Park Days and Baskets in Hlabisa
Hlabisa is a quiet municipal seat on the R618, and a trip here is built around the wildlife park on its doorstep. This page sets out what to pay, when to arrive and what to do once you are through the gate. All money is in South African rand (R).
Plan the Day Around the Gate
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) closes its gates on a strict clock. Expect about 05:00 to 19:00 in summer and 06:00 to 18:00 in winter, and confirm the changeover dates with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. From Hlabisa, Nyalazi Gate is roughly 21 km and 30 to 35 minutes away, so a winter day should start early and head back to the gate well before 16:00.
- Entry fee: about R300 to R320 per international adult per day, about R150 to R160 for a child under 12. South African and SADC residents showing ID pay about R150 to R160 for an adult and R75 to R80 for a child.
- Overnight guests pay it too: the daily fee is charged on top of accommodation in this park.
- Tariff year: the figures belong to the 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026 tariff. The next one begins on 1 November 2026, so look up the current rates before you go.
Driving Yourself
Most people self-drive. Get out of the car only at marked sites, keep to about 40 km/h on gravel roads, and obey the posted limits. Pets are not allowed. Park roads can flood after heavy rain, and the Nyalazi to Cengeni link can close, in which case the detour runs through Hlabisa, Nongoma and Ulundi.
Fuel is the thing to sort out first. Do not count on Hlabisa village for it. Fill up in Mtubatuba or Hluhluwe town, or at Mpila Camp, which sells unleaded daily from 07:00 to 18:00.
Letting a Ranger Lead
Ezemvelo offers two guided options from Mpila and Hilltop camps, both booked at reception or on +27 33 845 1067.
- Game drive: R420 per person, charged as R1,680 when four people book. Allow 2 to 2.5 hours in an open vehicle. Children under 3 cannot join.
- Guided walk: R400 per person, charged as R800 for two, with eight people at most and an armed ranger. The minimum age is 12 at Mpila and 13 on the tariff, so treat 13 as the limit.
The Centenary Centre
Near Nyalazi Gate and about 12 km from Mpila, the Centenary Centre explains game capture and holds the Vulamethlo Craft Market. A take-away is open from 08:00 to 16:00 each day. Capture complex visits happen only in capture season.
Ilala-Palm Baskets
The Hlabisa area is the centre of Zulu ilala-palm basketry. Beauty Ngxongo, born in 1953 and living in Hlabisa, has a lidded basket from about 1990 in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There is no fixed shop or price list to point you to, so buy only from the maker and pay what is asked.
Staying Safe on the Way
Drive in daylight with the doors locked, because carjacking and robbery are risks after dark, and livestock wander onto rural roads. Northern KwaZulu-Natal is a seasonal malaria area, so see a travel clinic about prophylaxis, use repellent and cover up at dusk. Never buy rhino horn or ivory.
Read more: guided drives and cruises you can book from Hlabisa lists the operators. Arriving by air from Durban takes about 3 hours or more, and the Durban guide covers that end of the trip.
Fees and gate times are on the Ezemvelo rules page , the full tariff is in the Ezemvelo booklet , and a search of GetYourGuide shows operator trips from the area.