Bayhead Natural Heritage Site

About Bayhead Natural Heritage Site

The Bayhead Natural Heritage Site is a 20-hectare nature reserve located within the industrial zone of the Durban Harbour in KwaZulu-Natal. Managed by the Transnet National Ports Authority, this site preserves a critical remaining fragment of the mangrove forests and tidal mudflats that historically covered the Durban Bay area.

The reserve features three species of mangrove trees, which provide a specialized habitat for abundant populations of fiddler crabs, red mangrove crabs, and mudskippers. Additionally, the sanctuary serves as an important refuge for aquatic birds, with over 120 species recorded utilizing the mudflats for feeding, making it a key destination for regional ornithological observation. The site is equipped with an environmental education centre, a network of wooden boardwalks, and a dedicated bird viewing hide to facilitate public access and ecological research.