Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve in Durban
Durban is a bustling city in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, and is home to a very unique reserve that was founded in 1977. It is called the Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve, consisting of seventy-six hectares of protected estuarine habitat and mangrove swamp forest. It is popular with nature lovers and hikers, who trek through this rare landscape and learn more about this delicate ecosystem. Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve is most definitely a natural attraction in Durban that should not be missed, and is of such great importance that it was proclaimed a National Monument.
One of the most special features of the Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve is the fact that it has the biggest variety and concentration of mangrove trees in the city. Here visitors will be able to view the black mangrove, red mangrove and white mangrove trees. To educate the public on all these special features, a Nature Conservation Education Centre was established close to the Umgeni estuary, which hosts workshops and interesting talks for groups and individuals. Three beautiful trails through the Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve were created for visitors to explore the beauty of this reserve, guiding them past a bird hide, where bird watchers can stop off and wait to view some of the wonderful bird species that live here. Visitors can look forward to viewing birds such as the curlew, the Natal nightjar, dikkop and the mangrove kingfisher. To explore the mangrove forest comfortably, a boardwalk was constructed that also crosses the river.
Visitors will also be able to explore the shoreline, which is filled with its own natural wonders. Over and above its rolling sand dunes, the shoreline is alive with fascinating creatures, such as the mudskippers. These unusual fish are able to make use of the pectoral fins to propel their bodies over the water and even the mud. A variety of mollusks are also visible along the coastline, with the fiddler crabs also displaying their single big claw to those who find them. There is a variety of wildlife, birdlife and plant life to discover at the Beachwood Mangrove Nature Reserve, and it is a wonderful day excursion for the entire family to enjoy.
