Krantzkloof Nature Reserve

29°45′51″S 30°51′03″E / 29.764303°S 30.850883°E / -29.764303; 30.850883Established1950 by Natal Parks Board

The Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, conserves 668 ha^[1][2] of the Molweni (Zulu: 'mutual greetings'^[3]) and Nkutu River gorges that incise the sandstone Kloof plateau^[4] in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reserve conserves coastal scarp forest, sourveld grassland, a cliff face biotope, and aquatic environments along its rivers. Scarp forest is a threatened forest type, protected by South Africa's forests act of 1998,^[5] while the grassland is classified as KwaZulu-Natal sandstone sourveld, the most threatened terrestrial habitat in the Durban metropole.^[6] The reserve was established in 1950 and was augmented by land donations as late as 1999.^[4]

Setting

The reserve is situated at 140 to 520 m.a.s.l, and borders on suburbs, informal settlements, and in some of the catchment areas, on privately owned conservancies. The Kloof conservancy manages the Ronald's Kloof stream project, which effectively adds 5 ha to the reserve.^[7] The Springside and Iphithi Nature Reserves, in addition to the Everton conservancy and Overock community reserve, conserve natural remnants of the Nkutu, Molweni and Iphithi rivers' upper catchment.^[8][9]

The forested Molweni gorge divides the residential suburbs of Kloof and Forest Hills, and is intersected by Kloof Falls Road. This road provides access to the main Kloof Falls picnic site, from where walking trails diverge in both the upstream and downstream directions. The Molweni and Nkutu rivers converge to join 1 km outside the reserve, and some 2 km from the Umgeni. The reserve and conservancies are included in Durban's open space system, D’MOSS.^[10]

The reserve is situated on Natal group sandstone of the Cambrian to Ordovician periods, some 490 million years old,^[11] and artifacts recovered from its rock shelters indicate that it was once inhabited by early Iron Age people.^[4]

Wildlife

Some 25 amphibian, 255 bird, 50 mammal, 36 reptile, 150 butterfly and 274 tree species^[12] have been recorded in the Gorge or its vicinity. The natural vegetation is under pressure from numerous invasive species,^[13][14][15] while some tree species are vulnerable to muti-collecting practices in the greater Durban area.^[5]

Mammals

Blue duiker and bushbuck were released into the reserve in 1970 and 1971. Red duiker, then regionally extinct, was also introduced but did not persist, while the introduced baboons had to be eradicated after causing a nuisance to nearby residents.^[4] Common duiker^[16] occurs and the last brown greater galagos of the Durban metropole are resident. Small carnivores include water, slender, white-tailed, Egyptian^[16] and banded mongoose, Cape genet, caracal^[17] and water monitor.^[18] Its rocky grassland areas offer protection to the Natal red rock hare, a species with declining numbers.^[19][20]

Birds

Some 255 bird species have been recorded in the reserve.^[21] The three pairs of crowned eagles that nest in the reserve^[22] prey on dassies, monkeys and hadeda ibis. Wahlberg's eagle,^[23] lanner and peregrine falcons all nest in the lower gorge.^[24] Secretive birds like broadbill, grey cuckooshrike, Narina trogon, emerald cuckoo and wood-owl all occur, but are more likely to be heard than seen.^[24] Winter migrants include chorister robin-chat, white-starred robin, yellow-throated warbler and the rare spotted ground-thrush.^[24][25] Trumpeter and crowned hornbills are numerous and conspicuous. Knysna turaco (subsp. corythaix) is not found elsewhere in the Durban metropole,^[22] and occurs alongside the more numerous purple-crested turaco. Late summer seed of broad-leaved setaria attract green twinspot, grey waxbill, swee waxbill and red-backed mannikin.^[24] Plain-backed pipit is regularly present after grassland burns, while bat hawk has been noted at dusk.^[26]

