Tugela Game Reserve
The Tugela Game Reserve or Thukela Biosphere as it used to be known is situated in the greater Weenen district of central KwaZulu-Natal, a two hour drive from Durban and an easy four hours travelling from Johannesburg. the Tugela Game Reserve offers visitors the opportunity to explore a unique conservation area. Consisting of some 100 000 hectares of valley bushveld
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The Tugela Game Reserve is a unique concept that promotes conservation
and community upliftment through the sustainable utilization of the area s
natural resources. Malaria and bilharzias free, the biosphere offers
tourists an informative and entertaining outdoor experience, coupled to a
wide range of overnight accommodation facilities.
The topography of the Tugela Game Reserve is diverse, with the veld ranging from large trees with dense canopies along the many rivers and streams to thick acacia scrub and open grasslands. As a result, the area supports a wide and fascinating range of wildlife elephant, white rhino, wildebeest, leopard, warthog, hyena, jackal and numerous species of buck. Bird watchers will revel in the prolific birdlife ostrich, ground hornbills, blue crane, crowned crane, bald ibis, vultures, a wide variety of smaller birds of prey, as well as reverine and grassland species.The mild climate of the biosphere also favours reptiles, and visitors will frequently encounter crocodiles, leguaans, a variety of tortoises, terrapins, snakes, lizards geckoes and, on occasion, the magnificent rock python.
There is an excellent network of dirt roads maintained by the areas privately owned game farms, and the Thukela Biosphere guarantees visitors a grandstand view of the flora and faun. 4X4 vehicle drives are encourage in the remote sectors, while local guided are available to bring new insight to the many facets of the Thukela Basin s rich historical and cultural heritage
Biosphere reserves, like Thukela, aim at protecting and using the environment to benefit the people living in an area, giving them the responsibility to protect it on behalf of future generations. Such reserves are governed through UNESCO, the environmental arm of the United Nations. The Thukela Biosphere was awarded the KwaZulu- Natal Nature Conservation Service conservation award (corporate section) in 1998 for its contribution to conservation within the Weenen area.
A range of tourism facilities offers the tourist and day tripper a real outdoor experience, including white river rafting on the Thukela River, 4X4 trails for beginners and advanced drivers, mountain biking through spectacular terrain and horseback safaris. The biosphere is an ideal venue for conferences and team building.
Accommodation near Tugela Game Reserve