Steve Garden Practice

Nkonka Trust Nature Reserve

Overview

Nkonka Trust is at the southern end of the Kloof escarpment, looking over Pinetown with views towards the sea. It’s in the endangered KZN Sandstone Sourveld vegetation type.

What you can find

There is a view site which is a great place to see hilltopping butterflies. Gaudy Commodores Precis octavia and Dark Blue Pansies Junonia oenone are often seen there, and rarities like Light Red Acraea Rubraea nohara and Speckled Red Acraea Rubraea violarum occasionally turn up.

It has an amazing range of grassland flora, being home to some beautiful orchids and newly-described plant species.

There are colonies of the rare Yellowish Amakosa Rocksitter butterfly Durbania amakosa flavida and the strange, non-plant-eating, Basuto Skolly Thestor basutus.

Nkonka Trust is great for a half-day visit or combined with an afternoon walk in one of the other small nature reserves situated in Kloof.

Long Horned Swift fully grown caterpillar

Borbo fatuellus

Nkonka Trust Nature Reserve

Nkonka Trust Nature Reserve

Overview

Nkonka Trust is at the southern end of the Kloof escarpment, looking over Pinetown with views towards the sea. It’s in the endangered KZN Sandstone Sourveld vegetation type.

What you can find

There is a view site which is a great place to see hilltopping butterflies. Gaudy Commodores Precis octavia and Dark Blue Pansies Junonia oenone are often seen there, and rarities like Light Red Acraea Rubraea nohara and Speckled Red Acraea Rubraea violarum occasionally turn up.

It has an amazing range of grassland flora, being home to some beautiful orchids and newly-described plant species.

There are colonies of the rare Yellowish Amakosa Rocksitter butterfly Durbania amakosa flavida and the strange, non-plant-eating, Basuto Skolly Thestor basutus.

Nkonka Trust is great for a half-day visit or combined with an afternoon walk in one of the other small nature reserves situated in Kloof.

be on the lookout for:

English nameScientific name
Macken’s DartAcleros mackenii
Rayed BlueActizera lucida
Autumn-leaf VagrantAfrodryas leda
Southern Yellow ZuluAlaena amazoula amazoula
Yellow RussetAloeides aranda
Southern ChiefAmauris echeria echeria
Black-striped HairtailAnthene amarah amarah
Dark-banded scarletAxiocerses croesus
Eastern ScarletAxiocerses tjoane tjoane
Pale Babul BlueAzanus mirza
Black-Bordered Babul BlueAzanus moriqua
Natal Babul BlueAzanus natalensis
Bright Babul BlueAzanus ubaldus
Pioneer Caper WhiteBelenois aurota aurota
African Caper WhiteBelenois creona severina
False Dotted BorderBelenois thysa thysa
Black-haired Bush BrownBicyclus safitza safitza
African JokerByblia anvatara acheloia
Spotted JokerByblia ilithyia
Common Bush BlueCacyreus lingeus
Common PirateCatacroptera cloanthe cloanthe
African MigrantCatopsilia florella
Green-veined CharaxesCharaxes candiope
Blue-spotted KingCharaxes cithaeron cithaeron
Satyr EmperorCharaxes ethalion ethalion
Pearl CharaxesCharaxes varanes
English nameScientific name
Common Meadow BlueCupidopsis cissus cissus
African MonarchDanaus chrysippus orientis
Brown PlayboyDeudorix antalus
Small Ant-heap whiteDixeia pigea
Yellowish Amakosa RocksitterDurbania amakosa flavida
Vine-leaf VagrantEronia cleodora
Pale Smoky BlueEuchrysops barkeri
Grey Smoky BlueEuchrysops malathana
Osiris Smoky BlueEuchrysops osiris
Broad-bordered Grass YellowEurema brigitta brigitta
African Angled Grass YellowEurema desjardinsii regularis
Golden PiperEurytela dryope angulata
Southern Pied PiperEurytela hiarbas angustata
Grass JewelFreyeria trochylus
DodgersGegenes
Purple-brown HairstreakHypolycaena philippus philippus
Modest SylphIsoteinon inornatus
Yellow-banded PansyJunonia elgiva
African Yellow PansyJunonia hierta cebrene
Brown PansyJunonia natalica natalica
Mainland Dark Blue PansyJunonia oenone oenone
Pea BlueLampides boeticus
Lilac-based Black-eyeLeptomyrina gorgias gorgias
Common Blue ComplexLeptotes pirithous
Common Evening BrownMelanitis leda
Common Barred SailerNeptis laeta
English nameScientific name
Citrus SwallowtailPapilio demodocus demodocus
Narrow Green-banded SwallowtailPapilio nireus lyaeus
Polka DotPardopsis punctatissima
Small Branded SwiftPelopidas mathias
African Meadow WhitePontia helice
Common Garden InspectorPrecis archesia archesia
Southern Gaudy CommodorePrecis octavia sesamus
Common Mother-of-PearlProtogoniomorpha parhassus
Light red acraeaRubraea nohara nohara
Blood-red AcraeaRubraea petraea
Speckled Red AcraeaRubraea violarum
Boisduval’s Tree NymphSevenia boisduvali boisduvali
Mountain SandmanSpialia spio
Black-based  AcraeaStephenia natalica
Window AcraeaStephenia oncaea oncaea
Clouded FlatTagiades flesus
Yellow-banded TelchiniaTelchinia cabira
Whitebar TelchiniaTelchinia encedon encedon
Dusky TelchiniaTelchinia esebria
Dancing AmberTelchinia serena
Basuto SkollyThestor basuta basuta
Common Black PieTuxentius melaena melaena
Painted LadyVanessa cardui
African Grass BlueZizeeria knysna knysna
Dark Grass BlueZizina otis antanossa
Tiny Grass BlueZizula hylax hylax

