Enseleni Nature Reserve is a 293-hectare (720-acre) protected area located in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the reserve preserves a vital corridor of coastal and riverine habitat along the Enseleni River within a heavily industrialized region.[1]
The reserve is situated approximately 11km (6.8mi) north of Richards Bay and is bisected by the N2 highway.[2] The landscape is dominated by the floodplains, reedbeds, and meandering path of the Enseleni River, which eventually drains into Lake Nsesi.[3]
History
Enseleni Nature Reserve was formally established in 1948. It was first proclaimed under Government Notice No. 4 of 1948 (21 January 1948), with its status further refined by Proclamation Number 72 of 1958.[3] The name "Enseleni" is derived from the Zulu word for "lair" or "the place of the badger," describing the river that serves as the reserve's central feature.[4]
In the post-apartheid era, the reserve's protection was reaffirmed under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act of 2003, which designated Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife as the formal management authority.[5]
Biodiversity
The reserve acts as a sanctuary for diverse ecosystems, including swamp forests, mangroves, and coastal riverine vegetation.
Flora
The riverine areas are characterized by extensive stands of swamp fig and water berry trees.[1] The reserve also hosts mangrove species, marking the transition from freshwater river systems to the estuarine environments of the coast.[3]
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