Itala Game Reserve
Encyclopedia
Ithala Game Reserve, 290 km2 of rugged, mountainous thornveld in northern KwaZulu-Natal
, about 400 km north of Durban
. It is one of the youngest game parks in South Africa
. The altitude varies from 400 m (Phongolo River) to 1450 m (Ngotshe Mountains), so there is a great variation of terrain which extends over lowveld and densely vegetated river valleys to high-lying grassland plateaus, ridges and cliff faces.
All the big game species have been re-established with the exception of lion
.
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, about 400 km north of Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. It is one of the youngest game parks in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The altitude varies from 400 m (Phongolo River) to 1450 m (Ngotshe Mountains), so there is a great variation of terrain which extends over lowveld and densely vegetated river valleys to high-lying grassland plateaus, ridges and cliff faces.
All the big game species have been re-established with the exception of lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
.
History
- In the late 1800s land was given by King Dinizulu to white farmers.
- In 1973 the then Natal Parks Board started buying up farms in this area to make up this Reserve.