Monteseel Nature Reserve

Monteseel Nature Reserve

Overview

Monteseel is a suburb approximately 36km northwest inland of Durban. It’s about 150 hectares in extent with large areas of KZN Sandstone Sourveld grassland. It’s bounded on its northeast side by massive sandstone cliffs towering over the Valley of a Thousand Hills. It has spectacular views, and its grassland butterfly fauna is enriched by savanna species hilltopping from the hot thornveld in the valley.

What you can find

55 species of butterfly have been recorded in the area and some of them are ones that aren’t as readily found lower down in Kloof and Durban, like Sabie Smoky Blue Euchrysops dolorosa. It’s one of the best places to see grassland specials like Pirate Catacroptera cloanthe and Gaudy Commodore Precis octavia.

The area around St Andries Road has one of the most extensive known colonies of the Basuto Skolly, Thestor basuta. It’s also home to a large population of Polka Dot Pardopsis punctatissima. The rare Yellowish Amakosa Rocksitter Durbania amakosa flavida has populations on the Monteseel hills as well as the nearby Honey Trails near Inchanga.

The grasslands are known for their rich flora and many species of orchid and gladiolus are found there. When the Natal Blue Haze Tetraselago natalensis is in full flower in late February to April many butterflies can be seen enjoying its nectar.

be on the lookout for:

English nameScientific name
Garden AcraeaAcraea horta
Wandering Donkey AcraeaAcraea neobule
Rayed BlueActizera lucida
Southern Yellow ZuluAlaena amazoula amazoula
Aranda CopperAloeides aranda
Pennington’s CopperAloeides penningtoni
Steel-blue Ciliate BlueAnthene definita definita
Black-Bordered Babul BlueAzanus moriqua
Pioneer Caper WhiteBelenois aurota aurota
African Caper WhiteBelenois creona severina
Black-haired Bush BrownBicyclus safitza safitza
Olive-haired SwiftBorbo borbonica borbonica
Bush BronzeCacyreus lingeus
PirateCatacroptera cloanthe cloanthe
African MigrantCatopsilia florella
Mozambique SilverlineCigaritis mozambica
Southern Red TipColotis antevippe gavisa
Sulphur Orange TipColotis auxo auxo
English nameScientific name
Southern Round-winged Orange TipColotis euippe omphale
Common Meadow BlueCupidopsis cissus cissus
Tailed Meadow BlueCupidopsis jobates jobates
Silver-spotted GreyCrudaria leroma
African Plain TigerDanaus chrysippus orientis
Brown PlayboyDeudorix antalus
Small Ant-heap WhiteDixeia pigea
Yellowish Amakosa RocksitterDurbania amakosa flavida
barker’s smoky blueEuchrysops barkeri
Sabi smoky blueEuchrysops dolorosa
Broad-bordered Grass YellowEurema brigitta brigitta
African Angled Grass YellowEurema desjardinsii regularis
Small Marbled ElfEretis umbra umbra
Purple-brown HairstreakHypolycaena philippus philippus
African Yellow PansyJunonia hierta cebrene
Mainland Dark Blue PansyJunonia oenone oenone
Pea BlueLampides boeticus
Lilac-based Black-eyeLeptomyrina gorgias gorgias
English nameScientific name
Common Blue ComplexLeptotes pirithous
Mocker SwallowtailPapilio dardanus cenea
Citrus SwallowtailPapilio demodocus demodocus
Narrow Green-banded SwallowtailPapilio nireus lyaeus
Southern Emperor SwallowtailPapilio ophidicephalus phalusco
Polka DotPardopsis punctatissima
Garden CommodorePrecis archesia archesia
Southern Gaudy CommodorePrecis octavia sesamus
Blood-red AcraeaRubraea petraea
Speckled Red AcraeaRubraea violarum
Mountain SandmanSpialis spio
Clouded FlatTagiades flesus
White-barred TelchiniaTelchinia encedon encedon
Dusky TelchiniaTelchinia esebria
Dancing TelchiniaTelchinia serena
Basuto skollyThestor basuta basuta
Black PieTuxentius melaena melaena
Painted LadyVanessa cardui
African Grass BlueZizeeria knysna knysna

Kloof Area – Krantzkloof

Kloof Area - Krantzkloof

Overview

Kloof is the area approximately 20km west-north-west inland of Durban, sits on a sandstone-topped escarpment about 500m high.  This catches the onshore winds that create high rainfall. The escarpment is cut by the deep gorge of the Molweni river running roughly west to east, and its tributaries. These are filled with Scarp Forest and topped with the endangered KwaZulu-Natal Sandstone Sourveld.

