Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Launches Beach2Bush Route: A Journey Through Nature and History
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife introduces the Beach2Bush adventure route, connecting the Indian Ocean with the historic Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, offering travellers a unique experience of South Africa's biodiversity and cultural heritage.
St Lucia Estuary
Image: KZN Wildlife
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has launched an adventure route that connects the ocean with one of the country’s most ecologically and culturally significant landscapes.
The Beach2Bush connects the Indian Ocean coastline of St Lucia-iSimangaliso Wetland Park with the wild bush landscape of Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park, the oldest game reserve in Africa.
Ebrahim Mulla, Ezemvelo's commercial operations executive manager, said the Beach2Bush has been designed for all types of leisure travellers, conservationists, families, school groups and corporate teams.
"It offers a chance to experience multiple biodiversity hotspots with both land and water based safari experiences.
“It’s a chance to see KZN through a different lens, one that celebrates both its natural beauty, wildlife, and historical legacy,” said Mulla.
Once the hunting grounds of King Shaka Zulu, the reserve was proclaimed in 1895.
It plays a critical role in wildlife conservation, particularly in protecting rhinos. The park spans 96000 hectares and is home to Africa’s Big Five, as well as giraffe, cheetah, crocodiles, hippos, wild dog, and a range of flora and fauna.
Travellers can also visit various sites where King Shaka gathered his tribes for feasts and where he hid his clan from enemies.
From the bush, the route moves onto the wild coastline of St Lucia at iSimangaliso Wetland Park, where travellers can explore coastal forests, estuarine lakes, and sandy beaches that stretch beyond the horizon.
iSimangaliso is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to over 6 500 plant and animal species, including nesting leatherback turtles, hippos, and over 500 types of birds.Along the way, travellers will stop at a number of Ezemvelo sites, including Hilltop, the Game Capture Museum, Emaphumulo Picnic Site, Emagangeni View Point and Esiweni Samakhosikazi.
Hilltop at Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park
Image: KZN Wildlife
Siphelele Luthuli, senior manager of sales and marketing said the intention of having this route was to encourage travellers to explore multiple biodiversity hotspots within one trip.
"We want to get more of the domestic market to visit Ezemvelo's sites along the way and to bring in a strong storytelling component so that visitors can connect with the rich history of the land which was once King Shaka Zulus hunting ground," she said.
Luthuli said the routes starts at Hluhluwe Game Reserve at Hilltop, then moves onto Isimangaliso wetland park.
"There are various points of interest along the way, such as game drives where one can enjoy sundowners, picnics, open air brunch and bush braais, a visit to the Game Capture Museum and more," said Luthuli.
She said the route targets both international and domestic markets, including families, corporate, couples and single travellers.
Luthuli said a standout experience exclusive to this route is the bush braai, dinner served under the stars, accompanied by storytelling rooted in the region’s culture and conservation history.