The Munywana Conservancy is an association of three founding members: and Beyond Phinda, Zuka Pty Ltd (Zuka Private Game Reserve) and SKS Estates (Bumbeni). The Munywana Conservancy is a 30,000 hectare “Big Five” private game reserve in Northern KwaZulu-Natal. On 5th September 2019 the conservancy was declared a protected nature reserve by the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in the KwaZulu Provincial Legislature. Under the terms of Section 23(1) of the National Envronmental Management: Protected Area Act of 2003 the Munywana Conservancy is declared a formal Protected Area in perpetuity. The Munywana Conservancy here in Northern KwaZulu-Natal has the unique feature of straddling the southern Lebombo Mountain Range and lies in both Zululand and Maputaland. Formed over 177 million years ago the Lebombo Mountains spewed voluminous flood basalt lavas over the landscape creating fertile soils to the west and east of the mountains. Smaller volcanic centres that lie in the Bumbeni area remained active, ejecting volcanic ash until about 133 million years ago. Rifting ensued in the separation of the southern African and East Antarctic continental masses, resulting in the gradual deepening of the Proto-Indian Ocean and accumulation of thick sedimentary cones derived by erosion of the mountains that marked the raised rift shoulders. Marine conditions were established on the submerged Lebombo monocline foothills some 130 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous Period. Standing on the Lebombo vantage point looking out, it’s an astonishing fact that over the last 100 million years these lands have spent more time under the Indian Ocean than exposed as the present day land surface. During the last 100 million years the Indian Ocean receded, depositing deep sands eastwards, and today we see the rich coastal dune forests that run north to south. This varied geology has given rise to an incredible array of diverse soils blanketed with numerous vegetation types and habitats that support a multitude of species like no other area. This soil and habitat diversity has become synonymous with the conservancy and the resulting biodiversity of today’s 28,622.27 hectare Big Five private Game Reserve, offering myriad highlights for all visitors.