Bird species of Krantzkloof Nature Reserve[21]
Common name	Scientific name	Status	Breeding
Little grebe	Tachybaptus ruficollis	vagrant
Reed cormorant	Phalacrocorax africanus	vagrant
Grey heron	Ardea cinerea	vagrant
Purple heron	Ardea purpurea	vagrant
Hamerkop	Scopus umbretta	rare
Woolly-necked stork	Ciconia episcopus	vagrant
Hadeda ibis	Bostrychia hagedash	abundant	breeder
Spur-winged goose	Plectropterus gambensis	vagrant
Egyptian goose	Alopochen aegyptiacus	uncommon
African black duck	Anas sparsa	rare
Yellow-billed duck	Anas undulata	rare
Southern pochard	Netta erythrophthalma	vagrant
Peregrine falcon	Falco peregrinus	vagrant
Lanner falcon	Falco biarmicus	rare
Rock kestrel	Falco rupicolus	vagrant
African cuckoo hawk	Aviceda cuculoides	vagrant
European honey buzzard	Pernis apivorus	vagrant
Black kite	Milvus migrans	vagrant
Yellow-billed kite	Milvus aegyptius	regular	breeder
Black-winged kite	Elanus caeruleus	vagrant
Bat hawk	Macheiramphus alcinus	vagrant
Wahlberg's eagle	Aquila wahlbergi	rare	breeder
Booted eagle	Aquila pennatus	vagrant
Martial eagle	Polemaetus bellicosus	vagrant
African crowned eagle	Stephanoaetus coronatus	common	breeder
African fish-eagle	Haliaeetus vocifer	vagrant
Jackal buzzard	Buteo rufofuscus	vagrant
Steppe buzzard	Buteo vulpinus	rare
Little sparrowhawk	Accipiter minullus	rare
Black sparrowhawk	Accipiter melanoleucus	rare
African goshawk	Accipiter tachiro	uncommon
African harrier-hawk	Polyboroides typus	rare
Natal spurfowl	Pternistis natalensis	rare
Common quail	Coturnix coturnix	vagrant
Helmeted guineafowl	Numida meleagris	vagrant
Speckled pigeon	Columba guinea	vagrant
African olive-pigeon	Columba arquatrix	rare
Red-eyed dove	Streptopelia semitorquata	common
Laughing dove	Streptopelia senegalensis	vagrant
Tambourine dove	Turtur tympanistria	regular
Lemon dove	Aplopelia larvata	uncommon
Rock dove	Columba livia	vagrant
Purple-crested turaco	Gallirex porphyreolophus	common
Knysna turaco	Tauraco corythaix	vagrant
Common cuckoo	Cuculus canorus	vagrant
Red-chested cuckoo	Cuculus solitarius	rare	breeder
Black cuckoo	Cuculus clamosus	rare
Jacobin cuckoo	Clamator jacobinus	vagrant
African emerald cuckoo	Chrysococcyx cupreus	rare
Klaas's cuckoo	Chrysococcyx klaas	rare
Diderick cuckoo	Chrysococcyx caprius	vagrant
African wood-owl	Strix woodfordii	vagrant
African black swift	Apus barbatus	rare
White-rumped swift	Apus caffer	rare
Little swift	Apus affinis	rare
Alpine swift	Tachymarptis melba	rare
African palm-swift	Cypsiurus parvus	rare
Speckled mousebird	Colius striatus	rare
Narina trogon	Apaloderma narina	regular	breeder
Giant kingfisher	Megaceryle maximus	rare
Malachite kingfisher	Alcedo cristata	vagrant
African pygmy kingfisher	Ispidina picta	vagrant
Brown-hooded kingfisher	Halcyon albiventris	regular
African hoopoe	Upupa africana	vagrant
Green wood-hoopoe	Phoeniculus purpureus	regular
Trumpeter hornbill	Bycanistes bucinator	common	breeder
Crowned hornbill	Tockus alboterminatus	regular
Black-collared barbet	Lybius torquatus	abundant
Red-fronted tinkerbird	Pogoniulus pusillus	regular
Yellow-rumped tinkerbird	Pogoniulus bilineatus	common
Crested barbet	Trachyphonus vaillantii	vagrant
Scaly-throated honeyguide	Indicator variegatus	uncommon
Lesser honeyguide	Indicator minor	rare
Brown-backed honeybird	Prodotiscus regulus	vagrant
Golden-tailed woodpecker	Campethera abingoni	common
Cardinal woodpecker	Dendropicos fuscescens	rare
Olive woodpecker	Dendropicos griseocephalus	uncommon
African broadbill	Smithornis capensis	rare
Rufous-naped lark	Mirafra africana	rare
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica	rare
Lesser striped swallow	Hirundo abyssinica	uncommon
Rock martin	Hirundo fuligula	uncommon
Common house-martin	Delichon urbicum	vagrant
Black saw-wing	Psalidoprocne holomelaena	rare
Black cuckooshrike	Campephaga flava	uncommon
Grey cuckooshrike	Coracina caesia	uncommon
Fork-tailed drongo	Dicrurus adsimilis	abundant
Common square-tailed drongo	Dicrurus ludwigii	common
Black-headed oriole	Oriolus larvatus	common
Pied crow	Corvus albus	uncommon
White-necked raven	Corvus albicollis	uncommon
Southern black tit	Parus niger	common
