Mangroves, dune forest and a lagoon at Mtunzini
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
uMlalazi is an Ezemvelo reserve beside the village of Mtunzini on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, where the uMlalazi River meets the sea through a lagoon lined with mangroves. Boardwalks cross the mangroves, where fiddler crabs and mudskippers live, and trails wind through coastal dune forest to a long beach. The raphia palms nearby are home to the palm-nut vulture. Log cabins and campsites sit in the forest close to the lagoon.
Things to do: Canoeing · Fishing · Guided walk · Hiking · Mountain biking
What people record most across KwaZulu-Natal. Past sightings, never a guarantee.
From iNaturalist records across KwaZulu-Natal, not confirmed sightings inside this reserve.
Inside-park stays and nearby lodges, sorted by distance.
One stay we sell in uMlalazi Nature Reserve. Tap the pin for the listing.
28.9541° S, 31.7665° EOpen in Maps
Why book here
Wild places survive when the communities around them earn more from protecting wildlife than from anything that would replace it. Every stay you book through Spekboom carries a conservation contribution built into the price, never added on top, so choosing where you sleep becomes a way to fund the people and projects keeping this landscape intact.
uMlalazi Nature Reserve is in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Yes. uMlalazi Nature Reserve is in an area recorded as malaria-free, which is why it is a common choice for families with young children and for a first safari. Malaria risk can shift with the season and the year, so confirm current advice with a travel clinic before you go.
In KwaZulu-Natal, commonly recorded species include animals such as Leatherback Turtle, Green Turtle, Loggerhead Turtle, Flap-necked Chameleon and birds including Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Woodward's Batis, Rosy-throated Longclaw, based on iNaturalist occurrence data. These reflect the wider province, not confirmed sightings inside the reserve.
Request Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife camps and cottages on Spekboom. We confirm with Ezemvelo, then you pay on Spekboom. Popular camps fill up well ahead of school holidays, so request early for peak dates.
The best time to visit uMlalazi Nature Reserve is Year-round (warm Oct-Apr).
Popular activities at uMlalazi Nature Reserve include canoeing, fishing, guided walk, hiking, mountain biking.
Spekboom lists stays in and near uMlalazi Nature Reserve, from inside-park camps to nearby lodges. Every booking funds conservation.
Other parks and reserves that share something with uMlalazi Nature Reserve.
Malaria-free parks and game reservesNational parks and reserves in South AfricaNature reserves and parks in KwaZulu-NatalAll protected areas