Ingula Nature Reserve

This is one of the latest Ramsar wetlands in South Africa that we have not visited yet. A more complete report will be posted once we have visited the wetland.

Designation date: 1 March 2021

The Ingula Nature Reserve of more than 8,000ha is situated along the northernmost part of the Drakensberg mountain range, between Free State and KwaZulu-Natal, about 40km north-west of Ladysmith and 40km east of Harrismith.

Eskom Holdings (a State Owned Entity) owns and manages the property, the nature reserve and the Ramsar site.

The Ingula Nature Reserve hosts over 300 bird species, of which 24 are threatened including the critically endangered white-winged flufftail and the endangered grey crowned crane, secretary bird and martial eagle. The site is registered as an Internationally Important Bird Area.

It has 34 species of mammals recorded, including the Aardvark, Oribi, Cape Clawless Otter, Porcupine, Common Reedbuck, Grey Rhebok, Mountain Reedbuck, Serval, African Wildcat and a number of small rodents.