Palmiet Nature Reserve
About
The Palmiet Nature Reserve is located in Westville which forms part of the eThekwini Metro Region of South Africa. After being opened up as a Nature reserve in 1972 the Palmiet Nature Reserve was officially proclaimed a Nature Reserve on the 1st June 2006, and is now managed by the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department of the eThekwini Municipality. There is a dedicated on-site Reserve Manager and 3 municipal rangers. In addition, the Reserve also has a Palmiet Committee consisting of enthusiastic volunteers and an Honorary Ranger which provide additional funding and human resources to the Nature Reserve. The reserve and river is named after the riverine plant Prionium serratum (Palmiet) which was formerly abundant in the area. The Reserve offers diverse ecological and wildlife habitats and is home to more than 150 bird and 170 tree species. It is a haven of solitude in the heart of the residential suburb of Westville with about 15 kilometres of hiking trails, including those extending into the University of KwaZulu-Natal Westville Campus Conservancy . It offers many educational and recreational opportunities for scholars, residents and visitors from further afield.
