A lovely area of conservation significance in Pennington , it is an example of how wildlife requires intact habitats and space to survive.
Nkomba is situated on the banks of the Nkomba River. Perhaps there was, in days gone by, a natural population of inKomba Palms growing along the river. Today these graceful 8 m multi-stemmed palms are only found along cliff faces in Pondoland.
Nkomba is 6.2 ha and comprises swamp forest (critically endangered), coastal forest, riparian zones and flood plains with & without reed beds and an estuary.
In July 1988 Dr David Johnson of the then Natal Parks Board visited Nkomba and had this to say: “Your proposed reserve is a little gem, well worth preserving, and indeed could turn into a tourist attraction.”
John Jerman, acting on behalf of the Pennington Environmental Group, led negotiations to have Nkomba registered as ‘A Site of Conservation Significance’ and more recently, Evelyn Heunis and Carolyn Schwegman (John Jerman’s daughter) were instrumental in having Nkomba zoned as ‘Conservation’ in the Umdoni Town Planning Scheme.
Today our “little gem” continues to thrive and boasts a lovely picnic area under the Fig Tree (planted by Ann Jerman in the early 1990’s), an eco-loo, a bird hide on the banks of the Nkomba River, a pont to take you across the river to the south bank from where you can enjoy a slow stroll to the Beach Café along the beach .
Monthly activities are held ‘Under the Fig Tree @ Nkomba’ and these are designed to suit a variety of tastes: environmental, for example, Froggie hunts, identifying bats, living with snakes, and entertainment, for example, Jerry Kunene on saxophone, Petya on violin, singer, songwriter, Nibs van der Spuy.
We have a birding group that meets at Nkomba on every third Monday of the month, led by bird enthusiast, Allan McLennan who is a whizz at impersonating many bird calls. We currently have 80 bird species on our list and it grows weekly.
Visit the Nkomba Sanctuary (entrance on Dolphin Drive, Pennington) and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature with family and friends. It really is a little gem!
