Port Shepstone - Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve

One of the most attractive sights in the Port Shepstone area is the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve (area 1,837 ha/4,537ac), 21km/13mi west of the town on the Harding road. The gorge is 24km/15mi long and 5km/3mi wide, and at some points has been carved out of the local sandstone by the Umzimkulwana River to a depth of 400m/1,300ft. The river is lined by dense forest. In the reserve live leopards, striped woodbucks, baboons, vervet and samango monkeys and blue and gray duikers. The oribi from which the gorge takes its name is rarely if ever seen by the casual visitor. This is also a great place for bird-watchers, with 258 recorded species.

There is accommodation for visitors in the reserve in the form of holiday cottages and huts, and in Fairacres there is the Oribi Gorge Hotel, which has a marvelous view of the gorge. The nature reserve can be explored on 30km/19mi of tarred road and 35km/22mi of waymarked hiking trails.