Mkhuze Game Reserve – The Destruction of a Provincial Jewel
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
This opinion is grounded in extensive field trips from the Makhathini Flats to Kosi Bay, along with ongoing discussions and time spent in community towns surrounding provincial reserves - some of the last remaining safe havens for African elephants and rhinos.
Over the past three years, numerous individuals - many visibly nervous and fearful - have shared allegations that organised hunting interests are exerting growing influence in the broader area. These claims, while difficult to independently verify, are deeply concerning. Some describe what they believe to be a gradual shift in priorities - one that appears to favour revenue structures over traditional overnight tourism.
Visible Infrastructure Decline at Mkhuze Game Reserve
After exiting the small rural town of Mkhuze, a toll gate manned by iSimangaliso staff takes payment before you can drive into the Reserve - marking the boundary between iSimangaliso and Ezemvelo. The toll generates separate revenue from visitors entering the provincial park, many of whom stay at private luxury lodges in surrounding areas.
Entering the main gate, we move along the main access road and arrive at dilapidated abandoned office buildings. Fixtures and electrical wiring appear stripped. Bathrooms and offices are filthy, infested, and visibly left to decay.
The Mantuma Camp reception area is shocking. Exterior walls are covered with hundreds of old, dirty tape marks from long-removed notices. Inside, an abandoned sighting board stands forgotten. A WhatsApp sighting number is issued in its place. The heat is oppressive, the floors are peeling, and the structure is deteriorating before your eyes.
Visitor Concerns and Wildlife Observations
Several long-time visitors we spoke to - experienced South African bushgoers - expressed serious concern. They reported the absence of certain species once regularly seen and a noticeable decline in overall game sightings over the last four years. While such observations are anecdotal, the consistency of these concerns is striking.
We inspected three chalets. One showed signs of recent occupation and appeared hastily cleaned. The other two were uninhabitable.
The decay at Mkhuze Game Reserve is visible and undeniable to any visitor walking through its facilities. A prolonged failure of maintenance has turned once-functional buildings into liabilities. Whether this reflects budget constraints, administrative challenges, or shifting strategic priorities remains unclear - but the outcome on the ground is unmistakable.
Ezemvelo is due to hand this skeletal camp back to the iSimangaliso Authority on 1 March 2026. The restoration of this infrastructure will require decisive leadership and meaningful investment.
Security and Anti-Poaching Capacity
On the ground, security appears strained. Despite official claims of “integrated success,” provincial parks are widely reported to be operating with field ranger shortages, leaving anti-poaching capacity under pressure.
This manpower strain poses a serious concern for wildlife populations. Without sufficient boots on the ground, rhinos, elephants, lions, and leopards remain vulnerable to organised criminal syndicates operating across Kwa Zulu Natal.
A Crossroads Moment
The reality in the bush, as experienced during repeated visits, contrasts sharply with official narratives of stability and success. What visitors encounter instead is visible infrastructure decline, uncertainty among local stakeholders, and mounting concern about the long-term future of meaningful wildlife protection.
Mkhuze Game Reserve is at a crossroads. The question is no longer whether there is a problem, but who is prepared to confront it.
© LionExpose
Invitation for Response
This article reflects firsthand observations and concerns raised by multiple individuals over an extended period. If there are contextual factors, recovery plans, budgetary explanations, or strategic conservation decisions that address the visible decline described above, they deserve to be publicly communicated.
Protected areas are not private enterprises - they are national assets. Transparency, measurable benchmarks, and open communication are essential to maintaining public trust in conservation governance.
The organisations referenced in this article, including Ezemvelo and the iSimangaliso Authority, are invited to respond to the concerns raised. Any official clarification, correction, or additional information will be published in full.
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