Ndumo has the highest bird count in South Africa, with some 430 species being recorded, making this one of the top choices for birding.  Of special interest is the Pell’s Fishing Owl, the Broadbill and Southern Banded Snake Eagle.

Located in the far north of KwaZulu Natal along the Mozambique border, Ndumo is close to many other attractions, not least of which is the Tembe Elephant Park.

In the north it is bordered by the Usuthu River, with the Pongola River flowing through its confluence with Usuthu, making this the ideal habitat for game species such as nyala, bushbuck, impala, red duiker, suni, black and white rhino, hippopotamus and crocodile.

The area is made up of extensive wetlands and water pans, with the unique looking fever trees adding their striking feature to the landscape, and is so diverse as to include reed-beds, sand forests and acacia forests.

The diversity of insects is not only enjoyed by the large population of birdlife, but by entemologists too who have recorded up to 66 different species of mosquitos alone, not that this should deter any visitors.

The game reserve can be enjoyed in a number of ways, from the comfort of your own car, to guided land-rover tours in the more remote and inaccessible areas. There are also guided walking tours that perhaps the best way to experience the wildness of Ndumo.

Visit Ndumo Game Reserve for more information.