What you can find

The area has a very rich flora and is well conserved. As a result, 204 species of butterfly have been recorded in the area. Beauties like Southern Gaudy Commodore Precis octavia sesamus, Pirate Catacroptera cloanthe, Blood-red Acraea Rubraea petraea, Boisduval’s False Acraea Pseudacraea boisduvalii trimeni, and Mother-of-Pearl Protogoniomorpha parhassus are regularly found here.

Spectacular canopy species like Pearl Charaxes Charaxes varanes and Veined Swordtail Graphium leonidas fly around the hilltops as do rarities like Bicoloured Paradise Skipper Abantis bicolor and Coast Purple Tip Colotis erone.

The main nature reserve in Kloof is the 670-hectare Krantzkloof Nature Reserve which has many trails running through it, ranging from easy to challenging. Fortunately, the easier trails are among the best for butterflies!

There are several smaller nature reserves in the area with similar butterfly fauna. Msinsi Nature Reserve, Nkonka Trust, and Glenholme Nature Reserve are all worth visiting.

Krantzkloof and Nkonka have fine hilltop lookout points that are excellent places to watch and photograph hilltopping butterflies.

be on the lookout for:

English nameScientific name
Macken’s dartAcleros mackenii mackenii
Rayed BlueActizera lucida
Autumn leaf vagrantAfrodryas leda
DodgersAfrogegenes
Yellow zuluAlaena amazoula amazoula
Southern LaymanAmauris albimaculata albimaculata
Southern ChiefAmauris echeria echeria
Friar, common friarAmauris niavius dominicanus
NoviceAmauris ochlea ochlea
Common Ciliate BlueAnthene definita definita
Spotted Ciliate BlueAnthene larydas
Large Ciliate BlueAnthene lemnos lemnos
Diverse Albatross WhiteAppias epaphia contracta
Eastern ScarletAxiocerses tjoane
Pale Babul BlueAzanus mirza
Black-bordered babul blueAzanus moriqua 
Natal Babul BlueAzanus natalensis
Pioneer Caper WhiteBelenois aurota aurota
African Caper WhiteBelenois creona severina
False dotted borderBelenois thysa thysa
Dark WandererBematistes aganice aganice
Squinting bush brownBicyclus anynana anynana
Black-haired bush brownBicyclus safitza safitza
Olive-haired SwiftBorbo borbonica borbonica
Common Longhorn SwiftBorbo fatuellus fatuellus
Twin swiftBorbo gemella
Lesser-horned swiftBorbo lugens
African JokerByblia anvatara acheloia
Bush BronzeCacyreus lingeus lingeus
African MigrantCatopsilia florella
Natal White-barred CharaxesCharaxes brutus natalensis
Green-veined CharaxesCharaxes candiope
Blue-spotted CharaxesCharaxes cithaeron cithaeron
Pearl CharaxesCharaxes varanes varanes
Forest-King CharaxesCharaxes xiphares penningtoni
Striped policemanCoeliades forestan forestan
African clouded yellowColias electo electo
Coast purple tipColotis erone
Southern Round-winged Orange TipColotis euippe omphale
African Orange TipColotis evenina evenina
Common meadow blueCupidopsis cissus cissus
English nameScientific name
Tailed meadow blueCupidopsis jobates jobates
Blonde GliderCymothoe coranus coranus
African Plain TigerDanaus chrysippus orientis
Brown playboyDeudorix antalus antalus
African Ant-heap WhiteDixeia charina
Small Ant-heap WhiteDixeia pigea
Sulphur Ant-heap WhiteDixeia spilleri
White-tipped Ash BlueEicochrysops hippocrates
Coast charaxesEribpea ethalion ethalion
Forest SandmanErnsta dromus
Vine-leaf VagrantEronia cleodora
Barker’s smoky blueEuchrysops barkeri
Grey smoky blueEuchrysops malathana
Broad-bordered Grass YellowEurema brigitta brigitta
Angled grass yellowEurema desjardinsii regularis
Uniform Grass YellowEurema floricola floricola
Lowveld grass yellowEurema hecabe solifera
Golden PiperEurytela dryope angulata
Pied piperEurytela hiarbas angustata
Forest QueenEuxanthe wakefieldi
Grass JewelFreyeria trochylus
DodgerGegenes
False swiftGegenes fallax
Veined swordtailGraphium leonidas leonidas
Small Striped SwordtailGraphium policenes policenes
Variable DiademHypolimnas anthedon wahlbergi
Deceptive diademHypolimnas deceptor deceptor
Purplebrown hairstreakHypolycaena philippus philippus
Southern SapphireIolaus silas silas
Soldier PansyJunonia elgiva
African Yellow PansyJunonia hierta cebrene
Brown PansyJunonia natalica natalica
Mainland Dark Blue PansyJunonia oenone oenone
Southern pied woolly legsLachnocnema laches
Eastern Blotched LeopardLachnoptera ayresii ayresii
Pea blueLampides boeticus
African Wood WhiteLeptosia alcesta inalcesta
Common Blue ComplexLeptotes pirithous pirithous
Southern African SnoutLibythea laius
Gold-spotted sylphMetisella metis paris
Banana-tree NightfighterMoltena fiara
English nameScientific name
Common Dotted BorderMylothris agathina agathina
Twin Dotted BorderMylothris rueppellii haemus
Lesser fig tree blueMyrina dermaptera dermaptera
Common fig tree blueMyrina silenus ficedula
Common barred sailerNeptis laeta
Spotted sailerNeptis saclava marpessa
Mocker swallowtail, Flying HandkerchiefPapilio dardanus cenea
Citrus swallowtailPapilio demodocus demodocus
Narrow Green-banded SwallowtailPapilio nireus lyaeus
Water WatchmanParnara monasi
Eastern Spotted BuffPentila tropicalis tropicalis
Forest leopardPhalanta eurytis eurytis
African leopardPhalanta phalantha aethiopica
Garden CommodorePrecis archesia archesia
Gaudy CommodorePrecis octavia sesamus
Eastern Clouded Mother-of-PearlProtogoniomorpha nebulosa
Common Mother-of-PearlProtogoniomorpha parhassus
Boisduval’s False AcraeaPseudacraea boisduvalii trimenii
False WandererPseudacraea eurytus imitator
False chiefPseudacraea lucretia tarquinea
Pointed Caper WhitePseudanaphaeis gidica abyssinica
Tree-top acraeaRubraea cerasa
Blood-red AcraeaRubraea petraea
Elfin skipperSarangesa motozi
Boisduvals Tree NymphSevenia boisduvali boisduvali
Bronze Tree NymphSevenia natalensis
Striped SandmanSpialia ferax
Black-based AcraeaStephenia natalica
Window AcraeaStephenia oncaea
Clouded FlatTagiades flesus
Yellow-banded TelchiniaTelchinia cabira
White-barred TelchiniaTelchinia encedon encedon
Dusky TelchiniaTelchinia esebria
Dancing TelchiniaTelchinia serena
Acara acraeaTildia acara
Black PieTuxentius melaena melaena
Painted ladyVanessa cardui
Southern short-tailed admiralVanessa hippomene hippomene
African Grass BlueZizeeria knysna knysna
Dark Grass BlueZizina otis antanossa
Tiny Grass BlueZizula hylax hylax

Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve

Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve

Overview

Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve   is one of the largest areas of natural bush remaining in Greater Durban. It’s a natural mosaic of Southern Moist Coastal Lowlands Forest, Southern Mesic Coastal Lowlands Forest, Coastal Belt Grasslands and Coastal Belt Thornveld. It covers an area of about 250 hectares and is reminiscent of some of the larger lowland forest-grassland mosaics in southern Zululand.

Like those, it has a lot of butterflies!

What you can find

So far, it has a butterfly list of around 123 species including charismatic butterflies like Southern Sapphire Iolaus silas, Eastern Clouded Mother-of-Pearl Protogoniomorpha nebulosa, Blue-spotted Charaxes Charaxes cithaeron, Coast purple tip Colotis erone, Small Striped Swordtail Graphium policenes, Blonde Glider Cymothoe coranus, and Boisduval’s False Acraea Pseudacraea boisduvalii trimenii.

The trails are easy to walk and take you along the forest edges, through clearings, and to a high point where hilltopping butterflies may be seen.

There are other good butterfly spots around Durban, like North Park, Palmiet, Pigeon Valley, and Burman Bush Nature Reserves.

be on the lookout for:

English nameScientific name
Macken’s dartAcleros mackenii mackenii
Rayed BlueActizera lucida
Autumn leaf vagrantAfrodryas leda
DodgersAfrogegenes
Yellow zuluAlaena amazoula amazoula
Southern LaymanAmauris albimaculata albimaculata
Southern ChiefAmauris echeria echeria
Friar, common friarAmauris niavius dominicanus
NoviceAmauris ochlea ochlea
Common Ciliate BlueAnthene definita definita
Spotted Ciliate BlueAnthene larydas
Large Ciliate BlueAnthene lemnos lemnos
Diverse Albatross WhiteAppias epaphia contracta
Eastern ScarletAxiocerses tjoane
Pale Babul BlueAzanus mirza
Black-bordered babul blueAzanus moriqua 
Natal Babul BlueAzanus natalensis
Pioneer Caper WhiteBelenois aurota aurota
African Caper WhiteBelenois creona severina
False dotted borderBelenois thysa thysa
Dark WandererBematistes aganice aganice
Squinting bush brownBicyclus anynana anynana
Black-haired bush brownBicyclus safitza safitza
Olive-haired SwiftBorbo borbonica borbonica
Common Longhorn SwiftBorbo fatuellus fatuellus
Twin swiftBorbo gemella
Lesser-horned swiftBorbo lugens
African JokerByblia anvatara acheloia
Bush BronzeCacyreus lingeus lingeus
African MigrantCatopsilia florella
Natal White-barred CharaxesCharaxes brutus natalensis
Green-veined CharaxesCharaxes candiope
Blue-spotted CharaxesCharaxes cithaeron cithaeron
Pearl CharaxesCharaxes varanes varanes
Forest-King CharaxesCharaxes xiphares penningtoni
Striped policemanCoeliades forestan forestan
African clouded yellowColias electo electo
Coast purple tipColotis erone
Southern Round-winged Orange TipColotis euippe omphale
African Orange TipColotis evenina evenina
Common meadow blueCupidopsis cissus cissus
English nameScientific name
Tailed meadow blueCupidopsis jobates jobates
Blonde GliderCymothoe coranus coranus
African Plain TigerDanaus chrysippus orientis
Brown playboyDeudorix antalus antalus
