Oribi Gorge & Umtamvuna Gorge

The spectacular Oribi Gorge, about 25km inland from Port Shepstone, is one of the Hibiscus Coast's best-known beauty spots. To appreciate the magnificent gorge, carved out of sandstone over the millennia by the Mzimkulwana River, it is worthwhile stopping at the Oribi Gorge Hotel and taking a drive around the estate, visiting the different view points.

Offering adrenalin junkies a selection of activities ranging from abseiling to white water rafting. After a bird's-eye view of the gorge, it's time to take a closer look at its wealth of natural beauty by visiting the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve. The turnoff to the main camp from the N2 is about 21 km from Port Shepstone and is sign-posted. Continue driving along the road past the main camp and you will begin to descend into the gorge itself. As well as an attractive picnic site, next to the main road where it crossed the river, there are several walking trails of between 1km and 9km in length, offering walkers a chance to explore the gorge's magnificent grassland and forest sections.

The surrounding plateau comprises grasslands with scattered trees, including protea stands. Sheer sandstone cliffs form a backdrop to the natural beauty. With the many different habitats the reserve has to offer, it is not surprising it is considered one of the premier birding spots of southern KwaZulu-Natal. A bird list of 255 species includes forest, woodland, grassland "specials" and the birds of prey that make the cliffs their home.

The rare samango monkey is one of many interesting the gorge. You might also spot baboons, vervets, aardwolf, leopard, caracal, serval, jackal, otter, genet, mongoose, dassies, bushbuck, reed buck and duiker.

Take the Harding road from Port Shepstone, turn right to the Oribi Gorge (only 12 kilometers from Port Shepstone) and prepare for some breathtaking scenery and high adventure. The Oribi Gorge was formed over millions of years as the Mzimkulwana river flowed over the flat land surface and picked out fractures in the rock, gradually eroding them away and cutting deep into the earth's crust.

At the base of the cliffs there are rocks over 1000 million years old while the cliffs themselves are formed from sandstone deposited about 365 million years ago. The nature reserve is situated in the gorge, which is approximately 27 kilometers long and up to one kilometer at its widest point, and is administered by the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service.

Due to its inaccessibility, the gorge has remained virtually untouched by man and has more than 500 plant species. It contains a wealth of semi-deciduous forests criss-crossed with antelope paths, and is home to 255 bird species and numerous small mammals including vervet and the rare samango monkeys.

The flowering plants deep in the gorge provide an enormous range of colours from scarlet red to azure blue. The gorge offers spectacular hiking and mountain biking, as well as view sites that are easily accessible for those who want to just relax drink in the awesome scenery.

For the more extreme adventures, the gorge offers the world's highest abseiling site, and in the rainy season (November to April) the river provides whitewater rafters with an adrenalin rush second to none.