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Hluhluwe

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Template:Infobox South African town Hluhluwe (Zulu pronunciation: [ɬuɬuw'e]) is a small town in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated between iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park on the banks of the Hluhluwe River. Hluhluwe is situated on the elephant coast, an area known for its national parks, natural diversity and cultural heritage. Although relatively undeveloped[1][2] the area is of growing interest to international tourists and travelers. The area hosted several local and international movie productions including I dreamed of Africa and Ghost Son as well as several documentaries that were filmed in the surrounding national parks.

Timber, sugar and pineapples are intensively grown in the area, which produces over 90% of South Africa's queen pineapples. Other agricultural crops are sugar-cane, sisal, cotton, tomatoes and chillies. Due to traditional settlement patterns and customs, activity is still low in some areas.[3]

Hluhluwe is considered the hub of tourism in KwaZulu-Natal. The Hluhluwe area has an abundance of accommodation facilities, from budget accommodation to five-star game lodges. Hluhluwe town is a service centre to the surrounding area. The town is named after the thorny rope climber Dalbergia armata (umHluhluwe in Zulu), which is found among the forest vegetation types in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park. Up to 95% of South African pineapples are produced in this area.

Attractions

The main attractions[4] of Hluhluwe are the big 5 (elephant, rhino,[5] buffalo, lion and leopard), Hluhluwe-iMfolozi game reserve, iSimangaliso wetlands park (formerly known as St Lucia Wetlands Park), its natural diversity, Indian Ocean beaches (accessed through St Lucia or Sodwana bay) and the cultural heritage of the Zulu people.[6]

A wide variety of activities is available in and around Hluhluwe. Big 5 safaris, diving, horse riding trails, walking trails, crocodile and snake park, canoeing, boat cruises, mountain bike trails, cultural interactions, cultural villages, curio shops.

Game drives (safaris) are either guided or possible in most nature reserves with own vehicle. Entrance fees apply when entering most of the nature reserves with own vehicle. It falls under the eMdletsheni tribal authority.

Sports

Hluhluwe annually hosts the RIS Hluhluwe Rhino Charge mountain bike race, part of the Big 5 mountain bike challenge, a returning event where hundreds of riders gather during race weekend to challenge one of the most diverse and in some parts technical terrain in the big 5 mountain bike series.

In 2013, after a few years of absence, Hluhluwe was the stage of the Bell 400, the national off-road motorcycle and quad bike race, it is currently unknown if the Bell 400 will return to Hluhluwe.

References

  1. ^ Samimi, Cyrus (2004). "Biomass Estimation Using Landsat-TM and -ETM . Towards a Regional Model for Southern Africa". GeoJournal. 59 (3): 177 of 187. doi:10.1023/b:gejo.0000026688.74589.58. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  2. ^ Lundén, Bengt (1988). "Survey Mapping of Bedrock Outcrops a Comparative Study Using Data from Landsat TM and SPOT HRV". Geografiska Annaler. 70 (3): 125–133. doi:10.2307/521067. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  3. ^ [1] Umkhanyakude, district municipality.
  4. ^ Pearce, Douglas (1984). "Geography, Tourism and Recreation in the Antipodes". GeoJournal. 9 (1): 91–95. doi:10.1007/bf00518330. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  5. ^ Waldram, Matthew (2008). "Ecological Engineering by a Mega-Grazer: White Rhino Impacts on a South African Savanna". Ecosystems. 11 (1): 101; 112. doi:10.1007/s10021-007-9109-9. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  6. ^ Hackel, Jeffrey (1990). "Conservation Attitudes in Southern Africa: A Comparison between KwaZulu and Swaziland". Human Ecology. 18 (2): 203–209. doi:10.1007/bf00889183. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Hluhluwe.
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