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It was a misty, cloudy, rainy day when we visited Umgeni Vlei, as if the reserve wanted to hide itself from being seen and exposed. But now and again the clouds and the mist lifted, exposing this special Ramsar wetland with all its natural beauty just long enough for a glimpse and to take a few quick photos.
This
example of good cooperation can be credited to the enthusiastic,
committed, positive attitude and integrity of the current Officer In
Charge, Micca Khoza, and all the neighboring farmers, but
specifically Chris Maloney of the farm Castle Howard. Well done to
all of you. I wish that so many of the other Ramsar wetlands where
cooperation is lacking, can learn from this.
To the north west of the uMngeni Vlei Nature Reserve lays uMkhomazi Nature Reserve. uMngeni Vlei Nature Reserve is managed from uMkhomazi and staff and budgetary resources are acquired from uMkhomazi Nature Reserve.
We also saw herds of Eland just outside the reserve on the neighboring farms. As visitors from outside KZN, it was a special sighting to see one of my favourite antelopes, the endangered Oribi.
Threats
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Umgeni
Vlei Nature Reserve is one of South Africa’s smaller Ramsar
wetlands with a total area of 958ha at the high altitude of between
1800m and 2100m. It consists of grasslands, a few small areas of
scrubby woodland and most importantly, a diverse and extensive range
of unmodified wetlands. The
reserve is divided into 2 sections. The main area containing most of
the wetlands and some pans is 470ha in size, with a grassland section
of 488ha.
The nature reserve takes its name from the uMngeni River as it lies within the catchment area of the river and forms an important source of the river. The name “uMngeni”, given to this river (which is sometimes spelled “Mgeni”, “uMgeni”, or “Umgeni”) is said to be derived from the isiZulu word for ‘river of the thorn tree’. “Vlei” is originally an Afrikaans term for a wetland, but has become an acceptable and commonly used South African English word for a stretch of low-lying ground that is either permanently marshy or is flooded in the rainy season to form a shallow lake.
The nature reserve takes its name from the uMngeni River as it lies within the catchment area of the river and forms an important source of the river. The name “uMngeni”, given to this river (which is sometimes spelled “Mgeni”, “uMgeni”, or “Umgeni”) is said to be derived from the isiZulu word for ‘river of the thorn tree’. “Vlei” is originally an Afrikaans term for a wetland, but has become an acceptable and commonly used South African English word for a stretch of low-lying ground that is either permanently marshy or is flooded in the rainy season to form a shallow lake.
The
nature reserve and the expansion area are in one of the best-watered,
least drought-prone areas of the subcontinent. Rainfall varies
between 980 - 1000mm per annum, with approximately 80% of the rain
during summer months. Snowfalls occur mainly in winter, but may also
occur in spring and autumn, with an average frequency of about eight
days of snowfall per year. The Drakensberg generally and the nearby
nature reserve and expansion area, experiences amongst the highest
incidence of lightning strikes in southern Africa.
The
area around the nature reserve is designated as an Important Bird
Area by Birdlife SA (SA075). This is one of the most important sites
in South Africa for Wattled Crane. Up to ten pairs have nested in the
main vlei and smaller vleis outside the reserve boundary. Breeding
pairs of Grey Crowned Cranes and Blue Cranes are also present. The
site has been little modified in the past, having been used only for
cattle and sheep grazing. During 1987 the Natal parks Board (now
called Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife) acquired the site in order to protect
the Wattled Cranes.
While
specialist bird-watching opportunities are available, the area is not
considered to hold significant potential for tourism, both because of
the risk of disturbance to the Wattled Cranes during the breeding
season, as well as problems related to difficult public access.
The
uMngeni Vlei Nature Reserve is situated enroute to the Drakensberg,
approximately 22km South-West from Nottingham Road in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
To reach uMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve is a special experience in
itself.
You cannot just drive there for a Sunday afternoon because
the reserve is surrounded by private commercial cattle farms. First,
you have to make an appointment with the Officer In Charge of the
reserve who in turn will arrange the visit with the farmers. Then you
must have a suitable vehicle because the roads leading to the
reserve’s entrance and the roads inside the reserve demand a
vehicle with good ground clearance, preferably a 4x4. On a wet rainy
day, it took us 30 minutes from the farm’s entrance to the border
fence of the reserve, and a further 15 minutes to the reserve’s
entrance.
