Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, Nature reserve in Kloof, South Africa

Krantzkloof Nature Reserve is a protected area in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, made up of deep gorges cut by rivers through sandstone cliffs. The valley walls drop sharply on both sides, creating a sheltered space at the bottom where indigenous forest grows along the riverbanks.

The reserve was set aside in 1950, at a time when several gorge systems in KwaZulu-Natal were being cleared for timber and farmland. Since then, the forest inside the gorges has recovered noticeably, and species that disappeared from surrounding areas still survive here.

The name Molweni comes from a Zulu word meaning 'mutual greetings'. The reserve's seven marked trails are named by colour: red to Nkutu Falls, yellow along the Molweni, green to Ntombeni, blue through shaded forest, orange along the beacon, black to Mpiti and white. Rock climbers sign a register at selected gorge sections.

The trails inside the reserve range from flat riverside paths to steep climbs along the gorge edges, so it is worth checking which route suits your level before setting out. Mornings tend to be cooler and the forest sounds are at their best in the first hours after sunrise.

Some of the cliff faces inside the gorge hold nesting sites used by vultures, which are only visible if you look down from the top of the ridge rather than up from the valley floor. This makes the ridge-top trail the better option for spotting them during the nesting months.