Ilanda Wilds
Encyclopedia
Ilanda Wilds is a nature reserve
situated along Amanzimtoti River
in the town of Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal
, South Africa
. This small area of land (20ha) contains various habitat types, ranging from steep rocky slopes to various riverine habitats, forest and small patches of grassland..
) to be rehabilitated as a nature reserve to protect the wide diversity of plants in the area, and was proclaimed in the 1960s (1965) after interaction between local residents (including Charles and Ann Swart), the Wildlife Society and the Local Council of Amanzimtoti. According to Colleen Gill:
With the help of "a handfull of enthusiasts" and the assistance of T.C. Robertson, the local council agreed to preserve the area of Ilanda Wilds. In March 1972, Stan Craven, then chairman of the local Wildlife Society, arranged the formation of a steering committee for the proposed development of Ilanda Wilds. Volunteers supervised local workers to remove alien vegetation, made trails and labelled indigenous trees. In 1977 "control of Ilanda Wilds moved from the Wildlife Society back to council". In the early 1990s a memorial was built to King Shaka
's naming of Amanzimtoti; he led his army down the south coast on a raid against the Pondos in 1828 and rested on the banks of a river and drank the water, then exclaimed "Kanti amanzi mtoti" (isiZulu: "So, the water is sweet"). It was decided by local council members to place the memorial in Ilanda Wilds, as this was a convenient place next to the river, even though no one knows the actual site where King Shaka rested and drank the water. During the late 1980s and early 1990s Ilanda Wilds reached its peak of development with well maintained paths, bridges and ablution facilities. However the increasing crime situation in South Africa during the 1990s did not leave Ilanda Wilds untouched, and theft from motor vehicles that were left unattended at Ilanda Wilds became commonplace. The ablution facilities were also continuously vandalized and it was decided to demolish them. According to Keith Walters who was in charge of maintaining Ilanda Wilds:
And:
In 2009 a committee was set up by members of the local community under the guidance of Jomo Sibisi. It was intended to upgrade Ilanda Wilds for environmental education
of local school children, and to provide guided walks to foreign visitors to the 2010 World Cup. Mr. Sibisi encouraged the municipality to deploy a field ranger to Ilanda Wilds. A field ranger by the name of Musa Mfeka was deployed to Ilanda Wilds in 2009 to prevent grazing of cattle, harvesting of medicinal plants, dumping of rubbish and garden refuse, and to protect the local wildlife. Mr. Sibisi also intended to have a Zulu Village built on the floodplain around the memorial to King Shaka's naming of the Amanzimtoti River
where traditional Zulu items could be sold to tourists. The building of the village was intended to "show how the area was in the old days", however it was advised that the building of the village would not pass an environmental impact assessment (if one were to be conducted), and that there had never been a Zulu Village at the site when King Shaka passed through the area. Mr. Sibisi also allegedly supervised the cutting of an unidentified tree below the cliffs in Ilanda Wilds where a wooden stage was to be built for traditional dancing and church choirs to perform in the centre of Ilanda Wilds. The old parking area was enlarged with soil and rubble, and some indigenous trees were partially covered over, to facilitate a parking area big enough for school buses to turn around in, and a local company donated a park home to be used as a museum and environmental education facility. No environmental impact assessments were done concerning these developments. The park home was subsequently vandalized, and local sangoma
s or inyanga
s defaced it with muti
out of revenge for being chastised for debarking local trees for medicinal use. Other intentions of some members of the committee were to develop a motorbike track in the reserve, a concrete boating slip-way, and a restaurant on top of the cliffs. Some alien plant control was allegedly encouraged by Mr. Sibisi, but in the process some indigenous vegetation in the form of large Dalbergia obovata
specimens were mistaken for invasive Pereskia aculeata
and cut and poisoned, resulting in rapid growth of the real Pereskia. The committee collapsed in late 2009 due to a lack of support from the community and a lack of support and feedback from the municipality. The field ranger was redeployed in mid-2010 to Silverglen Nature Reserve. A herd of 29 cattle were subsequently free to overgraze the floodplain areas, despite appeals to the metro police, the municipality and the cow herder. Sangomas and inyangas freely use the area to collect muti and to conduct ceremonies involving placing muti in the river, vomiting
in the river, and slaughtering chickens and goats in the reserve and spreading the remains around where they are left to rot. One inyanga claimed:
It has since emerged that Ilanda Wilds is not an official Nature Reserve and is (in 2010) not on the list of nature reserves to be proclaimed by Ethekwini Municipality. The area is instead zoned in part as "Coastal Bush" and in part as "Public Open Space" by the municipality:
During 2010, a local group entitled Friends of Amanzimtoti Green Areas has been undertaking to keep an eye on Ilanda Wilds to report on the problems there and to encourage the municipality to take better care of the area for is rich biodiversity, with the intention to have Ilanda Wilds proclaimed an official nature reserve, and to have it as the center of a conservancy.
