Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

🇿🇦 South Africa

🐕 Painted Hunting Dog Thrives in Hluhluwe
🌍 #67 Global · 4.4 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #38 in Africa #38 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

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

White Rhinoceros ★

White Rhinoceros

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ceratotherium simum

50–60% · Likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

30–40% · Possible
Painted Hunting Dog ★
EN

Painted Hunting Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycaon pictus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

70–80% · Very likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

70–80% · Very likely
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
LC

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely
White-backed Vulture
CR

White-backed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps africanus

60–70% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

60–70% · Likely
Red-billed Oxpecker

Red-billed Oxpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buphagus erythrorhynchus

60–70% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

60–70% · Likely
Nyala
LC

Nyala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus angasii

60–70% · Likely
African Bush Elephant
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

White Rhinoceros ★

White Rhinoceros

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Ceratotherium simum

50–60% · Likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

30–40% · Possible
Painted Hunting Dog ★
EN

Painted Hunting Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycaon pictus

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

60–70% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

60–70% · Likely
Nyala
LC

Nyala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus angasii

60–70% · Likely
African Bush Elephant
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

50–60% · Likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

50–60% · Likely
Southern Giraffe

Southern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa giraffa

50–60% · Likely
Chacma Baboon
LC

Chacma Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio ursinus

40–50% · Likely
Blue Wildebeest
LC

Blue Wildebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Connochaetes taurinus

40–50% · Likely
Vervet Monkey
LC

Vervet Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

40–50% · Likely
Greater Kudu
LC

Greater Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

30–40% · Possible
Cheetah
VU

Cheetah

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Acinonyx jubatus

20–30% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

70–80% · Very likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

70–80% · Very likely
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
LC

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely
White-backed Vulture
CR

White-backed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps africanus

60–70% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely
Red-billed Oxpecker

Red-billed Oxpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Buphagus erythrorhynchus

60–70% · Likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

50–60% · Likely
Speckled Mousebird
LC

Speckled Mousebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colius striatus

50–60% · Likely
Southern Fiscal
LC Endemic

Southern Fiscal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lanius collaris

40–50% · Likely
Hadada
LC Endemic

Hadada

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bostrychia hagedash

40–50% · Likely
Yellow-fronted Canary
LC

Yellow-fronted Canary

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Crithagra mozambica

40–50% · Likely
White-browed Coucal
LC

White-browed Coucal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Centropus superciliosus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

30–40% · Possible
Cape Terrapin
LC

Cape Terrapin

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pelomedusa galeata

30–40% · Possible
Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

30–40% · Possible
Nile Crocodile
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

20–30% · Possible
African Striped Skink
LC

African Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis striata

20–30% · Possible
Southern Tree Agama
LC

Southern Tree Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Acanthocercus atricollis

20–30% · Possible
Tropical House Gecko
LC

Tropical House Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Hemidactylus mabouia

20–30% · Possible
Eastern Hinged-Back Tortoise

Eastern Hinged-Back Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Kinixys zombensis

20–30% · Possible
Cape Dwarf Gecko
LC

Cape Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus capensis

10–20% · With luck
Rock Monitor
LC

Rock Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus albigularis

10–20% · With luck
Flap-necked Chameleon
LC

Flap-necked Chameleon

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Chamaeleo dilepis

10–20% · With luck
Rainbow Skink

Rainbow Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis margaritifera

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog
LC

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Chiromantis xerampelina

20–30% · Possible
African Split-skin Toad
LC

African Split-skin Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Schismaderma carens

10–20% · With luck
Red-Banded Rubber Frog
LC

Red-Banded Rubber Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Phrynomantis bifasciatus

Insufficient data
Senegal Kassina
LC

Senegal Kassina

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Kassina senegalensis

Insufficient data
Anchieta's Ridged Frog
LC

Anchieta's Ridged Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ptychadena anchietae

Insufficient data
Natal Puddle Frog
LC

Natal Puddle Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Phrynobatrachus natalensis

Insufficient data
African Clawed Frog
LC

African Clawed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Xenopus laevis

Insufficient data
Mozambique Forest Tree Frog
LC

Mozambique Forest Tree Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptopelis mossambicus

Insufficient data
African Common Toad
LC

African Common Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Sclerophrys gutturalis

Insufficient data
Shovel-nosed Frog
LC

Shovel-nosed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Hemisus marmoratus

Insufficient data
Painted Reed Frog
LC

Painted Reed Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Hyperolius marmoratus

Insufficient data
Natal sand frog
LC

Natal sand frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Tomopterna natalensis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦎

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
LC

Southern African Python

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Python natalensis

5–10% · With luck
Grey Foam-nest Treefrog
LC

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Chiromantis xerampelina

20–30% · Possible
🐦

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
LC

Black Kite

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Milvus migrans

30–40% · Possible
White-backed Vulture
CR

White-backed Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gyps africanus

60–70% · Likely
🦌

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

Southern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa giraffa

50–60% · Likely
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
White Rhinoceros
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
40–50
30–40
60–70
Lion
30–40
40–50
40–50
50–60
30–40
20–30
30–40
10–20
30–40
10–20
30–40
40–50
Painted Hunting Dog
20–30
10–20
20–30
20–30
10–20
20–30
20–30
10–20
<5
<5
20–30
10–20
Common Bulbul
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
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
60–70
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
Common Warthog
60–70
40–50
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
Nyala
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
40–50
African Bush Elephant
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
50–60
Plains Zebra
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
30–40
60–70
Impala
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
🦎 Rains & Amphibian Chorus
🐦 Migratory Arrival & Game Viewing
🦌 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 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🐕 Painted Hunting Dog Thrives in Hluhluwe

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very 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
850 Global average across 296 parks
37 Threatened 7 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
63%
📊
Coverage (214 species at ≥5% of 980 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
22%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (6 bird, 6 mammal)
46% Global avg
67%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
156
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
27
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
27

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?

The most likely sightings are Common Bulbul (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Fork-tailed Drongo (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Red-shouldered Glossy-starling (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), White-backed Vulture (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 980 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park for wildlife?

April has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see White Rhinoceros in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?

Yes — about 53% of wildlife watchers report a White Rhinoceros sighting in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, based on 130 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Lion in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?

Yes — about 37% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, based on 64 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Painted Hunting Dog in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park?

Yes — about 19% of wildlife watchers report a Painted Hunting Dog sighting in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, based on 21 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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