Dark-capped bulbul	Pycnonotus tricolor	abundant	breeder
Terrestrial brownbul	Phyllastrephus terrestris	common
Yellow-bellied greenbul	Chlorocichla flaviventris	rare
Sombre greenbul	Andropadus importunus	abundant
Kurrichane thrush	Turdus libonyanus	vagrant
Olive thrush	Turdus olivaceus	vagrant
Spotted ground-thrush	Zoothera guttata	vagrant
Cape rock-thrush	Monticola rupestris	rare	breeder
Mocking cliff-chat	Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris	rare
African stonechat	Saxicola torquatus	vagrant
Chorister robin-chat	Cossypha dichroa	vagrant
Red-capped robin-chat	Cossypha natalensis	regular
Cape robin-chat	Cossypha caffra	vagrant
Brown scrub-robin	Cercotrichas signata	vagrant
White-browed scrub-robin	Cercotrichas leucophrys	rare
White-starred robin	Pogonocichla stellata	rare
Garden warbler	Sylvia borin	vagrant
Barratt's warbler	Bradypterus barratti	vagrant
Cape grassbird	Sphenoeacus afer	vagrant
Long-billed crombec	Sylvietta rufescens	vagrant
Bar-throated apalis	Apalis thoracica	common
Yellow-breasted apalis	Apalis flavida	rare
Green-backed camaroptera	Camaroptera brachyura	rare
Zitting cisticola	Cisticola juncidis	vagrant
Neddicky	Cisticola fulvicapilla	uncommon
Rattling cisticola	Cisticola chiniana	vagrant
Croaking cisticola	Cisticola natalensis	rare
Lazy cisticola	Cisticola aberrans	rare
Tawny-flanked prinia	Prinia subflava	regular
African dusky flycatcher	Muscicapa adusta	common
Ashy flycatcher	Muscicapa caerulescens	regular
Southern black flycatcher	Melaenornis pammelaina	regular
Fiscal flycatcher	Sigelus silens	vagrant
Yellow-throated woodland-warbler	Phylloscopus ruficapilla	uncommon
Cape batis	Batis capensis	abundant	breeder
Chinspot batis	Batis molitor	rare	breeder
Blue-mantled crested-flycatcher	Trochocercus cyanomelas	rare
African paradise-flycatcher	Terpsiphone viridis	regular
African pied wagtail	Motacilla aguimp	vagrant
Cape wagtail	Motacilla capensis	vagrant
Mountain wagtail	Motacilla clara	common
African pipit	Anthus cinnamomeus	vagrant
Striped pipit	Anthus lineiventris	rare
Plain-backed pipit	Anthus leucophrys	rare
Yellow-throated longclaw	Macronyx croceus	rare
Common fiscal	Lanius collaris	rare
Southern boubou	Laniarius ferrugineus	regular
Black-backed puffback	Dryoscopus cubla	common
Southern tchagra	Tchagra tchagra	vagrant
Black-crowned tchagra	Tchagra senegalus	vagrant
Orange-breasted bush-shrike	Telophorus sulfureopectus	rare
Gorgeous bush-shrike	Telophorus viridis	vagrant
Grey-headed bush-shrike	Malaconotus blanchoti	rare	breeder
Common myna	Acridotheres tristis	vagrant
Violet-backed starling	Cinnyricinclus leucogaster	vagrant
Cape glossy starling	Lamprotornis nitens	rare
Black-bellied starling	Lamprotornis corruscus	regular
Red-winged starling	Onychognathus morio	abundant	breeder
Greater double-collared sunbird	Cinnyris afer	vagrant
White-bellied sunbird	Cinnyris talatala	uncommon
Grey sunbird	Cyanomitra veroxii	uncommon
Olive sunbird	Cyanomitra olivacea	abundant
Collared sunbird	Hedydipna collaris	abundant
Amethyst sunbird	Chalcomitra amethystina	common	breeder
Cape white-eye	Zosterops virens	vagrant
Yellow-throated petronia	Petronia superciliaris	vagrant
Dark-backed weaver	Ploceus bicolor	abundant	breeder
Spectacled weaver	Ploceus ocularis	rare	breeder
Village weaver	Ploceus cucullatus	uncommon	breeder
Thick-billed weaver	Amblyospiza albifrons	rare
Red-collared widowbird	Euplectes ardens	rare	breeder
Bronze mannikin	Spermestes cucullatus	regular	breeder
Red-backed mannikin	Spermestes bicolor	regular	breeder
Swee waxbill	Coccopygia melanotis	vagrant
Green twinspot	Mandingoa nitidula	regular	breeder
African firefinch	Lagonosticta rubricata	uncommon
Blue waxbill	Uraeginthus angolensis	vagrant
Grey waxbill	Estrilda perreini	vagrant
Common waxbill	Estrilda astrild	vagrant
Pin-tailed whydah	Vidua macroura	rare
Cape canary	Serinus canicollis	vagrant
Forest canary	Crithagra scotops	vagrant
Yellow-fronted canary	Crithagra mozambicus	regular	breeder
Brimstone canary	Crithagra sulphuratus	vagrant
Streaky-headed seedeater	Crithagra gularis	rare
Golden-breasted bunting	Emberiza flaviventris	vagrant