According to Sibusiso Mkhwanazi (Manager of Natural Resources at Ethekwini):
word for Cattle Egret
(iLanda) and English
'Wilds' meaning "wild area". It has been proposed that the correct spelling should be eLanda Wilds meaning "Place of the Cattle Egret; wild area". The Cattle Egret was chosen as a symbol as these birds used to roost in large numbers in the reeds and trees along the banks of the river.
in the 1990s, and a certificate was issued in this respect. The area has a high biodiversity
and many habitat
types for such a small area.
Ilanda Wilds is the site of the southern-most natural specimen of the Natal White Stinkwood (Celtis mildbraedii
). This species of tree is uncommon and at one stage was classified as the rarest tree species in South Africa. The tree at Ilanda Wilds miraculously survived the mining operations and was already a large specimen when the reserve was proclaimed, and may be over 100 years old. Ilanda Wilds contains around 120 species of trees and shrubs, including two large Fluted Milkwoods.
The reserve is also an important wintering site for the endangered Spotted Ground-thrush (Zoothera guttata), and provides habitat for the Blackheaded Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion melanocephalum), which is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal. Cape Clawless Otters are also resident in Ilanda Wilds.
(Cephalophus monticola bicolor), Bushpig
(Potamochoerus larvatus koiropotumus), Cape Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis capensis), Large-spotted Genet (Genetta tigrina), Banded Mongoose
(Mungos mungo taenianotus), Water Mongoose (Atilax paludinosus paludinosis), Large Grey Mongoose (Herpestes icheumon), Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis), Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus), Vervet Monkey
(Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus). There are also several smaller mammal species such as bats, rodents and shrews.
Reed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus), White-breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Greenbacked Heron (Butorides striatus), Black Egret (Egretta ardesiaca), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala), Wooly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus), Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), African Spoonbill (Platalea alba), Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus), African Black Duck (Anas sparsa), Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata), Black Crake (Amaurornis flavirostris), African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus), Longcrested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis), African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer), African Goshawk (Accipiter tachiro), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus), Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria), Emeraldspotted Dove (Turtur chalcospilos), Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina), Purplecrested Lourie (Tauraco porphyreolophus), Burchell's Coucal (Centropus superciliosus), Spotted Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus), Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima), Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), Brownhooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris), Pygmy Kingfisher (Ispidina picta), Halfcollared Kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata), Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata), Redbilled Woodhoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus), Crowned Hornbill (Tockus alboterminatus), Trumpeter Horbill (Bycanistes bucinator), Blackheaded Oriole (Oriolus larvatus), Spotted Ground-thrush (Zoothera guttata), Starred Robin (Pogonocichla stellata), Chorister Robin (Cossypha dichroa), Plumcoloured Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), Forest Weaver (Ploceus bicolor), Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons).
), Sundevall's Garter Snake (Elapsoidea sundevallii sundevallii), Brown Water Snake (Lycodonomorphus rufulus
), Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus niloticus), Flap-neck Chamaeleon (Chamaeleo dilepis
), KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion melanocephalum).
(Arthroleptis wahlbergi), Guttural Toad (Bufo gutturalis), Raucus Toad (Bufo rangeri), Greater Leaf-folding Frog (Afrixalus fornasini
), Painted Reed Frog (Hyperolius marmoratus), Waterlilly Reed Frog (Hyperolius pusillus
), Argus Reed Frog (Hyperolius argus
), Forest Tree Frog (Leptopelis natalensis
), Common Platanna (Xenopus laevis), Common River Frog (Afrana angolensis), Sharp-nosed Grass Frog (Ptychadena oxyrhynchus
), Striped Stream Frog (Strongylopus fasciatus), Snoring Puddle Frog (Phrynobatrachus natalensis).
