Mkambati Nature Reserve

Mkambati Nature Reserve is located on the Indian Ocean about 71 kilometres from the town of Flagstaff. The Reserve spans over 1,000 hectares and is home to rare ecosystems, including unique swamp forests and estuaries that support vital biodiversity. The two larger estuaries are those of the Msikaba and Mtentu Rivers. The Reserve is one of only a few protected areas within the Pondoland Centre of Plant Endemism, which holds 196 endemic plant species; those found in the Reserve include the threatened Natal quince (Cryptocarya natalensis), Pondo white pear (Apodytes abbottii), Kei bauhinia (Bauhinia bowkeri), and Pondo lanternflower (Ceropegia tenella). The Reserve is also home to diverse animals, including the nationally-endangered variable legless skink (Acontias poecilus), and the globally threatened Boneberg’s frog (Natalobatrachus bonebergi), river bream (Acanthopagrus vagus), Japanese meagre (Argyrosomus japonicus) and Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus). The newly discovered endemic diving beetle Copelatus mkambati is also found here. Both the Msikaba and Mtentu estuaries are vital as fish nursery areas, while the Mtentu estuary is globally unique for providing shoals where adult giant kingfish seek thermal refuge from cold sea waters. The Site’s rivers, waterfalls, and wetlands maintain exceptional water quality, playing a key role in water regulation and habitat stability. In addition to sustaining biodiversity, it plays a crucial role in erosion control, climate regulation, cultural heritage and tourism. The Reserve is categorized as a strict nature reserve under the IUCN protected areas categories (2008) and has an actively implemented management plan.

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