Coleford Nature Reserve

About Coleford Nature Reserve

You will find Coleford Nature Reserve near to the town of Underberg, south east of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park.

Did you know? The reserve gets its name from the original European settler to the area, James Cole, who despite owning the land, neither farmed nor lived at Coleford.

Through its southern section flows the Ngwagwane River, one of its major features. But it also protects Drakensberg Foothill Moist Grassland.

The area is beautiful and has for years been popular as a destination for fly fishing because of the availability of rainbow trout in the Coleford reserve's river. There used to be a rest camp but this has been closed to the public for some years, although rumour has it you can still camp in the reserve.

There are four dams, well stocked for fishing. And aside from rainbow trout, you can expect to catch Natal yellowfish, chubbyhead barb, and longfin eel (you can pick up a fishing permit in the Coleford reserve's office).

In the north-western parts of the Coleford Nature Reserve are a series of high hills with cliffs of Beaufort Sandstone that lead up and away from the Ngwagwane River. The river is joined by the Ndawana River (its major tributary) in the south-eastern corner of the reserve.

Wildlife includes black wildebeest, blesbok, southern reedbuck, grey rhebok, grey duiker and oribi. These you can sight whilst hiking or bird watching – you can catch a glimpse of the endangered wattled crane and white winged flufftail here too.