Local municipality · Umkhanyakude District
# Big Five Hlabisa

Big Five Hlabisa is a local municipality of South Africa in Umkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal Province. It covers 3,466.1 km². 24 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 215 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 3,466 km²
- 215 mapped services
- 202 m typical elevation

## Where is Big Five Hlabisa?

Big Five Hlabisa lies in Umkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. It borders 7 other local municipalities: Jozini, Mfolozi, Mthonjaneni, Mtubatuba, Nongoma, Ulundi and Umhlabuyalingana. By area it is the 120th largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 25.0% of Umkhanyakude District. The centre of Big Five Hlabisa is about 468 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 49 km from Mkuze, the main town of Umkhanyakude District. The centre point is at 28.0430° S, 32.1439° E. Local names: KZN276.

Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around Big Five Hlabisa

OpenStreetMap lists 39 named sights in Big Five Hlabisa: 21 viewpoints; 16 nature reserves; 2 zoos.
- Bonamanzi Private Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Empembeni Community Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- False Bay Park · nature reserve
- Fazala Game Park · nature reserve
- Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park · nature reserve
- Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park · nature reserve
- Kube Yini Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Kuleni Game Park · nature reserve
- Leopard Walk Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Makasa Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Phinda Game Reserve · nature reserve
- St. Lucia Park · nature reserve
- St. Lucia Wildreservaat · nature reserve
- Thanda Private Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Ubizane Wildlife Reserve · nature reserve
- Zulu Nyala Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Bavuloma Waterhole · viewpoint
- Bekapanzi Pan · viewpoint
- Hilltop · viewpoint
- Hilltop Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Madlozi Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Maphumula Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Masinda Lookout · viewpoint
- Mnqabatheki Lookout · viewpoint
- Mpila-enkana Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Nyalazi Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Seme Lookout · viewpoint
- Sitezi View Point · viewpoint
- Siwasamikhosikazi Picnic Site · viewpoint
- Sontuli Loop Viewpoint 1 · viewpoint

…and 9 more.

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Big Five Hlabisa
- Time zone UTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- Currency Rand (ZAR)
- Country calling code +27
- Languages Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug types Type C, D · 230 V
- Driving side Left
- Postcode format 4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports
- Mkuze Airport (MZQ) · Mkuze 47 km
- Richards Bay Airport (RCB) · Richards Bay 78 km

### Nearest railway station

Hluhluwe (Big Five Hlabisa), about 14 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.9 hours, sunrise around 04:49) and shortest in Jun (about 10.4 hours, sunrise around 06:40, sunset around 17:02).

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in Big Five Hlabisa

Open gazetteers list 24 villages, towns and localities in Big Five Hlabisa. The largest with a recorded population: Hluhluwe (4,588) and Hlabisa (2,958). Settlements here lie between about 24 m and 547 m above sea level (median 202 m).
- Bushlands
- Emoyeni
- Godeni
- Golweni
- Hilltop Camp
- Hlabisa
- Hluhluwe
- KwaMayakazi
- KwaNibela
- KwaNompondo
- KwaQunwane
- Mabhokisini
- Makhowe
- Mnqobokazi
- Muntulu Bush Lodge
- Munywaneni Bush Lodge
- Nagana
- Nongoma
- Rhino Ridge Lodge
- Sivivaneni
- Somerset
- Sungulwane
- Zamokwake
- Zidonini

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of Big Five Hlabisa

Named natural and historic features inside Big Five Hlabisa, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

34 rivers and streams; 8 lakes; 1 reservoir or tank.
- Bhangazi
- False Bay
- Gqoyeni
- Gwegwede
- Hluhluwe Dam
- Jejane
- KwaLubomvu
- KwaLugaga
- KwaNgalonde
- Lake Saint Lucia
- Madlozi
- Mansiya
- Mbazwana
- Mbila
- Mduna
- Mfuyeni
- Mhlosinga
- Mkuze River Mouth
- Mlambazane
- Mona
- Mpelenyana-emhlope
- Mpelenyana-emnyama
- Mpempe
- Mpisaneni

…and 19 more.

