North-east Zululand – Tongaland Tshanini Community Nature Reserve
About the Birding
This section of road from Tembe Elephant Park to Kosi Bay has two good birding spots on it.
The Nyanyani Pan is a large seasonal pan situated 8km before the village of Manguzi, and about 17km from the Tembe turn-off. It covers both sides of the tar road, but the southern side is most extensive. This pan regularly holds thousands of waterbirds, especially during the dry winter months when many of the smaller pans dry and on the proviso that there is sufficient water throughout the winter.
About the Birding Site
Tongaland describes the extreme North-eastern corner of Kwazulu-Natal bordering Mozambique to the north and flanked to the east and west by the Lebombo Mountains and Indian Ocean, respectively. Much of the region is drained by the Phongolo and Mkhuze Rivers and the area is dominated by the respective floodplains of these two rivers (as well as their tributaries) and is characterised by many shallow pans, Lala palm savannah and bush/forest clumps.
Other Related Information
Directions:
To reach the Manguzi Forest – traveling west from Manguzi, turn right exactly 1km from the main tar road/ police station turn-off. A sand track leads up through rural settlements. Follow a fence (on your left) for 500m and take the left split in the track. 600m later the track splits again – take the left fork. After 400m the track splits again, and again turn left. This leads straight into the KZN Wildlife Ranger’s outpost, where permission must be obtained to enter …