Oribi Gorge, Nature reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Oribi Gorge is a canyon in southern KwaZulu-Natal, 35 km north-west of Port Shepstone, cut by the Mzimkulwana River. It is about 400 m deep and almost 5 km wide at its widest. In the photograph a sheer cliff of layered pale grey and tan sandstone rises on the left, a rounded vegetated slope stands on the right, and forest fills the valley floor below.

During World War II, Italian prisoners of war constructed the first roads through the gorge during their internment, making the area accessible to later visitors. This early infrastructure development shaped how people could explore and experience the reserve.

The gorge and its reserve take their name from the oribi, a small antelope found in the ravines. The Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve was proclaimed a protected state forest in 1950. The dense forest on the sandstone slopes shelters small mammals, while large leguaans dig their burrows along the riverbanks.

The reserve is accessible by tarred road from Port Shepstone and offers multiple hiking trails for different abilities and interests. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and bring water, as sun exposure can be intense in the open areas of the gorge.

The cliffs are made of Msikaba formation sandstone laid down by rivers about 365 million years ago, while the basement rocks at their base belong to the Namaqua-Natal Metamorphic Province and are over 1000 million years old. The road through the gorge was built by Italian prisoners of war.