African Ant-heap WhiteDixeia charina
Small Ant-heap WhiteDixeia pigea
Sulphur Ant-heap WhiteDixeia spilleri
White-tipped Ash BlueEicochrysops hippocrates
Coast charaxesEribpea ethalion ethalion
Forest SandmanErnsta dromus
Vine-leaf VagrantEronia cleodora
Barker’s smoky blueEuchrysops barkeri
Grey smoky blueEuchrysops malathana
Broad-bordered Grass YellowEurema brigitta brigitta
Angled grass yellowEurema desjardinsii regularis
Uniform Grass YellowEurema floricola floricola
Lowveld grass yellowEurema hecabe solifera
Golden PiperEurytela dryope angulata
Pied piperEurytela hiarbas angustata
Forest QueenEuxanthe wakefieldi
Grass JewelFreyeria trochylus
DodgerGegenes
False swiftGegenes fallax
Veined swordtailGraphium leonidas leonidas
Small Striped SwordtailGraphium policenes policenes
Variable DiademHypolimnas anthedon wahlbergi
Deceptive diademHypolimnas deceptor deceptor
Purplebrown hairstreakHypolycaena philippus philippus
Southern SapphireIolaus silas silas
Soldier PansyJunonia elgiva
African Yellow PansyJunonia hierta cebrene
Brown PansyJunonia natalica natalica
Mainland Dark Blue PansyJunonia oenone oenone
Southern pied woolly legsLachnocnema laches
Eastern Blotched LeopardLachnoptera ayresii ayresii
Pea blueLampides boeticus
African Wood WhiteLeptosia alcesta inalcesta
Common Blue ComplexLeptotes pirithous pirithous
Southern African SnoutLibythea laius
Gold-spotted sylphMetisella metis paris
Banana-tree NightfighterMoltena fiara
English nameScientific name
Common Dotted BorderMylothris agathina agathina
Twin Dotted BorderMylothris rueppellii haemus
Lesser fig tree blueMyrina dermaptera dermaptera
Common fig tree blueMyrina silenus ficedula
Common barred sailerNeptis laeta
Spotted sailerNeptis saclava marpessa
Mocker swallowtail, Flying HandkerchiefPapilio dardanus cenea
Citrus swallowtailPapilio demodocus demodocus
Narrow Green-banded SwallowtailPapilio nireus lyaeus
Water WatchmanParnara monasi
Eastern Spotted BuffPentila tropicalis tropicalis
Forest leopardPhalanta eurytis eurytis
African leopardPhalanta phalantha aethiopica
Garden CommodorePrecis archesia archesia
Gaudy CommodorePrecis octavia sesamus
Eastern Clouded Mother-of-PearlProtogoniomorpha nebulosa
Common Mother-of-PearlProtogoniomorpha parhassus
Boisduval’s False AcraeaPseudacraea boisduvalii trimenii
False WandererPseudacraea eurytus imitator
False chiefPseudacraea lucretia tarquinea
Pointed Caper WhitePseudanaphaeis gidica abyssinica
Tree-top acraeaRubraea cerasa
Blood-red AcraeaRubraea petraea
Elfin skipperSarangesa motozi
Boisduvals Tree NymphSevenia boisduvali boisduvali
Bronze Tree NymphSevenia natalensis
Striped SandmanSpialia ferax
Black-based AcraeaStephenia natalica
Window AcraeaStephenia oncaea
Clouded FlatTagiades flesus
Yellow-banded TelchiniaTelchinia cabira
White-barred TelchiniaTelchinia encedon encedon
Dusky TelchiniaTelchinia esebria
Dancing TelchiniaTelchinia serena
Acara acraeaTildia acara
Black PieTuxentius melaena melaena
Painted ladyVanessa cardui
Southern short-tailed admiralVanessa hippomene hippomene
African Grass BlueZizeeria knysna knysna
Dark Grass BlueZizina otis antanossa
Tiny Grass BlueZizula hylax hylax

