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| uMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
 Location of the park near theUKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park | |
| Location | KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa |
| Coordinates | 29°29′28″S29°49′47″E / 29.49111°S 29.82972°E /-29.49111; 29.82972 |
| Area | 958 ha (2,370 acres) |
| Official name | uMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve |
| Designated | 19 March 2013 |
| Reference no. | 2132[1] |
  UMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve (South Africa) | |
TheuMgeni Vlei Nature Reserve is a wetland reserve inKwaZulu-Natal,South Africa that protects several threatenedbird species.
The reserve lies 22 km southwest ofNottingham Road, southwest of Fort Nottingham and the Fort Nottingham Nature Reserve, west-northwest ofPietermaritzburg, east ofMaloti-Drakensberg Park, and southeast ofEmpisini Nature Reserve. It lies 1,840 m above sea level.
The reserve is not freely accessible to the public. It lies between farms and entry is difficult. Permits must be obtained ahead of time and are usually only granted to researchers.
The reserve covers 958 hectares, of which half consists of permanent marshes, pools, and swamps. The other half is covered in reeds, grass, and shrubbery. Mist and clouds are prevalent and lightning strikes more often than anywhere else in the country. Rainfall from 800 to 1,000 mm/yr is normal, mostly falling in the summer. This is the source of theuMgeni River which suppliesDurban and Pietermaritzburg through theMidmar Dam,Albert Falls Dam,Nagle Dam, andInanda Dam. In 1987, theNatal Parks Board took possession of the area to protect thewattled crane, and in 2013, the park became aRamsar site.[1] Due to good cooperation with neighbouring farmers, the latter can graze their cattle and sheep at select times on the reserve's grasslands.Poachers andinvasive plants present a problem. The wattled crane and theblack-backed jackal remain threatened.
The following birds can be found in the reserve: wattled crane,grey crowned crane,blue crane,white-winged flufftail,African grass owl,yellow-breasted pipit,secretarybird,ground woodpecker,buff-streaked chat,sentinel rock-thrush,Drakensberg rockjumper,Cape vulture,bearded vulture, and pale-headed grass singer. Among mammals here is the threatenedoribi. The medicinal plantMerwilla natalenis and several species of red-hot pokers (Kniphofia) are native, but the sand blackberry (Rubus cuneifolius) is invasive.
