IUCN Management Category IV (Managed Nature Reserve)

Biogeographical Province 3.08.04 (South African Woodland/savanna)

Geographical Location 110km from Mtubatuba in Natal; 27°33'-27°46'S, 32°06'-32°23'E.

Date and History of Establishment 15 February 1912. first proclaimed on 15 February 1912, in terms of Provincial Notice 23 of 1912. Subsequent amendments are: Provincial Notice 28 of 1912, Provincial Notice 74 of 1916, Provincial Notice 57 of 1917, Provincial Notice 266 of 1918, Provincial Notice 140 of 1939, and Provincial Notice 131 of 1941.

Area 25,091ha

Land Tenure Government. Administered by the Natal Parks, Game and Fish Preservation Board, Natal Provincial Administration.

Altitude 40-400m (Nhlonhlela Hill)

Physical Features The topography is mainly flat or gently undulating intersected by seasonal drainage lines alternating with low ridges. The western sector, comprised of the foothills of the Lebombo Mountains is rugged and rises to an altitude of approximately 305m in the south with streams running into the Mkuze River and towards the Msunduzi River. The Mkuze River flows through an impressive gorge in the Lebombo Mountains, the lower end of the gorge being in the reserve. The eastern foothills of the Lebombo Mountains give way to gently undulating ridges, intersected by drainage lines, carrying water only after heavy rains. Complex geological formations with Cretaceous beds containing enormous ammonites form the Bumbeni geological complex and the Lebombo Rhyolite Interphase. The complex geological formations, tectonic movements, natural and accelerated erosional processes over a very long period, have resulted in a great variety of soil forms and soil series ranging from light sandy soils in the Terminalia sericea sandveld areas to very heavy clay soils, for example, in the Acacia luederitzii floodplain areas. Annual average temperature range minimum: 12°C-20°C, maximum: 25-34°C. Annual rainfall 628mm, falling mainly in summer (October-April).

Climate No information

Vegetation Vegetation types consist of 13,800ha of Coastal Forest and Thornveld (Veld Type 1) and 11,291ha Lowveld (Veld Type 10). Seven principal vegetation communities are recognizable in the reserve. They intergrade to a greater or lesser degree according to differences in soil, water and topography. (a) Riparian forest (i) Riverine forest with Ficus sycomorus, Acacia xanthophloea; (ii) Streambank and drainage line vegetation. (b) A. luederitzii and Euclea divinorum thicket with poor grass cover. (c) A. nigrescens woodland with Themeda triandra as an important grass. (d) Mixed Acacia woodland with A. nilotica and A. tortilis. The dominant grasses are Themeda triandra, Bothriochloa insculpta, and Aristida congesta. (e) Sandveld communities (i) Sandveld dry deciduous Newtonia hildebrandtii forest and Pteleopsis myrtifolia thicket; (ii) Sandveld woodland with Terminalia sericea. (f) Combretum apiculatum woodland with Themeda triandra as an important grass. (g) Grasslands (i) Floodplain and lowlying grasslands; (ii) Upland grasslands.

Fauna Large mammals are well represented and include Burchell's zebra Equus burchelli, square-lipped rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum, warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus, giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis, kudu Tragelaphus trepsiceros and lesser kudu T. imberbis, nyala T. angasi, common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia, reedbuck Redunca arundinum, mountain reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula, blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus, klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus, steenbok Raphicerus campestris and impala Aepyceros melampus. Carnivores include spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta and several endangered species. Endangered species: black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis (T), cheetah Acinonyx jubatus (T), red duiker Cephalophus natalensis, striped weasel Poecilogale albinucha, aardwolf Proteles cristatus, suni Neotragus moschatus, leopard Panthera pardus (T), serval Felis serval, and crocodile Crocodylus niloticus (V).

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities Facilities include a small camp with huts and some game viewing hides. Also, various walks and trails are available. An outdoor museum is being planned. Numbers: 18,400 per annum. Potential: full capacity.

Scientific Research and Facilities Current research is directed towards improving management

None

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Total

In progress

A management plan exists for this area.

Management Constraints There is no natural, permanent water. Game eradication and spraying to control tsetse fly has in the past had a great impact on the reserve. There has also been some habitat destruction due to overgrazing. Poaching also occurs.

Staff Management - three senior and 70 junior staff; Research, one senior and three junior staff; Tourism two senior and 30 junior staff

Budget R103,120 per annum (excluding salaries)

Local Addresses

Officer-in-charge, Mkuzi Game Reserve, PO Mkuzi, 3965.

References

Davies, O. (1967). Mkuzi Game Reserve. The apparent geomorphological surfaces. Report to Natal Parks Board following surveys in 1950 and 1967.

Dixon, J.E.W. (1964). Preliminary notes on the mammal fauna of the Mkuzi Game Reserve. The Lammergeyer 3(1): 40.

Goodman, P.S. (1982). The dilemma of artificial water points in Mkuzi Game Reserve. Natal Parks Board Cyclostyled paper, 12 pp.

Goodman, P.S. (1982). Some background information on Mkuzi Game Reserve. Natal Parks Board Cyclostyled paper, 11 pp.

Goodman, P.S. (1982). A summary of the Geology and Geomorphology of Mkuzi Game Reserve. Natal Parks Board Cyclostyled paper, 3 pp.

Moll, E.T. (1968). Some notes on the vegetation of Mkuzi Game Reserve. The Lammergeyer 8: 25-30.

Pooley, A.C. (1965). A preliminary check list of the reptiles within the Mkuzi and Ndumu Game Reserve in Northern Zululand. The Lammergeyer 3(2): 41-55.

Date July 1983