), Glassy (Ambassis sp.), Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus
), Banded Tilapia (Tilapia sparrmanii), Southern Mouthbrooder (Pseudocrenilabrus philander), Sharptooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus
), Bowstripe Barb (Barbus viviparus), Longfin Eel (Anguilla mossambica).
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
situated along Amanzimtoti River
Amanzimtoti River
Amanzimtoti River, , is a short river in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, that originates northwest of Adams Mission, and flows through the town of Amanzimtoti, South Africa. The N2 crosses the river just before its mouth at the Indian Ocean...
in the town of Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. This small area of land (20ha) contains various habitat types, ranging from steep rocky slopes to various riverine habitats, forest and small patches of grassland..
History
A portion of Ilanda Wilds was a quarry site. Once the site was abandoned, it was decided by the former Wildlife Society of South Africa (now WESSAWESSA
- Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa :The Society is a non-government environmental organization of South Africa, was established in 1926, but its origins go back to the 1890s.- Relevance to establishment of other...
) to be rehabilitated as a nature reserve to protect the wide diversity of plants in the area, and was proclaimed in the 1960s (1965) after interaction between local residents (including Charles and Ann Swart), the Wildlife Society and the Local Council of Amanzimtoti. According to Colleen Gill:
- "concern about the rapid reduction of indigenousIndigenous (ecology)In biogeography, a species is defined as native to a given region or ecosystem if its presence in that region is the result of only natural processes, with no human intervention. Every natural organism has its own natural range of distribution in which it is regarded as native...
vegetationVegetationVegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
in 1965 resulted in the formation of the Flora and Fauna preservation committee. This subsequently affiliated with the Wild Life Protection and Conservation Society (now known as Wildlife and Environment Society of SA)."
With the help of "a handfull of enthusiasts" and the assistance of T.C. Robertson, the local council agreed to preserve the area of Ilanda Wilds. In March 1972, Stan Craven, then chairman of the local Wildlife Society, arranged the formation of a steering committee for the proposed development of Ilanda Wilds. Volunteers supervised local workers to remove alien vegetation, made trails and labelled indigenous trees. In 1977 "control of Ilanda Wilds moved from the Wildlife Society back to council". In the early 1990s a memorial was built to King Shaka
Shaka
Shaka kaSenzangakhona , also known as Shaka Zulu , was the most influential leader of the Zulu Kingdom....
's naming of Amanzimtoti; he led his army down the south coast on a raid against the Pondos in 1828 and rested on the banks of a river and drank the water, then exclaimed "Kanti amanzi mtoti" (isiZulu: "So, the water is sweet"). It was decided by local council members to place the memorial in Ilanda Wilds, as this was a convenient place next to the river, even though no one knows the actual site where King Shaka rested and drank the water. During the late 1980s and early 1990s Ilanda Wilds reached its peak of development with well maintained paths, bridges and ablution facilities. However the increasing crime situation in South Africa during the 1990s did not leave Ilanda Wilds untouched, and theft from motor vehicles that were left unattended at Ilanda Wilds became commonplace. The ablution facilities were also continuously vandalized and it was decided to demolish them. According to Keith Walters who was in charge of maintaining Ilanda Wilds:
- "I soon realised that society had changed and respectable people no longer wanted to wander and enjoy the reserve do [sic] the real threat of criminal elements. Any money that was spent on repairing infrastructure e.g. bridges, fences, ablutions or signage was wasted as these were stolen, or vandalised."
And:
- "I also instructed the tourism office not to recommend the area in any brochures due to negative publicity we got from vehicle break-ins, debaucherous behaviour of members of the public, incidents of theft and the poor condition of the reserve infrastructure."