Burman Bush Nature Reserve

Burman Bush Nature Reserve

Overview

Burman Bush Nature Reserve is a 55 hectare coastal forest situated on the southern bank of the Umgeni River in Durban. With Pigeon Valley Nature Reserve it represents the remaining fragments of the ‘Stella Bush’ forest that used to cover the Berea Ridge until the urbanization of Durban replaced much of it with buildings.

It forms part of the ‘D’MOSS’ (Durban Municipality Open Space System) which connects many pieces of undeveloped land along watercourses and small parks.

What you can find

Although relatively small compared to other nature reserves like Kenneth Stainbank and Krantzkloof it has much biodiversity and is an amazing place to see butterflies. The old Burman Drive winds its way uphill through the forest and acts like an elongated forest clearing.

Shrubs like Dune Soapberry Deinbollia oblongifolia, Leadwort Plumbago auriculata, and Cat’s Whiskers Volkameria glabra line the roadside. When they bloom, they are ‘butterfly magnets.’ The forest canopy reaches low down in places allowing close encounters with high-flying species like Charaxes.

There are lookout points along the road as well as on branch paths where canopy species can be observed.

Over the years just over 100 butterfly species have been seen in the reserve. It’s one of the best places to see the endemic (to KZN and the Eastern Cape) Coast Purple Tip, Colotis erone. Its host plant Maerua rosmarinoides is concentrated near one of the lookouts. Pearl Charaxes Charaxes varanes and Green-veined Charaxes candiope are often seen perching on the canopy. Swallowtails and Swordtails can be approached closely as they nectar on the flowers.

At certain times of year, the bright yellow males of Spiller’s Sulphur Yellow Dixeia spilleri infest the forest like flying confetti.  Vine-leaf Vagrant Eronia cleodora is another attractive butterfly that may be seen on flowers, as is the Autumn-leaf Vagrant Afrodryas leda.

be on the lookout for:

English nameScientific name
Buff-Tipped SkipperAbantis canopus
Macken’s DartAcleros mackenii mackenii
Blood-red AcraeaAcraea petraea 
Autumn-leaf VagrantAfrodryas leda
DodgersAfrogegenes
Southern LaymanAmauris albimaculata albimaculata
Southern ChiefAmauris echeria echeria
NoviceAmauris ochlea ochlea
Black-striped Ciliate BlueAnthene amarah amarah
Spotted Ciliate BlueAnthene larydas
Large Ciliate BlueAnthene lemnos
Diverse Albatross WhiteAppias epaphia contracta
Topaz Babul BlueAzanus jesous
Black-bordered Babul BlueAzanus moriqua moriqua
Natal Babul BlueAzanus natalensis
Velvet-spotted Babul BlueAzanus ubaldus
Pioneer Caper WhiteBelenois aurota aurota
African Caper WhiteBelenois creona severina
False Dotted BorderBelenois thysa thysa
Dark WandererBematistes aganice aganice
Black-haired Bush BrownBicyclus safitza safitza
False SwiftBorbo fallax
Long-horned SwiftBorbo fatuellus fatuellus
Lesser-horned SwiftBorbo lugens 
African JokerByblia anvatara acheloia
Spotted JokerByblia ilithyia
Bush BronzeCacyreus lingeus
Common Geranium-bronzeCacyreus marshalli
African MigrantCatopsilia florella
Green-veined CharaxesCharaxes candiope
Blue-spotted CharaxesCharaxes cithaeron cithaeron
Pearl CharaxesCharaxes varanes varanes
Natal SilverlineCigaritis natalensis
Striped PolicemanCoeliades forestan forestan
English nameScientific name
Coast Purple TipColotis erone
Southern Round-winged Orange TipColotis euippe omphale
African Orange TipColotis evenina evenina
African Plain TigerDanaus chrysippus orientis
Brown PlayboyDeudorix antalus antalus
Orange-barred PlayboyDeudorix diocles
African Ant-heap WhiteDixeia charina charina
Small Ant-heap whiteDixeia pigea
Spiller’s Sulphur YellowDixeia spilleri
Northern Rufous-winged FlatEagris nottoana nottoana
Cupreous Ash BlueEicochrysops messapus mahallakoaena
Vine-leaf VagrantEronia cleodora
Broad-bordered Grass YellowEurema brigitta brigitta
African Angled Grass YellowEurema desjardinsii regularis
Lowveld Grass YellowEurema hecabe solifera
Golden PiperEurytela dryope angulata
Southern Pied PiperEurytela hiarbas angustata
Forest QueenEuxanthe wakefieldi
Veined SwordtailGraphium leonidas leonidas
Lesser Striped SwordtailGraphium policenes policenes
Variable DiademHypolimnas anthedon wahlbergi
Common DiademHypolimnas misippus
Purple-brown HairstreakHypolycaena philippus philippus
Short-barred SapphireIolaus aemulus
Southern SapphireIolaus silas silas
Soldier PansyJunonia elgiva
African Yellow PansyJunonia hierta cebrene
Brown PansyJunonia natalica natalica
Mainland Dark Blue PansyJunonia oenone oenone
Macomo RangerKedestes macomo macomo
Pea BlueLampides boeticus
African Wood WhiteLeptosia alcesta inalcesta
Common Blue ComplexLeptotes pirithous
Evening BrownMelanitis leda africana
Eastern Goldspotted SylphMetisella metis paris
English nameScientific name
Eastern Dotted BorderMylothris agathina agathina
Twin Dotted BorderMylothris rueppellii haemus
Variegated Large VagrantNepheronia argia variegata
African Spotted SailerNeptis saclava marpessa
Mocker SwallowtailPapilio dardanus cenea
Citrus SwallowtailPapilio demodocus demodocus
Narrow Green-banded SwallowtailPapilio nireus lyaeus
Spotted BuffPentila tropicalis tropicalis
Forest LeopardPhalanta eurytis eurytis
African LeopardPhalanta phalantha aethiopica
Club-tailed CharaxesPolyura zoolina
Garden InspectorPrecis archesia archesia
Southern Gaudy CommodorePrecis octavia sesamus
Clouded Mother-of-PearlProtogoniomorpha nebulosa
Common Mother-of-PearlProtogoniomorpha parhassus
False WandererPseudacraea eurytus imitator
Southern False ChiefPseudacraea lucretia tarquinea
Pointed Caper WhitePseudanaphaeis gidica abyssinica
Blood-red AcraeaRubraea petraea
Forest ElfinSarangesa motozi
Boisduval’s Tree NymphSevenia boisduvali boisduvali
Mountain SandmanSpialia spio
Black-based AcraeaStephenia natalica
Window AcraeaStephenia oncaea
Clouded FlatTagiades flesus
Yellow-banded TelchiniaTelchinia cabira
White-barred TelchiniaTelchinia encedon encedon
Dusky TelchiniaTelchinia esebria
Dancing TelchiniaTelchinia serena
Black PieTuxentius melaena melaena
Painted LadyVanessa cardui
Hintza PierrotZintha hintza hintza
African Grass BlueZizeeria knysna knysna
Tiny Grass BlueZizula hylax hylax

