Ndumo Game Reserve

Ndumo Game Reserve is a small (11,000 hectares (27,000 acres)) South African game reserve famous for its wetlands which shelter hippopotamus, crocodiles, fishes and an extraordinary diversity of birdlife. It is located in the far northeast district of KwaZulu-Natal known as Maputaland. It is situated on the border with Mozambique where the Pongola River joins the Great Usutu River. It is adjacent to the Tembe Elephant Park. Ndumo is relatively remote, being over 400 kilometres (250 mi) from Durban. The town of Mkuze is 110 kilometres (68 mi) away.

Ndumo hosts a diverse range of habitats including sand forest, dense riverine forest, floodplains, alluvial plains, reed beds, grassland, broad-leaved and acacia woodlands and extremely dense thornveld. Ndumo is popular for its birdlife and despite its small size, the reserve has recorded in excess of 430 bird species including residents and seasonal migrants. The park's abundance of pans, floodplains and rivers (Pongola & Usutu) provide ideal habitat for many aquatic species.

The Maputaland area in general is relatively rich in birdlife due to ecosystem diversity as well as its geographical location: the area forms the southernmost range for a great many eastern and north-eastern African bird species. The area receives a high annual rainfall.

A short list of sought-after bird species resident to Ndumo:

• Pel's fishing owl
• Narina trogon
• African broadbill
• Eastern nicator (formerly "yellow-spotted nicator" but this name is now given to another bird, the western nicator)
• African cuckoo-hawk

Large mammals found in Ndumo include nyala, hippopotamus, impala, giraffe and Cape buffalo. Big cats are absent from the park. Elephants are prolific at the neighbouring Tembe Elephant Park.

This park is rich in frogs and herpetofauna and is one of South Africa's 3 remaining sanctuaries for Nile crocodile, though illegal occupation of the Phongolo floodplain in the park is endangering this.

As with all parts of Maputaland, malaria is endemic and visitors are advised to take the proper precautions.

There is an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife campsite and hutted camp.

This park is to be included into the: Usuthu-Tembe-Futi Transfrontier Conservation Area should that one day materialise.