Cumberland Nature Reserve is a proclaimed protected area on the Mngeni River in KwaZulu-Natal (Provincial Gazette Notice 116 of 2020). Its indigenous scarp forests, valley bushveld, thornveld and open grasslands form one of the most quietly important landscapes in the province, and it is the flagship site of iSihlangu Conservation Alliance.
Water for Four Million People
The Mngeni catchment supplies water to roughly four million people across Table Mountain, the Valley of a Thousand Hills and the eThekwini metro. Water leaving Cumberland flows on to the Nagle and Inanda Dams. Independent research, including work commissioned by the Water Research Commission and undertaken by GroundTruth, and studies by the Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa (WESSA), has shown that the river’s water quality measurably improves after it passes through the reserve.
From Scars to Sanctuary
In the 1970s, parts of this land were stripped bare by sand mining, which removed its vegetation and topsoil. Decades of patient stewardship by its custodians have healed the land so thoroughly that only faint scars remain. Cumberland is living proof that restoration works, and that makes it the right place to begin.
What Lives Here
Oribi – One of South Africa’s most endangered antelope, protected on the reserve in collaboration with the Oribi Custodians Community.
Blood-red sword lily (Gladiolus cruentus) – A striking lily that grows only on moisture-rich river cliffs.
Ceropegia gerrardii – A rare plant sustained by the reserve’s unusual geology.
Cycads – Threatened, ancient plants that are heavily targeted by poachers across South Africa.
The Threat
Invasive alien plants, especially Eucalyptus and other high water-use species, are choking the riverbanks. They reduce river flow, suppress the regeneration of indigenous forest, and alter the soil conditions that sustain the reserve’s rare plants. Without sustained clearing and monitoring, decades of recovery could be undone.
Our Plan
1. Clearing Invasives and Restoring the River
Systematically clearing Eucalyptus and other invasive alien plants along the Mngeni River and the Rietspruit stream, so that indigenous forest and riverine vegetation can regenerate and the river can run cleaner and stronger.
2. Protecting Rare Species and Habitats
Monitoring and protecting the cliff faces and forest floors where the Blood-red sword lily, Ceropegia gerrardii and cycads grow, and supporting anti-poaching and habitat monitoring for the resident Oribi, including trail cameras and fence repairs.
3. Working with the Community and Our Neighbours
Employing local community members as restoration field workers, and deepening partnerships with neighbouring landowners, including Fountain Hill Estate and CUPA, to build a unified, cross-boundary conservation corridor.
The First-Year Programme
| Component | What it covers | Budget (ZAR) |
| Alien plant clearing | Labour, hand tools, chainsaws, protective equipment and eco-friendly herbicides | R1,244,800 |
| Habitat monitoring | Trail and surveillance cameras protecting cycads, Oribi and rare flora | R1,000,000 |
| Fencing | Repairs and upgrades to reserve fencing | R1,000,000 |
| Community payroll | Ten local field workers for twelve months | R646,800 |
| Transport | Moving workers to and from site, and removing cleared vegetation | R108,400 |
| Total (estimated) | R4,000,000 |
Our Partnership with the Reserve
iSihlangu holds a written agreement with the custodians of Cumberland Nature Reserve to work on the reserve and to raise funds for its protection. The reserve’s conservation work is sustained by a hybrid model supported by the family’s agricultural operations, which also provide local employment.
Photo: Andrew Henderson.
Help Protect Cumberland
Every Founding Guardian helps this landscape heal. Give monthly or annually, fund a part of the programme, or donate a vehicle or equipment. Every gift is eligible for a Section 18A receipt where it qualifies.