In 2009 a committee was set up by members of the local community under the guidance of Jomo Sibisi. It was intended to upgrade Ilanda Wilds for environmental education
Environmental education
Environmental education refers to organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably. The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to...
of local school children, and to provide guided walks to foreign visitors to the 2010 World Cup. Mr. Sibisi encouraged the municipality to deploy a field ranger to Ilanda Wilds. A field ranger by the name of Musa Mfeka was deployed to Ilanda Wilds in 2009 to prevent grazing of cattle, harvesting of medicinal plants, dumping of rubbish and garden refuse, and to protect the local wildlife. Mr. Sibisi also intended to have a Zulu Village built on the floodplain around the memorial to King Shaka's naming of the Amanzimtoti River
Amanzimtoti River
Amanzimtoti River, , is a short river in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, that originates northwest of Adams Mission, and flows through the town of Amanzimtoti, South Africa. The N2 crosses the river just before its mouth at the Indian Ocean...
where traditional Zulu items could be sold to tourists. The building of the village was intended to "show how the area was in the old days", however it was advised that the building of the village would not pass an environmental impact assessment (if one were to be conducted), and that there had never been a Zulu Village at the site when King Shaka passed through the area. Mr. Sibisi also allegedly supervised the cutting of an unidentified tree below the cliffs in Ilanda Wilds where a wooden stage was to be built for traditional dancing and church choirs to perform in the centre of Ilanda Wilds. The old parking area was enlarged with soil and rubble, and some indigenous trees were partially covered over, to facilitate a parking area big enough for school buses to turn around in, and a local company donated a park home to be used as a museum and environmental education facility. No environmental impact assessments were done concerning these developments. The park home was subsequently vandalized, and local sangoma
Sangoma
A sangoma is a practitioner of herbal medicine, divination and counselling in traditional Nguni societies of Southern Africa .The philosophy is based on a belief in ancestral spirits...
s or inyanga
Inyanga
Inyanga is a Zulu word for a traditional herbal healer.An inyanga is a traditional South African herbalist, herb doctor, or medicine man or woman. The Southern African word inyanga is related to the Central African nganga, meaning a priest and medicine man...
s defaced it with muti
Muti
Muti is a term for traditional medicine in Southern Africa as far north as Lake Tanganyika. The word muti is derived from the Zulu word for tree, of which the root is -thi...
out of revenge for being chastised for debarking local trees for medicinal use. Other intentions of some members of the committee were to develop a motorbike track in the reserve, a concrete boating slip-way, and a restaurant on top of the cliffs. Some alien plant control was allegedly encouraged by Mr. Sibisi, but in the process some indigenous vegetation in the form of large Dalbergia obovata
Dalbergia obovata
The Climbing Flat Bean is a robust shrub or climber in the Fabaceae family, and is native to Southern Africa.-Distribution:...
specimens were mistaken for invasive Pereskia aculeata
Pereskia aculeata
Pereskia aculeata is a scrambling shrub in the family Cactaceae. Common names include Barbados gooseberry and leaf cactus. It is native to tropical America.-Description:...
and cut and poisoned, resulting in rapid growth of the real Pereskia. The committee collapsed in late 2009 due to a lack of support from the community and a lack of support and feedback from the municipality. The field ranger was redeployed in mid-2010 to Silverglen Nature Reserve. A herd of 29 cattle were subsequently free to overgraze the floodplain areas, despite appeals to the metro police, the municipality and the cow herder. Sangomas and inyangas freely use the area to collect muti and to conduct ceremonies involving placing muti in the river, vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
in the river, and slaughtering chickens and goats in the reserve and spreading the remains around where they are left to rot. One inyanga claimed:
- "Now that this man (Jomo Sibisi) who bought the place has run away - the municipality says we are free to do what we want here."
It has since emerged that Ilanda Wilds is not an official Nature Reserve and is (in 2010) not on the list of nature reserves to be proclaimed by Ethekwini Municipality. The area is instead zoned in part as "Coastal Bush" and in part as "Public Open Space" by the municipality:
- "To my knowledge this reserve was never proclaimed in terms of the Protected Areas Act, but is rather just a municipal reserve."
During 2010, a local group entitled Friends of Amanzimtoti Green Areas has been undertaking to keep an eye on Ilanda Wilds to report on the problems there and to encourage the municipality to take better care of the area for is rich biodiversity, with the intention to have Ilanda Wilds proclaimed an official nature reserve, and to have it as the center of a conservancy.
According to Sibusiso Mkhwanazi (Manager of Natural Resources at Ethekwini):
- "We will have a meeting early January 2011 to discuss management issues for Ilanda Nature Reserve."
