Mbumbazi Nature Reserve
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| Mbumbazi Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
 Interactive map of Mbumbazi Nature Reserve | |
| Location | Ugu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Nearest city | Margate / Port Shepstone |
| Coordinates | 30°48′30″S 30°16′45″E / 30.80833°S 30.27917°E |
| Area | 2,081 ha (5,140 acres) |
| Established | 1986 |
| Governing body | Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife |
Mbumbazi Nature Reserve is a 2,081-hectare (5,140-acre) nature reserve situated in the southern region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, approximately 32 km (20 mi) inland from Port Shepstone.[1] Managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the reserve is significant for its preservation of the critically endangered South Coast Grassland and its rugged riverine gorge systems.[2]
The reserve is located within the jurisdiction of the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality (formerly Hibiscus Coast). The terrain is characterized by a high plateau and deep, steep-sided sandstone gorges formed by the Mbumbazi River and its tributaries.[1] Altitudes within the reserve range from 110 m to 550 m above sea level.[1]
One of the reserve's most prominent features is the "Rossler's Gorge", a deep valley named after the family that previously owned a portion of the land.[3]
History
The reserve was formally proclaimed in 1986 under the Nature Conservation Ordinance (Act No. 15 of 1974).[1] Prior to its proclamation, the area was a mix of private commercial farms and state-owned land held by the Department of Development Aid for homeland consolidation purposes.[1] The name "Mbumbazi" refers to the "catapult-like" V-shape of the entrance to a typical traditional Zulu homestead, reflecting the topography of the local valleys.[3]