe

Giraffa giraffa

50–60% · Likely

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

White Rhinoceros

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

50–60

40–50

60–70

40–50

30–40

60–70

30–40

40–50

40–50

50–60

40–50

20–30

40–50

20–30

30–40

10–20

30–40

40–50

Painted Hunting Dog

20–30

10–20

20–30

30–40

10–20

20–30

20–30

10–20

0–10

0–10

20–30

10–20

60–70

70–80

50–60

80–90

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

Fork-tailed Drongo

60–70

60–70

60–70

80–90

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

70–80

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

60–70

50–60

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

70–80

White-backed Vulture

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

50–60

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

80–90

40–50

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

African Buffalo

60–70

50–60

50–60

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

40–50

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

50–60

40–50

40–50

Red-billed Oxpecker

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

African Bush Elephant

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

40–50

60–70

40–50

50–60

50–60

70–80

40–50

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

30–40

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

40–50

50–60

Animal Events

🐦 Migratory Arrival & Game Viewing

🦎 Rains & Amphibian Chorus

🦌 Dry Wildlife Concentration

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class

🐕 Painted Hunting Dog Thrives in Hluhluwe

🦜

Biodiversity

Good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

646

🐒 Mammals

157

🦎 Reptiles

119

🐸 Amphibians

58

980 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

37 Threatened 7 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

64%

📊

Coverage (226 species at ≥5% of 980 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

23%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (6 bird, 6 mammal)

47% Global avg

67%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

157

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

28

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

27

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