You cannot just drive there for a Sunday afternoon because
the reserve is surrounded by private commercial cattle farms. First,
you have to make an appointment with the Officer In Charge of the
reserve who in turn will arrange the visit with the farmers. Then you
must have a suitable vehicle because the roads leading to the
reserve’s entrance and the roads inside the reserve demand a
vehicle with good ground clearance, preferably a 4x4. On a wet rainy
day, it took us 30 minutes from the farm’s entrance to the border
fence of the reserve, and a further 15 minutes to the reserve’s
entrance.
It was a misty, cloudy, rainy day when we visited Umgeni Vlei, as if the reserve wanted to hide itself from being seen and exposed. But now and again the clouds and the mist lifted, exposing this special Ramsar wetland with all its natural beauty just long enough for a glimpse and to take a few quick photos.
Ownership
and Management
Umgeni
Vlei Nature Reserve is owned and managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
There is a very good understanding and cooperation between park
management and the surrounding landowners, presenting a win-win
situation. All involved respect and want the special conservation
status of the reserve.
Fire
management and control is of utmost importance to both parties and
demands cooperation. Another area of cooperation is the introduction
of controlled grazing inside the reserve for cattle from the
neighboring areas. Cattle grazing facilitate the nesting of cranes by
opening up the Vlei.
This
example of good cooperation can be credited to the enthusiastic,
committed, positive attitude and integrity of the current Officer In
Charge, Micca Khoza, and all the neighboring farmers, but
specifically Chris Maloney of the farm Castle Howard. Well done to
all of you. I wish that so many of the other Ramsar wetlands where
cooperation is lacking, can learn from this.To the north west of the uMngeni Vlei Nature Reserve lays uMkhomazi Nature Reserve. uMngeni Vlei Nature Reserve is managed from uMkhomazi and staff and budgetary resources are acquired from uMkhomazi Nature Reserve.
When
and why Ramsar
Umgeni
Vlei Nature Reserve is a very important catchment area of the uMngeni
River due to its high altitude and good average rainfall. The uMngeni
River supports two major cities in terms of water supply along its
journey to the Indian Ocean, namely Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Dams
constructed along its way include the Midmar, Albert Falls, Nagle and
Inanda.
Two
critically endangered species, the Wattled Crane and Oribi antelope
occur and breed inside the nature reserve and the expansion area.
Wattled
Crane conservation is a key function of the reserve. It is regarded
as the premier site in South Africa for protection of this rare and
threatened bird species. At times some 20% of the South African
population of the species may be present in and around the nature
reserve.
Ramsar
status was bestowed onto the reserve on 19 March 2013.
We also saw herds of Eland just outside the reserve on the neighboring farms. As visitors from outside KZN, it was a special sighting to see one of my favourite antelopes, the endangered Oribi.
Threats
The
water from the reserve is crystal clear with no pollution or
contamination.
But there are other threats and challenges.
Poaching
of antelope is a definite threat for the wildlife of the reserve. It
happens mostly on the neighboring farms but affect the wildlife
inside the reserve.
Patrolling
the reserve and surrounding areas is a challenge and Micca Khoza, the
Officer In Charge, expressed his wish to establish overnight
facilities for field rangers inside the reserve.
There
is an ongoing battle to eliminate alien plant species, most notably
American Brambel.
Black-backed
jackals are threatening the Wattled cranes that breed here.
Tourism
The
Drakensberg Region in general is a recognized tourism destination. In
contrast, the location of the uMgeni Nature Reserve is traditionally
known as an agricultural area rather than a tourist destination.
However, the high scenic values and other natural attributes of the
nature reserve, together with its proximity to the Maloti Drakensberg
World Heritage Site, clearly indicate a potential role for
eco-tourism. This will have to be subject to the continued protection
of the cranes, one of the primary purposes of the nature reserve.
There
is no accommodation or other facilities inside the reserve for
visitors, and none are planned. At least not until the population of
the Wattled Cranes has been stabilized. Visits to the reserve are
currently restricted for research purposes only. This can be
understood with the sensitive access through the surrounding farms.
Date
of visit: 8 March 2016
Contact
information:
Ezemvelo
KZN Wildlife
Internet:
Telephone:
+27(0)33 845-1000