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Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve

Categories:accommodation; roadside attraction; picnic; camping; hide; trails

This 650 ha reserve borders the Umgeni River in Howick, and is run by WESSA. WESSA members are given free access, whilst non-members are required to pay an entrance fee. Please note that no dogs are allowed. The Reserve consists of grassland, cliffs, indigenous 'coastal like' forest, Acacia woodland, and river frontage.

There are four bush camps in the Reserve, used mainly by Schools and educational groups, and three cottages. There is one dirt road through the Reserve, and numerous walking trails. Zebra, Giraffe, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Nyala, Common Bushbuck, Blesbok, Southern Reedbuck and Warthog can usually be seen, whilst the list of trees, flowers, butterflies etc. is almost endless. This reserve is a prime birding destination as it boasts a list of over 250 species. Verreauxs' Eagle nests along the cliffs just outside the Reserve, whilst the African Crowned Eagle nests within it.

Birds one can usually see on walks - according to the season - would include: African Black Duck, Black (Yellow-billed) Kite which breeds in the Reserve, Steppe Buzzard, Lanner Falcon , Natal Spurfowl , African Olive-Pigeon, Emerald-spotted and Tambourine Doves and African Green-Pigeon. Red-chested, Black, African Emerald, Klaas' and Diderik cuckoos are more often heard than seen. Narina Trogon is often seen, whilst the Trumpeter Hornbill is usually present in numbers. Greater, Scaly-throated and Lesser Honeyguides and Brown-backed Honeybird occur in small numbers. Red-throated Wryneck occurs near the main office. The Sombre Greenbul is always around, whilst the Terrestrial Brownbul is secretive. The Cape Rock-Thrush and the Mocking Cliff-Chat seem to reside close together and prefer the rock faces. Striped Pipit is a less common resident of the rock faces. The Chorister Robin-Chat and the White-browed Scrub-Robin are both in the Reserve, as are the Bar-throated and Yellow-breasted Apalis, although the latter is usually found during the winter months.

Wailing and Croaking Cisticolas are found in the grasslands, and can easily identified by their calls. Broad-tailed Warbler is less common but resident and enigmatic Short-tailed Pipit has been recorded. The Cape Batis and Chinspot Batis are both seen in similar habitats all the year round. The Mountain Wagtail has a preference for one of the streams running into the Umgeni River , where a pair are usually present. The Cape and Yellow-throated Longclaws are both resident, whilst the Southern Tchagra occurs but as always is tough to observe. The Grey Sunbird is only seen during the winter months down near the River, but the White-bellied, Amethyst and Collared Sunbirds are around all the time. Dark-backed Weavers are resident and breed in the riverine forests. Other forest species include Knysna Turaco , Olive Woodpecker, Barratt's Warbler , Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher, Olive Bush-Shrike , Lesser and Greater Double-collared Sunbirds , Swee Waxbill and Green Twinspot.

Cape and Spotted Eagle-Owl occur in Shelter Falls kloof.

Specials to look out for are African Black Duck, African Emerald Cuckoo, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Brown-backed Honeybird , Verreauxs' Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Cape and Spotted Eagle-Owl, Narina Trogon, Knysna Turaco, Cape Rock-Thrush, Southern Tchagra and Olive Bush-Shrike.

Directions

From the N3 take the Howick offramp and head through the town until you get to the Karkloof road. Take a right along this road and the reserve is well sign posted from here.

Additional Info

The reserve is accessible to day visitors and a nominal entrance fee is charged for visitors who are not WESSA members.

There are self-guided trails.

There is safe parking for cars and there are also toilet facilities available. Restaurants can be found nearby.

Habitats: Grassland, cliffs, indigenous 'coastal like' forest, Acacia woodland & river frontage

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