Etymology
The name Ilanda Wilds stems from the isiZuluZulu language
Zulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
word for Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret
The Cattle Egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret...
(iLanda) and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
'Wilds' meaning "wild area". It has been proposed that the correct spelling should be eLanda Wilds meaning "Place of the Cattle Egret; wild area". The Cattle Egret was chosen as a symbol as these birds used to roost in large numbers in the reeds and trees along the banks of the river.
Conservation Significance
Ilanda Wilds was declared "An Area of Conservation Significance" by KZN WildlifeEzemvelo 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 Pietermaritzburg, the KwaZulu-Natal provincial...
in the 1990s, and a certificate was issued in this respect. The area has a high biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
and many habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
types for such a small area.
Ilanda Wilds is the site of the southern-most natural specimen of the Natal White Stinkwood (Celtis mildbraedii
Celtis mildbraedii
Celtis mildbraedii is a species of forest tree in the Cannabaceae family. This species was previously assigned to the Ulmaceae family. These trees grow in limited areas of South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. They are also found in forested areas from West Africa to Sudan, DRC, Angola and Tanzania...
). This species of tree is uncommon and at one stage was classified as the rarest tree species in South Africa. The tree at Ilanda Wilds miraculously survived the mining operations and was already a large specimen when the reserve was proclaimed, and may be over 100 years old. Ilanda Wilds contains around 120 species of trees and shrubs, including two large Fluted Milkwoods.
The reserve is also an important wintering site for the endangered Spotted Ground-thrush (Zoothera guttata), and provides habitat for the Blackheaded Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion melanocephalum), which is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal. Cape Clawless Otters are also resident in Ilanda Wilds.
Mammals
Blue DuikerBlue Duiker
Blue Duiker is a small forest dwelling duiker found in the Central Africa and southern South Africa.Blue Duikers stand around 35 centimetres tall at the shoulder and weigh 4 kilograms.They are the smallest of the antelope family. Blue Duikers have a brown coat with a slight blue tinge – hence...
(Cephalophus monticola bicolor), Bushpig
Bushpig
The bushpig, Potamochoerus larvatus, is a member of the pig family and lives in forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and reedbeds in East and Southern Africa. Probably introduced populations are also present in Madagascar and the Comoros archipelago. Bushpigs are mainly nocturnal. There are...
(Potamochoerus larvatus koiropotumus), Cape Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis capensis), Large-spotted Genet (Genetta tigrina), Banded Mongoose
Banded Mongoose
The Banded Mongoose is a mongoose commonly found in the central and eastern parts of Africa. It lives in savannas, open forests and grasslands and feeds primarily on beetles and millipedes. Mongooses use various types of dens for shelter including termite mounds...
(Mungos mungo taenianotus), Water Mongoose (Atilax paludinosus paludinosis), Large Grey Mongoose (Herpestes icheumon), Porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis), Greater Cane Rat (Thryonomys swinderianus), Vervet Monkey
Vervet Monkey
The vervet monkey , or simply vervet, is an Old World monkey of the family Cercopithecidae native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus....
(Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus). There are also several smaller mammal species such as bats, rodents and shrews.
Birds
A small selection of the species recorded:Reed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus), White-breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), Greenbacked Heron (Butorides striatus), Black Egret (Egretta ardesiaca), Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala), Wooly-necked Stork (Ciconia episcopus), Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), African Spoonbill (Platalea alba), Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus), African Black Duck (Anas sparsa), Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata), Black Crake (Amaurornis flavirostris), African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus), Longcrested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis), African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer), African Goshawk (Accipiter tachiro), Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus), Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria), Emeraldspotted Dove (Turtur chalcospilos), Narina Trogon (Apaloderma narina), Purplecrested Lourie (Tauraco porphyreolophus), Burchell's Coucal (Centropus superciliosus), Spotted Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus), Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima), Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), Brownhooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris), Pygmy Kingfisher (Ispidina picta), Halfcollared Kingfisher (Alcedo semitorquata), Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata), Redbilled Woodhoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus), Crowned Hornbill (Tockus alboterminatus), Trumpeter Horbill (Bycanistes bucinator), Blackheaded Oriole (Oriolus larvatus), Spotted Ground-thrush (Zoothera guttata), Starred Robin (Pogonocichla stellata), Chorister Robin (Cossypha dichroa), Plumcoloured Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster), Forest Weaver (Ploceus bicolor), Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons).
