Burman Bush Nature Reserve
Description
At 50 hectares, Burman Bush Nature Reserve is small in comparison to other reserves. It is located in the centre of built up residential suburbs and industry – protecting a valuable remnant of coastal bush. Buckwheat is the dominant low growing vegetation; it flowers only once every seven years. Some of the trees you will notice along the way are the flat-crowns, the forest olive, the red beech and the forest fever-berry. The bird species that frequent the reserve are the thickbilled weaver, the hadeda ibis (a flock at least 200 strong), yellowbilled kite, spotted eagle owl, lanner falcon, buffspotted flufftail and the purplecrested lourie.
Directions to Burman Bush
Travelling along the N2 north, take exit number 170 – M19/Umgeni Road. Turn right, underneath the bridge, into Umgeni Road. Travel along Umgeni Road, you will pass Makro on your right. After a short while, you’ll notice St Mathias Road on your right. At the next opportunity, make a U-turn. This is not an illegal U-turn, you will notice that it is regulated by a robot. Turn left at St Mathias Road and keep your eyes open for Burman Drive. The Burman Bush Nature Reserve parking will be on your right.
Routes
The walks start at the pedestrian gate. The Pithi walk is 500 meters long and takes about 30 minutes; the Hadeda walk takes about an hour and is approximately 1 kilometer long; the 2 kilometer Forest Olive trail should take about two hours.
Rating
Fair
Permit
No booking is required; the pedestrian gate to the park is left open.
Features
Braai facilities in the picnic site, toilets, vervet monkey (watch that they don’t steal your food), blue duiker, various bird species, coastal bush.
Take With
You will need the following:
• Good walking shoes;
• Camera;
• Binoculars;
• Refreshments and water.
Please Note
Important points to remember about this hike:
• There is a map at the pedestrian gate;
• Don’t feed the monkeys.