Gwahumbe Reserve Game & Spa offers guests the ultimate intimate, relaxing
bush experience. Located in a Malaria free environment and easily accessible
from both Durban and Pietermaritzburg on good tar roads. Be pampered with
catered or self-catered accommodation and service in accordance with our AA
Superior accreditation.
A wide variety of catered and self catered accommodation ranging from ultimate
luxury to a rustic bush camp, together with excellent cuisine and a history of
renowned good service and satisfaction, makes Gwahumbe Reserve Game & Spa a
superb location to breakaway and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the bushveld.
Gwahumbe Reserve Game & Spa boasts a holistic, exclusive Spa Wellness Centre
containing massage rooms, steam room, hydro room, wet room and couples treatment room
enclosed in a tranquil setting where meals can also be had. Qualified therapists
offer a variety of treatments and day or night packages can be arranged.
Conferencing, weddings, game walks, game drives and teambuilding are our forte.
Gwahumbe prides itself in being small and offering personal service to you our
guest. Rhino, Hippo, Giraffe, Zebra and Antelope as well as an abundance of bird
life can be seen close up in a beautiful riverine environment on the banks of
the Gwahumbe river, from which the reserve derives it's name. To enjoy this
paradise, reservations are essential and the terrain is suited to 4x4's and
pickups only.
"Gwahumbe" is the Zulu word for the river that flows through the reserve.
Pronounced - "Gwa -ghoom-bee".
This private reserve overlooking the confluence of the Gwahumbe and Umsunduze
Rivers forms part of the greater Gwahumbe Valley. This river system joins the
Illovo River in the southern midlands of Kwa Zulu Natal and ultimately flows
into the Indian Ocean south of Durban
The area covers 3000 ha of riverine forest, valley bushveld, plateau grassland
and majestic cliff faces. Ranging from 700 m above sea level to 400 m in the
river valleys, the topography is reminiscent of northern Kwa Zulu Natal but
enjoys a milder climate and is malaria free.
This region once formed part of the ancient elephant trail as they moved between
their winter-feeding grounds in the mangrove swamps of what is now Durban, to
their summer habitat, the nearby Byrne Valley. This trail was later utilised by
Boer Pioneers as a wagon route from the Cape to Durban. In a cave near the
source of the Umsunduze River, Dick King and his Zulu companion, Ndongeni, are
said to have rested while on their historic ride to Port Elizabeth. Agriculture
at the turn of the century consisted of tobacco growing for which a factory was
built in the Gwahumbe Valley.
In 1999 Gwahumbe Game and Spa was recognized as a natural heritage site and was
issued the natural heritage certificate, which was signed by President Nelson
Mandela.
Aanwysings
DIRECTIONS TO GWAHUMBE RESERVE GAME & SPA FROM
DURBAN (approx. 1 hour)
* Proceed along the N3 towards Pietermaritzburg.
* Take the Camperdown (exit 57) off-ramp.
* At the top of the off-ramp turn left.
* Proceed for about 3 km to the T-junction with the R603.
* Turn left and proceed down the R603 towards Umbumbulu.
* After about 22 Km you will see a signpost to Mid-Illovo. (when you reach the Caltex garage on your left at the Eston cross roads, you are 7 km from this sign - CONTINUE along the R603).
* Turn right at this sign off the R603 and proceed for 12 Km to the village of Mid-Illovo. Mid-Illovo consists of a Spar, a Police Station, a bottle store, a small filling station and a few houses.
* Drive through the village and 300m beyond the village turn left onto the Ismont Rd.
* Proceed for 1.2 km along the Ismont road, and then turn left onto a gravel road, the D368.
* Proceed along the D368 for 1.7 km and turn left at the Gwahumbe sign.
* You are now on our access road and about 800m from our entrance gate. Turn left as indicated by the arrow at the fork.
* Shortly thereafter you will reach our entrance gate.
DIRECTIONS TO GWAHUMBE RESERVE GAME & SPA FROM
PIETERMARITZBURG (approx. 45 min)
* Proceed along the N3 in the direction of Durban.
* Take the Umlaas Road / Umbumbulu / Richmond off-ramp.
* At the intersection vere left onto the R603 and proceed past the Shell garage in the direction of Umbumbulu,
* Turn right after about 23 Km to Mid-Illovo (when you reach the Caltex garage on your left at the Eston cross roads, you are 7 km from this sign - CONTINUE along the R603).
* Proceed for 12 Km to the village of Mid-Illovo.
* Drive through the village and turn left after 300m onto the Ismont Rd.
* Proceed for 1.2 Km and turn left onto a gravel road, the D368.
* Proceed along the D368 for 1.7 km and turn left at the Gwahumbe Reserve sign ( this is opposite a farm called Java Heights ).
* You are now on our access road, turn left as indicated by the arrow at the fork.
* Shortly thereafter you will reach our entrance gate.
DIRECTIONS TO GWAHUMBE RESERVE GAME & SPA FROM DURBAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
* Proceed to the exit heading towards the South Coast
* Proceed along the N3 towards Pietermaritzburg.
* Take the Camperdown (exit 57) off-ramp.
* At the top of the off-ramp turn left.
* Proceed for about 3 km to the T-junction with the R603.
* Turn left and proceed down the R603 towards Umbumbulu.
* After about 22 Km you will see a signpost to Mid-Illovo. (when you reach the Caltex garage on your left at the Eston cross roads, you are 7 km from this sign - CONTINUE along the R603).
* Turn right at this sign off the R603 and proceed for 12 Km to the village of Mid-Illovo. Mid-Illovo consists of a Spar, a Police Station, a bottle store, a small filling station and a few houses.
* Drive through the village and 300m beyond the village turn left onto the Ismont Rd.
* Proceed for 1.2 km along the Ismont road, and then turn left onto a gravel road, the D368.
* Proceed along the D368 for 1.7 km and turn left at the Gwahumbe sign.
* You are now on our access road and about 800m from our entrance gate. Turn left as indicated by the arrow at the fork.
* Shortly thereafter you will reach our entrance gate.
DIRECTIONS TO GWAHUMBE RESERVE GAME & SPA FROM THE SOUTH COAST (N2)
* Take the N2 towards Durban
* Take the Kingsburgh/Umbumbulu off ramp (R603)
* Turn right in the direction of Umbumbulu on the R603
* Proceed along the R603 for about 43 km
* Turn left at the Mid-Illovo sign post
* Proceed for 12 km to Mid-Illovo, drive through the village
* Turn left at the Ismont sign post
* Proceed for about 1,5 km along this road
* Turn left at the D368 (this is a gravel road and is opposite a small church)
* Proceed along the D368 for about 1,5 km
* Turn left at the Gwahumbe Reserve sign and follow this road to the entrance gate.
GPS COORDINATES
S 29 degrees 57. 722'
E 030 degrees 32. 750'
DAY VISITORS
Vehicle fee - R65.00 (4x4 or diff lock required)
Conservation fee - R40.00 pp ages 12 upwards
- R25.00 pp ages 5 - 12 years
- No charge under 5 years