Empisini Nature Reserve


Empisini Nature Reserve was established in 1973 and is situated in Umkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reserve is approximately 60 ha in extent and is owned by the borough of uMkhomanzi which has been incorporated into the eThekwini municipality. Empisini is managed jointly by eThekwini and the Umkomaas centre of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa. Empisini takes its name from a perennial stream which flows through it, and means "Place of the Hyena" in isiZulu. The reserve consists of coastal forest, wetlands, grassy slopes and a dam. Infrastructure consists of hiking trails, demarcated picnic sites, overnight cabins, and a tree house.

Wildlife

Mammals

, mongoose, blue duiker, bushbuck, otter, bushpig and several species of bats.

Birds

At least 201 species of birds have been recorded at Empisini including:
African fish-eagle, African crowned eagle, Wahlberg's eagle, black-chested snake-eagle, spur-winged goose, African black duck, tambourine dove, emerald-spotted wood-dove, lemon dove, purple-crested turaco, Knysna turaco, green malkoha, African wood-owl, African palm-swift, Narina trogon, giant kingfisher, African pygmy-kingfisher, trumpeter hornbill, olive woodpecker, red-throated wryneck, spotted ground-thrush, mountain wagtail, dark-backed weaver, magpie mannikin, red-backed mannikin, green twinspot and forest canary.

Butterflies

Among the butterflies recorded in Empisini are: D'Urban's woolly legs, dark grass blue, white-tipped blue, Gaika blue, common zebra blue, Natal babul blue, brown pansy, yellow pansy, Natal acraea, African veined white, clouded forester, Macken’s dart and common Hottentot.

Trees

Trees include: cheesewood, false white stinkwood and broad-leafed quince.