The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve opened in 1895, which makes it the oldest dedicated reserve in all of Africa. The area was originally three parks that bordered each other, though they merged to form the current enclosure in 1989. The area is credited with being the birthplace of rhino preservation, as it was here in 1900 that a project was launched to try and increase their numbers.

At that time, only about 20 rhinoceros existed in the entire world. More than 1,000 white rhinoceros now live in the park alone - and this is still the world's largest population of the animal. The park encloses 596 square miles (1,544 square kilometres), and is popular with tourists and animal lovers for being home to all of the 'Big Five'.