Krantzkloof Nature Reserve

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]

Krantzkloof Nature Reserve
The upper Molweni gorge
Map showing the location of Krantzkloof Nature Reserve
Map showing the location of Krantzkloof Nature Reserve
Location on a map of KwaZulu-Natal
LocationKwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Nearest cityPinetown
Coordinates29°45′51″S 30°51′03″E
Established1950 by Natal Parks Board

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, conserve natural remnants of the Molweni and Iphithi rivers' upper catchment.[8]

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.[9]

The reserve is situated on Natal group sandstone of the Cambrian to Ordovician periods, some 490 million years old,[10] and artifacts recovered from its rock shelters indicate that it was once inhabited by early Iron Age people.[4]

Wildlife
The Kloof frog is an endangered amphibian, confined to clear streams in scarp forests.[5]

Some 25 amphibian, 255 bird, 50 mammal, 36 reptile, 150 butterfly and 274 tree species[11] have been recorded in the Gorge or its vicinity. The natural vegetation is under pressure from numerous invasive species,[12][13][14] while some tree species are vulnerable to muti-collecting practices in the greater Durban area.[5]

Mammals
A moulting adult honey buzzard soaring over the reserve

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[15] occurs and the last brown greater galagos of the Durban metropole are resident. Small carnivores include water, slender, white-tailed, Egyptian[15] and banded mongoose, Cape genet, caracal[16] and water monitor.[17] Its rocky grassland areas offer protection to the Natal red rock hare, a species with declining numbers.[18][19]

Birds

Some 255 bird species have been recorded in the reserve.[20] The three pairs of crowned eagles that nest in the reserve[21] prey on dassies, monkeys and hadeda ibis. Wahlberg's eagle,[22] lanner and peregrine falcons all nest in the lower gorge.[23] Secretive birds like broadbill, grey cuckooshrike, Narina trogon, emerald cuckoo and wood-owl all occur, but are more likely to be heard than seen.[23] Winter migrants include chorister robin-chat, white-starred robin, yellow-throated warbler and the rare spotted ground-thrush.[23][24] Trumpeter and crowned hornbills are numerous and conspicuous. Knysna turaco (subsp. corythaix) is not found elsewhere in the Durban metropole,[21] 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.[23] Plain-backed pipit is regularly present after grassland burns, while bat hawk has been noted at dusk.[25]

Invertebrates

The endangered ruby-footed black millipede, Doratogonus rubipodus, first collected in 1996, is only known from Krantzkloof and the nearby Giba gorge.[5][21]

Plants
Yellow-footed polypore on the red trail

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.[26] A few specimens of the very rare Natal sandstone quince, Dahlgrenodendron natalense, are present.[21] A relict population of Brachystelma natalense[27] is conserved here, besides the only South African population of the red sunbird bush, Metarungia pubinervia.[21][28] 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.[21][29] The distinctive subspecies floribunda of Crassula multicava is endemic to scarp forest and gorge bottoms of this area.[30] 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,[21][31] a vulnerable and declining species only described in 1996.[32] 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.[33] The Kloof Falls picnic site is open daily from sunrise to sunset[2] at a fee of R40 per person, or R20 per child under 12 years (Nov 2018).[4] Rhino card holders have free access, but SanParks Wild Cards are expressly not accepted.[34][35] The Valley Drive picnic site is open on weekends or by prior arrangement. Pets are not allowed in the reserve. Trail running events, organised by the Kloof Conservancy, benefit the projects of the reserve's honorary officers.[36][37] 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.[22]

Walking trails
A small cascade in the nKonka River, a tributary of the Molweni which is intersected by the white trail

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 trail map is available for R20 at either of the picnic sites.

