Phongolo Nature Reserve
| Phongolo Nature Reserve | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Interactive map of Phongolo Nature Reserve | |
| Location | uPhongolo Local Municipality, Zululand District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal |
| Nearest city | Pongola |
| Coordinates | 27°20′43″S 31°54′23″E / 27.34528°S 31.90639°E |
| Area | 10,485 hectares (25,910 acres) |
| Designation | Important Bird Area |
| Established | 1894 (original proclamation) 1979 (re-proclamation) |
| Governing body | Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife |
Phongolo Nature Reserve is a protected area managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reserve encompasses 10,485 hectares (25,910 acres) surrounding the Pongolapoort Dam (also known as Lake Jozini) in the Lebombo Mountains. First proclaimed in 1894 by President Paul Kruger of the South African Republic, it is the oldest formally protected nature reserve in South Africa and one of the oldest on the African continent.
The reserve forms part of a cooperative conservation initiative involving private landowners, tribal communities, and government conservation services, with the aim of establishing a large, ecologically and socio-economically viable "Big Five" reserve. It is designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife South Africa.