KarkloofKarkloof is situated between Curry's Post, Rietvlei and Howick in the kwa zulu natal midlands, south africaKarkloof is situated between Curry's Post, Rietvlei and Howick in the kwa zulu natal midlands, south africa. The Karkloof range of hills situated is one of the most scenic and spectacular areas of KwaZulu-Natal. It is famed for its extensive mist belt forests. The significance of these forests is attested by the presence of an isolated population of Crested Guineafowl which belong to a subspecies endemic to the Karkloof. A large proportion of the area is privately owned. Leopard Bush Private Nature Reserve consists of a 600 ha area of which more than half is forest. A day’s exploration of the area should produce 80-100 species of birds. The original white settlers found this beautiful area virtually empty...abandoned first by the Bushmen hunter-gatherers in response to encroaching black tribes, then by these same black tribes as King Shaka carved out and expanded his Zulu Empire. During the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, a church built 16 years earlier served as a fort and remains surrounded by settler graves. The Karkloof blue Orachrysops ariadne is a small, blue butterfly, the adult males being brighter than the females. This butterfly is classified as Vulnerable and only five colonies of the species have ever been recorded, one of which no longer exists presumably because its habitat has been transformed by alien plants. The butterfly only occurs in Moist Midlands Mistbelt. The Midlands Meander route has made the Karkloof Blue their symbol and has funded a research project in the hope that they are successful in ensuring its survival. 'Common Cents' collection tins are located at all Midlands Meander outlets, and contributions will be used towards this project. Please support them. Accommodation directory for Karkloof
Places of interest in and around Karkloof
Related Travel InformationLinksThe Natal Midlands -Tourist information Download a free Drakensberg Tourist Map |