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.[23] Guided walks are conducted on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month.[38]

Site locations

References
  1. "Krantzkloof Nature Reserve". kknr.org.za. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  2. Stuart, Chris & Tilde (1989). Guide to Southern African Game & Nature Reserves. Cape Town: Struik. p. 116. ISBN 0-86977-772-6. Note: This source records the surface area as 535 ha in 1989.
  3. Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa. Cape Town: Reader's Digest. 1991. p. 160. ISBN 0-947008-66-7.
  4. "Krantzkloof Nature Reserve: Information". KKNR Website. Archived from the original on 19 June 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  5. "Forest". Ecosystems. Giba Gorge environmental precinct. 2013. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  6. "Grassland". Ecosystems. Giba Gorge environmental precinct. 2013. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  7. "Ronald's Kloof Stream Project". Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  8. "Everton your home". Home. Everton Conservancy. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  9. "What is the Durban Metropolitan Open Space System". Services: Environmental Planning & Climate Protection. eThekwini Municipality. Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  10. "Natal Group - the first sediments of a new continent". Geology Education Museum: The Geology of KwaZulu-Natal. University of KwaZulu-Natal. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  11. "Flora and Fauna – Krantzkloof Nature Reserve". kknr.org.za. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  12. "Worst Offenders". Alien Busters. Kloof Conservancy. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  13. "Invasive Alien Plants". Fauna and Flora. Everton conservancy. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  14. Abbott, Andrea (15 March 2009). "Everton tackles aliens with success". Conservancy news. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  15. Affirmed by camera trap, 2013, University of KwaZulu-Natal
  16. Affirmed by camera trap: Candotti, P. "Caracal". Kloof conservancy. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  17. Mundy, Amy (1 November 2011). "In touch with Nature - Take a walk on the wild side". News. looklocal.co.za. Archived from the original on 3 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  18. "Mammals found in and around Kloof". Archived from the original on 27 July 2017. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  19. "WWF AT1012". Archived from the original on 31 October 2019.
  20. "Krantzkloof Nature Reserve". Birds in Reserves Project. ADU, University of Cape Town. Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  21. "Kloof treasures". Local Info. Kloof Conservancy. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  22. Lawson, Justin. "Seasonal closure of The Canyon – Kloof Gorge". Climb ZA. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  23. Gibbon, G., Bishop, D. "Krantzkloof Nature Reserve". Southern African Birding. Archived from the original on 15 January 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. Crouch, Bruce. "Spotted Ground-Thrush". photo record. ispot.org.za. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  25. South African Birdnet, 2006-2009, D.A. Bishop, C. Mitchell
  26. Cooper, Michael Robert; Goode, Douglas (2004). The cycads and cycad moths of Kwazulu-Natal. New Germany [South Africa]: Peroniceras Press. pp. xxi, 42. ISBN 978-0-620-31978-2.
  27. von Staden, L. & Styles, D. (2007). "Brachystelma natalense (Schltr.) N.E.Br". Red List of South African Plants. SANBI. Retrieved 3 July 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. Nichols, Geoff (14 March 2007). "Red Sunbird Bush – tops for nectar Metarungia pubinervia". BirdInfo, Article 26. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  29. Scott-Shaw, C.R. & Victor, J.E. (2006). "Drimia flagellaris T.J.Edwards, D.Styles & N.R.Crouch". Red List of South African Plants. SANBI. Retrieved 23 July 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. Styles, David. "Crassula multicava subsp. floribunda". ispot. SANBI. Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  31. Victor, J.E. (2006). "Streptocarpus molweniensis Hilliard subsp. molweniensis". Red List of South African Plants. SANBI. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  32. A guide to Streptocarpus molweniensis and other African Violets of the Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, Krantzkloof conservancy newsletter, c.2013, D. Styles
  33. "Krantzkloof Conference Centre Information – Krantzkloof Nature Reserve". kknr.org.za. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  34. "General Information – Krantzkloof Nature Reserve". kknr.org.za. Retrieved 2018-01-14.
  35. Mthokozisi. "New Rhino Club benefits and costs". Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  36. Candotti, P. "Kloof Conservancy 3 Falls Trail Run 15k". kzntrailrunning.co.za. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  37. "Krantzkloof Nature Reserve". facebook. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  38. "Krantzkloof Nature Reserve: Home". KKNR Website. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  39. "Bridle Road view site – Krantzkloof Nature Reserve". kknr.org.za. Retrieved 2018-01-14.

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