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    Umtamvuna Nature Reserve

    13 Reviews
    #145 of 413 things to do in KwaZulu-Natal
    Features Animals
    Nature & Parks, Nature & Wildlife Areas
    Open Now: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    southern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
    Open today: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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    Review Highlights
    “A great day out”

    This reserve is one of Southern Natal's best kept secrets. Off the beaten track, it offers amazing... read more

    Reviewed 3 January 2018
    john_mehliss
    ,
    Johannesburg, South Africa
    “If You Are A Nature Lover...”

    .. then a visit to Umtamvuna is well-worth the effort. There are a number of different hikes... read more

    Reviewed 8 November 2017
    476francois
    ,
    Pretoria, South Africa
    Read all 13 reviews
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    4.513 reviews
    • Excellent70%
    • Very good15%
    • Average15%
    • Poor0%
    • Terrible0%
    Travellers talk about
    “port edward”(4 reviews)
    “entrance fee”(4 reviews)
    “main gate”(2 reviews)
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    Hours Today: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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    southern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
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    +27 39 311 2383
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    Reviews (13)
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    All reviews port edward entrance fee main gate the reserve pont porcupine descend border trees cape trail km river route information forest animals
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    1 - 10 of 13 reviews
    Reviewed 3 January 2018
    A great day out

    This reserve is one of Southern Natal's best kept secrets. Off the beaten track, it offers amazing walks down to the Umtamvuma river. With views of the sea and rolling hills of the former Transkei one can either walk along the hill tops from the...More

    2  Thank john_mehliss
    Reviewed 8 November 2017
    If You Are A Nature Lover...

    .. then a visit to Umtamvuna is well-worth the effort. There are a number of different hikes (short and long) to choose from. Beautiful views and even some animals to be seen. Entrance fee is R30 pp unless you park at the Pont Gate which...More

    2  Thank 476francois
    Reviewed 27 August 2017 via mobile
    Lovely place for a short walk or long hike

    Drove past the reserve and decided to go for a long walk. What a surprise. The office was neat and tidy but no official was present. Lovely sandstone formations and flowers all over. Will definitely go back and spend more time there

    Thank Jack B
    Reviewed 16 August 2017
    Ingungumbane (porcupine) Trail - 4 km

    My husband and I visited the reserve that is past Beaver Creek Coffee Estate (not the one further down towards the Eastern Cape border). We had a wonderful day hiking along this route. The hike down, along the gorge's steep sides, towards the Bulolo River,...More

    1  Thank clairesN6838OC
    Reviewed 11 May 2017
    Umtamwuna: best hike for tree huggers

    Umtamvuna Nature Reserve near Port Edward offers strenuous hiking tours and is a dictionary of Southafrican botany for tree huggers. Parking is free at the main gate, but there is no parking attendent. From the main gate, we choose the porcupine route. You can choose...More

    2  Thank siehstewoll
    Reviewed 9 August 2016 via mobile
    Very nice

    Staff was a bit slow but very friendly, the hike was beautiful and the paths were very well maintained

    1  Thank Frank d
    Reviewed 24 July 2016 via mobile
    Beautiful reserve with good hiking opportunities

    We visited Umtamvuna with 2 kids under 2. We opted for a 2 hour hike which was beautiful and pretty easy to do with 2 young kids in hiking carriers. The scenery was breathtaking and this was a great introduction to nature and hiking to...More

    Thank Janet F
    Reviewed 26 March 2016 via mobile
    Tree huggers paradise

    Mtavuna Nature Reserve is only 3200ha large, but contains more rare trees than anywhere else in Southern Africa. There are 1400 species of flowering plants. Of these about 385 woody plants such as shrubs and trees. Enough said? Brush up on your botany skills in...More

    2  Thank DoctorD5
    Reviewed 12 August 2015
    The best hike yet

    It must have been the perfect season and weather for this hike, the strong wind on top was cooling after the hike up on the Fisheagle trail. We had lunch in the forest near a tiny waterfall, with baboons playing a small distance away. The...More

    1  Thank Silvi227
    Reviewed 27 July 2015
    Hidden treasure!

    Well worth a visit, there is a lovely trail along the river and the bird-life is fabulous. The paths were well kept and the reserve is fairly well signposted. A bit disconcerting were the sounds from people living on the cliffs across the river -...More

    1  Thank Karen F
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    12
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