Giba Gorge Environmental Precinct

Giba Gorge Environmental Precinct

Overview

Giba Gorge is a steep, deeply incised natural gorge cutting into the northern side of the Kloof sandstone escarpment near Hillcrest.

Above the gorge are KZN Sandstone Sourveld grasslands that have a rich flora and specialised butterfly species.

It’s one of the great local beauty spots and rivals the much larger Krantzkloof Nature Reserve for butterfly biodiversity. It’s possible in a single day to cover the grasslands near Mountbatten Place then move to the main trail in St. Helier Road and walk to the bottom of the gorge and back. 106 butterfly species have been recorded there but it is likely that more will be found as more people visit the reserve.

What you can find

The grasslands have butterflies like the Gaudy Commodore Precis octavia sesamus and Dark Blue Pansy Junonia oenone, as well as occasional rarities like Light Red Acraea Rubraea nohara and Fulvous Painted Ranger Nervia mohozutsa.

Along the edges of the cliffs that look out over the forest, canopy specials like Coast Charaxes Eriboea ethalion can be seen defending their territories. The rare Lesser Fig-tree Blue Myrina dermaptera can be seen there.

The track through the gorge leads along the Giba stream. This has many small waterfalls and mud puddles that attract drinking butterflies like Narrow Green-banded Swallowtail Papilio nireus lyaeus, False Wanderer Pseudacraea eurytus imitator, and Forest Leopard Phalanta eurytis. Mothers-of-pearl Protogoniomorpha species lurk in the shady places and fly out to sun themselves on low vegetation. The 100m change in altitude from the top of the forest to its base means that lowland forest species like Blonde Glider Cymothoë coranus and Battling Glider Cymothoë alcimeda both fly there.

