Bluff Nature Reserve is a 45 hectare protected pan and forest in the suburb of The Bluff,

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. The park was proclaimed in 1974, making it Durban's oldest nature reserve, and is managed by

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife is a governmental organisation responsible for maintaining wildlife conservation areas and biodiversity in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Their headquarters is in Queen Elizabeth Park situated on the northern slopes of ...

. The nature reserve has bird watching facilities which overlook the pan. There is a self-guided trail throughout the reserve.

Flora and fauna

The pan section of the park contains the remnant of a large swamp that once covered the area, while the forest section comprises a small patch of coastal lowland forest. Bluff NR Forest

Birds

The following birds are found in the reserve: * Cormorants *

Crakes The rails, or Rallidae, are a large Cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan family (biology), family of small- to medium-sized, ground-living birds. The family exhibits considerable Biodiversity, diversity and includes the crakes, coots, and gal ...

Spoonbill Spoonbills are a genus, ''Platalea'', of large, long-legged wading birds. The spoonbills have a global distribution, being found on every continent except Antarctica. The genus name ''Platalea'' derives from Ancient Greek and means "broad", refe ...

s *

Warbler Various Passeriformes (perching birds) are commonly referred to as warblers. They are not necessarily closely related to one another, but share some characteristics, such as being fairly small, vocal, and insectivorous. Sylvioid warblers Th ...

Mammals

The following mammals are found in the reserve: * Banded Mongoose * Common Rodent Mole * Giant Musk Shrew * Grey Climbing Mouse *

Hottentot Golden Mole The Hottentot golden mole (''Amblysomus hottentotus'') is a species of mammal in the golden mole family, Chrysochloridae. It is found in South Africa, Eswatini, and possibly Lesotho. Its natural habitats are temperate forests, subtropical or ...

Multimammate Mouse The Natal multimammate mouse (''Mastomys natalensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is also known as the Natal multimammate rat, the common African rat, or the African soft-furred mouse. The Natal multimammate rat is the natu ...

* Slender Mongoose * Vervet Monkey

References

{{Nature Reserves in eThekwini Nature reserves in South Africa