Durban and surrounds – Tala Game Reserve
About the Birding
Tala Game Reserve comprises 3200 hectares in the Tala Valley, part of the Mlazi River system just outside Pietermaritzburg. The ranch was purchased in 1988 by Mr Stuart Hilcove and was initially run as a cattle ranch. It has subsequently been turned into a game ranch and an assortment of mammal species have been reintroduced to the area including White Rhinoceros, Southern Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Blue Wildebeest, Greater Kudu, Common Eland, Nyala, Sable Antelope, Waterbuck, Southern Reedbuck, Common Duiker and Common Warthog.
About the Birding Site
The eThekwini Metropolitan Area (Durban) is a major harbour city situated on the east coast of South Africa. It serves as the most accessible port of entry into the KwaZulu-Natal province with daily flights to all other major cities in South Africa, and further afield (e.g. Mauritius, Dubai). The city and surrounding towns are popular among holidaymakers, given the sub-tropical climate and extensive beaches along the rich waters of the Indian Ocean. Moreover, the city falls within a global biodiversity hotspot – the Maputaland-Pondolona-Albany (MPA) Hotspot.
Other Related Information
Directions:
From the N3, heading north, take the Camperdown off ramp and turn left. Travel for approximately 3km to the T-junction. Turn left onto the R603 and travel in the direction of Umbumbulu. Follow this road for 12km. The entrance to Tala Game Reserve is well sign-posted on the left of this road.
Notable points of interest include the:
Main entrance: -29.8352, 30.5238
Main lodge: -29.8256, 30.5415
Key species:
Wattled Crane, Shelley’s Francolin, Orange-breasted Waxbill, Black Harrier
Contact details:
For more information, contact:
Tala Game Reserve
Stuart Hilcove – Manager
Tel: +27 (0)31 781 8000
Fax: +27 (0)31 781 8022
Email: info@tala.co.za
Website: www.tala.co.za