African Wildlife and Environment Issue 65

DESTINATION

DESTINATION

uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve is of significant biodiversity importance The reserve is so diverse because of its altitudinal variation and situation along the uMngeni River, which together provide a wide variety of vegetation and habitat types. These include Midlands Mistbelt Grassland, KZN Hinterland Thornveld, Southern KZN Moist Grassland, forest patches, riverine thicket, sub tropical thicket and Thornveld savannah. Within these main vegetation types are found special habitats such as riverine thickets, forest patches, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs, numerous wetland seeps and several perennial streams forming an important part of the uMngeni River Catchment.

The reserve is also home to a wide variety of species, as listed below: • over 50 mammal species, including Nyala, Bushbuck, Impala, Blesbok, Burchell’s Zebra, Reedbuck, Blue wildebeest, Duiker, Giraffe, Warthog, Cape Clawless Otter, Porcupine, Vervet monkey, Rock Dassie, Spotted genet, Mongoose, Oribi, Aardvark, Leopard and Caracal; • over 250 bird species, including a nesting pair of Verraux’s and Crowned Eagles; • over 25 reptile species, including the African Rock Python; • 8 amphibians; • 19 grass species;

Grassland, thornveld and forests in the uMngeni Valley

An unknown gem in the Kwazulu-Natal Midlands, WESSA’s uMngeni Valley Nature Reserve is one of Kwazulu Natal’s best kept secrets. The reserve is situated in the biologically diverse uMngeni River valley and surrounding uplands, where it follows the river for 8 km from the base of the iconic 95m Howick Falls.

Matthew Cocks Photographs: John Wesson

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