Invertebrates

The endangered ruby-footed black millipede, Doratogonus rubipodus, first collected in 1996, is only known from Krantzkloof and the nearby Giba gorge.^[5][22]

Plants

The reserve is home to a high diversity of plants including various rare species.^[3] These include cycads of the Encephalartos and Stangeria genera. The E. natalensis cycads of Krantzkloof represent one of several distinguishable varieties.^[27] A few specimens of the very rare Natal sandstone quince, Dahlgrenodendron natalense, are present.^[22] A relict population of Brachystelma natalense^[28] is conserved here, besides the only South African population of the red sunbird bush, Metarungia pubinervia.^[22][29] The vulnerable aquatic plant Hydrostachys polymorpha is found on one of the Molweni's waterfalls, while the Bootlace lily, Drimia flagellaris, discovered in 2005, is endemic to the reserve's cliff faces.^[22][30] The distinctive subspecies floribunda of Crassula multicava is endemic to scarp forest and gorge bottoms of this area.^[31] It is home to several species of African violet of the genus Streptocarpus, and includes the core range of the nominate subspecies of S. molweniensis,^[22][32] a vulnerable and declining species only described in 1996.^[33] Besides the latter, S. haygarthii, S. grandis, S. prolixus and the nominate subspecies of S. polyanthus are also to be found.

Facilities and access

The reserve does not offer any accommodation or camping,^[2][4] but the Kranztkloof Conference Centre alongside Kloof Falls road is available for hire for meetings, conferences or social events of up to 70 people.^[34] The Kloof Falls picnic site is open daily from sunrise to sunset^[2] at a fee of R60 per person, or R30 per child under 12 years (Nov 2023).^[4] Rhino card holders have free access, but SanParks Wild Cards are expressly not accepted.^[35][36] The Valley Drive picnic site is currently closed (Jan 2024) and is expected to open on weekends later in the year. Pets are not allowed in the reserve. Trail running events, organised by the Krantzkloof Honorary Officers, benefit the projects of the Reserve's honorary officers.^[37][38] Selected areas of the gorge are accessible to rock climbers only, with the requirement that they sign a climbing register and pay the entrance fee when entering and leaving.^[23]

Walking trails

Exploration of the reserve is facilitated by numerous walking trails, more than 20 km in aggregate. They are designated as the red (Nkutu Falls, 1.25 hrs), yellow (Molweni, 4.5 hrs), green (Ntombeni, 1 hr), blue (Longshadows, 1.5 hrs), orange (Beacon, 1 hr), black (Mpiti, 45 min) and white (2 hrs) trails. A digital trail map can be downloaded from their website..

The Nkutu Falls trail allows a hiker to reach the base of the Nkutu Falls and return to the Nkutu picnic site in 30 minutes. The strenuous Molweni trail descends some 350 meters to the bottom of the gorge, and allows a visitor to reach the bottom of the 90m high^[3] Kloof Falls before retracing. The Ntombeni trail passes through level grassland to arrive at a site called "The Crack" that allows vistas of the lower gorge. The Longshadows trail follows the Molweni river upstream in cool, level forest. The Beacon trail diverges from the Molweni trail to take the hiker along level grassland above the cliff faces. The white trail winds up a steep slope, crosses Bridle Road to re-enter the reserve, and traces the escarpment edge before descending to the waterfall in the nKonka river.

Though incidents are rare, visitors have been advised that remote trails are unsafe due to uneven terrain, former crime incidents, or the possibility of getting lost.^[24] Guided walks are conducted on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.^[39]

Site locations

eThekwini Municipality D'MOSSEzemvelo KZN WildlifePrivately Managed