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Thula Thula is home to a diverse African wildlife population, including elephant, buffalo, rhinoceros, leopard, giraffe, zebra, nyala, hyenas, crocodile, kudu, wildebeest and a spectacular variety of other indigenous species, great and small.
Birdlife is prolific with over 350 identified species, including raptors...
The re-introduction of a family herd of seven elephant in August 1999 marks the historic return of these great creatures to the area for the first time in 100 years . The family has grown to 20 elephants beginning of 2010.
Thula Thula, the oldest private game reserve in Kwazulu Natal, and former hunting ground of legendary Zulu King Shaka, boosts a unique diversity of landscapes, from riverine bush, savanna and forest.
Experienced rangers will guide you on exciting safaris in open Landrovers through the unique diversity of this ancestral land to encounter big game and superb birdlife.
...An exclusive bush experience in absolute luxury...
WILDLIFE REHABILITATION
* * * * *
MEET GEORGE OUR BUSHBABY
George at the bar at Safari Lodge
George, our resident Bushbaby at Safari Lodge, is a few months old and was rescued
as an orphan by CROW, the Center of Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Durban,
We have built 2 little houses for George, one in a tree and one inside the lodge, next to the boma,
where he can get a well deserved rest after his long nights of wandering in the bush with other (wild) bushbabies.
Every evening, as he gets up, you can meet Geoge at the bar for his sundowner.
His dinner consists of banana with honey, served on a tray by our hostesses.
But George might take a fancy at your plate as he comes to join guests
to the dinner table...
BABY RHINO
THABO, FOUR MONTHS OLD
.
Two months after Thula Thula White Rhino Heidi was tragically killed by poachers,
Thula Thula has welcomed a five month old White Rhino onto the reserve.
Relocated to Thula Thula on the 25th October 2009, the 170kg youngster arrived
after a fourteen hour long trip from Limpopo and was brought on the reserve by his adopted family.
He has since settled well into his new environment.
Thula Thula acquired the rhino from the Moholoholo Rehab Centre in Limpopo
after the one-day old calf was found alone, badly dehydrated, in a Free State game reserve.
It is not known whether his mom died in childbirth,
abandoned him (thinking he wouldn't survive) or was scared off by predators
.
 
Pieter Leroux, game ranger at Thula thula and Philo, his handler,,
look after him 24 hours a day, and feed him every 4 hours with a special milk preparation
They care for him until he is old enough to get released into the wild.
We do not believe in keeping captive animals,said Thula Thula owner Lawrence Anthony,
For us the only good cage is an empty cage, and this youngster
is destined for a happy life in the wild.
At the moment a search is on to find him a similar aged girlfriend,
as this will cut down on human interaction, get him used to his species and aid his release.
Baby Rhino on his arrival at Moholoholo rehab centre in July 2009, one day old
Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre, a non profit organisation,
is dedicated to the rehabilitation of abandoned and injured wildlife,
and their re-introduction into their natural environments.
ARRIVAL OF NTOMBI, 8 MONTHS OLD
New baby rhino female, Ntombi, arrived on the 22nd of December from Moholoholo rehab centre in Limpopo
photos Bella Marques
  
THE THULA THULA TEAM HELP ALYSON, THE HANDLER OF THE BABY RHINO, TO UNLOAD NTOMBI FROM THE TRUCK
ON HER ARRIVAL AFTER A LONG TRIP FROM MOHOLOHOLO REHAB CENTRE IN LIMPOPO,
WHILE SHE GUIDES THE NEW BABY TO HER NEW HOME AT THULA THULA.
Ntombi was rescued in October 2009 by the Moholoholo rehab centre after her mother got killed by another rhino in front of her.
After her traumatising experience, and thanks to the care of all the Moholoholo team, Ntombi is now settled and happy.
Ntombi is 8 months old and is a beautiful 300kgs female white rhino.
A GREAT MOMENT...
Thabo welcomes Ntombi to the Thula Thula family
Thabo had never seen a rhino before, as he was only one day old when found in a game reserve in the Free State
  
NEW FRIENDS FOR THABO AND NTOMBI Betty and Josephine, baby warthogs rescued by CROW, are now the new residents at Safari Lodge, and best friends of Thabo and Ntombi..
* * * * *
PHOENIX THE SERVAL   Eight months old Phoenix the day of his arrival What a special day it was for Thula Thula, to know we will be receiving
an 8 month old Serval from CROW on the 21 August 2009 We had built him an enclosure , with a wooden house inside, so he will be protected from the rain. We called him Phoenix. After a couple of days, Yvette, his handler, with Phoenix, feeding time. On the 3 October 2009 after being with us for 6 weeks, we released him back into the wild. He has been recently seen around the Elephant Safari lodge looking happy and healthy. CROW is the Centre For Rehabilitation Of Wildlife, they care for the injured and orphaned wild animals and birds in Kwazulu Natal. There vision is to be an independent, pioneering force in the protection and rehabilitation of orphaned and injured wildlife, while promoting the preservation of their natural habitat. ?THE ONLY GOOD CAGE, IS AN EMPTY CAGE"
Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre in Limpopo, and the Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW)
are working closely with Thula Thula to release rehabilitated animals
back into the 4500 ha game reserve.
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