### Coast and islands

5 headlands; 3 islands.
- Bird Island
- Fanieseiland
- Lane Island
- Leven Point
- Lister’s Point
- Picnic Point
- Sandy Point
- Tonn’s Point

### Hills and mountains

51 hills; 28 mountains; 1 valley.
- Ngangatu · 665 m
- Nhlwathi · 662 m
- Mpembeni · 653 m
- Sitezi · 650 m
- KwaHlabisa · 632 m
- Dukumbane · 626 m
- Mtwadlana · 601 m
- Ngxongwana · 597 m
- Sipongo · 596 m
- KwaSeme · 589 m
- Nkonjane · 589 m
- Mbewu · 584 m
- Zibayeni · 557 m
- Makowe · 556 m
- KwaQonsa · 529 m
- Ngoqolo · 520 m
- Mawuza · 515 m
- Vivi · 503 m
- Papasi · 495 m
- KwaMayakazi · 478 m
- Macwetshaneni · 466 m
- Qhoqhoqho · 449 m
- Sokhwezela · 449 m
- Kongela · 447 m

…and 56 more.

### Forests and nature

2 wildlife reserves; 2 parks; 1 forest; 1 forest reserve; 1 nature reserve.
- Cape Vidal State Forest
- False Bay Park
- Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park
- ISimangaliso Wetland Park
- Mapongo Forest
- Phinda Private Game Reserve
- Umfolozi Game Reserve

### Getting around

3 airfields; 1 airport; 1 railway station.
- Hluhluwe
- Hluhluwe Airport
- Prozesky
- Ubizane
- Zulu Inyala Airport

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Big Five Hlabisa and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Umkhanyakude District, the warmest month is Feb (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Jul (19 °C). About 835 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (141 mm) and the driest Jun (19 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are February to November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 26 | 141 |
| Feb | 26 | 101 |
| Mar | 25 | 95 |
| Apr | 23 | 61 |
| May | 21 | 27 |
| Jun | 19 | 19 |
| Jul | 19 | 19 |
| Aug | 20 | 20 |
| Sep | 22 | 43 |
| Oct | 23 | 66 |
| Nov | 24 | 115 |
| Dec | 25 | 129 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Big Five Hlabisa
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Hluhluwe Clinic New · Big Five Hlabisa | 13 km | Map |
| Bank | TymeBank Kiosk Boxer Superstore Hluhluwe · Big Five Hlabisa | 13 km | Map |
| ATM | Capitec Bank ATM · Big Five Hlabisa | 13 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Engen Hluhluwe Convenience Centre · Big Five Hlabisa | 12 km | Map |
| Hotel | Hluhluwe backpackers · Big Five Hlabisa | 1.9 km | Map |
| School | Thandanani Creche · Big Five Hlabisa | 0.7 km | Map |
| Police station | Hluhluwe Police Station · Big Five Hlabisa | 13 km | Map |

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Big Five Hlabisa

Places mapped inside Big Five Hlabisa in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 2
- Banks 7
- ATMs 3
- Petrol pumps 11
- Hotels 60
- Schools 111
- Pharmacies 1
- Restaurants 18
- Police stations 2

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other local municipalities in Umkhanyakude District
- Jozini
- Mtubatuba
- Umhlabuyalingana

## Quick answers
- Where is Big Five Hlabisa? In Umkhanyakude District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
- What borders Big Five Hlabisa? Jozini, Mfolozi, Mthonjaneni, Mtubatuba, Nongoma, Ulundi and Umhlabuyalingana
- What is there to see in Big Five Hlabisa? Bavuloma Waterhole, Bekapanzi Pan, Bonamanzi Private Game Reserve, Crocodylus Private Sanctuary and Ostrich Farm
- What time zone is Big Five Hlabisa in? UTC+2
- What currency is used in Big Five Hlabisa? Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in Big Five Hlabisa? Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Big Five Hlabisa? 24 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Big Five Hlabisa? Settlements lie between 24 m and 547 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Big Five Hlabisa? 1 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Big Five Hlabisa? Ngangatu (665 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Big Five Hlabisa? February to November
- Where is the nearest hospital to Big Five Hlabisa? Hluhluwe Clinic New, about 13 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Big Five Hlabisa? TymeBank Kiosk Boxer Superstore Hluhluwe, about 13 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Big Five Hlabisa? Capitec Bank ATM, about 13 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Big Five Hlabisa? Engen Hluhluwe Convenience Centre, about 12 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Big Five Hlabisa? 2 mapped
- How many banks are in Big Five Hlabisa? 7 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Big Five Hlabisa? 3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Big Five Hlabisa? 11 mapped
- What is the P-code of Big Five Hlabisa? ZA5276 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Local municipality
- Area: 3,466.1 km²
- P-code: ZA5276
- District: Umkhanyakude District
- Main town: Hluhluwe

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Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/umkhanyakude/big-five-hlabisa/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.