BEST place to see White RHINO in the Wild - Port RICHARDS BAY, SOUTH AFRICA - Hluhluwe Game Preserve

Read our full post about visiting Richards Bay: https://www.nowgoseeit.com/blog/cruise-port-richards-bay Check out Vlogs from the other stops on our NCL Africa Cruise: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Hr8kE0shYlS3TRG3wyi0dSBjYJv_-k0&si=xy35VHLT2bRqGqX5 Arriving in the port of Richards Bay, South Africa, gives you a mix of scenic and industrial views. On one side, there’s a sandy beach lined with trees. On the other, a working coal yard with stacks of black dust blowing in the air. This is a major shipping port, not a tourist destination, and it shows. One thing you need to know about Richards Bay—there are almost no services at the port. No taxis, no last-minute tours for sale, not even a small visitor center. If you don’t have an excursion booked in advance, you’re probably staying on the ship. Disembarking took time. It took about an hour to gather, go through South African customs, and finally get outside. The process was slow but necessary. Once through, we boarded air-conditioned buses for the two-hour ride to Hluhluwe Game Reserve. The drive was surprisingly scenic. It started with a short ride through the small town of Richards Bay, then passed through forests planted for the paper industry. After that, the landscape changed to farmland, where cows and goats roamed freely—sometimes right in the road. When we arrived at Hluhluwe Game Reserve, we split into small groups of ten and transferred into open-air jeeps. The reserve covers 370 square miles, making it one of the largest in South Africa. It was originally founded to protect the nearly extinct White Rhino and continues to be a major conservation area. All of the Big Five—lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos—can be found here. Within minutes of entering the park, we spotted our first animals—a herd of zebras grazing near the road. From there, the drive took us deeper into the reserve along a mix of paved and dirt roads, sometimes crossing small streams. It was like every theme park safari ride I’ve ever been on, except this time, everything was real. We passed massive trees, watched barn swallows swooping through the air, and kept scanning for more wildlife. Next, we found a lone buffalo that had been kicked out of his herd. Not far from him, we saw a group of antelopes and then a full herd of buffalo. It was turning out to be a good day for animal sightings. Hluhluwe Game Reserve has played a huge role in rhino conservation, but the park protects much more than just rhinos. As we continued the drive, we were on the lookout for more animals. Then, one of the biggest highlights of the day—an African elephant. It was just off the road, moving slowly through the trees. Seeing an elephant in the wild is always a moment to remember. We continued deeper into the park, taking in the wide-open landscapes and distant hills. Eventually, we reached the reserve’s main river, home to crocodiles and hippos—though today, none were in sight. A little farther along, we found a wide, muddy lake. It was mostly empty, except for a single stork standing in the water. We kept driving, watching for more wildlife, when we finally got what we were hoping for—White Rhinos, up close. A group of them was grazing right near the road, giving us a great view. Midway through the excursion, we stopped at The Hilltop, one of the park’s main rest areas. There were restrooms, a small gift shop, and some incredible views of the surrounding hills. It was a good chance to stretch before continuing. As we started heading back toward the entrance, we still had a few more sightings. We passed more antelope, spotted another elephant in the distance, and then had one of the best moments of the day—an up-close interaction with two young rhinos. They wandered near our jeep, curious but cautious, before heading back into the bush. At the exit, there was a small tent selling souvenirs, but the real shopping happened back at the port. When we returned to Richards Bay, vendors had set up stands selling everything from wooden carvings to fabrics. The problem? The coal dust from the shipping yard was blowing everywhere, making it a less-than-ideal place to browse. Hluhluwe Game Reserve was a solid excursion. It’s one of the best ways to see wildlife from Richards Bay, and it delivered on animal sightings, landscapes, and a real safari experience. If you enjoyed this video, make sure to like, subscribe, and check out more at https://www.nowgoseeit.com. Now Go See… Richards Bay, South Africa.