Reptiles
Eastern green mamba (Dendroaspis angusticeps), Spotted Bush Snake (Philothamnus semivariegatusPhilothamnus semivariegatus
The Spotted Bush Snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae, distributed from South Africa to Sudan and Guinea....
), Sundevall's Garter Snake (Elapsoidea sundevallii sundevallii), Brown Water Snake (Lycodonomorphus rufulus
Lycodonomorphus rufulus
Lycodonomorphus rufulus is a species of non-venomous, South African, colubrid snake.This gentle, harmless snake is by far the most common water snake in southern Africa. It can be found from Cape Town in the south, along the wet east coast of South Africa and inland as far as Gauteng, Lesotho and...
), Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus niloticus), Flap-neck Chamaeleon (Chamaeleo dilepis
Chamaeleo dilepis
The Flap-necked Chameleon, Chamaeleo dilepis, is native to Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a large chameleon, reaching . Like other chameleons, this species can change colour and pattern to suit the surroundings. Colouring ranges through various shades of green, yellow and brown. There is usually a pale...
), KwaZulu Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion melanocephalum).
Frogs
Bush SqueakerBush Squeaker
The Bush Squeaker is a species of frog in the Arthroleptidae family.It is found along the coastal areas of eastern South Africa and possibly Mozambique.-Habitat:...
(Arthroleptis wahlbergi), Guttural Toad (Bufo gutturalis), Raucus Toad (Bufo rangeri), Greater Leaf-folding Frog (Afrixalus fornasini
Afrixalus fornasini
Afrixalus fornasini is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family and is native to Africa. Its common name is Fornasini's spiny reed frog or the Greater Leaf-folding Frog-Distribution and habitat:...
), Painted Reed Frog (Hyperolius marmoratus), Waterlilly Reed Frog (Hyperolius pusillus
Hyperolius pusillus
Hyperolius pusillus is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is found in Botswana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and possibly Uganda....
), Argus Reed Frog (Hyperolius argus
Hyperolius argus
The Argus Reed Frog or African Reed Frog . It is found in Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is one of only five species of frogs in which males and females do not share the same coloring. Males are usually green colored, and Females usually Reddish with...
), Forest Tree Frog (Leptopelis natalensis
Leptopelis natalensis
The Natal Forest Treefrog is a species of frog in the Hyperoliidae family.It is endemic to South Africa.-Description:A typical treefrog with large eyes and a broad mouth...
), Common Platanna (Xenopus laevis), Common River Frog (Afrana angolensis), Sharp-nosed Grass Frog (Ptychadena oxyrhynchus
Ptychadena oxyrhynchus
Ptychadena oxyrhynchus is a species of frog in the Ranidae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia,...
), Striped Stream Frog (Strongylopus fasciatus), Snoring Puddle Frog (Phrynobatrachus natalensis).
Fish
Burrowing Goby (Croilia mossambica), River Goby (Glossogobius callidus), Freshwater Goby (Awaous aeneofuscus), Golden Sleeper (Hypseleotris dayi), Broadhead Sleeper (Eleotris melanosoma), Dusky Sleeper (Eleotris fusca), Cape Moony (Monodactylus falciformis), Natal Moony (Monodactylus argenteus), Large-scale Mullet (Liza macrolepis), Freshwater Mullet (Myxus capensis), Estuarine Round-herring (Gilchristella aestuariaGilchristella aestuaria
Gilchristella aestuaria, the Gilchrist's round herring, is a member of the herring family Clupeidae that occurs along the coasts of Southern Africa. It is the only species in its genus....
), Glassy (Ambassis sp.), Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus
Oreochromis mossambicus
The Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, is a tilapiine cichlid fish native to southern Africa. It is a popular fish for aquaculture...
), Banded Tilapia (Tilapia sparrmanii), Southern Mouthbrooder (Pseudocrenilabrus philander), Sharptooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus
Clarias gariepinus
Clarias gariepinus or African sharptooth catfish is a species of catfish of the family Clariidae, the airbreathing catfishes.- Natural Distribution :...
), Bowstripe Barb (Barbus viviparus), Longfin Eel (Anguilla mossambica).