Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve

About Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve

The Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve is a 76-hectare protected estuarine ecosystem proclaimed as a national monument in 1980 at the mouth of the Umgeni River in Durban North. It preserves the largest remaining population of black, red, and white mangrove trees in the Durban area, which serve as a critical natural storm barrier that stabilises the local coastline.

The swampy habitat supports a unique ecosystem teeming with fiddler crabs, red-clawed crabs, and mudskippers, while also attracting rare bird species such as the Mangrove Kingfisher. Visitors can navigate the wetlands via an elevated wooden boardwalk system that leads through the forest canopy to a view of the sand dunes and beach.

To protect this sensitive environment, the reserve restricts general public access to the third Saturday of every month from 08:00 to 13:00, during which entry is free and honorary officers provide guided walks, while weekday visits are reserved strictly for pre-booked educational tour groups.