RIVER VALLEY NATURE RESERVE
Accommodation Services in Margate

Our family has been blessed with the stewardship of one of the few remaining privately owned pockets of natural habitat on the Kwa-Zulu Natal South Coast. Abundant birdlife, antelope and small mammals can be seen on the reserve. It is our pleasure to be able to share this beautiful part of God’s creation for others to enjoy by being accommodated in our upmarket cottages, a small private campsite, a picnic area and walking trails through the reserve. We offer accommodation in our up-market cottages, a small private campsite, a picnic area and walking trails through the reserve. River Valley Nature Reserve is a small reminder of the once untouched natural coastline with it’s varied ecosystems consisting of grassland, riverine and coastal forest. River Valley Nature Reserve offers two identical cottages situated in a peaceful and picturesque part of the reserve close to the iVungu River. The small campsite is situated in a shady section on the banks of the iVungu River. Onsite activities range from bird watching, fishing, hiking, picnicking to family photo shoots. Off-site activities include Golf, visiting the beaches, whale watching, deep sea fishing, surfing, diving and the Gorge Swing. Should you require a proforma invoice, please advise us & we’ll forward it to you. We only accept cash. We regret that cheques and credit cards are not accepted. Without exception, no entry will be allowed to persons in excess of the maximum prescribed per unit. The use of firearms and poaching on the reserve is prohibited. There is a short dirt road to the cottages, camp site and picnic area. The River Valley Nature Reserve hugs a section of the iVungu River which meanders down through a valley of hills into the Indian Ocean at the well known Uvongo Beach, where one finds the iVungu falls (the onomatipoeic Zulu word for the reverberating roar of the falls). It is a small reminder of the once untouched natural coastline with it’s varied ecosystems consisting of grassland, riverine and coastal forest. The Nature Reserve boasts a herd of impala and a herd of nyala. Smaller mammals such as porcupine, the large grey, banded and water mongooses as well as the cape clawless otter are evidenced by the presence of their tracks. They are sometimes spotted if you are at the right place at the right time. Early mornings and still days are the most productive times to satisfy any birders hunger for these diversely created feathered creatures. One of the other attractions, if one enjoys the greener things of life, is the dense stretch of coastal-riverine forest that extends along the river. This healthy forest is determined by the expansive, leaf-littered floor which contains numerous saplings and shrubs. A transition then occurs from coastal riverine forest to wooded thickets to open grassland. The wooded thickets are characterised by shorter, denser trees and rambling shrubs and the grasslands show off their spring flowers after their winter weariness. All of this can be enjoyed by taking a leisurely stroll along our well marked walking trails with it’s varied habitats home to the many plants and animals that our Creator has created. We are also home to many reptiles including the rock and water monitor lizards, which are frequently seen sunning themselves on the banks of the river or dams. The best time for frogs or toads to be seen is by the light of a torch at night after a summer rain, in puddles, pools, swamps or streams. If one is interested in fish, eight of the fifty-seven indigenous freshwater fish occur in the river and dams, the green chested tilapia being the most common species. Large mouth bass have also been introduced into the dams and river.