uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve

Just north of uMhlanga's beachfront, this 26-hectare Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife reserve protects coastal dune forest at the mouth of the Ohlange River. Trails wind through the forest, across the lagoon and out onto the beach, passing Stone Age shell middens along the way, and more than 200 bird species plus bushbuck and duiker have been recorded. Dog owners should know that pets are not permitted inside the reserve itself, though the adjoining beach route is a popular leashed-walk alternative.