The Hillcrest area has other good butterfly sites like Springside Nature Reserve and iPhithi Nature Reserve.

be on the lookout for:

English  nameScientific name
Macken’s DartAcleros mackenii
Rayed BlueActizera lucida
Southern Yellow ZuluAlaena amazoula amazoula
LaymanAmauris albimaculata albimaculata
ChiefAmauris echeria echeria
Common HairtailAnthene definita definita
Spotted HairtailAnthene larydas
Pale Babul BlueAzanus mirza
Black-Bordered Babul BlueAzanus moriqua
Natal Babul BlueAzanus natalensis
Bright Babul BlueAzanus ubaldus
Pioneer Caper WhiteBelenois aurota aurota
African Caper WhiteBelenois creona severina
Dark WandererBematistes aganice aganice
Black-haired Bush BrownBicyclus safitza safitza
Common Longhorn SwiftBorbo fatuellus fatuellus
Short-horned SwiftBorbo lugens lugens
African JokerByblia anvatara acheloia
Bush BronzeCacyreus lingeus
Rainforest BrownCassionympha cassius
PirateCatacroptera cloanthe
African MigrantCatopsilia florella
Large FlatCelaenorrhinus mokeezi mokeezi
Southern White-barred CharaxesCharaxes brutus natalensis
Green-veined CharaxesCharaxes candiope
Blue-spotted CharaxesCharaxes cithaeron cithaeron
Satyr CharaxesCharaxes ethalion ethalion
Pearl CharaxesCharaxes varanes varanes
Natal SilverlineCigaritis natalensis
Striped PolicemanCoeliades forestan forestan
Red-tab PolicemanCoeliades keithloa
Eastern Battling GliderCymothoe alcimeda trimeni
Blonde GliderCymothoe coranus coranus
African MonarchDanaus chrysippus orientis
Small Ant-heap whiteDixeia pigea
English  nameScientific name
White-tipped Ash BlueEicochrysops hippocrates
Forest SandmanErnsta dromus
Vine-leaf VagranfEronia cleodora cleodora
Pale smoky blueEuchrysops barkeri
Grey Smoky BlueEuchrysops malathana
Broad-bordered Grass YellowEurema brigitta brigitta
African Angled Grass YellowEurema desjardinsii regularis
Golden PiperEurytela dryope angulata
Southern Pied PiperEurytela hiarbas angustata
False SwiftGegenes fallax fallax
Masked DodgerGegenes hottentota
Common DodgerGegenes letterstedti
Yellow DodgerGegenes niso niso
Veined SwordtailGraphium leonidas
Small Striped SwordtailGraphium policenes
Variable DiademHypolimnas anthedon wahlbergi
Buxton’s hairstreakHypolycaena buxtoni buxtoni
Purple-brown HairstreakHypolycaena philippus philippus
Modest SylphIsoteinon inornatus
Yellow-banded PansyJunonia elgiva
African Yellow PansyJunonia hierta cebrene
Brown PansyJunonia natalica natalica
Mainland Dark Blue PansyJunonia oenone oenone
Macomo RangerKedestes macomo macomo
Southern Pied WoollylegsLachnocnema laches
Eastern Blotched LeopardLachnoptera ayresii ayresii
Pea BlueLampides boeticus
Lilac-based Black-eyeLeptomyrina gorgias gorgias
African Wood WhiteLeptosia alcesta inalcesta
Common Blue ComplexLeptotes pirithous
Southern African SnoutLibythea laius
Eastern Gold-spotted SylphMetisella metis paris
Banana-tree NightfighterMoltena fiara
Eastern Dotted BorderMylothris agathina agathina
Lesser Figtree BlueMyrina dermaptera dermaptera
English  nameScientific name
Common Figtree BlueMyrina silenus ficedula
Common Barred SailerNeptis laeta
African Spotted SailerNeptis saclava marpessa
Fulvous Painted RangerNervia mohozutsa
Mocker SwallowtailPapilio dardanus cenea
Citrus SwallowtailPapilio demodocus demodocus
Narrow Green-banded SwallowtailPapilio nireus lyaeus
Lowland Bush BeautyParalethe dendrophilus indosa
Water WatchmanParnara monasi
Forest LeopardPhalanta eurytis eurytis
African LeopardPhalanta phalantha aethiopica
Common Garden InspectorPrecis archesia archesia
Southern Gaudy CommodorePrecis octavia sesamus
Dry-leaf CommodorePrecis tugela tugela
Clouded Mother-of-PearlProtogoniomorpha nebulosa
Common Mother-of-PearlProtogoniomorpha parhassus
Eastern Boisduval’s False AcraeaPseudacraea boisduvalii trimenii
False WandererPseudacraea eurytus imitator
Southern False ChiefPseudacraea lucretia tarquinea
Light Red AcraeaRubraea nohara nohara
Blood-red AcraeaRubraea petraea
Boisduval’s Tree NymphSevenia boisduvali boisduvali
Morant’s Tree NymphSevenia morantii morantii
Bronze Tree NymphSevenia natalensis natalensis
Mountain SandmanSpialia spio
Black-based AcraeaStephenia natalica
Window AcraeaStephenia oncaea
Clouded FlatTagiades flesus
Yellow-banded TelchiniaTelchinia cabira
White-barred TelchiniaTelchinia encedon encedon
Dusky TelchiniaTelchinia esebria
Dancing TelchiniaTelchinia serena
Painted LadyVanessa cardui
Southern Short-tailed AdmiralVanessa hippomene hippomene
African Grass BlueZizeeria knysna knysna
Tiny Grass BlueZizula hylax hylax