Ndumo Game Reserve is a small South African game reserve located in the far northeast district of KwaZulu-Natal known as Maputaland. It is situated on the border with Mozambique where the Pongola River joins the Great Usutu River. It is adjacent to the Tembe Elephant Park. Ndumo is relatively remote, being over 400km from Durban. The town of Mkuze is 110km away.
Ndumo hosts a diverse range of habitats including sand forest, dense riverine forest, floodplains, alluvial plains, reedbeds, grassland, broad-leaved and acacia woodlands and extremely dense thornveld. Ndumo is popular for its birdlife and despite its small size, the reserve has recorded in excess of 430 bird species including residents and seasonal migrants. The park's abundance of pans, floodplains and rivers (Pongola & Usutu) provide suitable habitat for many acquatic species. The Maputaland area in general is relatively rich in birdlife due to ecosystem diversity as well as its geographical location: the area forms the southernmost range for a great many eastern and north-eastern African bird species. The area receives a high annual rainfall.
A short list of sought-after bird species resident to Ndumo:
- Pel's Fishing Owl
- Narina Trogon
- African Broadbill
- Eastern Nicator (formerly "Yellow-spotted Nicator" but this name is now given to another bird, the Western Nicator)
- African Cuckoo-Hawk
Large mammals found in Ndumo include Nyala, Hippopotamus, Nile Crocodile, Impala and Cape Buffalo. Big cats are absent from the park. Elephants are prolific at the neighbouring Tembe Elephant Park.
As with all parts of Maputaland, malaria is endemic and visitors are advised to take the proper precautions.
There is an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife campsite and hutted camp. Wilderness Safaris run a luxury tented safari camp.
This park is to be included into the: Usuthu-Tembe-Futi Transfrontier Conservation Area.
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