Travel

Hluhluwe Mini Honeymoon Guide: Where to Stay, Safari Tips & Costs

Like I mentioned in my 2026 life update, a lot is happening this year—for me that includes gaining the perfect husband and becoming a wife. And with a marriage comes a honeymoon. For this post I want to a share the details of the unforgettable trip we went on for our mini-honeymoon in Hluhluwe, South Africa. I’ll let you know where to stay, what to do and what the costs are like.

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Car Rental in uMhlanga (Hertz Review)

We knew we wanted a game reserve to be our honeymoon destination so having access to a vehicle was essential.

There are a ton of car rental places to choose from so we did our research and in the end Hertz made the most sense. Price-wise, everywhere was pretty much the same, our only concern was the large deposit (damage liability + fuel) we’d have to pay. This is when a bigger, more reputable company seemed like the smarter choice.

Thankfully, everything went smoothly. We had no major issues with our pick-up, drop-off or getting back our deposit and the car itself was exactly what we were expecting.

Where to Stay in Hluhluwe: Leopard Walk Lodge Review

We spent a lot of time deciding where we wanted to stay. Initially we’d chosen Tala Game Reserve because of the gorgeous luxury cottages, but their customer service was really disappointing.

So, we broadened our search—and I’m so glad we did. We decided Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park would be a far better experience. Using Bookings.com we found Leopard Walk Lodge. The private luxury suites were absolutely perfect; romantic, secluded and peaceful. The lodge sits within a small reserve so we often spotted wildebeest and zebra wandering near the lodge and restaurant.

Each suite features glass doors overlooking the forest, an outdoor jacuzzi, a terrace, and a spacious bathroom with both a shower and bathtub—everything you’d want for a romantic escape.

While the room itself was incredible, what truly made our stay special was the staff. Small was always ready to help with whatever we needed, Mlu was incredibly attentive—assisting with information and booking activities—and Zanele served up delicious meals every single day!

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Safari & Self-Drive Guide

Safari reservations for Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park are only made once you arrive at Leopard Walk Lodge. If other guests are interested, you’ll be grouped together. If not you can either pay double (for, essentially, a private game drive) or choose a different time slot.

You’ll need to drive yourself to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Memorial Gate entrance where the guided safari begins. The road to memorial gate isn’t great, there are a bunch of potholes and lots of farm animals on the road—they will not move out of your way. I’d recommend leaving an hour before your game drive starts. If that means missing out on breakfast just let Zanele know and she’ll have your breakfast packed and ready to take with you.

The gate fee includes entrance with a private vehicle so be sure to let them know your car and number plate—and hang onto that receipt. You could do a morning guided safari and self-drive to the Hilltop Restaurant (in the reserve) for lunch. We personally love learning about the reserves and animals from the rangers so a guided drive is a must—but you’re just as likely to see most of the big five from your own car. The dirt road turnoffs from the tar road are clearly visible so you don’t need to worry about ending up in an unexpected jam if your car isn’t an off-roader.

Bayete Zulu Elephant Interaction Experience

The Bayete Zulu Elephant Interaction was a spontaneous decision on my husband’s part and I could not love him more for it! The interactions happen once a day and have a limited number of guests so securing a booking isn’t a given.

There’s 7km of dirt road just before arriving which added 30 minutes to our arrival time, but luckily they waited for us before starting.

This entire experience was incredible and, in fact, deserves a post of its own. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter so you can check out those details once I’ve posted them.

Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway or looking for some up-close, personal time with wildlife, I think Hluhluwe is such a special place to start.