Data Zone
Country/territory: South Africa
IBA Criteria met: A1 (1998)
For more information about IBA criteria please click here
Area: 957 ha
Protection status:
| Most recent IBA monitoring assessment | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment | Threat score (pressure) | Condition score (state) | Action score (response) |
| 2013 | high | favourable | high |
| For more information about IBA monitoring please click here | |||
Site description
Umgeni Vlei is located 20 km due south-west of Nottingham Road in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. The main vlei is about 300 ha in extent, and is underlain by Karoo dolerite. It lies at an altitude of 1,840 m, with the highest hill in the reserve at 2,081 m. The vlei functions as a large sponge that is the source of the Umgeni river. The centre of the vlei has extensive areas of Carex marsh, with a ‘hummock-depression’ structure in places, intermixed with Cyperus, Pycreus and Juncus, and submerged vegetation such as Lagarosiphon and Utricularia. The grassland surrounding the vlei is an example of highland sourveld.
Key biodiversity
See Box for key species. The extensive vlei is good for cranes (Gruidae), and both Grus carunculatus and Balearica regulorum regularly breed there. It is the premier site in South Africa for Grus carunculatus—up to six pairs have nested in the main vlei, with four others nesting in four smaller vleis, all within the reserve boundary. At least two pairs of Balearica regulorum and one pair of Grus paradisea are also present in the IBA, the latter in the grassland surrounding the vlei, which also supports several other species of threatened bird, including Anthus chloris. The vlei could potentially support Sarothrura ayresi. Cisticola brunnescens forage and breed in the flooded grassland adjacent to the vlei. The rocky terrain at higher altitude supports Geocolaptes olivaceus, Saxicola bifasciata, Monticola explorator and Chaetops aurantius. Both Gyps coprotheres and the rare but widespread Gypaetus barbatus are regular visitors to the area.
Non-bird biodiversity: None known to BirdLife International.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2021) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Umgeni Vlei Nature Reserve. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 27/01/2021.
