Wagendrift Nature Reserve
Further up the N3, a stone’s throw from the N3 near Estcourt, an attractive reserve is set in rolling grassveld backed by Drakensberg ramparts. The park gets its name from a ford in the Bushman’s River that was used by the transport wagons of old on their journey from Port Natal to the Witwatersrand goldfields.
Wagendrift Nature Reserve has a rustic resort, large dam and 980-hectare park which incorporates the wild Moor Park Reserve. Boating is the main activity - the Bushman’s Boating Club has its club house in the reserve. Fishing is popular with scaly, bluegill, bass, carp and eel constituting the main catches. There’s plenty of game in this section of the reserve, so keep your eyes peeled for the likes of black wildebeest, zebra and mountain reedbuck.
Moor Park Nature Reserve
Four kilometers upstream from the town lies the Wagendrift Dam which is a popular spot for fishing and water sports. 758 ha of the dam and surrounding area was converted by the Natal Parks Board in 1973 to become a public resort and nature reserve. Visitors can now enjoy this naturally preserved area, complete with picnic grounds and campsites.
At the head of the dam also stands the 264 ha Moor Park Nature Reserve which was established in 1967. While at Wagendrift, you can tackle the 3.5 km, self-guided Furrow Trail in Moor Park. It follows the Bushman’s River through a wooded kloof and beside an irrigation furrow built in 1903. The area is mostly acacia thorn country and is a sanctuary for game animals like blesbok, zebra, wildebeest, impala and kudu among others.
By Justin Fox