Oribi Gorge


Useful Information

Location: West of Port Shepstone, 120 km south of Durban. R61 exit Marburg, follow N2 west. Turn right after 10 km at Kokstad, cross gorge at cement factory, on the other side on the plateau turn left for outlook and picnic area. Turn right after 20 km at Plains for alternative route into the gorge.
Open: no restrictions.
[2008]
Fee: free.
[2008]
Classification: GorgeGorge
Light: n/a
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As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
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History

1950 proclaimed a protected State Forest.

Description

Oribi Gorge is formed by the Mzimkulwana river, which meets Mzimkulu river and then flows into the sea after less than 10 km at Port Shepstone. Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve is located at the point where the two rivers meet. The gorge is about 27 km long, 4 km wide and 400 m deep. Despite the name, with a width of 4 km it is actually a canyon, not a gorge, although there are some narrower parts. The canyon cuts through the sugarcane farmlands of the Oribi Flats in southern KwaZulu-Natal.

The rocks at the foot of the the canyon are about 1Ga old. The slopes canyon are formed by 365 million years sedimentary rocks, especially sandstone and limestone. The limestone is quarried and cement produced right where the two rivers merge. The upper part of the gorge is protected as a State Forest.

Oribi Gorge is named after the Oribi, a small african antelope. The canyon id famous for its wildlife, including samango monkeys, bushbuck, duiker, and reedbuck. Along the banks of the river lives the giant water leguan. Birdwatching is also very interesting here.