uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve reopens its doors to public

THERE is much joy for nature lovers and trail walkers after Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife announced that the uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve has reopened to the public.

The reserve has been closed since 2021 after the UPL South Africa warehouse in Cornubia was set alight during the KZN unrest, which led to a toxic chemical spill.

The closure of the reserve also led to a 1km exclusion zone (on the beach side) around the Ohlanga River and uMhlanga estuary mouth.

However, that, too, has been lifted with 150m exclusion zone on either side of the estuary mouth.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo said the decision to open the reserve came from provincial government level which also allows repairs to the trail bridge over the uMhlanga estuary.

Also read: Questions raised over uMhlanga estuary exclusion zone

The uMhlanga Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP), alongside contracted engineers, Umhlanga Tourism and local resident Buzz Bolton, helped carry out repairs to stabilise and make the bridge safe for trail runners and walkers.

“The reserve is open to the public after authorisation was received from the province and infrastructure repairs were carried out with the assistance of uMhlanga UIP for the safety of the visitors. The reserve is open from 06:00 and closes at 18:00 from the boardwalk section and from 07:00 until 15:30 in the car-park section at Lagoon Drive.

“We urge the public to be silent and not spook the birds and animals when walking through the reserve – especially running is not recommended as it chases away the animals while the public comes to see them. The reserve has a small footprint, so if animals and birds are continually disturbed, they will relocate across the M4. The reserve has been closed since the chemical spill on July 13, 2021, during the insurrection. This has been for the safety of the public and to ensure that the biodiversity recovers. We are slowly getting positive results with an influx of Blue Duiker, Bushbuck, Cape Clawless Otter and numerous nesting birds coming to the recovered site,” he said.

Mntambo was also clear that dogs are not allowed in the reserve after there were reports that a visitor had brought his dog on a leash into the reserve.

Also read: eThekwini Municipality says aqueduct project will improve water supply to north Durban

“No dogs are allowed within the reserve confines, which includes the new boardwalk, which is within the reserve, to the coffee shop and the estuary confines, which serve as a roosting and nesting area for the reserve. Dogs are not allowed at the estuary as this is within the reserve. Failure to adhere to the applicable rules may lead to prosecution,” he said.

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