COASTAL NATURE RESERVES

Outside The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park

Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve

Umhlanga lagoon is 26 ha in extent linked to a fresh water vegetated wetland which is both spring and stormwater fed. The reserve was established to conserve and maintain the land, lagoon and its natural systems. The majority of the reserve is well forested with both dune and coastal forests, providing suitable habitat for blue and red duikers, bushbuck and bushpigs and a magnificent variety of forest birds.

Beachwood Nature Reserve

Beachwood Nature Reserve is 50ha in extent falling in the Greater Durban Area
(Ethikwini Municipality) located on the northern bank of the Umgeni River, between the M 4 highway and the coast. The reserve is dominated by white and black mangroves and various salt tolerant species of grasses, reeds and rushes. There is a extensive board walk system through the mangroves, which allows for a large number of educational tours and walks

 Mpenjati Nature Reserve

Mpenjati  is 82 ha in extent, and encompasses the mouth of the Mpenjati River and adjacent north and south banks. The area is mainly dominated by coastal grassland and wetlands, while the remainder of the area is made up of coastal dune and forest as well as palm veld. The Reserve is one of the few extensive protected wetland areas on the southern coast.

Umlalazi Nature Reserve

Umlalazi is 1200 hectares and mainly dominated by beaches and dunes, which are a major physical feature of the reserve reaching a approximate height of 30m on the shore edge. Several ecosystem types namely tidal marsh, flood plain, reed, mangrove forest ,acacia thicket and esturine which encompasses the remainder of the reserve, which provides excellent habitat for a diverse range of plant, fish and animal life. 

Amatikulu Nature Reserve 

Amatikulu Nature Reserve measures 2100.3 Ha located on the southern bank of the Amatikulu river. The reserve is bordered by a unbroken strip of sandy beaches and coastal dunes which are transformed into a series of undulating sandy hills as one moves further into the reserve. The reserve is dominated by grasslands, bush thickets, riverine and swamp forests which supports a diverse mammal, amphibian and reptile population.

Richards Bay Sanctuary
The Richards Bay Sanctuary developed through the creation of a berm in 1975 to divide the Richards Bay Harbour and protect the natural sanctuary area on the southern side. The sanctuary is 1200 ha in extent and situated on the Mhlatuze river and encoporates  the Mhlatuzie  estuary which is relatively unspoilt and unpolluted, with area large communities of white, black and red mangroves and swamp forests.   
The estuary remains one of the most important estuarine habitats along the Zululand coast. Although not nearly the size of St Lucia to the north, it is no less dynamic or important as a nursery area for fish, crustaceans and other marine/aquatic organisms, with large Zostera beds.

Maphelane Nature Reserve

Maphelane Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 1978 to protect the Coastal and swamp forest from uncontrolled utilization. The reserve is 9600 Ha in extent and lies on the southern bank of the St Lucia Estuary mouth which forms the southern boundary of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. The reserve is boarded on the eastern side by sandy beaches and coastal dunes, the area is dominated by coastal and swamp forests and provides ideal habitat for a large population of red duiker and bushbuck, the beaches between the mouth of the Umfolozi and Cape St Lucia light house are nesting areas for both the logger and leather back turtles.