Wilderness Experiences

There are archaeological indications that people lived in and around the area as early as the Stone Age to the late Iron Age. The Khoisan people exploited most of the region during the Stone Age and later evidence suggests that between 200 - 300 AD, with more advanced technology, they began moving into Zululand.

These early inhabitants are believed to be ancestors of the Nguni-speaking people. Today much of the woodlands and savannah are no longer considered ‘pristine’ due to the Iron Age farmers practice of slash-and-burn that had a profound effect on the present wilderness.

Shaka Zulu established his royal hunting grounds in this area during his reign between 1818 and 1828. Evidence of this still exists today.

In the early 1800s the ‘great white hunters’ arrived and decimated hundreds of thousands of animals, through mass slaughtering of wildlife. In under fifty years, all the elephant herds were slaughtered and the rhino population was on the verge of extinction. In 1890, there were only 100 white rhino, left in the entire world.

Historians have traced the beginnings of the Zulu tribe back to about 1670, to an old black nomadic man in the Babanango area, KwaZulu-Natal’s northern midlands, who had two sons Qwabe and Zulu. Zulu later took a wife from a neighbouring clan and his two sons took the name Zulu as their family name. This was the flimsy beginnings of a mighty nation.

Shaka Zulu, son of Nandi Behebhe, took a virtually insignificant population of 1 700, and created a mighty kingdom, with his vision of an empire where his word was supreme. It is estimated that there are some 11 million Zulu people in South Africa today.

mFulaWozi and surrounding areas are steeped in history and the area’s game reserves are islands of natural habitat surrounded by densely populated communities and agricultural lands. Our guides, many of whom grew up in the surrounding regions, are conversant with the history and culture of the Zulu people.

The mFulaWozi node and the surrounding areas are home to many significant historical sites. 

This is a life-changing experience, that evokes a new respect and appreciation for our natural habitat.

It is virtually impossible to describe the feeling of being on foot in the wild, at the mercy of nature, listening to the roar of lions, or sensing the presence of elephants, the giants of the wilderness. You are one with nature - changing your perspective, stirring something deep inside, that will effect you for the rest of your life.

To create engaging and memorable images the wildlife photographer must be able to connect with nature and its elements to get the best shot.

The process starts with getting to know the subject matter, the natural history of the animals you want to photograph. Know what stresses the animals face, their habits, signs of alarm, the time of the year that birds are present, and the calls they make and what their preferred habitats are.

Our guides and trackers have a wealth of information about our wildlife and wilderness from years of experience. They know where and when to find that elusive bird, bud, buck or predator whose image you want to capture. They know their seasonal behaviours and favourite places. Discuss your objectives with them and there will be no telling what you will shoot each day as you venture out.

Always put the well-being of the wildlife first.
Wild animals are facing unprecedented threats to their survival. Habitat loss, climate change, poaching, and pollution have caused a catastrophic decline of all wildlife over the last number of decades. United Nations recently declared that one in four species faces extinction.

In addition, today's society's disconnect from nature presents its own threat - one of indifference.

Wildlife photography has the power to convert people to the wonder of nature. Photography is an essential tool to inspire the desire to protect wildlife and help ignite real change.