Midmar Nature Reserve is situated 1km off the N3, 23km north of Pietermaritzburg and 4km from Howick. The reserve consists of a large dam and resort area and a 1 000ha game park in the southern portion of the reserve. The water area of the reserve is 1560ha, while the land area is 2848ha.
Midmar Nature Reserve is at an altitude of 1044m, and experiences hot, wet summers and cold, dry winters. Temperatures range from a max of 38°C in Summer to -3°C in winter. The mean annual rainfall is 992mm – with November, December and January being the wettest months. Prevailing winds are from the southeast, east and south and can be quite strong for much of the year.
The public facilities in the reserve are divided into two areas – the Midmar Nature Reserve (north shore) and Thurlow (south shore). Accommodation on the north shore is either camping or in chalets. There are three campsites on the resort, two with a water frontage. All of the sites have communal ablution blocks, hot and cold running water and limited electrical points. 31 Fully equipped chalets (including one equipped for wheelchairs) provide comfortable accommodation in two separate areas overlooking the dam. In addition, sixteen rustic cabins are available – equipped with refrigerators and electrical stoves, but communal ablution facilities.
Accommodation on the south shore is in the Thurlow VIP Lodge, which has 12 beds, a swimming pool and tennis courts.
Day visitors to the reserve have the option of making use of the many picnic and braai (barbeque) areas available. Lunch tours and sunset cruises are available, subject to prior arrangement. The gates of the reserve are closed to day visitors between sunset and sunrise. The game park area of the reserve is accessible by vehicles, bicycles or foot. Red hartebeest, black wildebeest, blesbok, springbok, reedbuck, oribi and zebra can be seen.
Sporting facilities available in the resort area include four all-weather tennis courts and a small swimming pool (these facilities are available to the chalet residents only). Midmar Dam is zoned for yachts and powerboats, and while swimming is permitted in the dam and is quite safe, swimmers should keep close in shore and away from boats. A boat shop where bicycles, windsurfers, canoes and yachts can be hired is open during weekends and peak seasons. Boat spares, gas and fishing equipment can be purchased from the shop. Fishing in the dam is excellent, but only allowed in areas zoned for this activity. A fresh water fishing license, obtainable from the office, is required. Carp, bass, barbell, scalies and bluegill are abundant.
Midmar Nature Reserve is therefore a destination that offers in-house attractions such as water activities and game viewing, but is also a base from which the visitor can explore the entire region – from the beaches in Durban to the Drakensberg Mountains.
Reservations:
Hutted accommodation:
KZN Nature Conservation Services Reservations
PO Box 13069, Casccades, 3202, South Africa
Tel: +27 33 845 1000
Fax: +27 33 845 1001
Campsites:
The Officer in Charge, Midmar Nature Reserve
Private Bag X6, Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, 3290, South Africa
Tel: +27 33 330 2067/8/9
Accommodation charges are payable on arrival at the Midmar Office, which is open daily from 08:00 to 16:30, but closed for lunch from 13:00-14:00.
Please note: Midmar Nature Reserve do not handle reservations. These are done by Central Reservations in Pietermaritzburg. Please e-mail them on bookings@kznwildlife.com
Sporting events at Midmar Nature Reserve:
Midmar Nature Reserve is one of the prime venues in South Africa for hosting triathlons. It is also home to the largest open water swimming event in the world – The Midmar Mile. This event has been held at Midmar Dam since the early 1970’s. It is always held on the second weekend in February – and attracts an ever-expanding field of over 16 000 entrants.
